Packing for a Vacation: Carry-On Suitcase Only

Everyone deserves a vacation; we all work hard and need some time to relax and unwind. But with a vacation comes a bit of planning and understanding your own personal needs to pack efficiently and properly.

Two questions that I receive frequently when or after vacationing are:

1. Why do you pack with only a carry on suitcase?
2. How do you get everything into just your carry on?

The answers are quite simple.

1. I travel with carry on only because of the freedom. I have all belongings with me at all times. I do not wait for baggage claim or worry that my suitcase may be left behind or get damaged. 
2. When I first started travelling I severely over-packed for the melodramatic "what ifs" scenarios that I would devise in my head. I quickly learned those scenarios do not present themselves as easily as I thought they would. So with time I got smarter and realized I needed less and less and began to pack accordingly. I also bring a laptop bag along with me to house my important documents and to keep my electronics safe.

So with those questions answered I would like to share how I pack for a vacation in just a carry on suitcase. The trip I will be demonstrating today is the typical 7 day all inclusive trip to a tropical destination.

Everything I would need for an all inclusive trip.

Pictured above:

• Carry on suitcase
• 3 Pairs of shorts
• 2 swim trunks
• 7 pairs of underwear
• 4 pairs of socks
• 7 T-shirts
• 1 pair of dress pants
• 3 button up shirts
• 1 pair of dress shoes (I wear these on flight days)
• 1 pair of sandals
• 1 toiletries bag (items inside will vary person to person)

Not pictured that I wear on travel day:

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 rain coat
• 1 t-shirt
• 1 pair of under wear
• 1 pair of socks
• 1 sweater
• A baseball hat
• Sunglasses
• Headphones

Stuff socks and underwear into your shoes to save space. I personally wear mine on flight days so I will not be using this technique below. 

If you do not wear your dress shoes start with them (stuffed with socks and underwear) at the bottom.

I start with my toiletries bag at the bottom standing vertically.
**TIP** Make sure all items in the bag conform to airport requirements before leaving home! 

Next I add the 3 pairs of shorts and 2 swim trunks to the right of the toiletries bag on the bottom of the suitcase.

Next up are the 7 T shirts in the top left corner of the suitcase.

Follow that up with the 7 pairs of underwear in the top right corner.

Then I lay my 4 pairs of socks on top of the toiletries bag

Then I will lay the 3 dress shirts over everything evenly.

Then I lay my dress pants over the shirts (leg openings touch the waist band). There is still room for more items if you pack this way.
For example: An extra pair of pants or dress shirt, some tank tops or t shirts. Just be careful of the weight restrictions airports have.

I then tuck my sandals into the front pocket of the suitcase. There is also room for any accessories you may need, like a belt. 

Voila! Fully packed and ready to lay on a beach for a week!

So I hope this may have helped anyone who was looking to exchange their monster sized suitcase and slim down to just a carry on suitcase. 

If you have any helpful packing techniques please let me know by either commenting below or tweeting me @EdRealManTravel.

Also be sure to check out our Facebook page and click the like button for tips and tricks that you won't find on the blog.

Happy travels!

-Ed

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What Do Men Want for Valentines Day?

What Do Men Want for Valentines Day?

Sexual favours, right? Nope. Sexual favours are great things to receive don't get me wrong, but we put a little more insight into these ideas than that. The Answers we have, may surprise you. Or if you have already figured out the mystery that is man, then it wont surprise you at all. We have answers from 4 Real Men what they would want for Valentines day.

Sam's Pick's 

1.  Fancy Bacon and Exotic Meats are a great idea,I mean who doesn't like bacon?? Check out the Carnivore Club
2.  Give your man the gift of a professional rubdown and make him an appointment with a  Registered Massage Therapist, or if you have no money try it yourself.
3.  Shave him. Or maybe just give him the gift of sharp razors. Check out Dollar Shave Club their blades are f***ing great.

Scott's Pick's 

1. Make memories by doing something out of the ordinary with each other, like take a tour of a Historical site or a Hot Air Balloon ride.
2. Liquor, something classy that he normally would not buy for himself. Grab something for yourself as well. Make it fun.
3. Make a commitment to go on a trip. Something you have been discussing but have not been able to pull off yet. Don't pay for it, just make the commitment. 

Ed's Pick's 

1. Sex as a gift. Sex is not something that should be gifted to a guy. If you want to wear a skimpy set of new lingerie and excite your dude then by all means get freaky, but if that isn't you, don't bother, it will come off as the least sexiest thing you do.
2. Baked goods or food. Nothing is sexier than a woman who can bake or cook you something you love! Ask your guy what his favourite treat or meal is and own it! (Warning- you will be competing with his Mom's recipe)
3. Realistic Expectations. Valentines Day is a corporate holiday, do not pretend otherwise. Give your Man realistic expectations of what you would like to receive and that will ultimately make him happy.

Chris's Pick's 

1. A new scent. Pick something that you cant get enough of. After all you are the one that has to smell him all the time.
2. Baked Goods. I agree with Ed that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. Oat Delights or Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.
3. Effort. An effort towards anything nice is often noticed. Put on a movie you hate but he loves and watch it with him. Pour a nice glass of his favorite drink and deliver it to him topless. These are gold ladies, write them down.

Do you have any ideas that work for you? Let us know!

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Understanding Men - Tip #1 - Guy Sign Language

Understanding Men - Tip #1 - Guy Sign Language

Men sure do have a way with communicating. Here at Real Man Travels we are trying to bring down the barriers and help women understand us guys a little better. 

*Warning: This may not help*

Do you know any more Guy Sign Language? If you do please let us know!

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Newfoundland - Exploring the Avalon

A post by Scott Fry

After spending an incredible few days in St. John's we headed west to see the Avalon Peninsula (the eastern tip of Newfoundland). We had been given some good advice when talking to some friends about attempting to make it to the west coast of Newfoundland during our ten day trip. That advice: don't even try. Newfoundland is spectacular, and if you are going to even take in a glimpse of what it has to offer, you need time at each stop. That turned out to be good advice, as we filled our days full without an enormous amount of driving. Here's just some of what we saw:

Waterfall at Cataracts Provincial Park. 

Rosedale Manor - highly recommended B&B in Placentia.

View from Fort Royal on a foggy day in Placentia.

Cliffs at Cape St. Mary's, a stunning bird sanctuary on the southern top of the Avalon. 

The not-so-wildlife at Cape St. Mary's

Thousands upon thousands of bird shelter at Cape St. Mary's. We were lucky enough to arrive during the first clear day in almost a month. 

The drive from Placentia to Cape St. Mary's is thrilling. It winds through coastal towns and hidden coves.

Philip's Cafe is owned by the same couple that took care of us at Rosedale Manor. Philip might look tough, but he makes a mean breakfast. Try the baked goods.

From Placentia we made our way to Bonavista (pronounced Bona-vesta, we quickly learned - after being thoroughly laughed at). 

The stunning little postcard town exudes Newfoundland eccentricity.  

Keith, our innkeeper at the well appointed Puffin's Landing B&B, insisted on taking us to a hidden cove a short drive from Bonavista. He calls this rock spire the "Italian Fist" eluding to a certain hand motion made to far off Europe. Keith was an embodiment of everything there is to love about Newfoundland, during our trip to the cove he called to a lobster fisherman who was pulling in his catch in the waters below and told us we could buy the lobsters later that day. After hanging out at the cove for an hour, he called his fisherman friend to bring fresh caplin (a fish that come in in droves for only one week of the year) over to the B&B for us to try. He told us all about the area, his family and made us generally feel at home.   

A little island noted for puffins in Elliston, not far from Bonavista.

Dungeon Provincial Park, near Bonavista.

Dungeon Provincial Park, near Bonavista.

The Dungeon, an incredible washout.

Cape Bonavista Lighthouse. One of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.

From Bonavista, we headed to Heart's Delight. This is the view from our cottage. 

Ocean Delight Cottages are the perfect place to spend a couple of days in Newfoundland. Located right on the ocean with stunning views and well appointed accommodations. The cottages are self contained and extremely private. Highly recommended.

We found our way to Dildo, that's right, the lovely town of Dildo where we caught a whale watching boat cruise.

We saw dolphins, whales and stunning bald eagles on the cruise.

Whales!

Fire pit at the cottage.

After a couple nights in Heart's Delight we headed to Ferryland on the east coast of the island. 

On our way to Ferryland we stopped off for a hike at La Manche, home to the ruins of a small, isolated town and the suspension bridge seen here. 

The Ferryland lighthouse.

Newfoundland won us over. Can't wait to come back and check out the west coast. 

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