I definitely outsmarted myself on my current trip to Cabo San Lucas. It’s my 24th trip to the Los Cabos area at the absolute southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula, and it’s a place that I know well and am quite comfortable visiting. I am here for three weeks this time; started years ago with just one week, and have even stayed here for four weeks on three different occasions.
You don’t need a whole lot while here unless you are going to undertake some specific activities such as diving, fishing, hiking, etc., and you want some specific clothing and/or gear for your adventure. No, some shorts, shirts, shoes, and swim trunks., along with long pants and shirt for cool evenings. That’s it. Of course, the toiletries are also in the bag.
That bag, that suitcase, is a small carry-on bag that easily fits into the overhead compartment on the plane. I have traveled down here many times with just the carry-on bag and a backpack. And I’ve gone on four weeks of cruises with just the same carry-on bag and the backpack. It can be done. I know how to do it, and I’ve done it many times.
For this trip, I decided to start packing early. I set items out on the table that I use just for this purpose. Sandals, swim trunks, shoes, shorts, etc. It all went into the carry-on. I added my toiletries bag, my prescriptions and vitamins — everything I was going to need. Because the resort has a deep tub in the master bathroom, I added a bag of epsom salts for soaking after a hard day of relaxing and enjoying the sounds of the ocean waves.
And then I added a few more things, and I was ready five days before my trip. I closed the bag, or at least I started to, and then realized I had to open the expansion zipper. Not a problem. Once that was opened. The bag closed, and I locked it. I was ready to go. The only problem was that the expanded bag might not fit into the plane’s overhead compartment. That’s okay, I’ll just check the bag. I’ve never had a problem with checked bags, so there was no need for concern.
There were two things I did not take into account when checking the bag:
1. My bag might not get there on time with me
2. If #1 happened, my meds were in that bag, and likely sitting, or going, somewhere else.
Well, that did happen. There was a mechanical malfunction at the connecting airport, and many bags did not make it on to our flight to Cabo. Instead, they went on a later flight to Houston, and then on a next-morning flight to Cabo. I finally got my bag at 7:30 PM, about 29 hours after I arrived in Cabo.
Lesson learned: if you are going to pack early, leave your meds out for the last minute just in case you decide to check your bag!
Happy Travels!
Stuart
Stuart Gustafson is America’s International Travel Expert® who speaks on cruise ships, writes novels, sends out a monthly newsletter, is an avid TripAdvisor reviewer, and loves everything about travel. Visit his website at www.stuartgustafson.com. You can also connect with him and other travelers on his International Travel Expert page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/International-Travel-Expert-147321228683651/
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