Packing That Cabin Bag?
Read these quick tips.
Your cabin bag is more important to you than you think. It is not just an extra suitcase to travel with to bring back more things. It is the only suitcase that is by your side 24/7 throughout your flight. Be clever in what you pack inside it because knowing what to take may help you out a long way.
TIP 1: TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Your travel essentials are the few things that should always be by your side. Essentials consist of your passport, currencies and all your travel vouchers like your flight tickets, hotel printouts, accommodation letters, tours, insurance and so forth. Keeping this set on you inside your cabin bag means you can always whip it out whenever you have to present it at the airport. Keep them together in handy travel wallet that is small and easy to carry around. Consider emailing a set to yourself so you know there is a spare copy on the web. Always carry some US Dollars. It is globally accepted and not all places may accept your credit card.
Our stores carry a range of leather travel wallets which also make useful gifts.
TIP 2: CARRY A SPARE SET OF CLOTHES
Sometimes suitcases get put on the wrong flight. It happened to me and it can happen to anyone. I landed in Delhi and my bags arrived in Rome. Having a spare set means you at least have a fresh set of clothes to change into until your bags get recovered.
TIP 3: SPARE TOILETRIES
Carry a spare toothbrush and a hand sanitizer. Some people don’t brush their teeth on the plane. That is terrible. If you’re in transit, you can head to the washroom and freshen up before your connecting flight.
TIP 4: A MEDIKIT
You can fall sick anywhere. Medication can be expensive in airports and other pharmacies. If you’re taking anything, make sure it’s with you when you need it. Build up a basic kit that fits in your cabin bag.
TIP 5: TRAVEL MAPS/ITINERARY
This might sound old-school but nothing is more adventurous than whipping out travel maps and highlighting routes and things you want to do on specific days. By carrying these on you, you can utilize your travel time better by getting all this done on the plane and not waste time inside your hotel room. Keep some maps, paper, pens and highlighters with you. You’ll need the pens to fill out the customs forms anyway.
Sometimes old maps are just more fun than using your smartphone.
TIP 6: CABLES AND CHARGERS
Sometimes you have a few hours to wait before your flight leaves because you’re at the airport early, you’re in transit somewhere or you just have time to kill at the airport. Use this time to charge all your tech like your cellphone, tablet, camera battery etc. Also look at investing in a battery pack that carries a few chargers in it because you might not have enough time at night to charge everything.
Carrying your charger with you means you can charge your tech anywhere.
TIP 7: PACK EVERYTHING NEATLY
Many underestimate the importance of this. Airplanes have narrows isles and the lighting is terrible. When you stand up to reach for any of the above, one hand will try balance your cabin bag and the other will try feel its way for your possessions. Pack neatly so you know where everything is when you need it.
TIP 8: WEIGH YOUR CABIN BAG
Lastly, please weigh your bag before. Airlines have a weight limit between 7-8 kg per cabin bag and you don’t want to publicly have to open up and transfer these things into your other bags at the airport. Start off with a light cabin bag and get yourself a travel scale so you can weigh your bag before all your flights, no matter where in the world you are.
