The right bag makes a difference

Corinth Pottery from Greece

Many frequent travelers have learned to fit everything they need into a single carry-on bag. It is not that hard to do but.... I don't do it for one simple reason.... I want to be able to bring some treasure home with me.  Those one of a kind things that you may never run across again, things that will remind you of your trip and make you smile with joy.  So this post is to give you the one essential ingredient to pack smart with a checked bag and a handy carry-on. And the key is the bag itself.

On organized tours you will be allowed to check one bag which does not exceed 50 lbs. and has a dimension of 62 inches (height+width+Length). You may also take a carry-on but be aware that if take a rolling bag it will need to be stored under the bus and will not be accessible during tour days.  Since most tour buses have very narrow overhead bins (8") you will want to make sure you have something small enough to fit above or sit at your feet. 

The Checked Bag
The most important thing to consider when choosing a bag is weight. With a limit of 50 lbs. you will be surprised that a standard large suitcase can weigh up to 15 lbs. That means even though you have a big bag you probably can't fill it up without exceeding the weight limit. So do yourself a favor, if you don't already have a lightweight bag, it's time to invest in one. You can click on the links in the reviews below to see details and prices of the bags on Amazon.

My favorite lightweight luggage brand is IT for their amazing lightweight advantage. This one is just barely over 6 lbs. for a huge piece of luggage.

Lightweight Checked Luggage

The Carry-On 

You have several different options.  A great choice is a nice day pack that you can use everyday to carry the essentials you need throughout the day. By using a day pack you can be hands free and have the essentials close by. A small bag like this can also fit in the overhead bin of the bus during your tour.

If you are bringing a camera there are several styles of bags designed to protect your camera.  I use this cross shoulder camera sling bag for myself because it keeps my camera protected and in place and still leaves room for the other things I will need during the day. Another option is a day pack designed for cameras.



For the flight itself I have this underseat roller bag in two sizes, depending on my needs and I love it's organization. I usually tend to want easy access to get things from my bag on long flights and it is a hassle to keep getting up to get it from the overhead bin. This bag is a perfect solution! It fits under the seat in front of me and has pockets to organize everything, including a small laptop, my ipad, travel-size cosmetics and liquids, a small blanket and pillow plus a change of clothing.. The negative is you give us some leg room, the positive as I mentioned is being able to have easy access to your things. In addition I pull it out a bit during the flight and use it as a foot rest.. Samsonite Small Underseat Roller Bag & Samsonite Large Underseat Roller Bag. Because you cannot have this size bag on the bus during the tour you will want to be sure to pair it with something similar to the two options noted above.


You may prefer a small roller bag for using in the airports although it can only be stored under the bus during the tour itself so I recommend also bringing a bag for daily use, such as a day pack. You should fit this into your checked bag for the flight.  I need to come back to the virtues of lightweight bags because if you travel internationally, some regional airlines actually weight check-in luggage. The weight limit is usually around 15 lbs. These lightweight gems are only 4lbs leaving you enough weight to fit in your essentials.



A little pricey, but the Rio 2 Wheel Cabin Bag is an awesome carry-on bag for your travels with a compact size of 16.5x14x7.9. It has a waterproof side pocket for shoes and wet items, twin carry straps and a telescoping zip away handle. The padded tablet pocket and organizer keeps pens and small items handy. There are also two zippered pockets for organizing your travel items.

I have a confession to make, I LOVE luggage. I have an attic full of different pieces I have bought in the quest for just the right bag.  I even designed and made my own carry-on bag which I used for one trip. It was my prototype and someday I will make the upgraded version. For now I am pretty satisfied with my extremely lightweight spinner and my husband is happy that I am not sneaking in the back door with another new piece of luggage to try out. Happy travels!

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Go ahead, bring it home!

I'm not sure when my love of travel first began.  I often attribute it to the fact that I am of Norwegian descent --- I am pretty sure my ancestors took delight in climbing aboard their Viking ships as they explored the world and brought home their plunder.

Speaking of plunder, those airlines really put a crimp on shopping when they imposed such skimpy allowances on the number of checked bags, not to mention lower weight limits! Did you know that Asia Air actually charges per pound - not only on checked luggage but also your carry-on bags. Craziness!

I often coordinate group tours to Israel where the theme is "Today I walked where Jesus walked", my husband has renamed these tours (with honest exasperation), "Today she shopped where Jesus walked!"  Okay, I'll admit I may need a little anti-retail therapy.

So what's a girl to do?

If you asked my husband he would give you the easy answer, "You don't really need it anyhow, save money and skip the shopping!"

Since that is not a viable option, here are three suggestions:

1) Picture Packing: Take a picture of each souvenir you would like to bring home for your friends and family.  When you get back frame them, wrap them and present them with bravado.  Use the room you save to bring back as many lovely, 'must have' goodies for yourself  - just don't tell them your strategy.

2) Double Up Packing: Honestly, I can pretty much pack everything I need for a week or two in a carry-on bag (that topic for another day!)  So when you master traveling like a minimalist go ahead and pack what you need in your carry-on. Then put your carry-on inside of a larger bag and check them both.  On the way home you can fill the extra bag with your loot.

3) Discard Packing:  Do you really care what a bunch of strangers you will never see again think about your fashion style?  Learn to "Discard Pack".  Either pick up some clothes at your local thrift store or pack clothing you don't want anymore.  As it get's dirty, go ahead and toss it. By the end of the trip you will have plenty of room for your new treasures.  To be honest I've been doing this for years with my undies.  I mean really? Who wants to carry around your dirty under things in the same bag with your fresh clothes. Whenever I travel I either pack my old undies or go buy cheap ones and toss them out at the end of the day. Hmm, maybe too much information!

The best tip I can give you is to throw away your old heavy luggage.  With the airlines limiting you to 45-50 lbs it is ridiculous to waste your weight on the luggage itself.  I invested in this luggage set and it has held up great on my past three international trips.  The large bag is only 5 lbs, the medium is 4 lbs and the carry-on is 3.5 lbs.  This can save you up to 10 lbs. on traditional luggage which means 10 more pounds of treasures you can bring home!