To Carry-On Or To Check

 I just crossed something off my to-do list.

One of my biggest concerns about the whole trip is that first morning, arriving in London and trying to figure out how to schlep my shit all the way to Hampstead, to my hotel. I sure as hell don't want to pay $50-$75 for a taxi across down. And the thought of dealing with baggage claim and getting heavy bags up and down escalators at the train stations on my own sounds awful.

So, the decision to make a small carry-on work for me was a pretty easy one to make. But I only have one huge suitcase with a broken zipper. So, the mission was to find one that will hold a week's worth of stuff and be small enough to carry on the plane..

I read a USA Today article about changes to carry-on sizes made last year. Apparently, airlines are requiring carry-on bags be no bigger than 22x14x9. And, as I found out, a lot of bags are 20 inches long, but they're 14.5 or more inches wide, and apparently that half inch can make all the difference.

I did some shopping around and found a really good one for a really good price from ebags.com.

Traveler's Choice Cambridge 20"

EBags gives you a discount when you sign up on the site, and the shipping is free for orders over a certain amount, so it was a great deal.

Now, the challenge is to pack a week's worth of clothes in there. And hopefully there will be room for souvenirs.

But I'll have more than that suitcase to carry stuff home in, fortunately. I also ordered a tote, which I'm in love with.

La Diva Convertible Tote

It looks small enough to work as an everyday over-the-shoulder purse, but it's big enough to carry a lot in it. It was super cheap, but the reviews were glowing. 

I'll post my own review after they both arrive.

The Journey Begins

Last year, in a fit of unrealistic optimism, I bought a ticket to see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet in London. At the time - and to this day, to some extent - I had no idea how I was going to actually get there. But I had over a year to raise the funds and figure it out, so I went for it.

It's a year later, and this week, I booked a flight and a hotel room. I'm scared to death, but this is officially happening. Because I'm damn sure not about to back out now that I've spent over $2,000.

My hotel room in Hampstead.

I've been talking about this for months - thinking and planning and shopping around. My friends kept asking, "So, have you booked your trip, yet?" When I told them I had finally done it, they seemed surprised. The people who know me know this whole thing is out of character for me. I only go out with friends. I sometimes dine or go to the movies alone, but I don't like it. I wouldn't have half of my friends, if not for other friends introducing them to me. So, you could say I'm an introvert. An introvert doesn't travel to a foreign country alone.

In the last few days, I've been reading about women traveling alone, and every account I read makes it sound amazing and liberating. I've always been independent, my shyness aside, and I can imagine how this would be an incredible experience for me. I can see how it could boost my confidence tenfold. God knows I need that.