Why I prefer to take hand luggage when travelling to the US.

When travelling to the US I prefer to take carry on luggage and it means I can be off the plane and through the airport, thanks also to US Global Entry within eight or nine minutes, which is both super quick and highly convenient.

I've just returned from the US and had a fantastic few weeks out there, but I normally only take hand luggage with me. What do I mean by hand luggage? Well I take a cabin bag, something that I can pack five or six days worth of clothing; I'm lucky that where I stay, I do have clothes, however, I do like to pack lightly whilst at the same time be prepared for the elements.

This time of the year can be quite tricky because in late February, you can either have really cold days, as the season clings onto winter, or you're lucky and experience spring days where the temperatures can be mild to warm like it has been in New York this week. So February packing, whilst I do take warm clothes. I'm also conscious to dress in layers so T-shirts and a jumper do not go amiss.

Naturally, I will take toiletries with me, but the last thing I want to do is at the airport the inconvenience of having to take them out of my hand luggage so I do tend to take the bare minimum in toiletries I have a set moisturiser, toothpaste and toothbrush, roll on deodorant and a small spray on deodorant which is really great whilst I'm travelling and then I can top up any toiletries that I need when I'm in New York City

Hand luggage is great, because when I disembark at Penn Station, upon arriving in New York, it's a short walk to where I am staying, so I can drag my hand luggage behind me, even if it is full to the brim.

I also find that I do take things back to the UK and I still have some room in my hand luggage to be able to cram in clothes that I may buy magazines and books and if I'm really desperate, I will wear the clothes that I bought in order to save space or I just bring them on in a tote bag so I don't normally lose valuable space just by taking carry on luggage.

So that gives you an idea of how I travel when I visit the US and the other advantage is with US Global Entry. I'm pretty much deplaned from the aircraft and out of the airport within minutes Global Entry takes seconds and then I don't have to wait by the carousel to pick up my luggage, so it is really convenient for me to take carry on luggage. However I accept that my solution is not the best option for everybody but I hope it provides you with good insight with what works for me.

Happy US travels everybody.