If you don’t follow me on Instagram then you might not have seen the exciting news…Erik is taking me on a surprise trip for my 30th birthday! All I know is that we leave in a few days, we’re going somewhere with warm weather, and…I NEED MY PASSPORT!!
I’ve been freaking out ever since I heard the news, and even though I don’t know where we’re going, I could not be any more excited!! The only thing I DO know for sure is that I will only be taking a carry on. I just don’t do checked bags. I can’t stand the wait (I just want our vacay to start as soon as we land!) and I would definitely worry about my bag getting lost or stolen. But, since I don’t know where we are going, I am also planning on packing 287 outfits to ensure I’m always looking CUTE (ha!), which means I’ve needed to get crafty with my packing to make sure everything fits. Luckily I’ve had years of experience boycotting checked bags and fitting everything into a carry-on so I figured I’d share my tips for packing smart, especially when you’re taking a carry-on on a multi-week trip. Check out my tricks below & let me know any secrets or hacks you have in the comments!
1. PACK SEPARATES NOT DRESSES/JUMPSUITS
For shorter trips I actually recommend bringing a few statement pieces/dresses and calling it a day. HOWEVER, for trips longer than 4-5 days I definitely recommend packing *light* separates that you can mix and match and NOT packing dresses or jumpsuits that are just one hit wonders. This way you have 16 outfit combos but you’re only packing 3 skirts, a pair of pants, and 4 tops. Make sure that your pieces are not bulky and that they generally go together. I always lay my stuff out before packing so I can visualize the outfits that might work. I might pack a few dresses but for the most part on longer trips I definitely gravitate towards separates with the ability to maximize my wardrobe.
2. STORE JEWELRY IN YOUR LUGGAGE MESH POUCH
If you’re like me, you have a carry on that has a zip compartment inside that’s made of mesh. This is generally a good place to put undergarments or toiletries but since I have those taken care of in bags, I often use this space for jewelry storage. I clasp my earrings through the mesh (with the bulk of the earring on the INSIDE and the back on the outside) and then close them so that they don’t separate and are kept safe and secure. I also do this with bracelets that have a clasp. It keeps them all in one place and smushed between things so that they don’t get messed up en route.
3. ROLL YOUR CLOTHES
I know this one is pretty widely known but there’s also a group of FOLDERS out there who will tell you that folding is the best way to pack. It’s not. Rolling has hands down changed my life when it comes to packing and I can fit at least triple the amount of stuff in my bag. My technique is to fold the item in half so it’s thin and long and then TIGHTLY roll until it’s all rolled up. Then fill up the entire bottom layer tightly, and work your way up. Use smaller rolled garments to fill in the gaps.
4. TAKE THE TOILETRIES
Okay so this one is a tip where a previous trip helps your next trip, a beautiful cycle that hopefully never ends. When you stay at a hotel and you use ½ of their toiletries – a little conditioner here, some shampoo there, you are WASTING it if you leave it behind. Hotels need to provide fresh ones for new guests and will just throw out your half used tubes. This creates waste for the environment AND throws away precious travel sized containers that you then go online and BUY. To save ourselves (and the world!) Erik and I always take the toiletries with us, keep them at home, and fill them up before packing them for our next trip.
5. PACK UNDIES & SOCKS IN SHOES
This is also a fairly common tip, especially among us ~rollers~ but it’s always a good idea to fill random space – like the inside of shoes – with items that are small and don’t wrinkle, like socks and undies. I always ball them up and stick them into the fillable nooks and crannies. A huge space saver and it helps the shoes stay formed & the clothes fit tightly so they don’t move around much in the bag.
6. TAKE ONE JACKET…AND WEAR IT
I know this seems like a fall/winter problem, but it’s NOT. Even if you’re going to tropical locations I always suggest bringing some kind of jacket. It gets cold on the plane, most restaurants have the AC on, and in a lot of beach towns the nights can get chilly. So as a year round hack I always suggest packing ONE – yes, ONLY ONE – jacket. I typically go with my faux leather because it can be lightweight or layered for colder weather & it goes with 99% of my outfits. When you take a jacket, you wear the jacket, you do NOT pack the jacket.
7. BRING YOUR STRAIGHTENER VS. CURLING IRON
I have long hair and there are tons of ways to style it, especially when I’m traveling and want to look peak cute. I refuse to bring a checked bag so I’ve had to figure out other ways to get my styling tools to fit – and that’s why I only bring ONE. My hair straightener. It obviously will make my hair straight, but it’s also what I use to curl it. It’s the perfect tool for beach waves & there are a ton of tutorials online if you’re not sure how to use a straightener to curl your hair. But trust me, it’s the only hot tool you need.
8. ACCESSORIZE
Probably my fave hack because accessories can change any outfit and make it day vs. night vs. party vs. date. I always make sure to bring multiple sunglasses, a few FLAT bags that are easy to pack like clutches or crossbody, lots of scarves that I can use in my hair, as a belt, or around my neck, and of course all the jewelry I can fit.
9. TAKE YOUR IPSY/MINI BAGS
I don’t subscribe to Ipsy anymore (sometimes a girl just needs to take a break from travel sized makeup), but I was a loyal member for years and therefore have 20+ cute travel sized bags that are perfect for storing goodies in my carry on. I like to divide by genre so that it’s easy to grab the bag I need once I’m on vacation. I typically have a bag for pills/vitamins, one for makeup, and one for jewelry. There are tons of great products on amazon (doing a round up this weekend!) of bags designed for each of these purposes, but if you’re in a pinch or don’t travel enough to justify the spend then this is definitely a great hack.
10. PACK A DRYER SHEET
Okay so hear me out… after the first week of travel my stuff doesn’t smell BAD but it definitely doesn’t smell like sunshine and rainbows. And I want it to. So I typically will throw a dryer sheet in there to keep the scent fresh. Plus dryer sheets are also good for static cling, stains, and removing nail polish (you still need acetone), so it’s just helpful to have one laying around in a pinch.
I know there are probably a thousand more tips I could tell you, but these are my tried and true ones that I implement on every trip I take. I really only have one carry on and it’s what I’ve taken for a 3 week trip to Hawaii, a two week southwest roaptrip, and a 5 country European adventure, so I promise the above hacks WORK. Trust me.
Got any other must-know tips that you want to share with me before I head out on my mystery 30th vacay? Drop a comment & let ya girl know!
Xx
Chelsea
