A Professional Packer Spills the 12 Most Common Spring Break Packing Mistakes-and What to Bring Instead

"If you're flying to your next destination and aren't checking a bag, you'll need to be clever with how you approach your allotted carry-on allowance. One of my favorite "hacks," which I've used when flying to St. Barts, the Bahamas, and Anguilla, is to use a beach bag (typically made with straw or rattan) as your personal item. After all, you're essentially carrying all of the same things in both scenarios - a book, your phone, your wallet, and small toiletries - so there's no need to travel with two different bags."

A travel writer shares insights from personal packing experiences and the Just Packed newsletter to address common spring travel mistakes. The article identifies twelve frequent packing mishaps travelers make when preparing for warm-weather trips to destinations like Europe, the Caribbean, or weekend getaways. One key recommendation involves using a beach-friendly tote bag as a dual-purpose personal item for flights without checked luggage. This approach consolidates carry-on space by combining items typically needed in both airplane and beach settings—books, phones, wallets, and toiletries—into a single functional bag with sturdy handles.

Read at Travel + Leisure