Fly to a ski destination with only carry-on luggage? Friends are incredulous when I tell them I’ve flown to Marble Mountain, Newfoundland (powder, baby!), Whistler, British Columbia (Oympic dreams), and Salt Lake City, Utah (powder and Olympic dreams) with only a roll-aboard and my boots. I don’t worry about whether a checked bag will magically appear on the carousel; I simply walk off the plane and out of the airport.
If you want to join me in lightening the load and lessening the angst, here’s how:
• Make every piece of clothing you bring do double or triple duty, and make sure it’s mix and match (pick a color theme and stick to it).
• Emphasize clothes fabricated from high-tech, wicking, quick-dry materials so they can be washed in the sink (use hotel-provided shampoo or soap) and be dry by the next morning.
• Use compression bags.
• Wear your ski jacket and bulkiest sweater and layer clothes underneath when flying. Stuff jacket pockets with small necessities (socks, underwear, prescriptions, etc.). You can always peel off a layer or two if too hot, and stuff the sweater, vest, windbreaker, in your jacket sleeves once on the plane.
• Stuff ski gloves and hat, longies, whatever else fits into ski boots. Note, they’ll slide in more easily if in a plastic bag, which also will protect them from any, ahem, foot odors.
• Minimize footwear by wearing boots or clogs that will take you through the trip. Pack dress shoes only if you can’t get by without.
• Clip helmet to roll-aboard (or rent on site).
• Rent skis and poles at your destination.
• Use a neck wallet instead of a purse to hold cash and credit cards (and passport, if traveling internationally) and/or a wrist or ankle wallet (I’m a huge fan of the Pacsafe wristsafe; I wear it on my ankle and I don’t worry about being separated from my cash or credit cards)
• Finally, abandon any fashionista tendencies.
Read more about Nangle’s travels on her Web site.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
And b prepared to annoy the living daylights out of every other passenger because you’ve now taken up most of the overhead space. Sorry, but this is the kind of person I hate flying with. At best, you’ve got boots, and one large bag. Which of those do you plan on putting under the seat in front of you? Because otherwise, you are taking up someone else’s space.
Fly to a ski destination with only carry-on luggage? I simply walk off the plane and out of the airport.
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Ohhh, yeah. An article advocating only carry-on. Let me preface this by saying, Yes, I know, waiting at the baggage claim takes time. Yes, I know, paying for bags is an added expense to traveling. And, lastly, yes, I know, you’re too important to check baggage, but………………………..
There’s LIMITED SPACE. Count the overheads on the next aircraft you enter. An overhead is supposed to be for the entire row, if not more. Not just for YOU, and your rollaboard AND your briefcase, which you refuse to put under your seat because you dont want to obstruct your legroom. Ohhh, let’s not forget winter coats.
Be realistic. I see carry-on bags being checked daily at the gates. Packing SMART is great, but expecting to travel carry-on only is getting harder and harder these days. More and more flight attendants are greeting you at the door with, “Sorry, Bins are full, we’ll NEED to check that.”
Great tips and thanks for the inspiration. This will apply to an upcoming trip in March. But…would you do anything differently if you were going to a wedding in ski country?? (My first cold weather wedding – NO idea what to wear.)
At least we are not required to “ski in” to the ceremony…
Actually, my roll aboard and boots take up less space than most single roll aboards. Depending upon the seat configuration, either fits under the seat in front of me. So no, I’m not taking up more than my share, actually far less. As for my coat, again, it does extra duty serving as lumbar support, pillow, or jacket as needed. Only goes above after the bulkhead door closes if there’s room.