.Travelling Light & Shopping
Anyone who’s flown in the last couple of years knows the increasing hassles of weight and size limits for both carry-ons and checked luggage. Not to mention dragging all your stuff through multiple airports; nor the chance that your luggage will be “mishandled” (lost, delayed, damaged, or in Nairobi).
So we have a radical suggestion for certain types of trips: Buy your clothing, cosmetics, personal items and the like at your destination. Carry just one small bag onto the plane, into which you have:
- In-the-air comfort items – book, headphones, ipod, etc.
- A few truly essential medications and cosmetics – ibuprofen, hand soap, toothbrush, etc.
- Your best walking shoes (if you aren’t wearing them), a spare shirt, a change of socks and underwear.
- Sunglasses, hat, gloves, guidebooks, maps, camera, other small incidentals.
- And then wear several layers of extra clothing onto the plane, say a fleece sweater or vest as well as a jacket.
What else do we really need for the first day or two of almost any trip? Or for the whole of the trip, for that matter? You can buy an umbrella at the airport when you land. You can pick up shampoo, toothpaste, and laundry soap at a store on the way to your hotel. Beyond that, what do you immediately need? Not much. Then, after you’ve arrived and settled in, go shopping. You’ll probably be flying into a city – anywhere in the world – where you can buy an extra pair of pants or a couple of blouses. Maybe a few more pairs of undies and socks. You can also buy a small extra bag to carry those items in while on your trip, or bring a small, light (very light) folding duffel in your carry-on.
Other benefits include not having to wait for your luggage. Getting to the car-rental counter before everyone else. Being able to check-in online for almost every leg of your trip. Going direct to the gate when you have your online boarding pass. And going shopping for clothes that are made for your destination and which your friends will envy when you get home.
We wrote the original version of this article for Americans traveling to Europe, but realized with a few small modifications the information would also be useful for international visitors to the U.S. (If you’re interested in the original version of this article for the U.S.-to-Europe traveler, it’s available here.) If anything, clothes and personal items are more widely available in the U.S. than in other places around the world. Even the smallest communities have clothing shops and drug stores. (Yes, most “drug” stores sell prescription drugs, but also have huge selections of cosmetics, personal items, magazines, even snack foods.) Americans dress very casually, so jeans and a T-shirt are (unfortunately) acceptable almost anywhere except fancy restaurants and in large, trendy cities.
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One of our favorite pairs of shoes are clogs from Prague – purchased because we had horrible blisters on our heels and couldn’t wear the shoes we’d brought. We also have purchased scarves perfect for the March weather in Paris, and a swimsuit in Canada (for the hot tub). Every second shop in every town on the planet sells T-shirts. In the U.S., we frequently travel light and upon arrival quickly and easily add a few shirts and socks to our kit. And for outerwear (parkas, rain gear, hiking clothes), America has some of the best prices in the world for name-brand clothing.
Of course, this costs. But it will be far cheaper than being hit with an over-weight luggage fee. It may also be “cheaper” than the emotional cost of a piece of lost luggage. By shopping sensibly, you should be able to pick up all the essential “extras” (except for maybe shoes) almost anywhere in the U.S. for under $100. This seems to us a small price to pay. Of course, you can always spend a lot more, too.
What to do with all these extra clothes and bottles on your return flight? Trash or give away the shampoo and such. Ship a box of clothes home slow and cheap. Go to a local post office (or better yet, a shipping center such as Mail Boxes Etc. or The UPS Store), purchase a sturdy box, and wrap it securely with strapping tape. Americans understand shipping, and everything should arrive just fine, even when you’re shipping overseas. Or, you could always donate the clothing to a charity before you return home – there are thrift stores and volunteer organizations all across the U.S. that will gladly accept good, clean clothing.
Obviously, this idea won’t work if you’re a business traveler who needs more than one suit or several dress shirts. Nor if you’re on a ski trip with boots, skis, poles, etc. Nor if you’re a professional photographer with massive amounts of gear. But how often do most of us travel that way? The other time this strategy won’t work so well is if you’re flying multiple legs to multiple destinations. But then, you’ll be traveling light on those trips anyway (we hope).
Finally, remember that if you’re leaving from a UK airport, you’re allowed only one carry-on bag, with dimensions of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (approx. 22in x 17.7in x 9.8in). In the U.S., most airlines allow carry-on bags of roughly 22x14x9 inches, but allow a second “personal item” such a laptop bag, camera bag, purse, etc.
Photos © Kenneth & Francesca Hulick
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