How To Pick the Right Carry-On Bag

You've probably been on a summer vacation and realized the bag you have is not really the best bag you could own. I know a lot of people bought a suitcase or carry-on (or both) years ago and have never replaced it because "it works". I'm a big bag collector. Not all bags work for all trips and I feel like I need to be prepared for most situations, so if you came to my house, you'd notice I have at least five regular sized carry-on bags and more than 10 personal-sized ones. Now, I'm not saying that everyone needs to have a closet full of luggage, but a few different bags can't hurt, and an update to your decades-old one is probably in order at least.

Usually I'm talking to you about how to pack your bag and what to put in it for any given trip, but having the right bag for your travel needs is just as important. 

photo credit | Will  your roller bag survive this terrain?

Think about your destination

It's not just about what you're putting in your bag, but where you're taking your bag. You'll obviously need a different bag for going to Greece than going to Disneyland. Why? Well, I don't know if you noticed all those deliciously blue and white pics of those Grecian seaside towns, but they are 90% steps. Good luck getting your roller bag up those. This is where I suggest taking a bag that can be hefted onto your shoulder, like a convertible backpack carry-on or a duffel bag. The Skyroll would be perfect. 

A city getaway is fine for a roller bag, because it's easy to go from airport to rental car to front desk, but if you're headed to a quaint European city, you might be faced with cobblestones. If you are, you'll want some extra rugged wheels, because nothing sucks worse on vacation than a broken carry-on wheel. 

Another reason to take a look at your destination is because of carry-on rules. Many airlines have their own special rules that may be strictly enforced, like Ryanair and Air France. If your carry-on doesn't comply with dimensions and weight restrictions, you will have to check your bag and shell out money you may not have in order to comply with rules and regulations. 

Are you packing for more than one?

I always pack for two of us in one bag, which means I pretty much need a full-size carry-on, but I do have one that is a bit smaller that we use for shorter domestic trips. It's a sweet little hardsided carry-on that makes overpacking impossible. It has compartments that can be customized to make them suitable for however you want to pack them. Do you want to be organized? Do you like a lot of pockets? Are you just going alone? If I pack for just myself (for a solo trip), I take a smaller bag that fits my clothes, laptop and toiletries, plus has room for a few purchases. Then just bring my purse for snacks and tablet. 

Obviously, your needs will change if you're just worried about yourself or packing for you and another or you and a child/baby. 

How organized do you want to be?

I like to stay organized and know where all my stuff is in a bag, therefore, I enjoy a bag with tons of pockets. Of course, you can also use packing cubes/envelopes, but sometimes it's just nice to have different compartments to put different stuff. I have another bag that has one large compartment on one side and the other side has four-five small mesh pockets for underwear, socks, etc, and one large mesh compartment with a loop for a hanger if you want to pack something flat, like a suit jacket. There are two zipper pockets on the outside for a book, travel docs or tickets. 

The bag helps me keep everything in its place, but it also can be hard to not overpack and make it hard (or impossible) to get it in the overhead of the plane. More than once we've had to take things out of the outside pockets to get it up there, but it also has a zipper expansion to the main compartment if you buy too much stuff and are cool with checking the bag back home (which I will sometimes do if it's cheaper than shipping those purchases through the post office).

Make sure you know what you like and what you want before buying a bag and tossing all your stuff into it.

Can you guess which bag is mine?

Being different is important to you

There are so many black bags out there. I have a few, but only because the bag I loved didn't come in a different color. If given the choice, I will pick a bright color or pattern. As you've seen, I have a red carry-on, a Hawaiian floral carry-on and a bright yellow carry-on. I like to know which bag is mine without having to scrutinize it. I want other people to know immediately that my bag is not their bag. If you're like me, you may find you'll be paying a little more for uniqueness, but if it makes you happier when you travel, then it's worth it.

photo credit

Do you want to buy another bag in a few years?

I may like to buy new clothes to pack my bag with every few years, but I'm very attached to my bags and want them to last. It may take a little bit of practice to pack each bag perfectly, but once you know how to do it, it's comfortable feeling every time you pull it out for a trip. I'm also willing to spend a bit more to get a bag that I love and is also super well made and meant to last for a long time. 

If you find you're paying to replace a crappily made bag every few years, then you may not be saving any money by carry-on packing. Look for bags that are made by great companies that stand behind their products. They should have a guarantee, warranty and give you a run-down of all their features and how they are made well. Unbreakable zippers are important to me. When your zipper teeth don't quite meet and make a gap, sometimes that's just the end of it. Throw that bag in the garbage. If you can find a bag that has self-repairing zippers, you have dodged the biggest bag malfunction. 

I like in-line skate wheels, because they're more rugged. I've had a wheel break on me in the middle of a trip. It wasn't fun. I also like a handle that pulls out smoothly and doesn't take a strong man to get it back into the bag. Side and bottom handles need to be well made and well attached. If you've ever had a bag handle just break off, you know why this is something I want. So, paying more for a well made bag is something I'm willing to do and suggest to everyone. Unless you know you get bored easily and will want to replace your bag sooner rather than later, you'll want to really check out the construction and reviews. 

If you need suggestions on the best carry-ons on the market, check out Luggage on Tour, where you can find reviews of bags you might be interested in. I always look at reviews before I make a luggage purchase (the more photos the better, too) if I can't find a bag at a store nearby for me to handle. The holidays are coming, so now's the time to get your new bag or purchase one for the traveler in your life.

When you look for a carry-on, what are your must-have features?

Disclaimer: This post has been sponsored by Luggage on Tour.

Traveling America's Haunted Sites

Halloween is on its way and that means yummy treats and scary tricks or a combination of them both. Not all the scares are unjustified. If you get excited about a good ghost story (or sighting!) then there's a chance you're within driving distance of a fantastic haunted destination. We took a fun ghost walk last year when we visited Colonial Williamsburg and may have even caught a spirit on camera, plus we've gone to some other haunted locations where we haven't actually glimpsed or felt a ghost. If you want the chance to maybe meet a ghost yourself, check out these haunted destinations around the country.

photo credit

Have you visited any of these haunts? If so, did you have a paranormal experience?

Be a Traveler, Not a Tourist

When I vacation, I like to immerse myself as much as possible in my destination. I know a lot of people find it hard t get into the swing of how things work when they go somewhere new, but it can be the best way to really feel where you are. If you're constantly in your home state of mind, you're never going to get the most of your destination. There's quite a difference from embracing a new place and being a traveler and trying to hit everything on your must-do list as a tourist. Doing your research before you leave can certainly help you make the leap.

Pioneer Catholic Cemetery: St. George, UT

Go Off the Beaten Path

I love seeing tourist attractions, even in my own city, but I don't want to fill my whole itinerary with them. I enjoy research, so I will spend quite a bit of time looking at all my options. If you aren't into that, keep space in your trip plan to go interesting places. I have asked waiters at restaurants, the renter of my Airbnb, people I've met in line, hotel staff, employees at museums and tour guides. Sometimes I ask which I should do if I could only do one of a few things, sometimes I ask where they like to eat and sometimes I just ask for tips in general. If nothing else, get out of the touristy areas and see new neighborhoods, cafes and shops.

Learn the Language

You don't have to learn everything and be completely fluent, but it helps to learn key phrases that might help you if you're out to eat, shopping or at a museum. People will be impressed you try and want to help you. You have to remember, even though much of the world can speak at least a little English, it doesn't mean you should assume they do. You're in their country, so they aren't there to make you comfortable, just as they wouldn't expect you to know their language if they came to visit America, Canada or the UK. Get a phrase book, a set of Pimsleur CDs or an app on your phone to learn things like "Please", "Thank you", "Where is the bathroom?" "How much?" and "I would like..."

Airbnb rental in Paris

Get a Vacation Rental

Instead of staying a in a hotel with hundreds of other tourists, stay in neighborhoods in apartments, condos and homes. Not only will you get more of a sense of what it's like to live where you visit, but you'll even feel more at home and save money, because you'll have a place that is more lived in and probably has a kitchen and possibly laundry. There's nothing better to me than coming back from a long day of sightseeing and making a snack to eat while watching a movie and doing a bit of laundry. Am I weird? Maybe, but I love feeling like I really live somewhere for a week or two. This leads me to...

Shop the Farmers' Markets and/or Grocery Stores

Because we often stay in rentals and have a kitchen, we plan to make our own breakfasts when we travel. This gives us an excuse to hit up the local grocers for necessities. We've found some unexpected things when we shop and also things we love and bring back home with us. Before we head off anywhere, I check out local markets in the area where I'll be staying or sightseeing. Getting produce that's grown nearby is always awesome, plus you can get handmade goods, foods and even an affordable meal. It's a perfect way to interact with locals and ask them questions about things they make and grow.

Holland Park: London

Don't Forget to Be Flexible

Not everything is going to go as planned whenever you travel, but don't let those times get you down. You might also find that someone gives you a suggestion that is too awesome to not take. Sure, maybe you were going to go to that Michelin-starred restaurant and then that famous landmark, but instead have the chance to go see some local ruins or go ice skating with new friends and try food from the nearby night market. I like to make daily schedules, so we can get to things we definitely must do, but we aren't so locked in that we can't skip things or move stuff around to do something else instead.

Eat Local

Dining venues near tourist attractions are going to cost more than other restaurants and are generally not that good. There are exceptions, of course, but it's always smart to wander about a little further from your sightseeing. You never know what you might find if you just walk a few blocks away. Look for restaurants that serve up local favorites and you'll save money, but also will probably find some new yummy foods. Not sure how to pick a good place? I go by two rules: If there's a line, you know it's good. Food trucks/carts = win! Some of the best foods I've had in Paris have come from a cart. Some of the worst foods I've had anywhere were because I was too hungry to do any research and ate at the first place that served something edible. This also leads me to a different tip: Always keep snacks on your person, so you don't make a bad decision based on necessity.

Vancouver, BC

Ask Facebook Friends

Chances are you have some international friends on social media you may not have met in real life, but can give you great tips for your upcoming trips. I have done this several times, asking for suggestions from my friend in Vancouver BC for my 12-hour layover or sending questions about a friend's recent trip to a place I'm headed to. This can also be a good chance for you to meet up with your previously unmet friends and you can let them show you around their favorite places when you get there. Not only will it be fun, but you'll see something less touristy than you would if you just went by our guide book.

Get Lost

I'm fantastic at getting lost, but instead of seeing it as a curse, I use it as an opportunity. Some of the coolest things we've done are because we stumbled upon them when making a wrong turn or getting off at the incorrect stop. Just as many times as we rent cars, we rely on walking and public transportation. Going at your own pace can afford you the chance to see things you wouldn't if you took a cab and stayed on the main thoroughfares. It also lets you meet people when you have to stop and ask for directions or pop into a cute little cafe for a bite or a cup of coffee. 

What are some of your best tips to being a traveler instead of a tourist?