While preparing for a two-week trip to Europe, including a Mediterranean cruise and a solo trip to Paris, I fell down a rabbit hole on YouTube on what to wear. “Don’t wear tennis shoes, or you’ll just SCREAM ‘tourist’, and be at risk for pickpocketing!” one fashion influencer warned. The more videos I watched, the more my shopping list grew: comfortable, yet classy walking shoes, long flowy dresses, a stylish oversized tote bag, and a wide-brim straw hat. Suddenly, up popped a video about something I’d never heard of before: One. Bag. Travel. As someone experienced with lost luggage fiascos, my interest was piqued.
Easily Influenced
On the screen was vlogger Morgan Caroline showing off her packing skills as she stuffed 10 days worth of necessities all in one travel bag, a new Osprey Frontpoint 40 backpack. As a former flight attendant, I had traveled with one bag for years for work. But those trips were only 3 days at most. When I wasn’t working I mostly took road trips (because who wants to be at work when they’re not working?!). If I’m going on a road trip, everything goes in the car. What if I have extra time to learn that mandolin I bought 20 years ago, or suddenly feel an urge to finish crocheting that king-sized blanket? But watching in amazement while 10 days worth of luggage disappeared into one bag, I felt something–a challenge.
Challenge Accepted
I crawled out of the Euro-fashion rabbit hole and JUMPED into the one-bag travel rabbit hole. The more I watched, the more tips I learned, and the more excited I grew. I must admit I felt a little crazy. I was going on a lengthy cruise, NOT backpacking. Why was I making things harder on myself? But I rationalized that I would be taking a train after the cruise to spend a couple of nights in Paris, and that it would be much easier to have a backpack than carrying luggage on to the train.
On a Quest
The next day, I visited my local REI and talked to an expert backpacker who was VERY excited about my upcoming adventure. His daughter, he told me, is also a one-bag traveler, but only takes ONE outfit and a pair of flip-flops. This was an extreme I was not willing to take things to. He showed me what he said was the number one bag for backpacking Europe, which happened to be the very same backpack from the video, an Osprey Fairview 40. I bought the backpack, and headed home to start my one-bag journey.
Time to Pack!
I ditched my shopping list, and raided my closet. The key to one bag travel, I have learned, is a good compression sack (or two). I started by taking everything I wanted to pack and seeing what I could fit. I quickly learned to ditch thicker fabrics, and anything with buttons or zippers. Once everything was crammed into the bag, I cinched it down with the straps into a ball that was so compressed, it was solid as a rock. I slid in a pair of nude leather sandals that I could wear with both dress and casual clothing. I threw travel-sized toiletries, and my makeup into a small lightweight cube organizer. In a second cube, I packed snacks and goodies for the journey. I slid my laptop into the built-in sleeve, and stepped back to view my masterpiece.
“Soooo, Where are your bags?”
At the airport counter, the agent was puzzled. “No checked bag? And you’re returning on the 10th?” she asked in bewilderment. “Nope, just this backpack.” Her curiosity turned into admiration as I explained how I had fit it all in.
At the cruise port, my friend was skeptical. “How could you possibly have enough in there?” But as I unpacked my clown car of a bag—seven dresses, two skirts, eight pairs of shorts, 10 shirts, two swimsuits, and more—her jaw dropped.
Everything that came out of the bag looked like crumpled-up pieces of tissue paper from the compression. I hung each item in the stateroom closet so that the wrinkles would fall out. Hanging a dress in the bathroom while I took a shower did the trick sometimes, and I carried a travel-sized bottle of Downy wrinkle releaser for more stubborn garments, which worked like magic. I never once needed something I hadn’t packed.
Change of Plans
At the end of the cruise, riots and unrest had come to Paris and my extra solo trip was canceled. I felt for a moment that I might as well have just packed and checked my bags, and that maybe it was a bit extra of me to go this extreme–until it came time to fly home.
Upon reaching JFK, I got a notification on my phone that my connecting flight home had been canceled. The weather was perfect in New York, but there had been severe thunderstorms in the midwest that derailed hundreds of scheduled flights. My new flight wasn’t until the next day, so I booked a hotel in the city. I walked past crowds of people chatting about lost luggage and hours-long customer service lines, and I headed out of the airport with my one bag on my back.
I decided to take the subway to the city. A few minutes into the ride, the subway stopped due to an emergency closure on the line. The city had buses to transport riders to the next station. As I was walking up the subway stairs to board the bus, I thought about how different this entire experience would be if I had luggage to haul.
Only Happy Accidents
In the city, I stopped and got a slice of Joe’s Pizza on the way to my hotel. I laughed to myself as I looked out the window while eating my New York cheese slice to see a cafe called “Paris Baguette”. ‘Close enough’, I thought.
I might not have made it to Paris this time, but I love New York City and was happy to be there. Instead of the frustration and exhaustion I would be feeling if I were still stuck in that airport, desperately trying to get my bags, I felt the excitement and euphoria of an unexpected adventure.
“You are now free to roam about the city…”
After checking out of my hotel, I had hours to explore before having to make my way back to the airport. Because I only had a backpack, I didn’t need to store luggage. I set out feeling lighter, freer, than ever before.
Airline Insanity Strikes Again
Two months later, I packed for another European cruise–this time to Italy. My friend and I joked with each other about our differences in packing. She had brought three checked bags, and no carry-on. We were waiting to board when a storm blew in. Suddenly, a rogue wind hurled a luggage trailer into the side of our aircraft, canceling our flight to Rome! The airline rebooked us with their partner airline, changing our connections. After arriving in Rome, we learned that the bags from the previous plane were not transferred.
My travel companion had to wait in a four-hour line just to report her luggage missing. It took 7 days to get her luggage delivered to the ship from the airline, and she only had the clothes she was wearing. I, however, had everything I needed in one bag.
No Baggage, No Regrets
I won’t pretend that I always travel with one bag. I still pack as if I’m moving out of my house whenever I go on road trips. For longer journeys such as my recent Panama Canal cruise, I sometimes bring a roller bag (or two). But when I want to move freely and avoid travel stress, I skip baggage claim and grab my backpack, ready for any unexpected adventures that may come my way.
