There is no shortage of advice about how to pack a carry-on. I’ve seen all of it, tried most of it, and ignored plenty along the way. I’ve packed too much, packed too little, and more than once carried a novel or two around Europe without reading a single page. After dozens of trips, this is what’s actually stuck. I’ve always been a carry-on traveler. Even early on, checking a bag felt unnecessary. What changed over time wasn’t my luggage size—it was my confidence. I stopped

I planned and visited fifteen European cities in one year. It looked incredible on paper — efficient routes, full calendars, seamless logistics. The kind of travel people dream about. And in many ways, it was. But once the novelty wore off, I realized something important: some of the ways I planned those trips were quietly working against the experience I thought I was creating. One of the biggest mistakes I made was moving too often. One- and two-night stays seemed logical a

For a long time, last‑minute travel had a reputation problem. It was framed as chaotic, expensive, and something only reckless people did — the opposite of “smart planning.” And honestly, sometimes that is  true. And full transparency: I’m writing this while planning a trip for myself less than a month out. I wasn’t chasing chaos or throwing caution to the wind. I saw a great flight deal, checked a few smart routing options, looked at where hotel availability was still strong