What I Pack in my Carry On
After a couple of years of some serious, lengthy solo travel: I have finally mastered the formula and art of packing my carry on, to the extent that I usually leave what I need in my carry-on suitcase year-round, and just add the tops and bottoms and I’m good to go.
P.S. – if you haven’t hopped on the packing cube train… you’re missing out. They really do help you fit more stuff, and help you feel much more organized. Click here for the ones I use.
Whether it’s 10 days, or 3 and a half weeks – here is exactly what I bring with me in both my backpack and my carry-on suitcase for an international trip:
Backpack
Your backpack = your best friend. In the event that your airline makes you check in your carry-on luggage because it’s “too big” – this is all you’ve got left. It’s important you pack it with the survival essentials.
Here is a list of what those things are, for me:
1. Headphones
Whether it be earbuds or overhead, I would be caught dead without some way to listen to my music while I’m traveling. This is a must, I’m sure, for everyone. I mean… when is the last time you saw them offering those $2 earbuds on flights?
… I think the last time I saw that happening was back in 2010 on a domestic flight on Delta going cross-country. In this day & age: best to bring your own.
2. My iPod
I know, I know – I refuse to realize it’s no longer 2009… but I love my little iPod. I can listen to music without people buzzing me; it’s a device made solely for music. Plus, it’s great while traveling, because I can listen to music without draining my phone battery.
3. Lip Balm
My close friends are laughing as they read this one. I can remember being addicted to anything lip balm, butter, or gloss since the fourth grade. Even if you aren’t an addict like me, flying is notorious for drying out your skin… and your lips.
Trust me when I say you’ll be glad you brought it with you.
4. Tissues
Click here, read the article all the way through, and then immediately pack some in your carry-on.
5. Cell Phone
I know, I know – you’re thinking this should be at the top of the list… and you’re thinking, “Stephanie, how could I possibly forget it?!”
All I will say is… you could be surprised by what you will and won’t remember when packing.
This usually pairs as your camera as well. Unless you’re like me, and love to video/picture freaking everything under the sun… then you might want to consider investing in a camera camera, and bring that along with you as well.
6. Hair Ties
You never know when you’re going to want to put your hair up.
7. Portable Battery
Click here to understand why you need to get one. This is the one I use. Two years, sixteen bucks, and it’s still going strong.
8. Mini Toiletries
Moisturizers for my face & hands, face washes & wipes, my contacts in their case with some solution, those mini rollers of perfume from Sephora, toothbrush & toothpaste, sunscreen, a tide-to-go stick, band aids, feminine products, a hair brush… I like to have those things with me in the event my luggage gets lost.
9. Chargers for ALL Your Portable Devices
I don’t know about you, but it seems I’m always bringing my electronics than I intend to. My phone, my iPod, my camera, my portable battery… make sure you bring all the chargers for them, too!
10. International Chargers
If you’re traveling abroad, make sure you have the right adapters… or else you may as well not even pack your chargers.
11. Your Glasses + Case
If you’re as blind as a bat like I am, always make sure you bring your glasses with you as backup.
12. Your Sunglasses + Case
And if you’re sensitive to the sun like I am, make sure you bring your sunglasses, too.
13. Extra Pair of Clothes
Like I said at the beginning: if for some reason, they make you check in your carry-on bag, or worse… they lose it… your backpack is all you’ll have left. You’ll be thankful that you’ve got a spare pair of clean underwear to change into after the gross-factor of flying whilst they search for your missing luggage.
14. Passport
I mean, like the phone, this seems like a moot point: but like I said…
… you’d be surprised at what you could forget.
Okay – now that you’ve packed your backpack, let’s move onto my suitcase.
1. Clothes
Duh, you need stuff to wear no matter where you go. Unless you’re planning to vacay solely at one of those nude beaches… you do you, boo. But most likely, you’ll want your packing list for clothing to go something like this:
The Basics
· 4 Giant shirts to sleep in/pairs of pajamas
· 8 pairs of underwear
· 8 pairs of socks
· Ladies: no more than 3 bras
Shoes
· An excellent pair of walking shoes
· Workout sneakers if you want to exercise/a backup pair of walking shoes
· One pair of “nice” or “dress up” shoes; depending on the trip (Example: a pair of boots or heels)
Jackets:
· Limit yourself to one. (Example, in the winter of 2017-2018, I went around Europe from Barcelona to Budapest in three weeks… thus, I brought a heftier black jacket with me with pockets. This past May/June, I went to Ireland and all over Europe once more. I brought a thin, grey, rain jacket with me given it would be cold in Ireland and relatively warm elsewhere in Europe. However, when I went to Italy in July 2018 and Australia/New Zealand in Janaury 2019, I took no jacket. Only bring one if it’s necessary when you’re actually there, do not bring it just for the plane. You’ll regret it, and dread carrying it around you during your trip).
Tops
· 6-7 shirts; preferably basic colors so you can mix & match, also, varying sleeve lengths so you can prepare for various weather.
Bottoms
· 2 pairs of something denim (During that winter Europe trip, where I was gone for a total of almost five weeks, I lived off of two pairs of jeans, two pairs of leggings, and a pair of sweatpants. You need nothing more than that).
· 2 pairs of bottoms that aren’t denim (so this could be sweatpants, leggings, or some rayon or cotton shorts, a skirt… you get the picture).
Workout Clothes/Swim
· 2 workout bras
· 2 workout tops
· 2 workout bottoms (preferably, bring some shorts that double as workout shorts and going out and about shorts).
Accessories
· One pair of earrings (if your ears are pierced like mine, and you need to keep them from closing)
· One necklace in the event you need to “jazz up” one of your outfits for a night out
2. Other Miscellaneous Things I Always Bring
If you haven’t read this article yet, you should… but I’ll list again what some of the things I never fail to pack in my carry-on are:
· Feminine Product (pads, tampons)
· Leave-in-Hair product (many hotels across Europe do not have conditioner)
· Sunscreen
· My own razor
· A journal to document my travels/feelings/thoughts
· Travel towel for hostels
· Hat
· Cover up for when visiting churches
· Packets of oatmeal or granola bars for “free” or “prepaid” like meals
· Laundry detergent
· Extra pairs of contact lenses
· Multivitamins
Oh – and a neck pillow… every time.
And there you have it. Add and remove to your heart’s desire, but this is an excellent base line for whenever you’re at your wits-end and have no clue what to pack.
For other articles like this, click here.