How to Pack in a Carry-On for Two Weeks
One of the biggest mistakes a first-time traveler can make is overpacking. Although it is tempting to bring your biggest suitcase with all of your favorite clothes and home comforts, you will pay for it over, and over, and over. Yes, your transatlantic flight will most likely include two free checked bags, but if you are going to fly on a regional European airline, you will usually end up paying through the nose for just one checked bag. Even if you aren’t flying again once you arrive in Europe, the cities are not built to accommodate your jumbo case; quite the opposite.
It often feels as if European cities have been designed to make you wrestle with your luggage for the entertainment of the locals. You know all those quaint, cobblestone lanes you’ve been drooling over on Pinterest? THEY WILL WRECK YOU. Trying to wheel a suitcase uphill on cobblestones ought to be an olympic event. There will also be many times where you will have to navigate stairs with your luggage (old buildings don’t always have elevators!), and you will be kicking yourself for packing that seventh pair of shoes. Of course the real challenge is when you hit a cobblestone staircase (I’m looking at you, Toledo).
You may end up carrying your suitcase in your arms like an overgrown toddler for a quarter of a mile, so make sure you can EASILY lift it. It is also incredibly embarrassing to roundhouse the nice English man sitting next to you on the Eurostar with your suitcase as you try to heft it onto the overhead rack. So if you don’t want to sit in tangible silence for two hours, downsize your luggage.
“There’s no way I could fit everything I need in a carry-on!” …... Listen, I get it. You have a vision of yourself walking the streets of Paris in a perfectly styled outfit every day of your trip, basking in the admiration of all the locals who would never guess you aren’t a native Parisian. Here’s the thing: you can still look GREAT without bringing so much luggage that you also have to hire a professional body builder to carry it for you. When I studied abroad, I spent two months in five different countries and only brought a carry-on and a backpack. Don’t think of it as a limitation, but as an exciting opportunity to curate a capsule wardrobe! Now say it with me, “I’m only taking a carry-on.”
The night before my most recent trip to Spain! My plane outfit is laid out on the ottoman, and everything else I carried was already packed up in that suitcase and backpack!
Packing Tips
1.Suitcase Size
Pick a carry-on that is compliant with the restrictions of ALL the airlines you will be using for your trip. Every airline has different restrictions on their carry-ons, so make sure you check the rules for ALL of your flights before you leave. In my experience, a 21” rolling bag is a pretty safe bet.
2. Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are one of the greatest developments in travel equipment since the rolling suitcase. You can get a set of 3-4 online or at Target for $15 or less. I like to designate one cube for tops and dresses, one cube for bottoms, and one cube for sweaters, scarves, etc. I recommend folding shirts and dresses flat because they will wrinkle less. That being said, try to choose wrinkle resistant fabrics, because there is no guarantee you will find an iron where you are staying. Pants and sweaters don’t generally wrinkle as much, so they can be rolled to save space. Scarves generally don’t wrinkle or look good wrinkled, so they can be rolled as well.
3. Layering
You don’t need as many pairs of pants during the fall/winter, and this may seem counter-intuitive, but that’s where the tights come in. In the winter, your pants will almost never touch your skin. LAYERING. It is the key to staying warm and saving space in your suitcase. Swap out tights under your pants each day and wash them in your sink at night. You can make it through a whole trip with just two pairs of pants! Likewise with your tops, you can layer up undershirts and minimize the amount of laundry you need to do while maximizing warmth. Essentially:
4. Laundry
If you are so unfortunate as to spill something on one of the few clothing items you meticulously selected to bring on this trip, having access to laundry facilities can save you from smelling like gazpacho for two weeks. Many hotels and AirBnBs have laundry facilities, so you will probably get a chance to do laundry at least once during your trip. Check for this amenity when you are booking. In a pinch, you can do a load of “neccessaries” in the bathroom sink. I recommend bringing camping soap for these situations.
5. Item Selection
Pick items that you can mix and match. If you can’t wear it AT LEAST two different ways, take it out. Try to keep a fairly consistent color scheme (base your neutrals on your shoes). Remember, it doesn’t have to be your favorite way to wear the item. If it works and it saves space, do it. No one is going to know that your blue striped shirt really looks best with the green sweater, not the grey one.
6. Teamwork
Work with your travel buddies for bulkier items. There is no reason for both of you to pack a hair dryer. Believe me, European electrical systems can’t handle two of them at the same time anyway. Put your makeup bag in their suitcase and carry the straightener for both of you in yours.
7. Think Small
Travel size only on your toiletries. You won’t be able to get through security with anything larger anyway since you’re not checking a bag. You may run out before the end of the trip, but you can buy the basics at any pharmacy in Europe, but not grocery stores. If you can’t eat it, you usually won’t find it at the grocery store.
8. Backpack Backup
Try to leave your backpack mostly empty. This is where the overflow will go if you struggle to fit everything in your suitcase/under the weight limit for an airline. It also leaves you some wiggle room to bring back souvenirs.
9. Dress Heavy, Pack Light
Wear your heaviest shoes and coat on the plane. It will save you space/weight in your luggage, even if it does sometimes make you look like that kid from A Christmas Story going through the airport.
Packing Guides
Here’s a breakdown of how many of each type of item you should bring, depending on the season.
