Tips for Fitting Your Entire Trip into a Single Carry-On Bag

packing a vacation into a personal item: instructions

I'm known for being a budget traveler, which often means I keep my bag light. This is especially true when I took a five-day trip to Paris a few years ago, on an airline that charges for carry-ons. To ensure everything would fit in the space under the seat in front of me, I had to be meticulous in my packing. Here's how I did it - and how you can, too.

I first wrote about this trip shortly after returning in 2017, but it's still relevant to this day. These strategies are more about planning than the actual packing. Let's dive into the specifics.

Measure your bag

How to Pack Your Whole Vacation Into a Personal Item

The space beneath the seat in front of you is a lot larger than you might think. It can accommodate a small to medium-sized backpack or an overstuffed messenger bag. However, don't guess its size! If you're off by even a few inches, you may be asked to put your bag in an overhead bin, resulting in another fee or requiring it to be gate-checked.

To avoid this hassle, check your airline's website for the maximum dimensions. For instance, my airline at the time, the now-defunct Wow Air, allowed for a personal item measuring 17 by 13 by 10 inches, including handles and wheels, with a weight limit of 22 pounds. Use a tape measure to confirm. If your bag is flexible, make sure to measure it when fully packed.

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It's also wise to have a backup plan. It's possible you'll buy too many souvenirs or end up on a tiny plane without under-seat storage. To prepare for this scenario, pack your essentials, such as your passport, wallet, phone, and other key items, in a small purse or packing cube that you can keep in the seat back pocket. If you have to give up your larger bag, you'll still have these things with you.

Some great "personal item"-sized bags:

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For a sturdy backpack option: Swiss Gear 17" Bungee Backpack
If you prefer a tote: 17" Weekender Tote with a zippered shoe compartment
For a suitcase-style backpack: 16" Travel Backpack with Stowable Daypack

Swiss Gear SA1908 Black TSA Friendly ScanSmart Laptop Backpack$99.95at Amazon$99.95at Amazon## Streamline your packing list

I can't fit a suit or a sleeping bag into a carry-on, and my trip to Paris was more suited for a minimalist who isn't bringing a laptop or workout gear. I did, however, pack several changes of clothes, essential toiletries, a sketchbook, and a phone charger.

I didn't bring soap, shampoo, or other personal items, since I knew I could buy them at my destination. In fact, my husband mistakenly thought he'd need several adapters for European outlets. When I asked how many devices he was bringing, he realized he only needed two: his phone charger and mine. So we left four adapters behind.

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I packed fresh socks, shirts, and underwear for each day, planning to wear a dress once and my shorts and pants twice each. If I had been more daring, I could have washed one outfit in my hotel sink each night. Nevertheless, I resisted the temptation to pack an extra outfit "just in case." A dress would have been an unnecessary addition, and I would have worn my shorts or pants instead.

Eliminating the "just in case" items is a simple process. Consider what would happen if you didn't have an item. If I didn't have bandages for blisters, I would simply wear different shoes or change my outfit. The bandages stayed in my bag.

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FYY Travel Cable Organizer Pouch Electronic Accessories Carry Case Portable Waterproof Double Layers All-in-One Storage Bag for Cord, Charger, Phone, Earphone Black$9.85at Amazon$12.99Save $3.14$9.85at Amazon$12.99Save $3.14

Select the smallest item that fulfills its purpose. Opt for the travel-sized toothpaste, though the full-size container might be small enough to pass through security. Evaluate your jackets and sweaters, and choose the thinnest one that's warm enough, or perhaps a lightweight scarf you could use as a shawl.

Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Roll your clothes. This method of packing is the most compact. Start by putting your socks and t-shirts on the inner portion of the roll, and then carefully smooth out your wrinkle-prone items. Consider how you will handle any unexpected wrinkles: Will your accommodations include an iron? Do you plan on steaming your clothes while showering?

Utilize packing cubes. It wasn't until after my trip to Paris that I realized how much time and effort these can save. They don't conserve space, but they make a tightly packed luggage so much simpler to manage when packing and unpacking.

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Wear the largest items. Wearing your jeans instead of packing them will free up space in your bag. Additionally, you can wear your travel pillow on the flight and secure it to your bag as you navigate the airport.

Ensure easy accessibility. An awkwardly arranged bag full of tangled items will lead to frustration. This is where packing cubes are beneficial, or you can at least arrange your clothing rolls to divide the space as needed. Take advantage of pockets as well. Stow flat items in the laptop compartment, and place your passport and phone charger in the easiest-to-reach pocket.

Consider small or intangible souvenirs. Most items must return with you. If you brought travel-sized toiletries, you could finish them off and dispose of them before you return. Additionally, wrinkle-resistant clothing is less of a concern.

Keep an eye out for lightweight souvenirs. Maybe you'll buy a French-language cooking magazine for your mom, and translate the recipes on the flight home. Delicious foreign snacks can also make excellent gifts and occupy minimal space. Photos, videos, and memories serve as unintrusive souvenirs as well.

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What I actually packed

[Image: A top-down view of my bag. In the top back pocket: book and sketchbook, flattened purse, printouts of documents. Middle pocket: clothing rolls, positioned on top of carefully packed/stuffed shoes. Front pocket: toiletries, art supplies, wallet, battery pack. In unseen pockets: charging cable, passport, ziploc bag of liquid toiletries]

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My approach: I packed using an Eddie Bauer hybrid messenger bag/backpack that I've had for years. Although it's no longer available, my husband, whose packing was equally light, used a Swiss Gear backpack similar to this one.

Bulky items: My extravagance was a pair of leather t-strap heels. I stuffed my socks and underwear inside them to maintain their shape, and then wrapped them loosely in a plastic bag so they wouldn't get the rest of my belongings dirty. I also carried a travel pillow, attached to the handle of my bag.

Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Clothing: For a four-night stay, I brought four shirts, one dress, one pair of shorts, and five sets of socks and underwear. I wore sneakers, a jacket, and a pants-shirt combination.

Toiletries: I stored cosmetics and other small items in a zippered pouch, while a Ziploc bag held liquid toiletries like moisturizer and toothpaste.

A top-down view of my bag. In the back pocket (top of photo): book and sketchbook, flattened purse, printouts of documents. Middle pocket: Clothing rolls, sitting on top of carefully packed/stuffed shoes. Front pocket: toiletries, art supplies, wallet, battery pack. In pockets not shown: charging cable, passport, ziploc bag of liquid toiletries.Credit: Beth Skwarecki

Electronics: All I need for a non-work trip is my phone, a charging cable, and a battery pack. (My husband prefers an electric toothbrush and razor at home, but managed with analog alternatives for this trip.) We also brought a headphone splitter and a pair of earbuds for each of us.

Entertainment: A book for the plane; a sketchbook and a small pack of art supplies; snacks like Clif bars; wallet, passport, etc.

Looking back, I didn't really mess up much. I wish I had left my fancy shoes at home and brought some basic flats instead. I didn't need that jacket I wore at the airport, but I'm glad I brought it with me. Apart from these two points, this was one of my most carefully planned trips.

I've made some significant errors in the past. For example, I went on a trip where I ended up near-freezing because I didn't want to pack heavy clothes. In another situation, I only had skirts and my only issue was the lack of a pair of fleece-lined tights. They would've taken up so little space in my bag, and would've been really helpful. On multiple occasions, I forgot to pack a purse because I thought my messenger bag would suffice. It's much better to have a separate purse (or a tote bag, or a laptop bag) for daily outings than to rely on your carry-on bag's contents.

I presently imagine my daily routine while making a packing list. This has helped me remember all the essential items, such as purses. And I apply the "just in case" test to those "just in case" items. As a result, I'm now that person who swiftly lands off a plane with just a tiny backpack, gracefully avoids the long lines at the baggage claim, and hops on the Métro to reach their Airbnb. It's an outstanding way to travel.

Read also:

Given the context of the text, here are two sentences that incorporate the words 'packing light tips' and 'travel':

During my travel, I found the 'packing light tips' shared in this article extremely helpful in managing my luggage, especially during carry-on-only flights.

Implementing 'packing light tips' not only saves you from potential extra baggage fees but also makes your travel more enjoyable and less stressful.