As a carry-on gal, it’s easy for me to say that you should do the same. Whether you’re looking to pack like a minimalist or just lighten your load, know that it is possible to take a carry on for nearly any trip.

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You’ve seen me go to Panama for five days with only a drawstring and Southeast Asia for 8 weeks with only a backpack. I know it can be done, but I know it isn’t for everyone.

This begs the question, should you check a bag, or challenge yourself to travel with less? Here’s the perks and pitfalls of each option:

• When you carry on, you have to carry all your things with you through the airport. The perk is that everything is easy to find and compact.
• When you check your bags, you risk the airlines losing your bag. The perk is that you can bring more things with you.
• Of course, you could always keep a day’s worth of necessities in your carry on, and leave the rest at the mercy of the airlines as well

At the end of the day, I’m team carry-on. Here are a few tips for fitting everything into a carry-on:

• Bring multi-purpose items – You can and should wear staple items more than once. For example, nobody will notice if you wear the same black pants more than once.
• On that note, wear the same thing every day – No, not the same exact thing! I am one of those ‘If the shoe fits, buy it in every color’ types. Same goes for my pants. I have the same pair of LOFT pants in 4 colors, and the same style of shirt in 5 patterns. When I pack, I know that I can pair any of those shirts with any of the pants and the outfit will work with the same pair of shoes. I do NOT bring all of those on trips with me!
• Shoes take up too much space – Here’s my theory: One pair of black shoes, one pair of white shoes. Everything you wear should match each other.
• 3 oz bottles and samples are your best friend – That perfume sample you got last year? Now is the time to stick it in the toiletry case. Save a ton of room by putting your shampoo, face wash, etc, in smaller containers. Old contact cases are great for bringing a small amount of moisturizer. As for makeup – you do not need to be photoshoot ready in the jungles of Vietnam. Leave most of it at home!
• Laundry might be a cost-effective option. Whether you’re going to Disney as a family, Southeast Asia as a backpacker, outsourcing laundry while you travel might be much cheaper than paying for checked bags.
• Leave maybe at home – If you are looking at an item thinking that you might wear it, leave it at home. Thinking of bringing two dresses for one event? Nope. Make that decision before you leave.

What do you say, could you go on a trip with just a carry-on? What is the longest amount of time you’d go with just a carry on?

This post is one of a series of tips & tricks for business travel. For related posts, see:

• A packing list for business travel
• Packing tips for work trips
• How to behave when drinking is allowed
• Questions you should know the answer to before traveling for work