I’d never used a travel packing list and we’d always managed to travel with just carry on bags. BUT we’d never been on a 6 week trip with both of our laptops. So in 2013, I started with the Rick Steve’s packing list and customized for this multi-country trip – a trip that had lots of different climates, transportation, and activities.

How’d the customized packing lists work out? Great! Although I admit I HAD sneaked an extra shirt, pants, shorts, and socks that I didn’t end up using. Also had too many chargers. And an extra Universal Adapter. When we checked in at Air Canada in San Diego they weighed the bags. Our rolling carry met the dimensions, but it didn’t meet the weight! The carry on weight max was 22 pounds, and our rolling bags weighed 24 pounds. The laptop bags (eBags TLS Workstation backpacks) hold a LOT, so we quickly switched out some stuff that should be with us if the checked bags got lost, they got weighed OK and off we went, our luggage in the baggage hold and the laptops and essentials with us. It was actually liberating! Probably don’t have to mention that trying to put a 24 pound bag in the overhead bin would have been a bit of a struggle, even if we were in the first class cabin with plenty of room.

I usually pack my purse in my laptop bag, but on some airline you can wear a SMALL purse in addition to your carry on allowance. Check the airlines you are traveling on to be sure.