A Millennial’s Carry-On Bag VS. A “Tita’s” Carry-On Bag

Your carry-on bag says a lot about you, but more so do its contents. Some travellers have their whole lives cramped inside their travel bags; others bring just a little more than themselves.

For this article, we surveyed a few self-proclaimed millennial and tita travellers to know what they bring in their carry-on bags. As our most beloved readers belong to either one (or even both!) of the demographics, we decided that this article would be a fun little experiment to discover common ground between the two.

Disclaimer: This post is entirely for fun and does not intend to offend anyone. Good vibes lang! 

Also read: 18 Signs You’ve Become a Tita Traveller

What’s in a millennial’s carry-on bag?

1. The one true millennial

Age: 23

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“Phone, kasi downloaded Spotify music and Netflix keme. Bluetooth earphones, OMG! Pabango para laging fresh, power bank, passport, and wallet.”

How to travel like this millennial

1. Phone

2. Earphones

3. Power bank

4. Bag

5. Passport case

6. Wallet

7. Perfume

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2. The tita but feeling millennial

Age: 23 (Fine. Kaka-27 talaga.)

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“Walang interesting sa akin except, I guess, plantsa ko for my hair. Then I bring clothes, gadgets, papel, pagkain, and medicine kit.”

How to travel like this millennial

1. Packing cube

2. Phone

3. Flat iron

4. Bag

5. Notepad

6. Lunchbox

7. First aid kit

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3. The millennial (zillennial!) na feeling tita

Age: 22… but I’ve always felt like I’m 40

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“My phone for work, music, movies, and social media, of course. I also bring my e-reader, because it’s lighter than bringing three books at a time (I’m very indecisive, okay.). My travel-sized skincare kit — Micellar water, reusable cotton rounds, lip balm, bamboo toothbrush and tooth powder.

As a digital nomad, I bring a portable WiFi with an international SIM card with me. My fountain pen (stored upright at all times for no spillage), for all the forms I need to fill up. My zero-waste kit — millennials should be woke eco-warriors! And, when I’m not too lazy, my DSLR for photos.”

How to travel like this millennial

1. Pocket WiFi

2. Power bank

3. Phone case

4. Collapsible mug

5. Portable cutlery

6. Backpack

7. Passport wallet

8. Micellar water

9. Travel kit

10. Fountain pen

What’s in a tita’s carry-on bag?

1. The light-packer tita

Age: 20 (six years ago)

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“Wipes, alcohol, chapstick, a comb, a chocolate bar (just in case!), a scarf, and Katinko.”

How to travel like this tita

1. Wet wipes

2. Chapstick

3. Alcohol

4. Brush

5. Scarf

6. Chocolate

7. Katinko

8. Bag

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2. The digital nomad tita who values good digestion

Age: Halos kaka-28 pa lang

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“SKINCARE. Wheat grass at kape. Lagi rin akong may tinted lip balm because my lips are hella dry. Shawl…

Gadgets! Phone, camera. If I’m working that means there’s a laptop in the mix. Then, I also bring all my chargers, power banks, and whatnot for those things. But really, the most unique items are wheat grass and my inhaler. I also bring coffee and tea pala. And antibacterial ointment!!! I need it for trips with lots of activities because I’m clumsy.

Actually, skincare and makeup ang palaging meron. Like, there’s a simple version and an expanded version depending on where I’m going and duration of stay.”

How to travel like this tita

1. Travel kit

2. Coffee

3. Wheat grass drink

4. Lip balm

5. Scarf

6. Phone

7. Power bank

8. Bag

9. Camera

10. Laptop

11. Antibacterial ointment

12. Inhaler

3. The practical tita

Age: I’m 13 going… 30.

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“Okay na ako sa mobile phone filled with downloaded K-Drama. Then, yung mga nail cutter, keys, tweezer, ballpens (purple and black) ko dapat nasa carry-on. If I’m going on an international trip, syempre I bring my passport.”

How to travel like this tita

1. Phone

2. Tweezers

3. Keychain

4. Bag

5. Nail cutter

6. Pen

7. Passport case

8. Plane ticket

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4. The bookworm tita

Age: 25

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“Clothes, skincare and cosmetics, lip balm, shoes, a shoulder bag, glasses and case, gum, and a book for when I get bored on the plane. Oh, and a tote for keeping my book haul in place!”

How to travel like this tita

1. Packing cube

2. Lip balm

3. Travel kit

4. Shoes

5. Eyeglasses

6. Eco-bag

7. Book

8. Bag

9. Gum

5. The tita who is ‘addicted to always being prepared’

Age: 25!

What’s in your carry-on bag?

“Okay, I’m a check-in kinda girl but my carry-on bag is always heavy also. I’m just really scared of being idle or unprepared in airports or planes. So, it’s tissue, alcohol or sanitizer, wet wipes, power bank, glasses, contact lens case, sunglasses, a book, my iPad, a mini makeup kit, lip balm, one of those menthol things that you smell when you’re dizzy, eye drops, a rosary… Plus gum or mint. Oh, and my wallet, of course.

Oh yeah, and a cardigan and a brush. Two pens — one for me and one for any of my forgetful travel companions. And an eco-bag. And earphones!!! Two earphones: one with wire and one wireless, because you never know when you got to charge.

I’m so anxious about being unprepared for any situation. I’m addicted to always being prepared!”

How to travel like this tita

1. Tissue

2. Hand sanitiser

3. Wet wipes

4. Lip balm

5. Book

6. Travel kit

7. iPad

8. Gum

9. Brush

10. Pen

11. Bag

12. Eye drops

13. Contact lens case

14. Sunglasses

15. Eyeglasses

16. Earphones

17. Rosary

18. Power bank

19. Wallet

20. Cardigan

21. Eco-bag

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Also read: 7 Ways Travel Keeps The Stressed Millennial Sane

Through this survey, we therefore conclude that millennials and titas truly have their own travel personalities! And though they may be different, our titas and millennials share something in common ⁠— a love for travel! They may all have their own quirks, but we appreciate them just the same.

How about you? What do you keep in your carry-on bag? And is it time to update your travel must-haves? Shop for all these items through the ShopBack mobile app and score discount vouchers and cashback points for every transaction!

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