My favorites are in bold. Enjoy!

“Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” – Paul Theroux

“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.” — Glenn Clark

“Home is where the heart is, and my heart is wherever I am at the moment.” — Lily Leung

“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” — Helen Keller

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” — Tim Cahill

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” — Rosalia de Castro

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” — Jawaharal Nehru

“How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterwards.” — Spanish Proverb

“I travel light. I think the most important thing is to be in a good mood and enjoy life, wherever you are.” — Diane von Furstenberg

“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” — Lawrence Block

“One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.” — Edith Wharton

“No matter where you go, there you are.”

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” — Danny Kaye

“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” – Frank Herbert

‎“If at some point you don’t ask yourself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ then you’re not doing it right.” — Roland Gau

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” — Aldous Huxley

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” — James Michener

“He who is outside his door already has the hardest part of his journey behind him.” — Dutch proverb

“The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” — Bill Bryson

“If you look like your passport photo, you’re too ill to travel.” — Will Kommen

“Long-term travel doesn’t require a massive bundle of cash; it requires only that we walk through the world in a more deliberate way.” — Rolf Potts

“Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.” – Fitzhugh Mullan

“The further one goes, the less one knows.” — Lao-Tzu

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.”

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

“A person needs at intervals to separate from family and companions and go to new places. One must go without familiars in order to be open to influences, to change.”
- Katharine Butler Hathaway

“The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G. K. Chesterton

“A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” – Gael Attal

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” — Mark Twain

“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” – Alan Keightley

“Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”— Gustave Flaubert

“Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” — Pico Iyer

‎“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of men, instead, seek what they sought.” — Matsuo Basho

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — Andre Gide

“Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.” – Carol Pearson

“Let your heart guide you. It whispers so listen closely.”

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” — Steve Jobs

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” – Yogi Berra

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” — Robert Frost

“Travel is like a giant blank canvas, and the painting on the canvas is only limited by one’s imagination.” — Ross Morley

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” — Henry David Thoreau

“Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.” — Eudora Welty

“You lose sight of things… and when you travel, everything balances out.” — Daranna Gidel

“The great difference between voyages rests not with the ships, but with the people you meet on them.” — Amelia E. Barr

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” — Martin Buber

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” — Susan Heller

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place.” — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

“If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.”

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

“Don’t be a tourist. Plan less. Go slowly. I traveled in the most inefficient way possible and it took me exactly where I wanted to go.” — Andrew Evans

“Not all those who wander are lost.” — J. R. R. Tolkien

“When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

“Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.” – Kurt Vonnegut

“The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling

“Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Seattle

“It is better to travel well than to arrive” – Buddha

“I had rather have a fool to make me merry than experience to make me sad and to travel for it too!” – William Shakespeare

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” – Oscar Wilde

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.” – Swami Vivekananda

“Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up.” – Ernest Hemingway

“Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” – Paul Theroux

Which travel quote is your favorite? Which sayings would you add to this list?

Kathy Barber

Her name is Kathy Barber and here is the message:

Hello,

I was wondering if you can help me? This may seem like a strange request but two and a half years ago, my son was beaten to death by a gang of drunken thugs. Before his death he was planning his own great adventure, backpacking around the world and he was due to go the week after his death.

A friend of his suggested we find a way to take him on that trip and hopefully take him to places he could have only dreamed of. In his final days in the intensive care unit, the nurse allowed us to take his hand print.
Some of his friends agreed to take his hand print with them as they went on their own adventures around the world. So far his hand print has gone to Australia, Nepal, New Zealand, India, Poland, Ibiza and some parts of America. We have even managed to get it to 43,000 ft in the cockpit of an A380 on its test flight.

We have pledges to take it to the summit of Mount Everest , The North Pole, Kilimanjaro and deep into the Pacific Ocean with Triton Submarines. The hand print was also taken skydiving and snowboarding with the British Army and we are hoping to take it to many more places.
The hand print is on a piece of paper and weighs only a couple of grams or we could put it on a t-shirt.
Is there any way you could put out a request for help in getting his story and hand print out there through your website? All that is required is that someone takes a picture of the hand print and emails the picture back saying where it was taken and if you wish a little about the people who took it there.

We are hoping to put a book together in the future Called “Barber’s Travels” with all proceeds going to our local intensive care unit where my son (Danny Barber) lost his fight for life.

This is an a venture that is very close to my heart. If you require any more information please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address or go to my sons web site www.dannybarberlegend.com
If you cant help me could you direct me to anyone who could?

Thank you for taking the time to read this email.

Kindest Regards Kathy Barber
(Mother of Danny Barber RIP.)

After reading this email I was at first a little skeptical but decided to research a little deeper into the events that took place that night just to make sure the case was real. It didn’t take me long to find a number of news articles which you can read here, here, here and here.

What happened that night?

This is Kathy’s recollection of the events that took place on the night of the 27th May 2009:

Danny had watched the champions league final between Manchester United and Barcelona at home with his family and a close friend. After the match at about 10pm Danny left home to walk his friend to the bus stop. Both Danny and a friend had consumed a few drinks so Danny wanted to make sure his friend got on the bus safely. (Later a witness would say that he had passed Danny and his friend on the way to the bus stop and they were jovial, exchanging pleasantries.)

While they waited at the bus stop they were approached by a gang of  drunken 15 & 16 year old boys. We are not too sure what happened then but some kind of scuffle broke out, his killers claim that Danny initiated a fight.  At some point Danny told his friend that he was going home and the gang followed pushing him, calling him names. Eye witnesses said Danny fought back but on two separate occasions tried to pacify the situation by shaking hands with his attackers and trying to walk away, only to be attacked again each time.
They pursued Danny to the street where we live . I thought I heard Danny’s voice in the street and when I looked out of the window, I saw a group of what I thought were men, surrounding one man, then I realised that  man was Danny. Danny was standing with his back to the house and his shirt had been ripped off.  By the time I got out of the house to try and help, Danny was on the floor trying to get up. Meanwhile my partner and my daughter tried to fend off Danny’s attackers. We managed to get Danny in the house where he subsequently collapsed into a coma.

It has been said that one of the killers had told his girlfriend that they were just angry because United  had lost and they just wanted to fight someone and they thought he would just end up with a black eye.

Danny suffered horrific head injuries while the ring leader of the gang had only sustained a chipped tooth, grazed elbow and bruised knuckles.

Danny was a quiet man, he has never been known to be violent, unlike his attackers who had all been known for their violence. These boys were all equal to Danny in size if not bigger.

The aftermath

Danny’s friends started arriving at the hospital within an hour of his attack. As time went on more turned up, in the end they had to take it in turns to sit with him. They stayed at the hospital sleeping on the floor in waiting rooms till the very end.

Five days after the incident Danny passed away yet in his passing he was able to help the lives of four people he had never met when his family decided to donate his organs.

Danny was due to go backpacking the week after he died. All his belongings were packed away or had been sold off to raise funds for his trip. He was even wearing his new hiking boots to try to break them in that night.

It took almost a year to come to trial. Three out of the five attackers were charged with manslaughter and violent disorder but because Danny did not survive to tell his side, the judge ruled in favour of the attackers account of what happened.  So the charges were reduced from manslaughter to that of just violent disorder.

Because of their ages two of them were sentenced to 100 hrs community service and a supervision order and one received just 80 hrs community service and a supervision order because he plead guilty to the manslaughter charge.

The mission

It was one of Danny’s friends who suggested they take his hand print while he was still in a coma, recommending that he could still take the journey he had been planning (if only in spirit).

Kathy says “It’s been an inspiration how Danny’s friends have all pulled together to try to fulfill his dreams. I imagine Danny seeing all those fabulous places and now even taking part in amazing events. My hope that maybe a stranger will ask what is this purple hand print all about and we can tell them it’s about a lovely person who was brutally taken away from us, it’s about fulfilling a young man’s dreams.”

Below are just some of the many pictures that have been taken around the world:

So now here’s the part where you can help out with the mission. All you need to do is print out the purple hand print below, take it with you the next time you travel and include it in a photo of yourself at your destination then email the picture to info@travelbyu.com (we will pass it on to Kathy). Simple as that!

Danny's hand print

1. Text “SQUAD CARS” missing from left building

2. Traffic light is green instead of red

3. Text missing below Yahoo sign

4. Top half of Walgreens Pharmacy sign missing on centre building

5. 7th light missing on top of centre building

6. Text “RICOH” missing on right building

7. Reflection is different on side of right building

8. People crossing road at bottom right of the picture below AT & T sign have been removed.

We actually threw in an extra ‘bonus’ one for you which was a little trickier to spot.

9. Top 2 bright lights missing on the side of the left building (this one is marked by the arrow).

So how many did you manage to find?

Spot the difference Times Square solutions

We will post the solution in 2 days time. Good luck!

Spot the difference in Times Square

Simply post your answer in the comments section.

The rationale behind our choices is based on a few key elements:

• Does the job require you to travel? This seems like a good place to start but is not the clincher in what makes for a good travel job. Clearly the biggest benefit to jobs that meet this criteria is that the expense of traveling is generally covered by your employer
• Are the qualifications easily transferable?  There are some notable exceptions to this rule mainly being the Doctor or Nurse which may require extensive additional accreditation in some countries.
• Are the skills in demand worldwide? Sure I hear you saying that ANY job could be found anywhere in the world but we feel the 20 we have selected have a general need around the world.

As always we encourage your feedback and would love to hear which picks you either agree or disagree with. So without further adieu here are our selections (in no particular order).

1. Cruise Ship Worker

If you want to see the world then you should really consider getting a job on a cruise ship. The cruising industry has seen monumental growth recently and with cruise companies building bigger and bigger cruise liners there are many opportunities for work if you know where to look. And we do – click here to find out everything you need to know about how to land yourself a cruising job.

Roles ranging from DJs, dance instructors, child caregivers, hosts and hostesses,  lifeguards, swim instructors, tour leaders, doctors and nurses, spa technicians, hair stylists, cleaning staff, engineers, chefs and food servers all are in demand on a cruise ship.

The pay can vary but you need to bear in mind that you won’t be spending much while you are on board as most expenses are covered.

2. Airline Crew

A job as a flight attendant offers an opportunity to see many part of the world with generous time to explore on your days off. On the downside it’s not all fun and games – you will need to clean filthy toilets and deal with rowdy or sick passengers. Although the job may seem like it is purely customer service related, the safety and security training that flight attendants go through is just as important.

A position that carries some of the highest esteem in the travel world is that of a commercial airline pilot. The training is tough as is the competition for jobs but the reward is worth it. The pay is excellent as are the benefits.

3. Tour Guide

Tour guiding jobs are generally a lot easier to come by if you already know a location well and have good social skills. It helps if you can speak more than one language and have worked in a customer service related environment.
Some countries have strict regulations on hiring local tour guides but you may still be able to act as a Tour escort through these countries.

4. Travel Agent

One of the most recognized travel related jobs out there but is a travel agent all that you read about? I can tell you from first hand experience that the travel industry has seen a massive shift in the last 10 years. When I started out as a travel agent it was common to get familiarization trips and the travel perks were pretty darn awesome.

Unfortunately the travel supplier’s budgets have all but dried up these days. On the positive side however, you get to talk about incredible destinations all day long and share your passion for travel with others. Not to mention sharing all your stories with people who are willing to listen.

5. Travel Writer/ Blogger

If you are the creative type and know how to string a sentence together (with decent spelling and grammar) you may well be suited to this role. The pro’s are pretty obvious – you get to work from anywhere and on your own clock. You will need to be aware of the con’s though – you will need to build a decent reputation before you will see any financial reward and even then the pay will generally be sporadic.

It is very possible to achieve enough income to sustain your travels, but I wouldn’t go into it expecting to make a million $$s.

6. English Teacher

English is the world’s most common language for communication thus producing a need for teachers in countries where English is not the native language. English teaching jobs are very easy to find in many parts of the world. It helps to have a college/ university degree, but these qualifications aren’t mandatory.

The most recognized accreditation is the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) program. Compensation varies greatly between countries (depending on the cost of living and other factors), but in larger cities you could earn as much as or more than a teacher in the U.S.

7. Nanny/ Au Pair

Nanny or Au Pair positions often don’t require an extensive background in childcare but it is always a plus if you have these qualifications. This can be a great way to see the world as you will be living with a local family and taking care of their children (and often house duties also). In addition to your salary and board, travel expenses are usually covered as well.

8. Charity/ Conservation Worker

While the pay may be horrible, the pure joy of work will make up for it. If you are looking for a job that will fill your heart then this could be for you. Knowing that you are making a difference and having a positive effect on peoples lives…. I don’t know of anything more rewarding than that.

9. Diplomat

While it might not hold the same glamor as some of the other jobs, becoming a foreign diplomat opens a lot of doors to exploring the world. The role itself might not seem very exciting…I mean who really wants to issue visas and help with passports all day… but the pay is usually pretty decent along with the perks.

10. Geologist

The resource sector has seen steady growth now for many years and the need for exploration is still very high. You will need to get a degree for this job but once you are qualified the opportunities to travel are enormous.
The more common areas of exploration exist in South America, Australia, Indonesia and Africa but the options are limitless.

11. Sailor/ Navy

If you have sea legs then becoming a sailor might be up your alley. Traveling from port to port across the open seas is an excellent way to experience what the world has to offer (if you don’t get seasickness first).

With a little training it isn’t that difficult to snag a job as a crew member on a yacht or you could apply to serve your country and enlist in the Navy. Not only will you get on the job training but quite often your tertiary education is also taken care of while you are at sea.

12. Missionary

Missionaries are people from one culture who travel to another culture to share their religious beliefs. Most missionaries work through a formal mission organization. Domestic and global mission assignments range from a few days to several years. Some missionaries are volunteers, while others do mission work as a paid profession. Many missionaries solicit donations to cover their expenses.

Missionaries engage in a task that brings them into contact with the local people. Examples include teaching, building a school, providing medical care or leading a local religious organization.

13. Fitness Instructor/ Yoga Instructor

Yoga instructors are in demand. The rapid increase of interest in Yoga and Pilates, however, has led to under trained instructors.

Fitness centers and private studios are looking for instructors to handle the increasing number of students who are looking for a gentle way to improve their health with a balanced, low-impact, full-body workout.

14. Doctor/ Nurse

Registered nurses and doctors are often needed to take short-term positions lasting from three months to one year in medical facilities all over the world. There is a huge shortfall in trained medical staff, particularly in regional areas and developing countries. The only downside is that you may be required to sit an additional exam whenever you relocate.

15. Massage Therapist

Being a qualified massage therapist opens doors in many countries. It’s a skill that is in demand worldwide as people’s live grow busier and more stressful. You will need to get certified and more than likely required to join an association in the country you are practicing.

This is a good job to have due to the flexible hours, decent pay and low barrier to entry. You can either work as an independent contractor or in the hospitality industry (hotel, spa, health retreat etc.)

16. Photographer

“Have camera will travel” – like the travel writer it is pretty easy to get started as a photographer. The only issue again is gaining enough recognition to get paid for your photos. If you have a good eye and get some formal training you might be able to sell you pictures through a variety of stock image websites (eg. istockphoto, getty images and shutterstock), through your own website/ blog or by selling your images to media.

17. Rope Access

Jobs working in Industrial Rope Access onshore and offshore worldwide can achieve a lucrative career. There are many different types of specialties available such as: Painting and blasting, Non Destructive Testing, Mechanical repairs, Pipework, Railways, Welding and Rigging.

If you have no fear of heights and have a good level of fitness you can get started by taking an accreditation course with IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association).

18. Busker/ Street Performer

Street Performers such as musicians, impersonators, dancers and other entertainers work in one of the least secure occupational fields. To make ends meet, many take to the sidewalks to perform for pedestrians and tourists in exchange for tips.

For talented performers this can be quite lucrative if they position themselves in a high traffic area. A great example of this is the “Bush Man” at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. He has taken a simple idea of hiding behind some bushes and scaring tourists as they walk by and turned it into a profitable business making upwards of $400 USD a day during peak times.

Most cities will require you to have a licence to perform which is relatively simple to obtain.

19. Artist

Another of the creative jobs that has emerged to be a great way of paying the bills while traveling. If you have a talent for drawing, painting or sculpture there is always someone willing to pay money for it. There as some notable examples of travelers making a great living sketching three dimensional chalk images on the pavement, using spray cans to create moonscapes while people watch (with loud music blasting in the background).

20. Chef/ Bartender

Last but not least is another of the hospitality jobs out there. As a chef it is quite easy to walk into a cafe and offer your services when you arrive in a new city. Even if you can’t speak the language that well you can usually get by.

As for a bartender – what guy hasn’t seen the movie “Cocktail” and wanted to be in Tom Cruise’s shoes (before he became a douche). You will need to get a RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) licence in some countries and it is suggested that you do a mixing course beforehand.

So now it’s up to you. No more excuses to not getting out there are exploring the world.

Have we missed any jobs? Tell us in the comments if there are other jobs that we might of missed.

What’s your Lenten sacrifice?

There are a lot of ways to show our undying love and respect to Jesus Christ – especially during Lent.
In the Philippines, we follow a lot of traditions. Some pray the rosary and relive the ‘stations of the cross’ in 7 different churches (known as Visita Iglesia). There are also people who meet with a bible study group every week to fully understand the word of God. Others reenact the days leading to Jesus’ death in their respective communities (known as Senakulo).

On top of all the things that I mentioned, there’s another quintessential element during Holy Week in Manila. We call this the Procession of Saints.

It starts off with devotees choosing the saint they relate with and thank the most. They walk for miles holding candles, lit from the Church, to neighboring villages to share with the community the milestones in Jesus Christ’s life as depicted in handcrafted statues adorned with flowers. The procession of around fifty saints starts after the 6PM mass during Holy Wednesday and Good Friday; the schedule is different for Easter Sunday as it starts at 5am.

Regardless of what sacrifice you choose, what matters most is the solemnity and sincerity of your actions.

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Did you know that Guinea pigs were originally domesticated for their meat in the Andes? For many years these cute little critters were cared for and consumed at ceremonial meals by the indigenous people of the Andean highlands. Nowadays it is common place to see street vendors selling “Cuy” (typically the barbecued variety) which has become a major part of the diet in Peru, Bolivia and some parts of Ecuador and Colombia.

When you consider the following it is easy to understand why the guinea pig has become a delicacy throughout many parts of South America:

• Being a small animal they require much less room than traditional livestock such as cows and pigs.
• They are good breeders, able to produce up to five litters a year averaging three pups per litter.
• Their meat is high in protein and low in fat and cholesterol.

So I hear you asking… what does it taste like? Well as with many meats it has a ‘chicken like’ flavor but due to it’s gamey nature is probably closer to rabbit.

Interesting Factoid: Peruvians consume an estimated 65 million guinea pigs each year and the animal is so entrenched in the culture that one famous painting of the Last Supper in the main cathedral in Cusco shows Christ and the twelve disciples dining on guinea pig.

The guinea pig also plays an important role in both religion and culture for Peruvians. The religious celebration known as Jaca Tsariy (meaning – collecting the cuys) is a major festival in many villages across eastern Peru, and is even celebrated in smaller ceremonies throughout Lima. During the festivities locals will donate their guinea pigs to a Sirvinti or they may be brought to a communal area to be released in a mock bullfight.

In central Ecuador guinea pigs are used in the celebrations for the feast of Corpus Christi as part of the Ensayo, which is a community meal, and the Octava, where castillos (greased poles) are erected with prizes tied to the crossbars, from which several guinea pigs may be hung.

Probably the most bizarre festival involving guinea pigs can be found in the Peruvian town of Churin. It involves dressing guinea pigs up in elaborate costumes for a competition.

The event is widely known and lures locals and tourists alike. The vibrant colors laced with an intricate costume design are layered on charcoal black skin. The combination of clashing elements comes together in a distinct quintessential ‘Dinagyang’ look.

The week long event includes a much-awaited competition among different local groups. There are three judging areas where the groups will perform – synchronization, storytelling and ability to wow the crowd are crucial in bagging the top prize.  While you’re enjoying the dances, be adventurous enough in tasting sidewalk treats!

A festival worth including in your bucket list!
It’s more fun in the Philippines!

The times they are a changing. Remember the good old days where you could pack your suitcase full of clothes and other items, show up to the airport and be greeted by a friendly counter clerk who would check your luggage for your flight for free. Many things have changed since then and even more so since 9/11 but today we are going to focus on the growing trend on traveling with carry-on luggage only.

With the introduction of checked baggage fees, an increasing number of people are switching to using a carry-on bag as their only luggage. This trend comes with a number of pro’s and con’s that we will discuss here today. We invite you to join in the conversation by having your say in the comments section below.

How many times have you seen a plane with an empty overhead compartment lately? I’m guessing not at all unless that plane happened to be well under capacity. There are indeed many complications that arise from the airlines decision to charge for checked luggage. Recently on a flight from Seoul to Vancouver I arrived a little late to board the plane (let me clarify – I was there well before the specified boarding time but towards the end of the lineup) and when I finally boarded and went to stow my backpack in the overhead locker above my seat I was confronted with numerous ‘wheelie bags’ taking up the whole space. So I moved to the next locker…..and the next….and again.. (you get my point). I finally had to store my bag in the flight attendants personal compartment at the rear of the plane.

The experience was not only frustrating but also rather time consuming and no doubt held the plane up for a few unnecessary minutes. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not a hater of carry-on, in fact I am an advocate of the ‘less is more’ principle but something seriously needs to change here.

Let’s have a look at the pro’s of traveling with a carry-on bag first:

• The packing process is tedious and draining for many travelers, especially if they are packing two or three bags. When you travel carry-on only, you have less clothes, less products and less stuff to worry about packing.
• The check-in process is faster as there is no need to wait in line to check a bag. Simply check-in online, print your boarding pass and proceed through security.
• After clearing customs you are basically out of the airport as there is no need to waste time at the baggage carousel.
• When you use carry-on your luggage is sure to arrive when you do. No more bags lost in transit.
• It saves you money. You don’t have to pay fees to check your bags in.
• You have access to all your stuff on the flight.

And now the con’s:

• You will need to try and be the first on the plane to ensure your bag gets a space in the overhead locker. It takes longer getting on and off the plane when everyone needs to finds their bags.
• You are restricted by what you can pack in your bag. This holds especially true for carrying a toiletry bag with shampoo, deodorant and razors which are mostly restricted from being taken in the cabin.
• It can be dangerous to other travelers having heavier bags on board. Hit some turbulence and the overhead could pop open and the next thing you know you have a huge wheelie crashing into your head.
• You will need to carry your bag everywhere with you through the airport after checking in. This can suck when you have 2 hours to burn.

So why are the airlines forcing us to travel lighter? Well the easy answer is that it is extremely profitable for them do so. Checked bag and related fees netted $6 billion for US air carriers alone in the first 9 months of 2010, federal statistics show.

Now they are looking to capitalize even further. Did you know that several airlines have been experimenting with the carry-on bag fees now too? Spirit Airlines is charging between $20-40 USD per bag, which boggles my mind. Unless you have the most spacious pants pockets in the world, the airline has got you where it wants you — shelling out cash for something you just can’t avoid.

It’s time to have your say… how do you prefer to travel? Carry-on or checked? And what do you think about the airlines fees?