Pam
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😜)!
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:
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.
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.
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. They have sales around the holidays, and we have $20 off referral links we can send you if you are interested.
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!
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So helpful, thank you!
Did the regular-sized Away carry ons fit on your Emirates trips to Europe? They seem to be more restrictive on size than other international airlines.
I’ve never had a problem with the regular size Away carry ons.
Awesome! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Have any of you tried “the bigger carry on”?
Yes, I have the bigger carry-on and use it all the time in the US. However, I don’t in Europe because they are stricter with weights and sizes.