How am I packing for an entire month in Europe? In a carry-on suitcase!

Yes, it is extremely possible. No, I am not nervous that I am forgetting anything.

If I can help it, I try to pack for all of my trips by using just a carry-on suitcase and a personal item. On my trips that last anywhere between four and five days, I actually just stick with a luggage that meets a personal item size requirement – mostly because I fly budget airlines and would otherwise have to pay for a carry-on, but also because I enjoy the benefits of traveling lightly. If there is ONE thing that I have learned from being able to pack my necessities in just a carry-on suitcase, it is that I am saving myself the added stress of having to worry about a checked luggage. Why?

1. Carry-ons are smaller. You are simply traveling with a lighter load, which means added ease if you are traveling to multiple destinations. Having to pack up less stuff each time you move to a new destination saves so much time, effort, and physical weight.

2. No stress about the potential of losing luggage (for the most part). I will admit that I have heard stories from fellow travelers who were forced to have their carry-on checked at the gate because the overhead bins on the plane were too full, and then their luggage was somehow subsequently lost. However, to avoid that, just try to make sure that you are one of the first passengers to board when your boarding class is called. Believe me, knowing that all of your items are located above your head or under your seat on the plane is really comforting. Plus, no need to wait for luggage when you arrive!

3. No checked baggage fees (again, for the most part). Sometimes, when you check in, if your carry-on is overweight, the airline will likely have you check your bag for a hefty price. However, save yourself the trouble and the money and just weigh your bag before you leave for the airport.

4. You will have everything you need. To be perfectly honest, I am much better at packing when my luggage is limited to a smaller size, because I am then forced to just pack the necessities. I spend less time wondering whether or not I will need that second pair of jeans or t-shirt in a different color because it’s likely that they won’t even fit into my bag in the end. I feel as though for every time I have packed with a checked luggage, I always end up forgetting or wishing I had brought a particular item. When I am limited to a smaller quantity, I make do with what I have, and I find that I am much better off that way.

So, are you curious to give carry-on travel a try? I hope so. Here are some of my best tips to get you started.

1. Invest in a good, durable bag – I purchased my High Sierra AT7 last year and I LOVE IT. It is separated into two compartments by 2/3 and 1/3, so they are not quite equal in size like most other carry-on bag compartments. I really like this setup because it helps me to organize my items better – I will put most of my tops and pants in the larger compartment, and the smaller compartment is for shoes, outerwear, socks and undergarments, and other miscellaneous items. This bag is also made of woven fabric but still has a hard shell underneath. I tend to gravitate more toward bags made of fabric versus rubber or plastic because I think the wear and tear is way less visible; whereas scratches, scuffs or dents can easily be seen on other bags. Lastly – and if I may say the piece de resistance of this bag – it has backpack straps. This was an absolute game changer. I cannot stress how wonderful it is to walk the cobblestone streets of Europe and not have to hear the sound of my wheels bumping, or think about how scuffed they would be. Believe me when I say that these are a wonderful addition.

2. Packing Cubes – The greatest packing invention to grace humankind. Seriously, if you are super into organizing your items when packing or you think that you could stand to be better organized, go order a set of these from Amazon. You have options to buy cubes all of the same size, or different sizes. However you divide up your items is up to you, but once you have a system going, it saves you from digging through layers of clothing every time you search for an item in your suitcase. I also think it is worth mentioning that these are a better alternative to vacuum/space-saver bags. The problem with those is that by pressing out the air in the bag and thus saving space, you are creating room to add more weight to your suitcase, and having an overweight suitcase can get you into trouble. Save yourself the time of having to open your suitcase at the airport and redistribute the weight of everything inside; go for the packing cubes instead.

3. Wear layers when traveling – Especially pertinent in winter, when clothes are heavier and take up more space. Wear your heaviest coat on the plane, your bulkiest pair of shoes, and grab an extra sweater and wear that, too. Don’t waste space in your suitcase by sticking a pair of boots and a down jacket in there. Same can be said for warmer-weather travels. If you are bringing a sweater or light jacket to wear at night, or a pair of sneakers to use on a morning run or for all-day sightseeing, make sure you wear those on the plane and stick your lightweight sandals in your suitcase.

4. Plan your outfits – Three pairs of pants, one pair of shorts, and six tops might not seem like very much, but when you mix and match them together, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how many options you yield. Put the outfits together and write them down as a note in your phone, or take pictures of them and save them to your camera roll. This saves you the stress of feeling like you have repeated the same outfit three times in the same week. And, plan out the outfit you will wear while traveling on the airplane, and make sure you can incorporate those pieces into the outfits that you will wear throughout your journey. For that reason, unless you are someone who intends on wearing mesh leggings and sports tank tops throughout your travels, it might be better to shy away from the “athleisure” trend and maybe throw on a comfy pair of jeans and t-shirt to wear on the airplane.

5. Go easy on the toiletries – I could probably write a whole separate post about this, but here is the abridged version. Basically, traveling with a carry-on means that you are limited to toiletry containers no larger than 3oz (300ml), and they must all fit in a clear, quart-sized bag. It has been my experience that TSA in the U.S. has not been super picky about the actual bag size, but there are some European airport authorities that are, especially the United Kingdom. Bear this in mind if you are connecting through London as you might have to transfer terminals and therefore have to clear security again. They will provide you with a quart-sized Ziploc bag if yours does not meet the aforementioned requirements, and you must fit all of your toiletries in there. So, how do you work with these restrictions? If you are not tied down to a particular brand of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or lotion, AND you are staying in hotels throughout your journey, then just stick to using the toiletries that the hotel provides. If you are maybe staying in hostels and have to bring your own toiletries, or you do prefer to use your products, then bring as many multiple containers as you see necessary. But won’t that take up a lot of space in my small, quart-sized bag? Yes, so maybe try switching out liquid toiletries for solid toiletries that are not regulated by size! Consider a bar of soap instead of body wash, toothpaste tablets instead of paste-filled tubes, shampoo and conditioner bars if you do not have a preferred product, and facial cleanser/makeup removal wipes instead of liquid solution. You can keep your solid toiletries in a separate bag of whatever size and color you want, though I would always say that the smaller, the better.

6. Make use of your personal item – The only requirement that regulates a personal item is that it must be able to fit under the airplane seat. It can be as small as a crossbody purse, or as large as a backpack. If you are worried about not being able to fit all of your items into a carry-on bag, then take a backpack with you as well. Stick your purse inside your backpack, and use the additional space for whatever cannot fit into your suitcase, or for whatever items you would prefer to be able to access immediately while on the airplane. I personally use the Fjallraven Kånken backpack in the size “big.” I purchased it last year and I am in awe of how durable and spacious it is. My favorite design feature is that of the zipper, which wraps almost entirely around the backpack, so that you can pull open the front of the backpack and look to see everything inside. It eliminates the hassle of digging for items that may be shoved way at the bottom of your backpack. If that is something that has always turned you away from relying on a backpack, then definitely consider purchasing this bag. Again, keep in mind that airlines might weigh your carry-on and personal item together, so their combined weight must meet the requirements. Check your airline’s website for the specific amount and weigh your luggage on a scale at home before you leave for your flight.

What I Am Bringing

• Ten short-sleeve tops
• Two long-sleeve sweaters
• Six pairs of pants
• Two pairs of pajamas
• One bathing suit
• Many socks and undergarments
• One pair of sneakers
• Two pairs of sandals
• One quick-dry towel (these are amazing)
• One quart-sized bag of liquid toiletries
• One quart-sized bag of solid toiletries
• Gifts for family members*

With those articles of clothing listed above, I was able to make over 50 outfits! That is more than one outfit per day, not to mention I will not even have to repeat outfits throughout my entire trip, unless I choose to.

If it seems like I am bringing too much – particularly with tops and bottoms – worry not. Traveling in the summer has its advantages because clothes are softer and lighter, so you have the ability to pack more. Also, let this be a testament to how much can actually fit inside a carry on, it holds more than you may think!

Now, for our feature presentation: a time-lapse video of me (with the “help” of my dog, Leo) packing everything I am bringing into a carry-on and backpack! *Side note: the gifts for my family members are what you will see in the plastic bags.