What I'm Packing for a Summer Euro Vacation - in a carry-on
Summer weather is nearly upon us and summer vacation is all but here. In my mind, I am already on vacation, but in another month I will be physically on vacation, lounging on the beaches and seeing the sights of Europe. While I am an avid over-packer, there is one thing about me and flying – I never check a bag. That means overpacking a roller carry-on until I have to sit on it for it to shut and shoving as much as I can into a backpack. Nevertheless, there will be no checked baggage for me.
My biggest claim to fame is that I have gone on multiple weeks-long trips with just a carry-on, including to Paris in the fall (aka pants, jackets and multiple pairs of sneakers were needed).
This means packing becomes a strategic combination of logistics, math, and an Olympic sport. Here’s how I’m making it work for this summer’s trip.
The bags of choice
For me, I need to know the bags I choose are reliable because I will be pushing them to their limits. I had a popular brand carry-on for a while and would be a wreck every time I travelled with it because it would either look like it was about to burst, the handle wouldn’t work or some other frustrating issue that you don’t want to have to think about while you’re on vacation.
I recently switched to an AWAY Carry-on and I have not worried since. It is so reliable and no matter how much I shove in, it always maintains its shape and the seams are never bursting. Plus, if I use it for a non-flying trip or if the airline decides to check in rollers at the gate, I can always extend it for some extra room and peace of mind. And if I’m being honest, I love the aesthetic of it, too.
Not that I can afford this level of luxury and I will be a mess if I ever have to give this bag up, but I use a TUMI Backpack my dad gave me years ago. I can see why these bags cost such a fortune. They have anything and everything you would ever need while travelling and though I have been using it for YEARS (my best guess is nearly a decade) it looks like it was just plucked from the high-end shelf.
The essentials
If you’ve ever travelled with me, you’ve likely heard me reference my greatest theory in life – the fact that there is a baseline of things needed to stay anywhere outside your own home. For me, that baseline happens to be slightly larger than most, meaning that a weekend trip is often a two-bag affair.
But when I travel for long periods of time, that baseline doesn’t actually extend much because it already has every possible option I need for every scenario that could arise in a 24-hour period. It really just means adding some trip-specific items, an extra pair of shoes and a couple more outfits.
Essentials are split into trip essentials and flight essentials. Because the roller is typically a sit-on-it-to-shut situation, absolutely nothing that is needed on the flight should be in there.
That means your personal item (overloaded backpack) should include things like chargers, your e-reader, gum, medications, an extra set of clothes (airports can be a sweaty place), one pair of shoes, a water bottle, toiletries and any snacks. For me, this also includes every type of OTC medication from Advil to Tums to Pepto-Bismol to Rescue Remedy Spray, as well as a variety of corded and wireless headphones. As I said, my baseline of essentials is quite high.
For trip essentials, I am looking at summer clothes which take considerably less room than winter clothes - win! I am banking on:
two pairs of neutral, lightweight pants
three pairs of shorts
three T-shirts
two “nice” tops
three swimsuits
one cover-up
two dresses
two pairs of pyjamas
14 pairs of underwear
a mix of bras
six pairs of socks
one sweater
one sweatshirt
If I’m feeling crazy, maybe a rain jacket, but probably not – why plan for rain on a sun vacation?
The keys
I don’t know if this is necessarily true, but I like to think that lighter fabrics, when rolled, take up less space. This means anything with an ounce of flow is rolled and anything sturdier like jeans is folded. Also, packing cubes are no joke, especially the ones with compression. You can fit at least 50% more in your bag with them (not actually tested but anecdotally approved). They aren’t expensive and the ones I got from Amazon years ago are still like-new after nearly a dozen trips, all of which were overflowingly full. They’re not cute, but they work.
An e-reader – if you are lugging multiple books around, WTF? Such a good investment if you’re a traveller and a reader; it’s really a no-brainer.
Organize your packing with outfits together, including socks, underwear and if possible, the appropriate bra. Not only does this help you make sure you don’t forget anything (hello strapless bra!), but it also makes your trip oh, so relaxing. While I like to think I would do this every trip, in reality, I think I’ve only done it once. And it was glorious when I did it, but it required military planning and precision.
Speaking of outfits, this is common sense but often forgotten: your plane outfit should be the most strategic. If you want to shop when you are away, wear your smallest outfit on the plane and your biggest outfit on the way home to free up some room. If you’re hoping to bring everything you’ve ever needed, well, a chunky plane outfit it is.
This is a wild one: no-rinse detergent. A colleague of mine introduced me to this a while ago and wow, what a game-changer. It was designed for people to be able to hand wash knits without needing to rinse multiple times to get the detergent out, but has become my travel BFF. The brand, Soak, even sells small travel packets to throw in your bag and they’re perfect for refreshing leggings, washing out swimwear or even renewing your undergarment inventory.
Even when packing in a carry-on, there are a few spots where you can still manage to squeeze in some fun, non-essentials. For me, this usually looks like a funky jacket, an extra pair of sneakers, some spare sunnies or a ball cap. Even if sometimes that means wearing said funky jacket on the plane, so be it.
That said, don’t pack things you can get there. If you’re in a pinch and you’re not sure whether you’ll need flip-flops or want to pack a nice hair product in lieu of sunscreen, assess what you can buy there. Don’t waste room on things you can easily find once you land, especially precious liquid allowance.
Safe travels!
Aleah Balas is freelance writer.