How many Luggage is Best for Exchange?

Ayse Serra Isil
Aug 29, 2017
4 min read

Everyone has different preferences and priorities. However, airlines has -one way or the other- similar kg limits for who wanna fly to abroad. For long flights like US, I know that the limit is two luggages which seems like quite cool at the beginning but I learned that it is not the same. So, for the sevond time since I was again going exchange but somewhere closer, I told myself that I will just bring one luggage and that is it. I do not regret about it but it was not a great solution either. Today, I will be sharing my mistakes so that you can avoid that to not have problems like me. Let's start with only one luggage + a little one. I packed my lugge less than 23 and I had one more little luggage which was not more than 5 kg.

It seems okay at the beginning, I had no problems about what to wear because there is only a few options you can choose. I talked about this problem with my sister. I felt uncomfortable with my clothes because I care about wearing different out fits. It is quite a challenge if you have a few but my sister solved my problem! So, before packing choosing your clothes this is the part that you need to make sure. Okay, I was happy that I did not have any problem with my luggages but I did not choose right outfits that can be combined easily with others I have. So, having only a luggage is not a bad thing or doesn't mean that you have to wear same clothes over and over again. Instead, if you pack right outfits which can be combined easily whit other outfits you have than you are more than okay! In this situation, maybe you are thinking that having two luggages is not a bad thing. However, if you wanna travel different cities or countries after or before semester than you can't do any of those with two luggages, all cheap luggages are for people who have only one luggage. In addition to that, if the airport that you are going is really far from your place then it will become much harder for you to manage all luggages you have then you have to pay much more just because you have over the limit. Believe it or not but having more luggages may cost you more than 300 dollars/euros. In addition to that, having two luggages may seem okay for you but you will definitely buy many things during the semester and I do not wanna mention all souveniors you have to buy. It is really thoug. From my point of view, carrying one big and one check out size luggage is the best. Because if you wanna go to short trips then you can get your check out luggage as well. It is definitely a win win. While you are packing your luggages, do not forget that you are going to buy stuff over there. If you bring your old shoes that you are planning to change bring them with you. So, if you see a shoes that you like you can have it and recycle the other one on the way back. Moreover, on the way back, you might not wanna carry your bed sheets. My recommendation for this situation would be not bringing the one you love intead the old one you wanna recycle/donate as well.

Now, Let's talk about my regret that I had with my two luggages. I went to US with two huge luggages. It was great because I did not have any problem about choosing what to wear but at the end of the semester I recognized some mistakes I made. First of all, I shouldn't come with two big luggages with full of stuff, I had to buy one more check out size luggage because during the little trips I had, I always had problem with finding a luggage and at the end of the semester I traveled 4 different states and I had no place to put my two big luggages. All flights I bought was only for a bag or there is a 23 kg limit for my luggage. I had to send two big luggages to my final destination and it cost me 300 bucks. In addition to that, I had to buy a small luggage and I found a cheap ticket but it was only for a luggage. Since I had two and half they overcharged me as well. To make a long story short, two luggages were regret for me. However, if you know that you are not gonna travel then it is totally okay but you need to think the future as well. Moreover, I like wearing all clothes of mine but there was still many things that I did forget about during the semester. So, be make sure what are the essentials for you.

For this topic, (of course after USA) I have watched so many videos about minimalism because it is not a one time thing, we need to learn to avoid any problems like than in our life. So, these are the ted talks, videos and documentaries I have watched and it helped me a lot. I hope it helps you as well. You can think these videos as Introduction to Minimalism-MIN101