Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

I am going to Aruba for 5 days--Do you think it is possible to fit ALL my stuff into a carry on bag only?? Our flights coming home got switched and we have a very long layover, I am very concerned about something happening to my luggage and I also figure going there it will be much easier not waiting at baggage--do u think it will be impossible to pack all my items into a carry on?

I really think this would make my life easier but not sure if I can make do--can any1 share an opinion or shed some light on the pros or cons of this?

ty!!

Message edited 8/17/2008 9:59:19 PM.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

I would totally carry on! I did carry on for 4 days with winter clothes - sweaters, jeans, etc

Warm weather clothes don't take much room. Pick your outfits so you don't need to bring more then one pair of shoes plus the ones you wear. Use a large purse for your personal carry on.


Pros:
You don't overpack
You won't have to worry about your bag getting lost
You won't have to wait to get your bags from baggage claim

Cons:
You have to carry it through the airport
You can only carry a certain amount of liquids on the plane.

Message edited 8/17/2008 10:24:43 PM.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

i've done it - a full week in disney in january.... BUT that was before the liquid requirements and tighter security.

Think about your hair products, shave gel, toothpaste, liquid makeup - they're probably over 3oz, right? And don't forget a razor, tweezer, etc.... they'll all be pulled out.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

are you sure? they confiscated my tweezer at JFK in November.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

Yep, I travelled with both in Jan & May. I just checked TSA.gov and both are on the permitted items list. I think you got stuck with an over zealous inspector.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

Thanks guys! I am def going to try and pack for carryon only...tonite i might do a trial run and see what fits! LOL :)

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

I do carry-on only when I do 10+ days abroad. It's tough, but worth it. I make sure to stay at nice hotels with nice toiletries

When I go to the carib, however, I always check because I bring a TON of sunscreen.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

DH & I just did it in July...We went away for a week & carried on all of our stuff. I find it is less stressful to have your luggage with you in case something happens in terms of your flight getting cancelled..

I have had my luggage lost WAY too many times, from that point forward, I ALWAYS carry on my luggage!!!!

Like OP said, you have the tendancy to only take what you NEED when you are carrying on! Plus you don't to wait once you get off the plane

Enjoy your trip

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

the liquids, the razors the clippers rules would all disqualify me for using a carry on.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

Here's a helpful tip - pick 2 or 3 pair of shoes to bring and then match all outfits to the shoes -

there are a few 3 oz sunscrean lotions

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

Nope. I've done it for 9 day trips. You cna re-wear jeans, and try to keep shoes to a minimum. Just remember that with carry on you have the restrictions on liquids. Since then I've been checking my bags occasionally when before I would ALWAYS do carry-on only. Also don't forget you also get a "personal item" which is a purse or laptop, for example. I usually shove my purse into a huge tote and call that my "personal item" and I can fit all of my plane stuff, toiletries, etc in it.

Re: Am I crazy to try carry on only for a 5 day trip?

we just took a tweezer, razor and nail clippers through security, in our bag, for 2 trips in july/aug, with no issues. The only thing that was questioned was the travel shave gel, because it's aerosol and huge BUT it's less than 2 oz so it was ok.

But remember all the liquidy gel needs to fit into that bag... the shave gel was a tight fit lol