How to Stop Overpacking & Travel Light (Carry-on only)
Whether it is due to increasing luggage costs, efficiency or just lighter weight to carry around on your next city trip… there are reasons enough to try and pack carry-on only! After years of travel I have managed to squeeze so much in my carry on that I hardly ever bring checked luggage anymore. Continue reading for some of my best packing hacks so that you can travel light for your next trip.
Packing Tip #1
Packing cubes will be your best friend! If you want to pack more strategically and not make a mess every time you open your luggage, you need to invest in packing cubes. They are usually not that expensive and will last you for years. PRO TIP: Buy a different variety in sizes to fit items better. Pants or dresses will need a larger packing cube than tops or underwear for example!
Packing Tip #2
Make sure to pack neutral clothing. In general I have completely shifted my wardrobe to fit the same style and color palette so that getting dressed would become easier on a daily basis. If you are not ready to make that shift yet, you can just pick a few colors for this trip to focus on. When doing this think of the destination you are going to.
Summer in Italy: think bright colors like yellow or red
For a safari: you will want to pack neutral colors
Greek Beach Trip: whites and blues will be the way to go!
Packing Tip #3
Plan your outfits in advance. Having your outfits made will make sure that you don’t overpack. Try and be minimalistic by tying certain clothing pieces in with multiple outfits. If you’ve worn a dress for 2 hours to get some pictures there is no shame in wearing that dress to dinner the next night again! Try to stick to the outfits and don’t bring 3 extra outfits “just in case this one opportunity arises…”.
Packing Tip #4
If you are traveling carry on only you will be limited in the amount of liquids you can bring. If you are just gone for a short vacation packing mini’s shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you have a month or longer of travel planned you might want to look into solid shampoo and soap. They aren’t considered liquids and will last you way longer than one of those mini’s would without taking up much more space.
Packing Tip #5
Roll & Fold. This might be the biggest packing debate on the internet. Should you roll or fold your clothing?! I have found that for some items rolling works better, whereas for others folding takes up less space. This is usually dependent on the fabric of the clothing. It will take some time but compare rolling and folding for your pieces and decide which one will take less space.
With these tips you should be able to maximize your space in carry on luggage! Some of my favorite pieces that you can bring as carry on luggage are listed below. Always make sure to check dimensions of your flight but these should be flight proof!
Personal Item
Overhead Carry On
WATCH MY AFRICA PACKING VIDEO (1 MONTH CARRY ON ONLY)
Top 5 Tips to Travel Carry On Only!! Whether it is due to increasing luggage costs, efficiency or just lighter weight to carry around on your next city trip… there are reasons enough to try and pack carry-on only! After years of travel I have managed to squeeze so much in my carry on that I hardly ever bring checked luggage anymore. Continue reading for some of my best packing hacks so that you can travel light for your next trip.