How to pack
for a 2 week vacation in a carry on.
Before you pack…answer these questions
Where are you going?
How are you going to get there?
How are you going to get around?
What is the weather going to be like?
What are you going to do?
How many different places will you be at?
Is it one place or will you transfer to different locations?
What bags are you going to take?
Suitcase Recommendation
People ask me all of the time what I recommend for a suitcase. For the longest time I could not stomach the price of an Away Suitcase. BUT after going to Europe several times and dragging my suitcase over cobblestone roads, I broke down and purchased an Away suitcase. I have not regretted it! In fact I have loved it so much that my husband, who refuses to have a carry on, purchased the Medium suitcase. Why do I like the Away Suitcase? It rolls so smoothly, it has the best compression straps, allowing me to pack more. If you decide to purchase the Away Suitcase, reach out to me ([email protected]) and I can get you $20 coupon.
Checked Bag?
Pro:
You will not have to carry the suitcase through the airport
You can take more clothes
You can take more liquids
It will give you more room to bring home souvenirs
Con:
Moving from different locations, it could be cumbersome.
If you have to carry up stairs it will be too heavy and awkward.
The airport may lose your luggage.
If you are going to check in luggage I highly recommend you put something on your suitcase, such as a ribbon or luggage cover to make the suitcase look different so no one mistakes your suitcase as theirs. I use the luggage cover to protect my suitcase from all of the scuffs that it gets from being thrown around at the airport.
I also recommend you put an airtag inside your suitcase so if it is lost you can keep track of your suitcase.
Carry on Bag?
Pro:
Easy to pull around or carry.
You don’t have to wait to get your luggage when you arrive at your destination
No chance of losing your luggage
Con:
You can’t bring as much with you.
You won’t have any room for souvenirs
Standard Measurements:
22″ x 18″ x 10″ (I used British Airways measurements)
Types of Carry On Bags:
Rolling Suitcase
Like I mentioned earlier, I use Away suitcase. You cannot beat the wheels, especially if you are rolling your suitcase over cobblestones.
Backpack
My sister who backpacks everywhere recommends Osprey. I struggle carrying “things” on my back, but a lot of people prefer not rolling a suitcase. They will carry the larger backpack on their back and the smaller backpack on their front.
Duffle Bag
Again not my choice of bags, but for some reason this is my son’s choice of bags. What I like about this Osprey Duffle bag is that it can also be a backpack.
Personal Item (underseat)
Standard Measurements:
18″ x 14″ x 8″ (I used British Airways measurements)
Types of Personal Items:
Backpack
I prefer a backpack similiar to this one. It has a trolley sleeve (that hooks onto my carryon suitcase handle). It has a clamshell opening, so I can open it similar to a suitcase. It has compression straps so I can put more into the backpack and compress it. It has a separate pocket for my tablet and items I will need to get to on the airplane. It has a cup holder for my water flask. I can use this while I am at my destination to carry my personal items.
Wheeled Under Seat Luggage
I prefer a wheeled under seat luggage similiar to this Coolife. It has a trolley sleeve (that hooks onto my carryon suitcase handle). I can wheel this around if I choose to check my suitcase, so I do not have to have a heavy backpack on my back. It holds quite a bit of items to help me not be so overpacked in my suitcase. It has an outside pocket for items I will need access to on the airplane.
Tote Bag
I love this Tote Bag, because it packs down to nothing and then expands to be very large. It has a trolley sleeve (that hooks onto my carryon suitcase handle). It has a small outside pocket for items I may need to get to quickly.
Duffle Bag
I personally do not care for a Duffle Bag, but my son always travels with his. I love this duffle bag that folds down to nothing and has a trolley sleeve, plus outside pockets. What is great about a duffle bag is that you can slip it over your shoulder. It also opens wide enough that you can see everything in your bag. Now days duffle bags even have wheels, but I doubt these would fit under your airplane seat.
All of the Extra’s
Packing clothes is simple, it is everything else that takes up my time and what I forget the most. So I generally sit down and think about every action and write it down before I go and start throwing these items in a bin to pack later.
What are you bringing on the airplane with you?
✔Travel Pillow
I have purchased so many travel pillows over the years, that I feel like I have become an expert. I have a hard time sleeping on the airplane. I can never get comfortable. This pillow wraps securely around your neck and allows you to switch what side you are sleeping without adjusting the pillow. I also prefer something snug around my face, strange I know but that is what I like. This also rolls up into a small carry case that can hook to your carry on easily.
This travel pillow is called the trtl. You look like you are in a neck brace when you wear it, but it gives you serious support in your neck. Since there is no cushion in this pillow, it folds up to nothing. The only issue I have with this pillow is that if you are like me and switch my neck position often when I sleep, it only will work for one sleeping position, so then you have to move the pillow.
✔Sleeping Mask/Ear Plugs
✔Compression socks
Especially as you get older you will notice that your legs will start to swell. You need compression socks to keep the circulation moving in your legs. I have really fat ankles and find it very difficult to put on the socks. I now use compression leggings (like leg warmers) and then ankle socks. I prefer the socks without the toes in them, but it is your preference.
✔Disinfecting Wipes
✔Noise Canceling Headphones
✔Airfly Pro
What is so great about this device is that you hook it into the airplane system and you can use your headphones.
✔Snack(s)
✔Notebook
✔Book
What should be in your Wallet:
Your wallet needs to be RFID. I like to keep my wallet on my lanyard so I do not loose it.
✔ Currency – in Europe you will need coins
✔ Credit Card (only 1) – keep another CC in your room
If you spouse is traveling with you have him/her carry a different CC
American Express is not widely used in Europe
✔ Driver’s License – Copy of your Passport
✔ Travel Insurance/Medical Insurance
For Europe I use GeoBlue Medical Insurance. You need to have additional Medical insurance if you are traveling internationally. Most likely your health insurance will not cover any medical expenses in another country. Your general travel insurance will not cover enough for a medical emergency.
Did you know that some credit cards has travel insurance? So if you purchase your trip using that credit card your trip will be automatically covered so you will not need to purchase additional travel insurance or car rental insurance.
✔ Emergency Contact
What are you going to carry your toiletries in?
How do you access your toiletries?
Hanging Bag
What I love about hanging toiletry bags is that you can hang them up in the bathroom. What I love about this toiletry bag is that you can unzip the bottom portion for TSA inspection.
Counter Bag
I love this draw string toiletry bag. You can easily spread it out on the counter and quickly grab everything to move to the next location.
I struggle to recommend a counter toiletry bag like this. They really do not hold that much and everything gets lost, but some people love these.
Pouches (ziplock bags)
Pouches to me make the most sense. I like to divide where I will need the pouch and so it makes it easy to unpack and pack up. So for example I have a pouch that is for the shower and I keep all of the things I use in the shower in that pouch. Some TSA will accept these, London does not. They require you to use their bag when going through security.
When packing your toiletries – go through your system
Toiletry Packing List:
| Shower: | Hair Items: | Night Time: | Eyes: | |||
| Shampoo | Brush | Ear Plugs | Contact Case | |||
| Conditioner | Comb | Chapstick | Contact Cleaner | |||
| Body Wash/Soap | *Blow Dryer | Melatonin | Glasses | |||
| Loofah | *Curling Iron | Eyeglass Wipes | ||||
| Shaver | *Flat Iron | Teeth: | ||||
| Face Wash | Hair Spray | Toothbrush/Cover | Miscellaneous: | |||
| Shower Cap | Dry Shampoo | Toothpaste | Cotton Balls | |||
| Hair Bands (Rubberbands) | Floss | Q-tips | ||||
| After Shower: | Bobby Pins, clips | Retainer | Nail Clippers | |||
| Deodorant | Retainer Cleaner | Nail File | ||||
| Lotion | Make Up: | Sun Screen | ||||
| Perfume/Cologne | Face/Eye Moisturizer | Men Items: | Bug Repellant | |||
| Feminine Hygiene Products | Headband | Shaver/Razor | Sewing Kit | |||
| Shaving Cream | Wrinkle Release | |||||
| Febreeze |
First Aid:
✔ Band Aids (different sizes)
✔ Moleskin (for blisters)
✔ Scissors (small)
✔ Advil/Tylenol/Excederin
✔ Cold Medicine
✔ Tums
✔ Antacid
✔ Z-Pack antibiotics
✔ Neosporin Ointment
✔ Benadryl (ointment & pill)
✔ Allegra
✔ Caffeine Pills
✔ Tweezers
✔ Vicks Rub
✔ Imodium
✔ Back Pain Ointment
✔ Dramamine
Medications:
I like to put my vitamins and prescription in little baggies when I travel. I have to take my vitamins with food so I need something portable to take to the restaurant. These come in all different sizes.
Make sure you have a list of your prescriptions. Some countries require you to have your prescriptions in the bottle they come in, but I have never been stopped before. If you are going to bring a big bottle of liquid prescription I was told that you have to have the original prescription from the doctor to match the prescription.
Laundry:
✔ 2 gallon Ziplock Bag
If you are going to be somewhere that you are going to need to get dirt and mud out of your clothes, then I recommend getting something that you can scrub, like this Scrubing bag.
I have found the using a 2 gallon ziplock bag works or just letting your clothes soak in a tub.
✔ Laundry Detergent Sheets
I love using these laundry sheets. They rip down to doing small loads, so you do not waste a whole sheet. Plus they take no room in your suitcase and you do not need to take up precious liquid space.
✔ Color Catchers
✔ Dryer Sheets
Do not expect dryers internationally, it is very rare to find a dryer and when you do they have no power, so it will take 3 hours to dry something you are used to drying in 1 hour.
✔ Clothesline
What is the best packing method?
Folding?
Rolling?
Compression Packing Cubes?
Space Saver Bags?
Rolling Method: My preference
Why?
✔ less wrinkles
✔ I can visually see everything
✔ I can use clothes randomly
Compression Packing Cubes
Why?
✔ You can seprate by location
✔ You compress to fit more in your suitcase
Con: Your clothes tend to wrinkle
I like these compression packing cubes because you can see in them to get an idea of what you have packed in each cube.
These Compression Packing Cubes are mess, again great for seeing what is in the cube. The negative is that if they get wet for some reason your clothes get wet.
Packing Clothes – Finally!!!
✔ All clothes need to be interchangeable
✔ You need to be able to wear the article of clothing more than once
✔ You need to be able to clean it easily
✔ I would stick with neutral colors
✔ It should be wrinkle resistant
I recommend purchasing Merino Wool. It doesn’t stink when you sweat, it wicks the moisture from your skin when it gets cold. When you wash it, it drys very quickly. Merino Wool is not cheap. If the price is cheap, double check to see if it is 100% Merino Wool.
5 Tops
4 Bottoms
3 Pairs of Shoes
2 Jackets/Sweaters
1 Dress
Addtional Items
✔ Sleepwear
✔ Underwear – at least 4 pairs
✔ Bras – at least 2
✔ Socks – at least 2 pairs
✔ Belt
✔ Scarf (s)
✔ Swimsuit (s)
✔ Jewelry