We’ve all witnessed luggage nightmares at airports: hundreds of suitcases piled up – blobs in a sea of black. And not just Canada. From London to Dusseldorf to Amsterdam, travelers traveling through international airports abroad are also facing airport chaos.
Marybeth Bond spent a month this spring traveling to four different countries in Europe without the hassle of checking any baggage, and she just flew from California to Connecticut for a family reunion family on 4th of July with her husband – again with hand luggage only.
Bond, the author of dozens of travel books and one of the bloggers behind GutsyTraveler.com, said in a phone interview on Monday: “What a difference it makes.
“Hand luggage is the only way to go because then you skip the baggage check. When you get off the plane, you’re the first in line to get out of the airport. And it’s chaotic out there.”
You may not have control over your nightmare of long lines and canceled flights, but you can control whether you spend the first few days of your vacation with or without travel essentials. your calendar.
From Bluetooth trackers to choosing the right suitcase, here are some tips and tricks to reduce the risk of a baggage disaster at the airport.
SIGN UP THE RIGHT LAW
Some might recommend carrying a lightweight hard suitcase to minimize the temptation of overpacking, but Bond and CeeCee Chilanga, a Toronto-based style expert and founder of the Dapper Style Mint, All recommend carrying soft luggage because of its flexibility and expandability. They also come with external pockets for quick and easy access to items that may need to be removed at the security office.
“The luggage is soft, you can stuff it and it expands… and then I usually make a backpack or a duffel as my second personal item,” said Chilanga, who rarely flies with checked baggage, told CTVNews.ca in an interview.
“I hate queuing up for luggage if I don’t.”
She says wallets are a waste of space and instead, put her purse and passport in a nice little bag or a small crossbody bag so she can tuck it in her side or under her shirt. coat.
If you choose a duffle bag over a suitcase, consider one with wheels so you have the option of wheels instead.
Bond’s favorite suitcase style is the “spinner” style, which is lightweight with four wheels that can be easily pushed instead of pulled.
Always double check the baggage size limits for the airline you’ll be flying with, be aware that domestic and international airlines may have different requirements. Bond notes that there are weight limits in Europe that can be difficult to meet.
BLUETOOTH FOLLOWERS
For $40 and up, these battery-powered trackers can be placed in your luggage to help you find your luggage in a crowd of suitcases.
Originally popularized as a method of tracking keys, wallets, even lost pets, Bluetooth tracking tools like Apple’s AirTag, Samsung’s SmartTag, or Tile send information to your cell phone. you so you know exactly where they are. They don’t consume much power and typically have a range of 100 to 300 ft, depending on the strength of the Bluetooth signal between the tracker and your phone. They can also sound an alarm to help you locate a lost item. When the item is out of Bluetooth range, many models will show the tracker’s most recent location.
Some models only work with specific devices, brands, and operating systems, like iOS and Android. For example, AirTag only works with iPhone. But it works on Apple’s Find My system, which helps track your items through the company’s network of devices. This allows the location of your AirTag to be updated regularly even when you are out of range and allows for more accurate tracking.
Some trackers use GPS, which provides much greater coverage than Bluetooth, but requires registration and not all countries use the same cellular network technology.
As PC Magazine wrote in its tracker review, “Think about how you plan to use a Bluetooth tracker… some models work better for certain applications than others.”
PACKAGING LAMP: HAS PASSED THE TEST?
A key tip for light packing is to bring low-maintenance suits that you can layer, mix, and match. And start early – don’t wait until the night before, advise Chilanga and Bond.
“It’s just really concerned with what you’ll actually wear and what’s just the weight,” says Chilanga, who always checks the weather before packing.
Starting early means giving yourself time to consider what you need and don’t need. Chilanga aims to get three to four different combinations from each item she carries to minimize the amount of stuff she has to pack.
“So be prepared with everything in advance and make sure that if I get the top, I can maximize it in as many ways with different outfits,” she explains.
“Remember that other people don’t notice if you wear the same thing every day – only you do,” adds Bond. She said a white shirt with a different scarf for three days in a row and everyone thought I was wearing something different.
Chilanga and Bond also avoid fabrics that require more care, such as those that don’t require dry cleaning or ironing. Bond checks to see if the item has passed the wash, dry and wear test.
“There are all those wonderful fabrics, you can wash them anywhere and it dries in a few hours and you wear them again, wrinkle free,” she says.
Bond also suggests skipping expensive jewelry and books that can be heavy; Bring an e-book instead. The heaviest item you’ll pack should be your shoes, and wear the largest pair of shoes on your feet if you’re wearing more than one pair. Makeup and other toiletries can also quickly add up in weight and space, so grab the ones you need and put them in smaller containers.
TRAVELING WITH BABY?
If you have children with you, traveling “light” can be difficult. Their clothes may be smaller and take up less space, but they often need other essentials. If they’re big enough, Bond says it’s a good lesson to keep them packed and not let them get too many toys and books.
Chilanga says if Walmart or another similar store is easily accessible, consider buying bulky items like extra diapers at the destination rather than packing up what they need for a week.
FEES SPACE
Both Chilanga and Bond roll their clothes to make sure every nook and cranny of their luggage and bags is maximized.
“I roll things up and tuck them into shoes, stuff them inside hats, any little corners I can stuff stuff in. So usually, even on a five-day trip, I can wear it. Bring your belongings,” Chilanga said.
Some experts have recommended using “packing blocks” to help organize and store clothes in luggage, but they can take up more space. Another packing method is bundling, which helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Clothes are wrapped in layers around a sturdy object – for example, a bag for socks and bras – until you have a garment. Some travelers use compression bags or the popular waterproof dry bags when camping as alternative organization and space-saving options.
And in case the airline decides to force you to check your luggage at the last minute, always make sure you have at least one set of clothes, underwear and other essentials in your backpack or second personal duffle bag. your two. Bond recommends that you have identification both inside and outside of your luggage and that it appears exactly as it does on the plane ticket.
“Always carry what you can’t live without – it’s always your passport, it’s always any medication you take,” she says.
“Some things you never leave home without – your patience and your sense of humour. Because things will not go as planned. You have to just laugh at it. ”
