Why You Should Travel with Just a Carry-on

By now you know I'm a huge believer in carry-on travel. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I refuse to check a bag. When I do, it's either at the gate when they ask for volunteers and I can see them put my bag on the plane or on the way back home from somewhere that I've bought too many gifts and need extra bag for those purchases (all my buys go with me and my clothes get checked). 

Have you ever lost a bag while traveling? I mean, obviously, the airline lost it on your behalf, which is even worse, because now you have someone to blame for not having any clean underwear. And there's nothing you can do about it, but wait and hope it turns up. And cry. The five minutes after the conveyor belt stops and your bag never shows up you're in shock and then you quickly enter the five stages of grief:

• Denial: They haven't lost my bag. It's probably just slow coming from the plane. Any second now...
• Anger: This is all they do all day every day! How the &*!$ can they lose my bag?! All my clothes are in there!
• Bargaining: Please Lord. If you find my bag, I swear I'll donate all my extra clothes to charity!
• Depression: (crying in your hotel bed) I'll never be able to replace those cute sandals...or leave this room until I go home.
• Acceptance: I'll just go shopping and then go to the bar. What do I need? A dress and a bikini? Done.

Of course, sometimes they find your bag. Sometimes they don't find it until after you've already bought new stuff to replace what they lost. I've been lucky and had a bag go to LA when I went to Nassau and it showed up two hours after I did, but they were able to track it. I didn't get that shrug from the airline crew member while they took down my information and I had no inkling of hope. 

If you're unfortunate enough to never get your stuff back, you should know that eventually other people will enjoy it by purchasing it from Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro, Alabama. It's basically lost luggage heaven, though it gets the chance to travel again with new owners.

The only way to make sure your stuff makes it with you to your destination is to fly carry-on. It can take some practice to learn to do it effectively, and even I am still perfecting my packing, but I now pretty much know the magic formula for what to bring and what to leave at home. I'm willing to do laundry in order to bring fewer pieces and make sure I know when I will do it, so I don't suddenly find myself without any clean shirts or have to leave in the middle of something to get it done. Having it on my schedule means I have clean clothes and also down time to relax and decompress, which is important for any trip. 

Even on a short trip, like the road trip I took last week to Vegas, I plan to do a load, because I don't want to come home with a bag of dirty laundry. I was able to come home and put it all away, which I have an issue doing, because I hate unpacking. Knowing everything in my bag, with the exception of pjs and a pair of undies, are clean makes unpacking a little more exciting.

So, how do you pack for a week or two in just a carry-on? This is the part where it helps to have a piece of paper and know what's in your closet. Choose a color palette that you want to work with. Somehow, my travel wardrobe leans to blue and tan. Not on purpose, but because the things I like that match are mostly blue. I always choose a neutral bottom color like khaki or black and then choose tops that will mix and match with those. That means if you have two tops and two bottoms, you can make four different outfits. 

The magic formula for me is 3 bottoms + 5 tops = 15 unique outfits. Remember that you can rotate in your commuting clothes into your wardrobe as well, so dress accordingly, if you can. I like to wear stretchy jeans on the plane, because they are comfortable and also go with pretty much everything. I'll also throw in a travel dress, which gives me more options as well. 

Shoes. I'm a chick. I love shoes. It's not a secret. Where I don't love shoes is when I'm traveling, because they take up too much room and weigh down my bag. I'm short and not incredibly strong, so the less my bag weighs, the better. Besides, I usually travel with my full-size laptop for getting work done, so I need to make a trade-off. I say take only two pairs of shoes. Don't freak out. You can do this. In fact, I ended up wearing just one pair of shoes for two weeks in Europe the first time I went and was fine. 

Bring a pair of walking shoes. Good ones that'll allow you to sightsee all day if you need to. Usually these are bulkier, like sneakers, and I wear these on the plane to save space in my bag. I then pack a pair of nicer shoes that I can also walk in and wear with a dress. Either a pair of ballet flats or a pair of sandals, depending on where I'm going and what I'll be doing. I will also tell you to throw a pair of flip flops in your bag. I don't count them as shoes, because they don't take up much space. They're also great for trips to the pool, beach, continental breakfast. You name it. And if you find that your feet are swollen from the plane ride or walking all day, they will be your best friend when you have to leave your room.

Are you going to go out and want to get a bit dressy? Leave your fancy dress and stuff at home. Instead, glam up what you've brought with you with accessories. Chances are, you're not going to wear anything clubby or too dressy enough to justify putting it in your bag, so pack smaller things like statement jewelry. You'll be happy you went that route than if you packed heels and a mini skirt. After a long day of walking and being touristy, putting on those shoes are going to be torture. I've never once made it out of the room wearing those dressy shoes I brought, so I stopped bringing them altogether and used that room for something useful.

Once you've figured out what works for you, you'll enjoy packing and traveling much more. Here's what I suggest for ladies: 

3 bottoms + 5 tops + 1 dress + 2 pairs of shoes + 1 jacket + 5 pairs of undies + 1 sweater/cardigan + 1 packable rain jacket

And here's what I suggest for men:

3 bottoms + 5 tops + 2 pairs of shoes + 1 sports jacket + 2 ties + 5 pairs of undies + 1 jacket + 1 packable rain jacket

Now, for your next trip, you can save baggage fees, eliminate the possibility of lost luggage and not struggle with carrying all your stuff. If you need help with your toiletries, here are tips for your 3-1-1 bag. By traveling this way, I've never once said "I wish I'd brought..." Usually I make a note of the items I don't use. 

Where will your next trip take you?

What's Going On Around Here

Today I wanted to try a new kind of post. I've been road tripping to and from Vegas to attend the Travel Goods Show, meaning you will be getting a lot of reviews in the coming months of fantastic new products that are fun and innovative. So, I wanted to do a unique kind of list for you that's a bit more personal than my usual posts. You can tell me if you like it in the comments!

Making: Better time than I thought, until it got dark in the last three hours of my trip.

Drinking: As much water as I can, but also these fun Neuro Sonic drinks* that are carbonated and have infused vitamins to give you a boost.

Listening: I've got the Stephen Fry versions of the Harry Potter books to listen to on my trip and they really make the time fly by...plus, his Hagrid voice is perfect. In case you're looking for them, they are the UK versions of the books

Looking: There's so much road out here.

Wishing: Why aren't there more rest stops? I mean, 200 miles with nothing? Glad I'm not a kid with a tiny bladder.

Enjoying: You wouldn't think 17 hours in the car alone would be fun, but I liked it.

Wondering: Why do people insist on driving with their brights on, but not dimming them when they are coming right at you? Just why???

Considering: Making the trip again next year, but probably on the plane, since it will be in February and there will be more chance of snow.

Watching: My GPS, so it can get me through that last stretch on the way to Vegas.

Hoping: Don't you always hope you don't run out of gas, even when you know you have plenty? I also hoped the snowy spots didn't mean there would be ice on the road. 

Marvelling: There are some cool covered picnic tables on a beach outside of Reno. I might have to stop on the way back to really check it out.

Needing: A pick-me-up halfway through is a nice thing to have. Of course, a walk around a store also helps, too.

Smelling: Even though they're in a Ziploc bag, my whole car smells like onion bagels. Yum!

Wearing: A new stripey shirt from Columbia Sportswear and a pair of stretchy jeans from James Jeans.

Thinking: My road trip to Montana later this year is going to be fun, especially with the dog.

Buying: Snacks I don't need, but what's a road trip without a bunch of munchies, even if you brought plenty with you?

Disliking: That I stopped to use a restroom at a fast food place and made the mistake of also getting a burger and fries which made me super tired.

Feeling: I totally feel like an accomplished solo traveler by taking this road trip by myself.

Look at me even getting to ride the Monorail by myself!

*Neuro didn't pay me to say that I liked these drinks. I just happened to grab one at a gas station on my way and really enjoyed them. If Neuro were to send me a case of them, though, I would not say no. LOL!

So, what do you think? Would you like more posts like this randomly? If so, what would you like to see added to it?

Why You Should Seek Out Food Trucks When You Travel

As a Portlandian, it's common to talk to people about your favorite food trucks, or to run out and get a quick lunch if you work anywhere in the city. Food trucks and food carts aren't as prevalent everywhere, but in most big cities, food cart culture is where it's at and a fantastic way to try new foods for less and really get to know what a city's all about from their food. If you're traveling with a group or with kids, it really allows everyone to be happy with the dining options, while not breaking the bank.

Dining at traditional restaurants can really add up quickly, and if you're tired of your kids eating the same five things (pizza, mac and cheese, hamburger, chicken nuggets, PB&J), splitting entrees with your companions or ordering the least expensive options, then food trucks are where you need to be headed. You can experience some of the best food in the city for less, because you aren't paying for all the overhead (wait staff, tables, rental space). Unless there's a tip jar, you don't even have to think about adding extra to your bill. The truth is that even some of the spendiest items on a food cart menu are still less than plates at a normal restaurant.

Food carts are the new gourmet dining. Food trucks are all the rage. They are booming the world over. Lucky for me, I live in the number one food cart destination on the globe (as named by Travel + Leisure) and can eat cuisine from all over the world everywhere I go within Portland. From ice cream to Lebanese to Cuban, there is something for everyone, including this delicious waffle cart that makes a dough for their waffles and then tops them with all kinds of yummy combinations. Within the same block, we can have hot dogs, Hawaiian, Thai, Mexican, dumplings and Mediterranean. That’s not even all the choices! Each truck specializes in their few menu items, so you know it’s the best it can be.

More choices. How can this be when food carts are so small? Where there’s one food cart/truck, there are usually others. It’s unlikely for several of the same cuisine carts to gather in the same place, which means you have a choice of different kinds of food. This is great for those traveling with kids who are picky and never seem to want the same thing you are eating. Don’t like the dessert one cart is serving? Go check out what the others have to offer!

Mobile dining. Not only is your restaurant mobile, but you can also take your food with you. Either eat nearby or enjoy your meal on your way through the city. It’s a great way to burn calories and save time when you want to get more sightseeing done.

Where are some of your favorite food cart travel destinations? And what did you order?