Hi from Denver! I have a quick layover and then I’m off to Park City, but I wanted to pop in and say hello! I spent some time working on the following blog post on my last flight and wanted to share it with you this afternoon. This post has been a long time coming!
Tips for Packing Everything in a Carry-On Suitcase
Every time I post a picture of my suitcase on the blog when I am packing for a trip, I’ll inevitably receive a few comments or emails from you guys asking me for my tips on packing everything in a carry-on. I hate checking a bag and want to do everything I can to avoid the fees airlines are charging for checked luggage these days, so I have a handful of tips and tricks I use to ensure I can carry-on nearly every time I travel.
Here are some of my go-to tips:
- Rely on dresses
Packing mostly dresses is probably my number one space-saving tip! By packing a dress, you’re essentially packing a top and a bottom, but you’re saving a ton of space in the process. You can also change the appearance of a basic dress by throwing on a cardigan and belting it or wearing a cute top over the dress so it works as a skirt, too. I did this a lot when I traveled to Europe with my family in 2011.
The same black dress, worn many ways, as seen in my What To Pack for a Trip to Europe post:
- Keep pajamas simple
Sleep naked! Just kidding… unless you’re a nudie sleeper and then you’re clearly good to go! Since I don’t sleep in the buff, I do my best to keep my travel pajamas very simple. I will often rely on a soft long-sleeve shirt that I wear when I travel to a destination as my pajama top once I arrive at the destination so the only thing I have to pack for sleepwear is a small pair of sleep shorts. (My favorite super soft sleep shorts are American Eagle’s aerie brand. They’re crazy comfortable and take up practically no space.)
- Choose black OR brown shoes and purses
By planning your outfits around black OR brown (not both!) shoes and purses, you can limit the number of shoes and and handbags you bring.
- Pack a purse that doubles as a crossbody and a clutch
Crossbody purses with removable straps are the best! I love the ability to wear a crossbody purse in the day when I’m traveling around town and want my hands to be free, but a clutch is fun for the evening when I might want to dress up a bit and carry a bag that looks a little more formal.
I almost always only bring one purse with me when I travel and I try to make it as practical as possible! Some crossbody clutch purses I found that I think would be great for traveling: Kelsi Dagger Crossbody Clutch (I love the mocha color and think it would pair well with a lot of different looks), Mondani Flap Convertible Bag and, for higher budgets or a big splurge, this beautiful Tory Burch bag
- Limit the number of bottoms
I can usually get away with packing a smaller number of bottoms when I travel and typically limit myself to one pair of jeans and a pair of shorts or a skirt (if weather permits) or leggings since pants can take up a lot of room. (I usually don’t need many bottoms since I often rely on dresses.)
- Take advantage of a “personal item”
Most airlines allow you to bring a carry-on and a “personal item” onto the plane with you. I always bring my roll-on suitcase and take serious advantage of my “personal item.” I never make a purse my personal item because I can bring so much more if I use a backpack or a duffle bag.
As long as it’s small enough to cram under the seat in front of you, it’s a go! And you better believe my bag is filled to the brim! (For those who asked, the duffle in the above picture is Sonia Kashuk and while that pattern is no longer available at Target, a new floral print and geometric pattern can be found online and in stores.)
- Share with friends/family
If I am traveling somewhere with my sister, only one of us will pack certain items like a straightener or a curling iron. We’ll also plan to share jewelry, cardigans or other items we know we’ll both use. I try my best to communicate with friends and family ahead of time and consolidate as much as possible so we don’t end up somewhere with four hairdryers!
Question of the Afternoon
- What are some of your space-saving travel tips?
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I have yet been able to successfully achieve this talent that you have…I’m constantly getting charged the “check bag” fee and refuse to allow it for my next travel. Thank you for this post!
These are great tips! I will remember these next time I fly! Thanks for sharing!
I need to save this! I am such a bad packer and this is super helpful!!
We use to call my sister the MasterPacker. She use to pack a whole suite case yet still be able to go shopping while she was shopping. She actually rolls her cloths to fit them all in her suitecase and prevent fold wrinkles.
Great post! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Great post! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Great packing tip! I always end up bringing way too many shoes but I love the idea of sticking to brown OR black, that would save a ton of space. How on earth did you pack a carry on when you’re traveling to Park City where the climate is so cold. Usually cold weather clothing takes up a lot more room in my suitcase.
I limit the number of shoes I take and wear my boots on the plane during winter. I like your idea of sharing bulky / extra items.
I have really mixed feelings about the steps people take to avoid checking a bag. Full disclosure: I used to travel all the time for work and would get reimbursed for my bag fees. I never had a bag get lost or arrive late. I understand the desire to not shell out another $50 to $60 dollars in fees but I am getting really sick of how much crap people drag on planes. Planes are cramped and the cabins weren’t designed to hold so many bags. I have seen so many people cheat of the 1 bag and 1 personal item rule, giant shopping bags, suitcases that look too big to be carry on, women who bring giant purses and don’t count them as personal items.
Now that I don’t travel for work, I find myself checking my bag most of the time and when I do carry on I hardly ever find a space for my bag. I wish more people would suck it up and just pay the fee.
I agree! I think that they need to check each bag as they go through security or check in at the gate so you don’t hold up the line trying to cram your bag into the overhead bin.
And people need to be considerate of putting their bags up there, sometimes they put it in horizontal instead of vertical and it takes up 2X more space!
Yes! We need to leave some room for others to fit their bag too. Lots of airlines are becoming more amiable in this way. We are about to fly SWA in country with a lap child! The boy takes up enough space and doubles our baggage. With him on my lap I have learned to pack a very light diaper bag and check everything else because my hands were more than full when I tried to also have my purse and carry on suitcase.
So neat add on, SWA will allow each passenger 2 free bags to be checked AND if you have a toddler on your lap like me, they will also check your car seat and stroller in addition FOR FREE. Also, since we are having to take our pack n play I learned that that can be checked by itself in place of one of my free bags. So the whole family will be packed in one suitcase, checked and the car seat and baby bed checked. all for free.
less stress, more happy.
Love this post. I packed for 10 days in Peru in a duffel carryon, which was hard because of the crazy range of weather. I think the best tip I have is layer on the plane and wear your biggest shoes. It’s amazing how much space you save when you travel in your sneakers/boots.
I roll my clothes into logs to save space and prevent wrinkles, stuff socks and underwear into shoes or into the bra cups to save space.
tie your running shoes/sneakers to the outside of your backpack/purse by their laces! less smelly AND less space 🙂 ex: http://theunworldlytravelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/201201129_light_packing6.jpg
I find it so hard to pack everything in one suitcase. I could never take everything for a trip in a carry-on nothing would fit because I’m such an over packer! Not being allowed to have liquids on the plane is a problem too, I always take my own shampoo & conditioner and other hair products on trips so none of that could go in a carry-on. I have a serious packing problem 🙂
Krystal
I am so glad you wrote this post – recently decided to become a carry-on-only packer. I went to Europe a couple months ago and everyone thought i was crazy. That feeling of needing everything has been replaced by a feeling of mastering packing light. Its a challenge i like!
I do the same as you – 1 pair of jeans – 1 pair of leggings – basic tops. and a couple skirts with a pair of tights. I got this red babylis hair dryer thats the size of a soda can and works great. For my personal item i use a backpack.
I do the same thing with my personal item except I usually use my backpack and fill it up completely. I roll almost everything that goes into my suitcase as well. Have a fun and safe trip!
I also always pack in a carry on, even for 10 days in Europe. The question I get the most is about liquids. And i save most of my Birchbox Items for when I travel or get plastic containers at target to fill up with my favorite products to save for travel and just grab your prepacked case of toiletries and makeup and go. Its way easier than people think it is!
I totally follow most of these tips! When I went to FL last month I packed SO many dresses. I also picked out just a couple of pairs of neutral shorts that would go with many tops. I only brought one bag and I love the tip to bring shoes that match everything. Nude heels were all I needed for evening wear!
Those are great ideas! I try to wear the shoes that take up the most space as I travel (like boots), so I don’t have to pack them. I usually take them off in the car or plane anyway, so I don’t mind them being large. I also purchased make-up that works well for travel, like a bronzer, blush and highlighter in one compact. I also check the hotel website to see what they provide in the room. That way I don’t pack any of that stuff and save the space for other stuff. 🙂
I love anything by Eagle Creek. Their space saver systems are the best (and I tend to over pack). They fit in my large suitcase and carry-on suitcase perfectly. I used the systems for a family reunion weekend over the summer and a trip to Disney World last month (had to use the large luggage for that).
I always pack more clothes athan I need! This post is so useful to me! Thank youu!
I’m so glad you did this post! Every time I fly somewhere, I promise myself I am going to pack lighter and it never happens. A big thing for me is I have trouble packing “outfits” and I constantly worry that I will regret not bringing a particular item. I always think “but how do I know what I will want to wear that day?” and I always worry I won’t have the right clothes for an unexpected outing that could pop up.
I’d really, really love if you did a follow-up post to this and showed us the actual clothing items you packed for this trip – how do you decide which articles of clothing make the cut? Do you outfit plan? Since you were traveling somewhere colder and with snow, how did you fit in those bulkier, winter items? (Inquiring minds want to know! 🙂 )
HA! I could have used this a few days ago! I had 4 carry ons and the guy at the counter was FURIOUS WITH ME – and made me shove everything into one bag, until I crossed over a specific door frame. I was pissed. PISSED I TELL YOU. I threw out some curse words and then made the plane delayed to prove a point, LOL – I think I did too, AH HA HA HA!
I love this post! Being a frequent traveler in Europe it is hard to pack because the weather is so different from country to country.
When flying I always wear my bulky shoes and coat, that way if I am hot I can just stuff it by my feet and I don’t have to worry about it taking up lots of space! Plus my bulky shoes include my tennis shoes and so that way I am comfortable traveling through the airport and my feet aren’t killing me by the time I end up at my destination.
I also pack some laundry detergent, I buy the wash-n-go sheets that you can use as a detergent, softener, and a dryer sheet all in one. That way if I need to do laundry I can and it is very simple. (:
A little late commenting on this post, but I absolutely loved these tips! Thanks so much. Where do you shop for your dresses? They are always so cute! I need some for my upcoming trip to Cali!
These tips sound awesome. I am going to Disney for my honeymoon in April and I am a little concerned about what to pack. I live in Maine so totally different weather. I don’t know if I would be comfortable wearing dresses although they might be more comfortable in the heat. Also I plan to wear sneakers so that wouldn’t go a long with dresses very well. I was thinking of just doing khaki shorts and tank tops for the week. Maybe you could offer some advice since you live in Florida?
It seems like this post was catering to women. What are your thoughts for Guys or kids?
Thanks for sharing these travel tips!
My friends could do with reading this as they are hopeless when it comes to packing ‘essential’ items for a holiday.