Carry-on vs Checked Bag: Which is Right for Your Travel Style?

You’ve booked your flight, got your hotel, and bought new outfits. Now you’re wondering should these new clothes go in a carry-on or should you check it?

If you're new here Hi! I’m Ashley and I've traveled with only a backpack to two full-blown checked bags all over the world. When it’s your first time out of the country (or even 18th!) sometimes you have to decide if you want to check a bag or do carry-on only. I have it broken down to help you decide what category you should go with.

Carry-On

Think tropical destinations, weekend getaways, or short visits. With tropical getaways, you can get by with less clothing- hello cute swimsuits!

If you’re doing a Thursday - Sunday style trip you can also get away with a carry-on and personal bag. Don’t underestimate the power of packing neatly and using packing cubes. With the right game plan, you can pack a lot of clothes this way. I was able to do a week-long trip to Barcelona and Madrid with only a carry-on and a backpack. When you choose to travel this way it requires you to pack more purposefully. Thinking about the events you’ll be doing and the pictures you may want to take requires you to plan more so that you are smart with the limited space that you have.

• Instead of packing your full-size beauty products, you will have to opt to pack travel sizes or put your favorite foundation in a small container. (Tip: Sephora gives free samples and in my experience, the sample they provide for the foundation is enough to last at least 4 days!)

• If you have flight anxiety and wonder if the airline will lose your bag is a fear of yours a carry-on is a surefire way to ensure that your bag stays on your person the entire trip giving you one less worry!

Dependent on the airline you decide to take (looking at you Frontier and Spirit) you'll end up spending more to have your bag as a carry-on versus a checked bag.

Checked Bag

Longer stays, content planners, fashionistas, and colder destinations.

Are you the type to change at least twice a day? Do you need to film content or have grand accessories? A checked bag may be for you. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for liking options while out of the country, not everyone can be a backpacker! This option also works better If you like having backup outfits for each day or plan on doing some shopping while out of the country and want to be sure to have room to bring it back.

If you’re going somewhere cold, coats and sweaters are bulky and take up a lot of room (vacuum bags can help with this but it doesn't completely negate needing more space). I would suggest a checked bag for these destinations so that you can pack all the necessary layers you’re going to need.

I touched on the potential of the airline losing your bag, if this is now a fear for you invest in an Airtag to place in your luggage so that you can track it. Additionally, most travel credit cards will reimbursement when you buy new items if your bag is gone more than 24 hours! If you have a hard shell suitcase there is a possibility that your bag may get broken

Bag preference boils down to the person obviously. When I was younger and more strapped for cash I was a personal bag only and MAYBE a carry-on. Now I like having checked bags so that I can have options for all the cute outfits I had planned in my head. Sometimes my husband and I will split a checked bag when we both want more items to bring but may not have enough individually for an individual checked