Travel With Only a Carry On
TODAY’S THE DAY! I am so excited to get up, pack my BAG, and head to the airport for Andrew and my belated honeymoon! We are spending almost a month traveling in Europe through England, Ireland, Spain, and The Netherlands. Oftentimes when you think of taking a long trip you imagine yourself with a giant bag filled with every possible device and piece of clothing you own. Today I’m sharing how you can bring everything you need for a happy, stress free vacation and travel light with only a carry on!
For an even closer look at how I travel light, check out Leah and my Instagram as I’ll be sharing lots of inside tips on our stories.
My first time abroad was for a 2 month study abroad in Spain and man, let me tell you I brought EVERYTHING I could imagine! I had two bags, one checked and one carry on. It was smooth sailing until my return trip to the U.S. My bag got lost at a layover, didn’t make in on my connecting flight to Toronto (I flew into Canada to save on flight cost) and was God knows where for days. I spend HOURS on the phone trying to find where my luggage was and how I was going to get it back. Not to mention that my bag was filled with necessities and all the precious souvenirs for my friends and family. Long story short, we got the bag back about 2 weeks later with most items broken or damaged. It was then and there that I swore NEVER TO CHECK A BAG if I could help it!
Granted, I know a lot of you have small children/are musicians like myself and may need to check strollers, booster seats, tubas etc. I would still encourage you to fit all of your clothes in a carry on and only check extra items .
So how do I travel with only a carry on? Below I’m sharing what I’m taking in my bag, things you should leave behind, and how to pack like a pro to save on space!
My Packing List
Okay, here is a list of everything I’m taking for my 25 day European trip.
-10 dresses
-2 pairs of jeans
-4 pairs of shorts
-3 skirts
-7 tops (to mix and match)
-3 exercise outfits (tops, leggings and sports bras)
-pajamas
-5 pairs of shoes
-tan dress heel
-leather sandal
-Keds lace up sneakers
-white kitten heel
-athletic shoe
-9 pairs of underwear
-5 pairs of socks
-1 sweater/jacket
-1 raincoat
-swimsuit
-hairdryer (I have curly hair and have to use my specific hairdryer with diffuser)
-mini travel steamer (see my TOP 5 TRAVEL ESSENTIALS)
-journal
-phone charger
-glasses
-spare contacts
-toiletries (see below)
What Luggage to Buy/Take
I have always been a Samsonite girl. Their 360 spin wheels and great quality make me feel comfortable and confident. When traveling with only a carry on I want to be sure that my suitcase is sturdy and durable. Travel regulations in Europe often require carry ons to be slightly smaller than in the U.S. Andrew and I both chose hard shell suitcases to help keep our bag compact and to its smallest size. I find that my suitcase ends up looking huge when I pack everything into my soft suitcase. Find some of our favorite DISCOUNTED luggage HERE . Our suitcases are 20 inch spinners with dimensions 21 x 14 x 8.5. Check out some of these great luggage deals below with mail in rebates!
What to Leave Behind
YOU DON’T NEED TO TAKE EVERYTHING YOU OWN! I can’t stress this enough. If I can travel with a carry on as a fashion blogger who will be shooting content every day, there’s no reason why you can’t to! If you’re going on a long trip, I suggest taking 1-2 weeks worth of clothes and selecting hotels/Airbnbs with washing machines so you can wear the same pieces again. Pick staple pieces you know you can mix and match. Ex: black skirt you can wear with any of your tops, jeans and can go with multiple tops etc.
Do not take tons of extra toiletries. The one-quart liquid limit is the hardest part for me but I always tell myself they sell toothpaste, lotion, sunscreen etc everywhere. So unless you’re visiting a remote location, pack the liquids you absolutely have to have and then just get a single travel size of everything else. If you run out, you know where you can buy more.
Save on Space and Pack Like a Pro
Alright, here is my favorite part. Not only are you traveling light with only a carry on but you’re also learning how to pack most efficiently! One of the best ways to save space is by folding your clothes into their most efficient size and so you can see what you’re taking! If you love Netflix as much as Andrew and me, you have to check out Marie Kondo’s new show. She helps families get organized and teaches them her signature folding method. Andrew and I both fell in love with this method and it has saved us SOOOOO much luggage space. Check out her folding method below. You can also read her book here if you want to learn more
I hope you try traveling with only a carry on the next time you go on vacation! See just how easy it is and how you will actually use everything you brought with you!
