The benefits of packing light

As mentioned previously, my family and I have done quite a bit of traveling overseas. In an effort to make traveling easier my parents would try to ensure everyone only took carry on bags on our trips. This strategy has paid off in more ways than one. Case in point- in one of our more recent trips returning to the US after a trip to the UK, the fact that we all only had carry ons led to monetary rewards! We arrived at the gate at Gatwick Airport and the attendant there announced that our flight was overbooked and because we all only had carry on bags and no connecting flight, the airline attendant offered us a cool deal. He said that if we agreed to give up our seats, the airline would give us tickets for a flight the next day, a room for the night in the airport's hotel, meal vouchers and $1,000 travel vouchers for each of us for future flights. We took the offer and so we were able to stay an extra night in London and see one of the Proms concerts there. ( These concerts occur toward the end of summer/ beginning of autumn. We were there around the middle of this concert event. The last concert is the most famous with royalty usually in attendance and lots of patriotic music.) Anyway, We were able to go and listen to the orchestra play music by Ravel and Debussy, among other composers. We had a lovely time and it was a great ending to a vacation. So if you can, I'd encourage everyone to take carry on bags as much as possible. Not only does it make things easier, it can also help make a vacation even more enjoyable!