How to Travel with Just Your Carry-On Only

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Travelling with just your carry-on saves you so much hassle – and in many cases, money too. Airlines are constantly trying to keep up with their competition by slashing prices, and therefore, they tend to charge extra for checking in bags. Whether you’re headed away for a week or maybe even just one night, a carry-on is a sure-fire way to make your journey easier, faster and cheaper!

Here’s how to travel with just your carry-on for your next short trip:

Ultimate carry on the packing list for the next trip:

1. Plan Properly

Good packing is all about proper organisation. There’s no use in travelling light if you get there and find that you’re missing all your essentials. Take the time to sit and think about what you need and why you need it, then you can work from there. Sometimes, creating a packing list is the best way to go. This lets you see and review exactly how many items you’re taking, and whether they are going to be of use or not.

Be sure to check on the temperature and weather conditions of your destination, this will stop you from stuffing in an extra and unnecessary jumper or swimsuit! Proper planning always leads to better and lighter packing, so keep this in mind for all your future trips.

2. Careful Packing

Once you’ve done your planning and your belongings are all ready to go, its time to physically pack. Even the most minimalist, lightweight packing can become clunky and disorganised when placed poorly. Avoid crowding your carry-on by thoughtfully packing! This means little things like rolling up your clothes instead of folding them, putting socks and undies into your shoes and placing heavier or thicker items at the bottom of your bag.

When it comes to smaller, loose items you should always place them in their own smaller bags, pouches or containers. Having your toiletries, chargers, pens or other knick-knacks rolling around will take up space and minimise room for your clothing or larger electronics. Keep your bag segmented by grabbing a few pencil cases and drawstring bags, these will maintain order and organisation in your carry-on!

3. Space Savers

Travelling with just your carry-on by your side isn’t all about organisation and precision, you need to have a few nifty tricks up your sleeves if you’re going to pull it off properly! By exercising a few sneaky space-saving techniques, you’ll be happily flying and travelling without a second thought.

First things first, toiletries. We all know that you can’t take anything over 100ml of liquids in your carry-on, so be sure to decant your absolute skincare essentials into smaller bottles. For other essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, soap and toothpaste – these are all things that you can purchase when you get to your destination!

If you’re staying a hotel then you have the added bonus of freebee toiletries.

Another great tip is to always wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane. This means your coat, heaviest shoes or chunkiest jumper. Fill your pockets with socks or chargers if necessary! Always remember that you can do some laundry there, so one or two outfits will do you just fine.

Finally, try and downsize wherever you can. Bring a Kindle instead of a book, your iPad or phone instead of your laptop and stick to one or two pairs of shoes.

4. Plan your activities

Proper packing comes with knowing exactly what you’re getting up to on your trip. It simply isn’t realistic to accurately pack just a carry on when you don’t actually know what you’ll be doing! Plan out your trip by the day to understand what you need.

For example, if you’re staying in a hotel with a gym and you plan on taking advantage of it, be sure to prioritise a few workout clothes and your trainers. Maybe you’re travelling for business? Smart clothes, shined shoes and your diary will be necessary.

5. Pick the right bag

If you’re going to be travelling with just your carry on bag, it needs to be a good one! Search for a reinforced, sturdy bag with a flat sitting base, pockets and multiple compartments. You should look for shiny, quality metalware and potential a lock to ensure that your packing stays safe throughout your trip.

If you’re on the hunt for a piece to invest in, you should look for a natural sturdy material such as leather in an understated neutral tone. This will look completely timeless for all your future trips, and the neutral colour will coordinate with any jet setter outfit.

By following these little tips and tricks, you can be sure that your carry-on will be all you need and more on your next trip! Just be sure to grab yourself a good quality, roomy bag that fits airline size parameters, and you’re all set.

Happy flying!