Traveling Light: How to Pack a Carry-on

There’s so much more to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s Rose of the North, than first meets the eye.

Sir Richard Branson sees his flight time as an opportunity to work. The to-do list isn’t about plowing through emails, however, but chatting with fellow passengers and airline staff. “I love meeting people, love talking to people,” the Virgin Group co-founder says. “And if I do have time to sit down, I’ll generally try to sleep, not watch films—I need to be ready for the next day.”

Even as the grounding of the Max 9 prompted Alaska Airlines to cancel thousands of flights in January, the carrier came out relatively unscathed in the first quarter. And that’s partly because its business travel fully recovered to 2019 levels. 

Brought to Japan as a six month old baby from Thailand, the elephant Miyako has spent 50 years living in cramped, solitary confinement at the Utsunomiya Zoo about one hour outside of Tokyo.Unlike elephants in the wild who live in extended family groups and wander for miles on a daily basis, Miyako spends her days standing listlessly on a small concrete platform amid her own feces. And when she’s not exhibited on that platform for zoo visitors, Miyako is locked in small, dark indoor space.

Packing for a trip always feels like a dance between art and science—and attempting to pack light complicates things even further. As a travel journalist, I often find myself on the road several times a month—sometimes for weeks at a time navigating various modes of transportation. This means being self-sufficient with my luggage is key. I also don’t want to be concerned about lost luggage when I travel, so I opt to bring only a carry-on whenever I can. My mantra while packing for any trip, whether it's a domestic weekend getaway or a weeklong international adventure, is that every piece of gear has to be multi-functional to maximize space. Below, my tried-and-true tips for packing light with only a carry-on.

For adventurous moms who love the outdoors, get them something they really want this year. Rather than the traditional flowers, perfume, or home goods route, why not show the intrepid mothers in your life how much you really see them and care about their interests and passions?

Travel brands are busy preparing for the upcoming summer season, and travel demand is xpected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. What are the major trends for this summer?

Most travelers visiting Istanbul for the first time tend to stick to the hotspots like Taksim Square and Sultanahmet when booking a hotel in the city—which makes sense if you’re hoping to check off the most famous attractions in Istanbul. But once you’ve visited the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, taking a ferry ride over to the Asian—or Anatolian—side of Istanbul is where you’ll find the more local-leaning attractions.

On the heels of news that 2024 will be a record-breaking year for the travel industry, online travel agency justfly.com is offering some insider tips to survive what is sure to be a busy summer travel season.

After working as a flight attendant, CiCi has a newfound love for both the sky and packing suitcases.

It’s hard to pick favorites when it comes to Washington, DC’s neighborhoods, simply because there are so many wonderful ones. 

On the short-list of items that require special care when traveling, jewelry is somewhere close to the top. Their precious metals and delicate settings are just a few of the characteristics that make them more susceptible to damage both while en route and once you arrive at your destination. Whether you’re traipsing around a tropical island and need to protect your pieces from tarnishing or just trying to keep them clean after a long day of traveling through an airport, where they could be exposed to bacteria or accidental bangs and bends, it’s best to stay prepared.