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Packing

Packing Tutorial so Your Bags Fly Free this Holiday Season

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Airlines Without Free Bags

Traveling is expensive as it is. The holidays are even more expensive. Knowing which airlines allow a free carry on and knowing their policy upfront can help you save money. Spirit Airlines is one airline that offers competitively cheap flights especially during the holiday season. Spirit has a bad rap, and if you don’t know how to fly with them, it can seem like a really shitty airline to take. No free water, they will charge you to print out your boarding pass, no free peanuts, and especially no free carry on luggage. I have flown with them more than a dozen times and have perfected how to play their game. They fly almost everywhere, and when you need to save some money, they are the airline to use. I used them a few years back 3 weeks before a Chirstmas trip and saved hundreds of dollars. I’m here to tell you all the tips and tricks you will need so you won’t have to pay for luggage.

The Breakdown

This list is going to break down exactly what you need to do when flying with Spirit.

  • After buying your tickets download the Spirit mobile app. If you have access to a printer, you can print out your tickets otherwise make sure you have them on your mobile app or a copy in your email. They will accept all of these versions. DO NOT go to the airport expecting them to print out your boarding pass for free. They will charge you for that. 
  • Spirit allows a free personal bag that must not exceed dimensions of 18 x 14 x 8 inches. I found a bag on Amazon that is within Spirits policy. This bag is only $12.99, and I highly recommend that you buy it. It has saved me hundreds of dollars in bag fees. My husband and I both have one. Click here to buy. It’s $30 one way for a single bag so you can do that math and see how smart of a buy this is. 
  • I have used this bag for so many trips, and it never fails to carry everything I need. Learning how to be a minimalist traveler is a smart trick to adapt to. Bring only what you need. I spent 4 days in New York and even brought back new shoes and gifts in this same bag. You can make it work. Roll those panties and jeans up as small/tightly as you can! I promise you will be impressed by how much this bag can hold!
  • Ladies: stuff your purse into this bag when boarding your plane. I stuff my purse on top and zip it all up, and I can carry this bag on my shoulder so its an obvious “personal item.”  I have never been stopped or questioned about my bag. It always fits (even if I have to smash it in) into their displayed box they have to make sure it passes as a personal item. It fits every time so there isn’t shit they can say! If it fits then it flys! FREE!

Bonus Tip!

  • Pack an empty water bottle and some snacks. You can fill up your empty water bottle once you get through security. Spirit will not provide anything free on the plane, so bring some stuff to get you through your flight. Otherwise, you can always purchase items at the airport before you board. They offer food/drinks in flight but nothing, not even water, is free. 

The Folding Bag That Will Save You Money!

I wanted to give you a visual of this bag so you could get an idea of exactly what it is. It’s a foldable duffle bag that is extremely lightweight. It folds into itself and turns into a small square that is great for storing! When unfolding this bag, it becomes large enough that you will be able to fit everything you need for your trip! We understand that if you are flying out of the country that you might need a little bit more than this bag can carry. Raynita will be doing a packing tutorial for out of the country trips. She is a pro at getting everything she needs into a roller carry on suitcase. Be on the lookout for that! 

Foldable empty duffle bag!
I took three standard size pillows and stuffed them into the duffle to give you an idea of what it can take!
Duffle packed with the three pillows! Still extra room in there! You can get an idea of the size based on the comparison with the hairbrush. LOTS of room!
The front pouch has a zipper that you can take the entire bag and fold it into itself. When empty and folded up..this is the outcome! Pretty cool right?!

I hope you found this article helpful! I am all for saving a buck, and if it takes me flying Spirit sometimes then that’s what I’m gonna do! Now that you know what to expect and how to play their game I hope you will take this advice and save yourself some money. Traveling during the holidays is supposed to be fun and not more expensive then it needs to be! Happy traveling! For more traveling tips click here!

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Packing Tutorial

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Packing Like A Pro

I have taken a pretty good amount of trips on airplanes and quickly felt ridiculous paying and waiting for a checked bag. Having a checked bag didn’t last long on our adventures. I became determined to fit everything in a carry-on and a personal bag for all my trips here on out. Now, I want to share my packing skills with you too so that you never have to pay for a checked bag again!

First Things First…

This suitcase has been all around the world with me and has never let me down.

The first important thing about packing is having the right suitcase. The suitcase needs to have areas for packing on both sides of it. Extra pockets are always a plus too. I found my Olympia suitcase at Ross for under $50. Having wheels and a handle is also a must for easy mobility and zooming through the airport. As you can see, I am able to put clothing in both compartments on each side. This is crucial for long trips. 

Begin Packing

When I know I have a big trip coming up, I like to start a pile of things I know I want to bring. So the week of or the week before, once things start coming out of the washer, I begin setting them aside in our guest room. This can be clothing, shoes, accessories, or anything that you know you want to bring and not forget. 

These are a few things I knew I wanted to bring for my Euro trip.

 Some Things I Always Pack

  • A bathing suit is always in my suitcase. You never know when you’re going to need one and it is always nice to check out the pool and spa at the hotel your staying at. 
  • Workout clothes are also a must. My workout usually doesn’t stop just because I’m traveling. Some hotels even have loner shoes and workout clothes you can borrow for your stay.
  • Tennis shoes are important for those days exploring the city. Plus, when you want to do something adventurous like ATV riding or ziplining, tennis shoes are required.
  • A dress that I can dress up or down is always nice to have too. You might have a nice dinner one evening but if not, you can wear it with a little cover up to make it more casual.
  • A denim button-down shirt is so versatile that it’s absolutely needed. I love pairing it with a dress or tying it around my waist with other outfits. It also works great all by itself too.
  • Belts are usually a no-brainer but it does suck when you forget one. One time my husbands’ zipper broke on a bag that he got free from a cologne purchase (those are usually cheap, believe me, I tried to tell him that) and we used a belt to keep the bag closed until we got home. Talk about multipurpose.

Now The Packing

Down to the nitty-gritty, the packing. The key to packing is rolling, rolling, rolling! Roll everything. From your underwear to your jeans, rolling them lets them take up the least amount of room possible. Don’t just do a loose roll, roll those clothes tight. For my jeans, I roll them from the top to the bottom. My socks are fully tucked into each other and then stuffed into my shoes. Now as to your packing your rolled up clothes, make sure “pack and push”, meaning put one article in the suitcase and when you put the next one in, push that previous article in there as tight as possible. Again, this will eliminate any extra space that wasn’t used before. Once you have the bottom layer in, feel free to make another layer on top of that one if needed. 

This is 2 layers of rolled clothes on one side of my suitcase.

Toiletries 

This is my bag fully packed.

My toiletry bag usually stays packed. It has a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, a shower cap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion (because you might not like the ones at the hotel). My bestie Jess got me the cutest Maid-of-honor makeup bag and its pretty big. It holds all my makeup as well as my face wash, serum, and hair supplies. I put these two bags on the opposite side of my clothes when packing. When I leaving from an American airport, I never have to take out the liquid bottles at the TSA lines. However, when traveling abroad, they have been a little more strict and I would have to put some in the see-through plastic bag. No biggie though. 

You Can Do It!

I have used this bag for a two-week trip, to travel to 4 different countries and attend a wedding, all in a carry-on. It can be done! I was even able to buy some souvenirs and some clothing that I just had to have. Just remember to use all the unused space as possible. Fold and roll everything as small as possible. Don’t worry, you will be able to iron or steam out any wrinkles and if you want to get really fancy you can use the hotel’s laundry service and get items pressed or washed. Packing shouldn’t be a hassle. Stay calm and know that you can bring a backpack as your personal item and stuff your purse in there too. Try to stay away from over packing and never bring anything you haven’t worn before because chances are that you’re not going to wear it on this trip either. 

Do you have any packing tips? What do you hate or love about packing? Share with us. 

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Music Festival Backpack Checklist

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Music Festival Season is Here!

Music Festival season is officially in full swing! I always feel like the first weekend of Coachella sets off the season. Well, that time is here and we are here to help you pack your music festival essentials.

  • A hat– Festivals last all day and night and to have the sun blazing down on you for hours, can really take a toll on you. Having a hat on hand can make those sun-filled days easier or come in handy if a little rain is in the forecast.
  • Sunglasses– You don’t want to be that ridiculous person who’s holding their hand as a visor while looking at the stage.
  • Light Jacket or Wind Breaker– It gets cold at night and it can be dusty. Bring something that condenses down so it doesn’t take up much space in your bag.
  • Sunscreen– Your skin will get a shade darker! If that color is more tan or red, just beware that the sun shows no mercy.
  • Water Bottle– Don’t bring a metal bottle (Yeti’s, Hydroflask, or any other kind). Metal bottles aren’t allowed at most festivals. Bring a reusable one or even those water pouches that fold up. Hydration stations are usually in the festival for your convenience.
  • Hand Sanitizer– It gets pretty dirty out there. A hand washing station may not be near so, keep some sanitizer on deck is always a good idea.
  • Bandana– You can get multiple uses out of this! Use it to cover your face from the dust, wipe the sweat off your sweaty head and neck, drench it in water and put it around your neck to cool down, or wear it as an accessory to your festival outfit.
  • Tissue– Those little-prepacked tissues come in handy. You might get a stuffy nose or tears from an amazing set (guilty), and tissues will be needed.
  • Medicine– Whether it be Ibprophen or allergy medicine, you don’t want to be caught without the two when you need them badly.
  • Band-aid Set– These usually come in a very small pack with 2 to 3 different size band-aids and an alcohol swab. If anything major happens, you can always hit up the First Aid tent too.
  • Wet wipes- These can be used for almost anything. Toliet paper, feeling sticky, or a face wipe are all situations where wipes will be handy.
  • Deodorant– Speaking of sticky…No one likes to have their show interrupted by the stench coming off of you.
  • Snacks– If the festival permits it, do it! Bag up your own snacks because the original bag is usually filled with air which just takes up more room. But, remember to check the rules before all your snacks end up in the trash at the entrance gates.
  • Beach Blanket– These are the blankets that roll up really small and have a side that is meant for the ground. Again, read the rules before packing this too. Some festivals don’t permit this item.
  • Phone Charger or Extra Battery– Most festivals have phone charging stations. Bring a charger and or an extra battery pack.
  • Contraband– If you plan on bringing your party contraband remember, you will be getting searched. However, it’s comparable to airport searches. They’re looking for weapons, alcohol, and other sharp or metal objects.

Plan Ahead

Jess, Ray, and Method Man at Rock The Bells, 2012.

Make sure you check the weather prior to packing. Place all your festival items together including the TICKETS or BRACELETS! Download an app that the festival might have available. They usually provide a map with bathroom and stage locations, so grab or download that too. Most of the items on the list are available at your local Dollar Tree and make sure you get them in travel sizes.  One backpack is plenty of room for 2 or more people. You can take turns wearing it and fill it with any other merchandise you may buy. If you really wanna party and have your hands free, wear a fanny pack! Make sure you are aware of your belongings because people can still be shady at such great events. Remember you are there with thousands of other fun festival goers. Stay positive and be nice to others because everyone is there to have a good time. You guys all share one thing in common… the love of music!

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