Most major airlines now charge you to check your bag and choose your seat (blegh). Here’s how I packed last-minute for my week in Greece in just one carry-on bag and one backpack.
Have you ever gotten all the way to the final steps to book a flight online and only to realize the ‘deal’ you had found didn’t include the cost of bags or your seat selection? I booked my flights to Greece this spring with 3 weeks to spare. That left me with a short window of time in which to a) plan the whole trip, b) pack, and c) leave. I decided to save $60 in baggage fees alone by packing only carry-on luggage, which left me with a conundrum: How could I fit all that I needed for a week in Europe in two carry-ons? Below I’ll share with you what I learned.
How to pack for an international trip in a carry-on:
- Re-wear, rewear: For 7 days I packed 1 pair of jeans, 4 t-shirts, 1 set of yoga clothes, 1 pr flats, 1 pr tennis shoes, and 1 long sleeved shirt. I re-wore items, knowing that I could always do laundry while there if I needed.
- Plan out your plane outfit: On the plane I wore my bulky running shoes, jeans, and a structured jacket I picked up thrifting in Tokyo. Long international flights are pretty temperate, so I stored my jacket away in my backpack when I wasn’t using it. This gave me even more space in my bag for souvenirs.
My favorite splurge items to save space:
- Cadence pods: my favorite for TSA-compliant, no-hassle containers for all my toiletry needs (plus *gasp* labels)
- Ebook reader: On vacation I can go through 3-4 books per week, so this item is a must have. Books are heavy and bulky. A Kindle can hold more than three thousand books. I checked all of my books out from the library’s digital loan portal.
- Travel yoga mat: Thinner than most yoga mats, travel-sized yoga mats can fold in themselves itself and fit in most bags or a small shoulder bag.
I’ve done all the hard work for you. Based on my spontaneous trip in April, I compiled a go-to checklist you can use when planning your next week abroad. I hope you find it as useful as I do!
Download your free, essential packing list here:
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