Ten Tips for Fitting Your Life into a Carry-on Bag

Growing up, my parents lived in different states. My dad worked for an airline company and was able to get round-trip airline tickets for dirt cheap (much cheaper than driving). My older sister, younger brother and I would take turns going out to visit him; my sister would go for a few days alone, then I would go for a few days, then my brother would go and then we would all go together and then the rotation would start all over again.   Those frequent trips to see my dad are something I will cherish forever.

Ten Tips for Fitting Your Life into a Carry-on Bag

As a teenager, after I gradated high school, I spent a year abroad in Germany attending Gymnasium (similar to American high school).  I’ve been to Europe seven times since, and needless to say I am a professional at packing my entire life into small suitcases or carry-on bags. A professional y’all.

Paul and I celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary this February. We were never able to take our honeymoon because Caden was in the hospital, and with the constant care involved when we brought him home I refused to leave him for longer than a few hours. Then we decided to have a second child and then…. well, life happened and we never got around to taking that honeymoon.

So, this spring (as in March, 2017!) Paul and I are headed to Europe for 12 glorious days for our honeymoon!!!  😀 ♥ We will stay in London, then Paris and finish up in Edinburgh, Scotland. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter because I’ll be sharing our adventures with you there!

I. Can’t. Wait!

I’ve already told Paul that we must pack as efficiently as possible in order to use the smallest bags (carry-on) as possible. It is so much easier to roll with your carry-on instead of checking (and waiting for and possibly losing) your larger bags. I’ve had it happen more than once and it is not fun.  We made it a point to book rooms via AirBnb that have a washer/dryer so that we can do a load of laundry or two throughout our 12-day stay. This cuts down on the amount of clothing we’ll need to take with us, making it possible to take smaller, more efficient bags.

I’m still sporting the luggage I used as a teenager when I moved to Germany.  It is tore up from the floor up, so Paul and I headed to Gordmans to purchase new luggage.

I found the perfect bag; super chic, plenty of pockets for squeezing undies and socks into every possible nook and cranny, and in a gorgeous shade of silver/grey.

How to Pack Like a Pro

1. Pack light. You don’t need to take every single pair of jeans you own. This is also why we choose to stay at locations that offer a washing machine in the very minimum. While clothes dryers are harder to come by in Europe, a washing machine is a must.

2. Wear your biggest/bulkiest clothes on the airplane.  This not only keeps you comfy during your flight (airplanes can be a little chilly for me) but it frees up a ton of space in your luggage.  Planning on taking a sweater or light jacket to wear throughout your trip? Wear it on the plane instead of packing it!

3. Wear your boots or largest shoes on the plane. If you’re planning on taking shoes other than flip flops or sandals, wear the largest pair you’re taking so they aren’t hogging room in your carry-on.

4. Roll it up.  Rolling up your clothing saves space and helps to prevent wrinkles. Simply unroll them when you arrive.

5. Put your loose items (underwear and socks) toward the bottom of your carry-on. This way when you open up your suitcase to pull out your TSA approved list of liquids at security, you’re not flashing your skivvies to the rest of the airport.  It also speeds up the process of getting your things back together.

6. Leave no space unclaimed.  Packing an extra pair of tennis shoes? Cram those extra pairs of socks or your hairbrush inside!

7. Plan your outfits before you pack.  By knowing ahead of time which outfits you plan to wear, you can mix and match your items, cutting down on the amount of clothes you need to take with you.  Those leggings look great with that shirt, and that shirt looks great with those jeans!

8. Don’t pack for all kinds of weather. Check the weather before you go and make your best guess as to which clothing you’ll need. Worst case scenario you may have to purchase a light jacket while away, but that’ll still be cheaper than paying extra baggage fees both ways.

9. Take advantage of your personal item. It is pretty standard for airlines to allow each passenger a carry-on bag and a personal bag.  Don’t waste that personal bag on a small purse! Instead, put your small purse inside your laptop bag or other small-ish bag.  This is where I also keep my yarn and crochet hooks to keep me occupied during the flight.

10. Use compression bags.  If you find that you are still running out of room, consider using some compression bags to shrink your clothing.  Most of these do not require vacuums to use (like these Eagle Creek Pack-It Compression Sacs).  Simply roll them up to squeeze out the excess air.

Bonus tip: find an AirBnb that has a hair dryer. Have you ever disparaged at the amount of space a hair dryer takes up in your suitcase? Just say ”no” and use theirs!

The bottom line:

Wherever you travel, whichever airline you choose, you’ll want to research your size limits and baggage restrictions before purchasing your tickets and your luggage.  I’ve found that most of the medium sized luggage fits most airlines’size requirements.

Make sure you stay connected on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter so you can see our adventures, and a HUGE thank you to Paul’s parents and my own parents for watching the kids during our trip and for staying at our home looking after the dogs.  We literally could not have planned this trip without you. ♥

More travel before you go:

6 Secret Tips to Saving BIG on Airfare {without signing up for 100 credit cards}
9 Tips for Traveling with Crochet
How We’re Getting Our Family of Four to Disney World for Less than $1,000
Florida Vacation: Endless Fun, Priceless Memories (and why we didn’t spend the ENTIRE time at Disney)
9 Things to Check Before Leaving Your House for Vacation