What other commonly packed items do you think should be left at home? Share your thoughts in the comments 👇 And don't forget to grab 5% off Holafly eSIMs here: bit.ly/3vJwGXy (coupon code PROJECTUNTETHERED)

Yes to carryon only. Over past 5 months I’ve switched to no checked bags. Made numerous week-long trips refining my packing and invested in lightweight travel/merino wool clothing. Selling everything to begin my full-time, slow intl. travel in 2 months with carryon only. Love the thought of having everything I own in a small roller bag and my knack pack.

I always print a physical copy of my boarding pass. Relaying only on your phone is just stupid.

Excellent advice! We are 73 & 76 and although we have travelled the world with only carry-on rolling suitcases, this year we are switching to carry-on backpacks and carefully weighing all our items as we will be using trains to get around the country. We will definitely not be taking any "just in case" items that we always seem to add and never use.

Some interesting ideas thanks, I looked at the esim, and to be honest it's way way too expensive, actually more than twice as much, when compared to getting a physical sim when I get to my destination. One tip that you no doubt now know, is never ever give your passport to someone when hiring a motorbike, car, jetski, etc, give them a photocopy, if they insist on the passport, go elsewhere.

Tell me, I just wanted to tell you that of all the KZfaqrs that are male that have offered plain and simple suggestions for travel. I found your channel to be the best. I’m so glad I found your channel!!! Please keep up the good work Vic.

both checked bags and carry on are good for flights!

Doing our 1st Carry-On only for an 11 day trip to Ireland. Also, 1st time going there. I watched your videos & Portables, so I feel more confident about doing this. Thank You!!!

I'm 💯 here for Carry-On Only. All about that 1 Bag Travel livestyle. Have traveled a lot for work and on vacations with my wife & kids am converting them all to this way to go. No "baggage claim". No lost luggage. Easy backpack style only makes it easier to get to our destinations. 👍

In a window seat, a packing cube doubles as a clean pillow.

Cash is king!!! Always have a fair amount hidden on your person, not in your bag at the hotel. I hide mine in a belt with a zipper on the back, completely invisible. You never know. One bag only. Travel towel, bandaids, needle and thread. Coil heater for coffee. Paper boarding passes.

CARRY ON! 🎒

For the sim card see if your phone carrier offers an international plan first. Usually this just requires a phone call or visit to their site to activate/deactivate and in many cases (like with Verizon) you have options to use the same plan you already have for like $10 per day (so if you have unlimited data, you may get unlimited data or close to it, although the speeds may vary depending on where you are). This is also a good way to control your bill so if you know you will be charged $10 per day and you're gone for a wek, you know that at worst, your bill will likely only be $70 or $100 with fees perhaps but it likely won't be several hundred dollars due to roaming. About the boarding passes.. . I would still try to get one printed if you can, but if you can't at least take a screen shot of it so if you lose data signal while in the airport, the screen shot of your ticket and barcode can help (I've actually used the screenshot before many times for United and Southwest flights where I may not have had a good connection or whatever and it works fine, but you have to take a normal screen shot - not zoomed in/out, just what you see on the screen when you bring up the ticket). About cables... bring spares. At least one spare cable and one spare charging block in case yours goes bad. In most countries you can probably buy a USB-c cable so it may not be an issue but if you're going to say Africa or some of the lesser developed countries (or you're just in the middle of nowhere in say Norway) you may find it hard to find a spare cable or charger if yours goes bad, so I'd say pack a spare cable and charger, and worst case is you can charge more than one item at a time if you do. As for carry-on vs checked... it depends on the trip, where I'm going, and for how long... if it's a shorter trip (like 1 week or less) I can usually get away with a backpack and carry-on. If it's a longer trip or I need to bring extra stuff because I'm maybe camping, or hiking or can't do laundry and it's a longer trip, then I will probably check a bag (also if something like hiking poles requires a checked bag then I will be more inclined to bring a checked bag, but if I do, then I don't usually have a carry-on, just a backpack and then the checked bag, so it's one or the other for me, not both types of bags). On the carry-on only trips I do try to bring or buy a small packet of detergent so I could do laundry in the hotel room if needed and this means I can usually pack less clothes, maybe enough for 3-4 days and do laundry every 3 days.

CARRY ON ONLY!!!

I use a 38L carry on backpack for the overhead bin and a 20L personal item handbag for under the seat. It has always worked perfectly.

Thanx! I've been traveling for decades with just a carry-on but you never know what tips you'll pick up. SOLID sunscreen will be quite convenient for one month hopping around Indonesia and Malaysia this September.

I'm going to Thailand for two months in October. I will be taking my kitchen sink with me.😊

I have found I can get by with my work backpack and rolling carryon. Just purchased a 40L Corsurf backpack. Will be using it on a trip to Iceland in September. I am going to try to get everything in the 40L bag. I will wear my hiking boots and bulky items on the flight. Hopefully I can get everything in the backpack. I am using pants from Western Rise, and base layers and t shirts from Paka, which you can wear multiple days so fingers crossed this will work. I end up with terrible head bob when trying to sleep with an airline pillow so I will be using my Sleeper hold travel pillow which I can clip to the outside of my backpack. I have sleep apnea so I do have to travel with my CPAP which adds a little bulk.

Last year I did 14 days in South Korea with my daughter. There were things I didn’t pack thinking I would just buy them there but I found it takes away from the vacation to have to spend time buying stuff you need, especially if you’re at all particular about brand or type. This year I’m just packing everything I need.

I figured out how to use the trtl. As you said, you just have to move it around till it feels ok. Comfortable or not- it supports your neck and head. Tu for this. Now, let’s get the e -sim:)

Thank you I travel with my towel for a long time but never use it.

Carry on all the way!

I often bought the SIM cards offered upon arrival and often there was a special offer for arriving travelers. Enough data volume for the first few days ...

Thanks for sharing👍

In my experience, Canadian carriers outside of Canada make you get a printed boarding pass at check-in, my guess is to have a look at your carry-on and try to "persuade" you to check it.

Missed one detail re ATMs. Decline any conversion rate offered. Its 5-12% or so in the bank's favor, which will usually dwarf any fee you're charged.

1. Airline pillows are worthless. 2. On a 14-hour flight, you will definitely want something to hold your chin up off your chest, so travel pillows are important. 3. There are inflatable pillows that work great and pack small. 4. A rain jacket is just about worthless, but a travel umbrella is great and takes up less room. 5. Your wife's pillow idea is genius. 6. You shouldn't pack a towel, but you should definitely bring a decent washcloth. 7. If you really need to use your own number while you're away, Holafly won't do you any good. I pay Verizon $10 per day for international service. I consider it a worthwhile expense so I can continue doing business overseas. 8. Books can't come close to doing what guides do. I had to book guided activities in order to get foreign countries to grant visas to my African wife, and the guides really enhanced our trips. We learned what locals are going through in Hong Kong because of the filthy communist government, for example. Also, if you take a food tour, a guide who has to watch you eat the food is more likely to take you to good places, and they'll help you eat the way locals do. KZfaq jerks have sent me and my wife to places with disgusting food, and everything recommended by Anthony Bourdain is garbage. 9. Phones are amazing these days, but there is no substitute for a good camera if you want to do a really good job of preserving memories. Remote mikes with dead cats are essential, even if you're only taking a phone. Bring a tiny rechargeable light for places like dark restaurants. If you're really serious, buy a gimbal. 10. The carry-on cult is right when it comes to very short trips, but if you're gone more than a week, you will get tired of washing your dirty underwear in the sink frequently and wearing the same 4 shirts. Life is much easier with a big bag, unless you're pulling it all the time. When I travel, I have to move my bag a little bit when I'm going to and from airports. Other than that, it sits in my room or in racks or cargo holds. You can fill checked bags with clothes you're not afraid to lose, and aside from that, the loss rate is very, very low. When you come home, you'll have a place to put stuff you bought. Also, you'll never be surprised by a stewardess who forces you to check your tiny bag after boarding. Stuff I've learned: 1. Bring your own OTC medicine. Don't assume you can get anything OTC abroad. Don't expect to waltz into a beautiful American-style drugstore and choose from thousands of items in relative anonymity. In Ireland, you have to beg a pharmacist to let you have things, and you get to enjoy telling a stranger you have jock itch or hemorrhoids. 2. Take a small laptop that folds into a tablet. You may want to use it at your hotel for various things, like picking new destinations and flights, and a hotel PC is no substitute. If it doubles as a tablet, you don't have to squint at a tiny phone while watching movies or reading on a plane. 3. Bring a backpack made for holding a laptop, glasses, a cold drink, and whatever electronics you need. Swiss Gear makes fantastic small backpacks. A backpack will allow you to keep your medications with you, as well as things like antiseptic wipes, and you won't have to leave valuables in a hotel room "safe" that can be opened with a butter knife. 4. Start walking and exercising a month before you travel, so you can handle walking a lot. Walking is the best way to see new places, and it helps kill travel fat. If you show up in a hilly place or a place where you have to walk a lot on flat ground, without getting in shape, expect to be miserable. Like my wife was in Hong Kong and Egypt. 5. Find room for a good white noise machine, unless you enjoy listening to drunks at 3 a.m. 6. Bring a good sleep mask and silicone ear plugs. 7. Bring a clothesline. And if you're in Singapore, get yourself a big bottle of Guardian purple body wash for about $3. You can use it on your hair, body, and clothes. 8. Always, ALWAYS keep Imodium in your backpack, on your person. Single most important travel medicine. Bring stool softener, too. If you overdo the Imodium, you will be glad you brought stool softener. 9. Your American health insurance won't work in other countries, so buy a short policy. Don't buy it from Heymondo, because they are crooks who do not pay claims. 10. Get Global Entry. It's worth it.

Any time that I have flown I always do carry on. I planed my whole trip via the web. I didn’t find much on KZfaq about my destination so I had to plan via travel sights.

Currency carry includes USD, JPN¥, HK$ or CN¥(Renminbi). Why? Usable everywhere and convertible too. Also easily available at banks. Your tips made sense and I do lots of them too.

You swam w sharks?!!! I missed that memo. You and the other gal are my regulars. I’ve downsized into a Toyota Sienna camper van in prep for downsizing for plane trips. Taking notes. Cheers!

eSIMs are convenient for short trips, but they are quite expensive compared to getting a regular SIM card in many countries.

Carry-on all the way. Although, I had a flight from the Philippines via Korean Air to the US. I had to check my carry-on because it was over their weight limit. I wasn't too happy, but there wasn't anything I could do except to check my carry-on luggage. 🤔

In my world, all of my devices do charge by USB-C, don't buy Apple and you'll be in that perfect world.

If I'm going on a trip where I know I will have access to a car the entire time, I'll consider a checked suitcase. Otherwise, I'll only do carry-on only. It's always a better option. My partner spent one trip lugging her roller up two flights of stairs at a train station because the elevator was broken and then again up a cobblestone street at an incline in order to have 2 extra days of laundry and has since also switched to carry-on only. (This was on a solo trip, that's why I did not help her. 😂) I agree with others - as long as there isn't a huge lineup, I get a paper boarding pass, especially if there are connections, because someone is going to ask to see it or scan it every 5 minutes in your walk between gates. Maybe it's because I've never done a long haul with a really budget carrier, but I've always been able to put my seat back enough where my neck drooping forward isn't ever an issue, so all those fancy travel pillows seem to do is feel restrictive and unnatural and prevent me from wearing my noise cancelling headphones at the same time.

Physical Boarding Pass and copy on the phone for Me, redundancy in case of theft or phone dying. Great advise, got My sub

Is your T-shirt from 32degrees? I’m just curious! I love them so much. :D Thanks for the video!

We do carry on only!!!

Checked bags

What is the tripod you are using for your phone

Thank you for your time and posting. Carry on for me. I've been investigating backpacks. I'm not spending $250 for a carry-on. IMO, just a huge waste, especially when 'all' the reviewers always stress none of them are perfect. My Costco $15 High Sierra isn't perfect either. :) So, I have the Mother Lode Jr. from eBags, and I'll use my trusty High Sierra. Thanks again for all your time.

What microphone do you use? It sounds awesome and looks cool!

eSIMs are easy and convenient, but one thing I've found is that when I buy a physical SIM I can usually still use that data allowance when I get home (Mobile carrier "3" in England, for example, offers data roaming in Europe and the USA). That way, if you buy 10GB you can still use it if you move on to another European country or back in the US. With an eSIM, you are usually not able to use it beyond the borders of the purchased country.

E sim will give only a data connection and not a calling number right?

May not always be necessary to have paper copies...but I would still recommend doing so. Also, you confused me a little at one point...bring money, or don't bring money. From my experience traveling abroad...it is still a good idea to have cash on hand. There are many many places actually (even spots in high-tech Singapore) where you cannot use your plastic. The Schwab card is an excellent idea though. I have that myself. Highly recommend it :)

What T-shirts do you travel in? Looking for lightweight.

GOOD

Carry on only, even a with a 4 year old it just works😅🥳🥰

Carry on only, no matter how long my trip is.

eSims don't work on older phones (like my i phone 8)

I don't travel as much anymore but I have been using one bag travel for years. Whether I am going for a week or a month, one bag. Wash on the go. There are stores in every country and if I need something I can buy it there. I often buy a complete wardrobe at a thrift store and discard items along the trip if they get dirty or damaged. I m a tourist so the idea of 'fitting in' at my destination is pretty much a joke and virtually no one is seeing me for more than a day at a time. Who cares? Learn a bit of the language of the country and I believe acceptance is a no brainer, show respect. Solid toiletries are the way to go. Hotels have almost anything one could want if forgotten. Pharmacies are everywhere. Enjoy without worries.

Check check check check check. I want to have my shit with me. I'm not trying to win a "who can pack the least" contest. Also, don't want to be one of those annoying people on the plane trying to fit a carryon in a space that's too small.

Bring less stuff , bring more money 💴 I bring the clothes I no longer want and dump the stuff as I go . Ez wash dry what I keep . Melatonin to sleep 😴 Amino acid complex to stay awake , both at vitamin counter

I love that you plugged the Portable Professional. The two of you are my favorite travel creators because you both provide actual real tips and tricks that I don't already know about 🩷

Respectful disagreements here: 1. Cash will ALWAY be a good idea. Plastic works well in Europe and the USA/Canada, but try whipping out your Amex in the rest of the world. Further, every time you use the plastic, the LOCALS LOSE 3% to the USA Credit Card companies. 2. Downloading the boarding pass from the airline prior to arriving at the airport will save you a little time at CHECK-IN only. Later, when you arrive at the gate, they then call your name, and you have to go up to the counter and VERIFY your ID with your boarding pass. Either way, you will still need to stand in line and wait. I like to download the boarding pass online, and then grab a paper BACKUP when I check my bag. Also, some airlines (TAP) will not honor their own electronic boarding pass for international flights to the USA. You MUST have a physical pass from the airline staff after they check your passport. Its an FAA demand. (If you listened to Megans videos CAREFULLY, you would have heard her recommendation to always have BACKUP paper copies). 3. E-sims are wasteful and add another layer to your travel demands (these E-sim companies are just MIDDLE MEN). If the e-sim fails, then you are on the phone for hours getting the stupid thing to work. With a chip, you pop it in, and it works. If it does not, then you dont leave the store until they get it working. Also, with a chip, you can use the device, remove it, and then give it to the hotel staff as a GIFT with the remaining time and data. I did this in Lisbon, the the lady at the hotel let her daughter use the chip for about 2 extra months after I departed (she sent me an email). You cant do this with an E-sim. Just go to a phone store at the airport, get a nice data plan, and then gift the remaining time to the locals on departure. I will admit, however, that E-sims are a good solution if you are crossing numerous borders during one trip. Keep up the good work. Love your videos. Bon Voyage.

Printed boarding passes and tickets should always be present in your luggage. Why? what if your device get's stolen/lost? Are you going to spend precious time getting another device?

Everyone always talks about esims, but what if you need to call hotels, your airbnbs, your bank back home for issues, etc.? They don't always have whatsapp or messenger. What app do you recommend?

I’m team No Checked Bags.

Minimalism is overrated. Like the old song says, Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. Computer makers need to standardize their connections to usb-c or something. You definitely don't want to pack more than you need, but you don't have to travel like a stowaway. If you're changing hotels every three days, you're going to fast. And I don't want to look like I just finished college, which for me was a long time ago. Nor do I want to look like a poor sailor with one green duffel bag. BTW, military pay is terrible, and they treat the workers (80%) like cr**. None of the training or experience transfers. I don't stay in hostels anymore either. They're not that great, at least those in Western Europe. They're sparsely furnished and you have to vacate the place most of the day for "cleaning." Bunk beds, that's about it. At most of them you can't go back during the day to change clothes or anything else. For any international trip I carry a 24-inch checked spinner, a small stackable carry-on with wheels, and a small backpack, the same small backpack I use everyday. Chances are remote that an airline will lose your checked bag, but it does happen. Take pictures of it and put a tracker in there. Cathay Pacific misplaced my bag for five days two years ago. If you want or need to put pricey electronics in a checked bag, you can buy extra insurance when you check in for your international flight. It's probably not worth going to Asia or even Europe for less than two weeks, which is another reason I have to take more than one backpack. If you ask me, Western Europe is overpriced and not what it's cracked up to be. I took a history course entitled History of Western Europe in college. That was in addition to Western Civ and American History. Last time I went to the UK, blue-collar security people were yelling at tourists like a drill sergeant. I thought they liked Americans before I went. A lot of them don't. I speak conversational French, but France is not much better. Some romantics will disagree. A number of French people under 30 called me queer. I'm not gay, and I don't look like an old queen at all. They also called me old man in French quite a few times. That really didn't apply either. Nevertheless I think Nice and southern France, aka PACA, is the most pleasant region with the least verbal abuse. If you've got to see Paris and the big radio tower, go there and get it out of your system. There are pickpockets around the tower, but otherwise it's not bad. The hotels will set you back. You need to know how to speak and read at least a little French, but suit yourself. Be adventurous. You won't be able to talk to a cab driver or read anything without translations. I didn't have as much trouble when I had a companion with me in France. I would avoid going to Europe alone. In general, people are much more polite and friendly in Asian countries such as Thailand and the Philippines. I don't get involved in politics. It's probably about the same everywhere in East Asia, including China. It's also much cheaper. An Android tablet or iPad is lighter than a laptop. RB

Carry on

I agree, carry on is the go and most of my travel over the last few years is with only carry on, although with most Australian carriers and some others the maximum weight is 7kg. This is a bit of a challenge as the bag itself can weigh 3kg. I also carry a small camera (a Canon GX7 mk2) I was very fortunate to have this on my last trio as my phone's camera died so I was able to fall back to using the Canon.

Not a Schwab card!

Obviously you are not a photographer and do not carry 2 bodies, 3-4 lenses, a tripod, filters etc. 😀