Traveling Light and Proud
Queer Adventures with JUST a Carry-On Bag
Traveling has been an incredibly abundant, freeing, and humbling experience for us as an LGBTQ+ couple.
Whether we’re going near or far, exploring new places, new cultures, new terrains, and connecting with new people will absolutely create lifelong memories and experiences to go along with a few new passport stamps. And it’s a privilege we don’t take lightly.
We get a lot of shocked looks when we tell people we’ve been to 19 countries together (and counting!!), for anywhere from 2-10 days, and have NEVER checked a bag. Never ever. I know, right? Seems impossible.
Traveling light… like… JUST a carry-on bag, light… has been an essential way we’ve made the most out of our travel and adventure, reduced stress (cuz who loves the carousel chaos of “will my bad make it”?!), and kept our relationship from awkward airport arguments 👀.
Here’s a few of the reasons we’ve kept it light:
Flexibility and Convenience: First and foremost, zipping around a new destination with only a carry-on saves us so much time. By not checking a bag, you can make your way through airports, train stations, and every new city like a pro. No more lines to check your bag, waiting at baggage claim after landing, lugging around heavy suitcases on cobblestone, or worrying about lost luggage (a quick way to run any trip). We hop right off the plane and into big adventure.
Privacy and Security: Whether you’ve traveled to one state or every continent, we all want to feel safe en route. Carrying a smaller bag means we always have our bags in sight. It keeps our sanity close and our underwear even closer. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee things won’t get taken while we travel - but it definitely helps us feel a little safer knowing we can make a quick getaway from lions, tigers, and bears… or just through customs.
Packing ESSENTIALS: The most asked question we get is HOW. How do we fit everything we need (and a little extra) no matter the length of trip?
Well… to be cliche, we stick to the essentials. Jas has more difficulty with this part… but we get it done.
Clothing that’s Vers: Choose outfits that you can mix and match to create completely different outfits from day-to-day (or day-to-night). We won’t lie and tell you this is easy for every place we’ve traveled. It’s hard to get multiple sweaters in a carry-on when the trip is Norway in Winter or France for the New Year, but put your thinking cap on and grab the lightweight, but sturdy layers that can also be rotated. Same goes for shoes… pack the shoes that are compact (we know, we know) and can match the majority of your outfits. And maybe bring an extra pair for those fancy occasions.
Maximize your personal item : If we’re traveling for a longer period of time, we ditch the purse or fanny pack as the personal item and opt for a bigger backpack or smaller duffle (that still fits into your airline regulations). But it’s a good cheat code for shoes or smaller items that might not fit neatly into your carry-on bag.
Our luggage of choice? I’m glad you asked! We swear by our Away Carry-On (get $20 off using this link), Away Carry-On Flex (discontinued version with front pocket) and Dagne Dover Large Landon Carryall (use this link for $20 off your first order) for every single trip.
Who knows if there will ever come a trip where checking a bag is essential, but with every trip, at every length, we’re motivated by getting out of the airport as quickly as possible and never staring at a baggage claim conveyor.
TL;DR: No matter the destination, traveling with just a carry-on bag allows travelers to experience exciting adventures with added convenience, flexibility, and security. Focus on the essentials (for real essentials) and consider versatility to make the most of your journey.
