SECRET PACKING TIP #1
Remember, you are allowed TWO carry-on bags.
Generally, this means one “roller” type carry-on plus what the airlines call a “personal item.”
For women, their purse counts as their “personal item,” no matter how big or small. So make it count.
My wife can pack a small village and all its possessions into her purse, which we simply refer to as “the tank.”
When I travel on business, my “personal item” is my briefcase which contains my laptop.
But guess what? I’m on vacation! No briefcase. No laptop.
That means I get an “extra” carry on. Sweet!
My personal item was an expandable backpack, which on the way over to Europe contained my travel guides, my trip notes, a book, my iPod and a light jacket.
On the way back, my “personal item” backpack was transformed into a mule for all my wife’s souvenirs.
Somehow in that same backpack I carried a giant hand painted Sicilian platter, three fragile souvenir tiles, two decorative bowls, a glass Christmas ornament, two prints of the Amalfi Coast, a pair of hand painted pasta forks, a few magnets, a wine bottle stopper, a large assortment of Modica chocolate, candy bars, almonds, lemon candies and orange gummies, plus a large bottle of Sambuca and two bottles of Limoncello bought post-security at Duty Free.
Thank goodness for expandable backpacks. My back still hurts two weeks later.