Pack like a pro with these simple tips
Fall 2023 Update
Get prepped for your fall and holiday travel with some of these tested items. Check out my earlier post below to read how I have morphed into a carry-on only traveler and learn my tips for packing light.
Also, check out some new finds I've discovered to make our travel easier, more organized, and less expensive!
And let us know if you have any recommendations to share -- we'd love to hear from you!
Best New Bags
Carry-on, 21 inch, expandable, available in a variety of fun colors
Budget priced, available in 4 colors, highly rated for the price
Carry-on friendly for even the most strict international carriers, lightweight, spinner wheels
Stylish and ultra lightweight, spinner wheels, available in 4 colors
Best New Compression Packing Cubes
Affordably priced, available in a variety of colors, 4-5-6 cube sets
3 or 4 piece sets available, sturdy zippers and nylon construction, easily compresses to remove excess air
Best Travel Chargers for Apple Devices
Conveniently charges your compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, wireless charging case for AirPods
Folds together for easy storage, quickly charges wirelessly
MagSafe travel charger stand that can accommodate iPhone 15-12, Apple Watch, and AirPods wireless charging case
Foldable for ease when traveling, affordable
Compact portable charger power bank that can save the day, especially when you rely on your phone for essential functions while traveling
Fast-charging power bank can charge a phone up to 8 times as well as charge multiple devices simultaneously
Fun items to add to your wardrobe
Cute, inexpensive belt bag/crossbody bag available in tons of colors
For less than $20, why not?!
Trade out your go-to yoga pants for a pair or two of fleece-lined leggings and feel far more comfortable for fall or winter trips
These high-waisted leggings feature pockets and can be worn underneath ski pants or on their own to keep you warm and comfortable in chilly weather
Ideal for layering underneath jeans, ski pants, etc.
Thin material but very warm, easy to pack, super comfortable
Perfect for layering to keep you comfortable
Available in tons of colors
Ideal for cooler weather, comfortable for all-day wear, can handle a bit of weather and slippery cobblestone streets
Cute and comfortable sneaker, would be a better fit for Autumn walks rather than snowy December hikes
Now check out my tried and true tips:
A carry-on? For a two-week trip? With kids? It can't be done they said. But here I am living proof. Check out this picture of yours truly with our bags for a family of five spending nearly two weeks in Portugal.
Yeah...I'm sort of ashamed to admit that this might be one of my favorite pictures of the trip. Kidding -- but it was a point of pride and saved us considerable headaches, time, and expense.
Making a thoughtful plan for packing sets up your trip for success. Strolling through the airport with a few tiny bags...knowing that you've avoided BS baggage fees is almost as good as a nice glass of bubbly before boarding. Almost being the operative word. Nothing is as good as an actual glass of bubbly before a flight.
There's no chance of your airline losing your bags...you won't be waiting at the bag carousel for what feels like hours... you can jet out of the airport and begin enjoying your vacation that much faster...and you won't be struggling with oversized, bulky bags on buses, trams, or trains.
Also, packing smaller/fewer bags makes your car rental less expensive and stressful. European cars are generally much smaller than their American or Canadian counterparts -- and their trunk space can be extremely limited. Avoid annoyances (and arguments with your spouse) by reserving a car that will have adequate space for your bags. And you'll also be much more comfortable driving narrow streets and parking in tiny spots with a smaller vehicle.
Before you peg me as a member of a Marie Kondo minimalist cult, please know that I am not some uber-organized neat freak. I have a closet full of office wear I haven't put on in a decade. I still agonize about tossing burp cloths my teen had as a baby. The "less is more" ethos is generally not on display anywhere in the Andiamo household.
Maybe that's why I get obsessive about packing for vacations. Any trip is a chance to be the person you want to be...and if that means that I get to reinvent myself as a minimalist for two days or two weeks, then I'm leaning in.
So here are some of my packing secrets. Good luck to you on your next adventure!
First and foremost, check the accepted carry-on size for your airline. There's nothing worse than arriving at the airport and unsuccessfully trying to jam your bag into the steel frame at the check-in counter. Not only have you wasted all the time you spent agonizing over what to pack, but you'll end up spending an egregious amount of money to add bags to your reservation at the airport. I love my Travelpro, and Away has some great hard-sided, yet lightweight options. This Solgaard bag has integrated shelves to organize your items, and claims to be carry-on approved. Again, double check dimensions with your carrier.
Once you have your carry-on approved bag sorted, buy some compression packing cubes. Each family member has a designated set which not only helps us pack compactly and efficiently, but also helps keep clothing organized once we've arrived at our destination -- especially if we are on the move and stay at several different places. Clothes move from suitcase to drawer back to suitcase easily and without getting lost throughout a room. Amazon is a great resource for these cubes. Here are the ones I use for myself.
Planning a winter trip that requires ski gear or bulky clothing? Get some of the larger, vacuum-sealed compression bags. These are amazing! Plus there is something oddly satisfying about watching the bags shrink as you vacuum out the air.
Develop a capsule wardrobe. There are a seemingly limitless number of examples online. Search for the climate/season, locale, planned activities, etc., and you'll find inspiration galore. These wardrobe plans help you minimize the amount of clothing/accessories/shoes to pack by mixing and matching to create numerous outfits with shared items.
Opt for fabrics and clothing items that are compact, do not wrinkle easily, and can be layered to extend outfits. This is especially an issue in the AK household, as bulky hoodies make up a huge portion of our kiddos' outfit choices. We allow one hoody to be worn on the flight and one packed per kiddo. That's it. Otherwise, the hoodies take up the entire suitcase.
LAUNDRY. Daddy AK does not share my enthusiasm for booking homes, apartments, etc. with laundry options, but it has been key to this approach working for our family. Ideally, we have in-unit laundry, but if not, I always scope out laundry facilities that are within easy walking or driving distance. Kids make messes -- being able to pack lightly but clean their clothing often minimizes stress and makes me happy.
Be judicious with your toiletries. For most family-friendly vacation destinations, you will be able to source everything you need once on the ground. Shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, baby food, diapers, shaving cream, laundry pods...anything of that sort is available on-site (unless you have very specific needs). I pack a very modest amount of makeup for myself but try to limit anything else that we can easily find at a grocer or pharmacy. In Europe, there's no shortage of small grocery or pharmacy chains that will have all you need including Spar, Aldi, Lidl, Boots, Tesco, etc. If you are unwilling to leave your preferred brands at home, these carry-on approved decanting containers have worked for us.
Make your kids shoulder (literally) some of the burden. We work with our kiddos to pack not only their suitcases, but they also need to pack and carry backpacks. They carry an extra pair of shoes or sandals, books, gaming systems, a plush, and other games/toys/art supplies. We also give them a small bag of snacks for the flight. If their backpacks are too heavy/overstuffed, they need to revisit what they plan to bring.
If you know you'll be coming home with numerous souvenirs or liquids that cannot be carried on (wine, olive oil, etc.), plan on checking one bag for the return flight. Add that to your booking when you purchase flights, which will save you money. Pack a lightweight, compact duffel bag to offload clothes/shoes/etc. that do not fit in the checked bag once you've added all your vacation goodies. There are many different options of this type of bag, but Foldie has been our go-to.
Shoes -- Oh this is where I struggle for myself. This is very dependent on season and location, but I try to limit myself to no more than three pairs of shoes. I wear my bulkiest on the plane and try to pick compact pairs to include in my suitcase. For European city vacations, I tend to leave heels at home. The cobbles make wearing them an annoyance. I'll pack wedges or heeled boots instead if I want some height.
CRITICAL BONUS TIP: And the most hard-to-follow but most important tip -- BE RUTHLESS! Edit your bags mercilessly. Pack what you need to be comfortable, but recognize we all have a hard time limiting our options.
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