We get SO many questions about how to travel carry-on only. The three of us do this consistently, even for a 2-week trip. After my Florence fiasco and losing my luggage for three days in Greece, this is the ONLY way that I will travel. Here are our tips and tricks for traveling carry-on only. (And believe me, I used to be that girl with one giant suitcase and another small one for a one-week trip to Hawaii😜)!

 

Tips on How to Travel Carry-On Only

 

Be Realistic About What You Need

This was the hardest thing for me. I was used to packing ten outfits for a week-long trip, just in case. I wanted options and cute clothes for pictures. Getting to the point where I realized it was about the trip, not about what I was wearing, was a huge step for me. Honestly, it has been so freeing to pack fewer clothes when taking trips, which also helps me not worry about losing my luggage. I also plan to wash clothes in the hotel room, as needed, throughout my trip. (Hotel shampoo is great for this.)
 
Here is my sample carry-on-only packing list for a two-week trip:

• 3 pairs of pants (if I need jeans, I wear them otherwise, I take lightweight pants)
• 3 pairs of shorts or skirts (preferring skirts lately – if it will be colder, I increase the number of pants)
• 6-7 shirts – think neutrals for mixing and matching
• One sweatshirt (wear this on the plane, and if I need a coat, I wear that on the plane as well)
• 7 pairs of underwear (wash them in the hotel as needed)
• One dress that is light and doesn’t take up a lot of room
• One pair of pajamas (I also wear a pair of Vuori’s and a t-shirt as pajamas that I have worn one day)
• Tennis shoes (wear on the plane)
• Sandals and one more pair of shoes, depending on where I am going
• 1-2 swimming suits and coverups
• 1-2 workout/walking shorts outfits
• Makeup – keep it simple
• Toiletries – carryon size only (I love individually packed sunscreen and insect repellant)

 

Use Packing Cubes/Have a Backpack

We love packing cubes. Using packing cubes makes traveling carry-on only so much more manageable. Jess loves these to and fro bags packing cubes (Use code Travel15 for 15% off), and Alex just bought these compression packing cubes from Amazon. I especially love that you can compress more clothing into them. Rolling my clothing items also saves room.  I ALWAYS use packing cubes for my underwear and swimming/workout stuff and then stuff them in.

We all use backpacks as our personal items and for extra storage. They carry our laptops, chargers, personal items, and usually a change of clothes. This is Alex’s favorite travel backpack.

 

 

Wear Your Heaviest/Bulkiest Items

It is not unusual for me to have a sweatshirt and coat tied at my waist. I also wear my bulkiest shoes, and if I want jeans on my trip, I wear them as they take up a lot of room and are heavier.

 

Have a Great Suitcase

All three of us swear by the Away suitcases. I have the carry-on and oversized carry-on, but when I am traveling in Europe, I only take the regular carry-on as they are stricter with sizes and weights. If you are traveling in Europe, prepare to have your carry-on weighed – another reason I take a backpack is so I can adjust the weights in my carry-on. Away suitcases have a lifetime guarantee, which makes the high cost less daunting.

 

 

Bottom Line

It is possible to go on a 2-week trip traveling carry-on only. I’ve changed from the girl who lugged multiple bags (or had her husband lug them) to traveling carry-on only. As I pass people struggling with the multiple, heavy bags, I’m laughing at the old me! 😂 We hope this guide on how to travel carry-on only will make your trips easier and more enjoyable too!