Many of us love to travel...and, in my opinion, it
feels so good to do so. What does not feel good is lost luggage.
I travel with just a carry-on whenever I can. Of course, that's not always possible. But whether carry-on luggage only is your goal or not, some things should always travel with you and never be included in your checked-baggage. 1. Documents you may need: Never, ever put your driver's license, passport, or other essential documents in check through luggage. They should be carried with you. Carry a printed copy of your hotel and flight reservations just in case.
2. Medicine: Any medication you take should go with you in carry-on. If you have a canceled or delayed flight or lost luggage, you don’t want to be frantically contacting your doctor or searching for a pharmacy. Over-the-counter medicines, like ibuprofen, antacid tablets, or allergy pills might be okay in check-through if you feel confident you can
replace them when you reach your destination. But personally, I like having them with me.
3. Money: A few years ago, I heard about a couple who bought currency for the foreign country they were about to visit and packed it in their check-through. Their luggage was never put on the
plane so they didn't have the currency when they arrived at their destination. They did end up getting that luggage, luckily, but not until the next day.
4. Jewelry: Never pack your fine jewelry in your check-through. The last thing you want to lose is that opal necklace or gold
tennis bracelet. If you really want jewelry for the trip and don’t want it in your carry-on luggage, pack costume jewelry. 5: Electronics. I never put my phone, tablet, etc., or the cables and charger anywhere but carry-on. Also, an adaptor plug if traveling overseas is always with me. Plugs and cables add bulk and weight, but many are
necessities.
What it all boils down to is, don’t ever pack anything in check-through luggage that would be a nightmare to replace or break your heart to lose.
In addition to the above items, in my carry-on I always pack one outfit (an extra set of underwear, a clean tee shirt, leggings, and socks). Doing so provides some flexibility if you get delayed, or your luggage disappears.
Also, it's good idea to pack these in your carry-on: a toothbrush, travel-size toothpaste, hairbrush or comb, extra glasses or contacts, travel-sized toiletries in TSA approved containers/sizes, earplugs, ear buds, a pen, a book or eReader, Ear Planes if you tend to have ear pain when flying, a small blanket for warmth, and a snack or two. Remember that the airlines set a limit on how much they will reimburse you for lost luggage. Not only that, they may require proof of loss.
A friend of mine
whose luggage disappeared said the airline wanted receipts for everything she had in her lost luggage. Who has that?!
She ultimately got about $250 for the contents of her suitcase, but
that was it. That did not cover the bag and all that was in it.
With care, you should be able to pack an efficient and reasonably lightweight carry-on bag. Happy travels!
