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If you pack lightly for airline travel, you already know that traveling “carry-on only” is the way to go—no worry that checked bags won’t make it to your destination when you do, less waiting in lines, fewer airline baggage fees. While the friendly drivers at Shuttle Express in Seattle handle your luggage for you when taking you to the airport, usually you’re on your own.

Here are some tips and tricks for packing a carry-on bag that you can live with, without sacrificing too much.

Choose the right carry-on bag.

Know the size and weight requirements for carry-ons with the airlines you travel on most, especially the smaller carriers, since they typically have less room.

Once you find a bag you like, make sure it will be comfortable to haul around and easy to get in and out of overhead bins. Backpacks and rolling duffel bags are  good options.

Choose your liquids and clothes carefully.

The one-quart plastic bag has never looked so small. So, when you’re packing your carry-on, get ruthless about what you actually need, since every single liquid item must fit in it. Some ideas:

• Decide what you can live without—body wash, mouthwash, for example.
• Buy the essentials at your destination, if possible—shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, sunscreen.
• Invest in a few multi-purpose items, such as shampoo/conditioner combos.
• Find non-liquid versions like make-up wipes versus liquid remover and bar soap instead of liquid wash. You can even find quality solid shampoos.
• Use the hotel’s complimentary items.
• Last resort: take a vacation from the many products you use.
• If you’re traveling carry-on only, heed the long-standing advice to bring multipurpose clothing that can be layered and worn 20 different ways until Sunday.
• Plan to wash clothes often.

Carry-on’s Most Wanted List:

Even if you’re checking luggage, here are items essential to a well-packed carry-on bag:

• Cell phone and electronic device chargers
• Earphones, e-reader, notepad and pen, anything to keep boredom at bay
• Snacks like nuts or easily-packed fruit like bananas that can tide you over until you land
• Lozenges or gum to ease any ear pressure or dry mouth
• Face wipes and toothbrush to help refresh you during a long flight
• Change of clothes if you’re checking luggage in case of lost bags or long flight delays

Need a ride to Sea-Tac Airport? Shuttle Express is here for you. As Seattle’s local airport and private transportation experts, our professional, friendly team has been at the wheel for nearly 30 years, keeping our guests safe, on time, and stress-free. So whether we’re driving you to Sea-Tac and back in a town car or shuttle, or transporting your office team of 150 to a group event in well-appointed motor coaches, our experienced, caring team will make it happen. Book online at shuttleexpress.com or connect with us at sales@shuttleexpress.net.

If you’re ready to lose your office clutter but you’re not sure where to start, check out our list. We asked the most organized, neat-freak transportation experts at Seattle’s Shuttle Express transportation headquarters for some ideas, and here’s what they came up with.

1. Know and accept your organizational style—if you’re a filer, use a simple filing system and file your stuff every day. Don’t let things pile up. Maybe you’re a piler. See #2.
2. If you’re a piler, go ahead and own it, just organize your piles. Get sturdy paper holders or decorative boxes to round up only those important papers you want to keep; maintain everything in neat, easily-movable groups.
3. If you’re overwhelmed with clutter, set aside time—a few hours or a whole day, whatever it takes—to clear out everything. Then, bring back in only what you know you’ll use.
4. Get in the habit of putting everything in its place after you use it, or at least at the end of each work day.
5. Dirt happens. Schedule reminders for yourself to dust your computer monitor and keyboard, and keep disinfectant cleaning wipes on hand to regularly wipe-down other surfaces.
6. Store often-used items and files nearest to you and store less important stuff farther away.
7. Be ruthless—pitch things you never use.
8. Clutter creep happens to the best of us, so do a “clean sweep” regularly to maintain your tidy space.
9. Use drawer compartments to keep small items from jumbling together and making a mess.
10. Enter or scan business cards into your contact system right away, then toss them in the trash (not in a drawer to handle later).
11. Let go of your mountain of “sticky notes” and instead keep track of deadlines, details, and meetings with a virtual assistant app or in your calendar synced to your phone.
12. Keep your virtual desktop as clutter-free as the rest of your space. Resist randomly saving files to your desktop, which results in a sea of unorganized files.
13. Move photos and videos to the cloud using free options like Dropbox.
14. Declutter your smartphone. Dump those apps you thought you couldn’t live without, but you never use.

Need a ride? As Seattle’s local transportation experts, our professional, friendly drivers have been getting people to where they need to go for nearly 30 years, safely and on time. We’re best known for our iconic Sea-Tac Airport van service, but we do so much more—luxury cars, large and small coaches, private vans. We partner with corporations, hotels, meeting planners, or anyone who needs reliable, comfortable transportation with a friendly attitude.

So whether your company needs VIP black car service or group transportation for 40 of your favorite colleagues, our experienced, caring team will make it happen. Reach us at sales@shuttleexpress.net.

Resolution #1: Travel more in 2017. Resolution #2: Spend less in 2017. Sound impossible to do both? Before ditching your resolve and indulging in some online retail therapy, read on for easy, practical ideas to make both goals happen this year. The travel universe is brimming with shockingly great deals, and our Shuttle Express transportation team in Seattle pulled together just a few of the ways you can travel more while spending less.

1. Flight Deals Search for low-cost flights on sites like Momondo.com – a free, independent global travel search site that compares prices for flights worldwide. Matt at Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site says sites like Momondo offer a wider range of choices than more popular discount sites. Take our economical airport share ride service (children 2 and under ride free!), and you’ve got a deal.
2. Flying Alternatives Going ground isn’t nearly as popular as it used to be, but if you’re open to a different travel experience, consider planning a train trip, or even a cross-country bus excursion. Tickets are dramatically lower than airfare in many cases, although amenities vary.
3. Travel Coupon Sites Check out Groupon Getaways and LivingSocial Destinations for some pretty nice deals. A quick online search will give you scads of other sites, too, but these are two of the most reputable.
4. Cruising on the Cheap Deals on cruises abound, but you can start with Vacationstogo.com where you’ll find their self-described “world famous” 90-day ticker featuring a complete listing of last-minute cruises on the world’s best cruise lines. Deals sell out lightning-fast on this popular site, so if you see a winner, book it immediately!
5. Meal Deals It’s not new advice, but it works: make your own food. Buy the essentials, make a sandwich or two, and save your funds for special meals out. Then, eat like the locals, which likely will be less expensive but will enhance your travel experience.
6. Travel Rewards If saving on travel is your goal, choose your credit cards wisely. Many offer travel rewards, but some are better than others – here’s NerdWallet’s overview on the top travel reward cards for 2017.

Need a ride? Shuttle Express is here for you. As Seattle’s local transportation experts, our professional, friendly team has been at the wheel for nearly 30 years, keeping our guests safe, on time, and stress-free. We’re best known for our iconic, budget-friendly Sea-Tac Airport van service, but we do so much more—luxury cars, large and small coaches, and private vans.

So whether we’re driving you to Sea-Tac and back with our black car service, or transporting your office team of 150 to a group event in well-appointed motor coaches, our experienced, caring team will make it happen. Reach us at sales@shuttleexpress.net.