How to travel with only a carry-on

A complete and objective guide to packing light .

Many people are impressed when I mention that I spent three weeks in Southeast Asia with just a carry-on bag or that our family of four stayed one month in Japan with only three carry-on bags. Yes, those carry-on bags with a weight limit of up to 10kg that you take into the airplane cabin.

I've always been a fan of traveling light, but, as with everything in life, over time we gain experience and evolve.

So, let's get to it. Here, I've gathered some objective and quick tips to help you learn how to travel with only a carry-on, lightening your load and bidding farewell to all the hassles associated with giant, heavy, expensive, and potentially lost luggage.

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How to travel with only a carry-on?

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1 – Research the destination

The first thing to do is research the destination: climate and temperature during your visit..

Is it cold? Hot? Rainy? Dry? Windy? How much cold and how much heat?

Consider the activities you'll be doing : urban excursions, upscale restaurants, hiking, beach, mountains, theme parks, museums, sports, skiing... Will you spend a lot of time outdoors? Are you attending a social event (wedding, party, etc.)?

Research if there's any specific dress code at the destination . For example: in Southeast Asian temples it's necessary to wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees, that are not tight or transparent; in various Islamic countries, wearing a veil (hijab) is required, and so on.

In short, do your research!

This will give you an idea of the type of clothing you need to bring..

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2 – Make a list of everything you will need to pack

Knowing what kind of clothes you need to bring, it's time to make a LIST of items.

List all the pieces and the quantity of each, considering the duration of the trip and the activities you'll be doing, then create a packing list.

I usually bring enough clothes for 8 days of travel and I'll wash them throughout the trip.

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Doing laundry while traveling?

Yes, washing clothes while traveling is not a problem, it is the solution!

Nowadays, with very few exceptions, it is easy, quick and inexpensive to have your clothes clean and fresh anywhere in the world. Research and gather information before you depart.

I plan to be in accommodation with a washing machine and dryer available to guests at least one day each week. In Airbnb listings, washer-dryer combos are becoming increasingly common (add it to your filters when searching), and many hotels (especially in the US, Canada, and Japan) have 'coin laundry' in common areas - laundromats with various self-service machines that operate with coins and cost a little, around $1-3 per cycle. I've stayed in hotels in Japan that had a washing machine in the room! Booking also allows these filters; check them out:

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Here's the list of what I took on two trips to completely different destinations, with varying durations and temperatures. There's a winter trip list , as well as what I packed for a 3-week trip summer Southeast Asia trip, which combined urban sightseeing and beach time in the summer.

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3 – Choose a versatile color palette and clothes

The most important part: define a color palette and choose pieces that match each other! Mix and match is the way to go while traveling. Versatile items that you like and can be used with each other.

All tops should match all bottoms. Jackets/coats should match all combinations of tops and bottoms . If necessary, cold-weather tops and jackets should be compatible to be worn together, layered, one over the other.

To make things easier, the ideal is to have a set of colors – 2 base colors and 1 or 2 colorful ones - and choose pieces within those colors, so there won't be any mistakes in mixing and matching.

For example, I always go for black + white/off-white (base colors) + jeans + a stronger color. My color palette looks something like this:

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Bonus tip:

Choose parts Choose easy-to-wash pieces that can be dried in the dryer, don't need ironing, and, if possible, are not bulky (especially if it's a trip to a cold destination!)

And, always, the bulkiest pieces go on the body!

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4 – Limit shoes

Bring a MAXIMUM of 3 pairs of shoes.

Exactly: 3 pairs, including flip-flops. The largest one goes on your feet.

If you choose well, on vacation trips you will hardly need more than three pairs of shoes.. Shoes tend to be the bulkiest item in the suitcase, so in this department, every space you can save is highly rewarded 😉

Always take shoes that you are used to – if necessary, wear them for a few days before traveling, to avoid surprises, blisters and discomfort.

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5- Hygiene & skin care items

For a long time, this was my Achilles' heel when it came to packing. I remember checking in luggage just because of toiletry items.

But there comes a time when necessity aligns with experience, and you become an expert on the subject 🤣 🤣 🤣

Jokes aside, this part of luggage can undermine your intention to travel with just a carry-on. So pay close attention: in the department of creams, liquids, and the like, what I can say is

REDUCE

• Reduce volumes
• Reduce quantities
• Reduce needs

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• put everything in 100ml containers (the maximum limit allowed for any single container in carry-ons).Shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, moisturizer, sunscreen, insect repellent, everything! If you can't find the product in this size, transfer it from the larger bottles to smaller containers. I use these silicone ones(they are resistant and because they are flexible they do not take up much space when they are empty) or these plastic ones , but whenever I come across something in a package smaller than 100ml, when I finish using it I leave it clean and ready to be used on the next trip (which is great for the wallet and the environment).

If something runs out during your trip, it's easy to replace. There are markets and convenience stores everywhere in the world. Even if the price is a bit higher than in your hometown, this "surcharge" will certainly be cheap considering the peace of mind that traveling light provides. Normally, buying this type of item at the destination is usually an insignificant cost of the trip, believe me.

Ask your dermatologist (or search online) for minimalist skin care alternatives to use during the trip. If at home I use 4 or 5 different products, during travels it's only 2. The most important thing is sunscreen, which is available everywhere in the world.

Hairdryer, straightener, curling iron, and the like: needless to say, leave them all at home and make do with what you find at the accommodations.

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6 – Medicines

No one likes to get sick while traveling — I probably don’t even need to mention the importance of travel insurance, right?

But since minor discomforts and accidents do happen, I always carry a small toiletry bag with basic medications:

• painkillers and fever reducers (I used to bring a thermometer when the kids were little, but not anymore)
• gastric discomfort kit
• insect bite relief
• ointments or supplies for scrapes and bruises
• other essentials, depending on the destination and any specific needs of each traveler

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The goal here is to bring just the essentials — enough to get through 3 or 4 rough days . If you end up using anything during the trip, you’ll have time to find a replacement locally. Truth is, after many trips over the years, we’ve almost never had to restock these items while on the road.

We also pack any daily-use medications for the entire trip. Usually, I transfer them to more compact containers and leave the bulky blister packs at home (probably not pharmacist-approved, but I do it anyway 😅).

Organizing your meds properly in your luggage makes a big difference: one toiletry bag holds the daily medications (ALWAYS in the carry-on — to avoid lost luggage disasters — I’ve been using these ones which are partially transparent and go through security without a problem), and another toiletry bag holds the emergency meds — which, ideally, stays in the suitcase the whole time and comes back untouched.

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7- Choose your luggage wisely

Just as important as thinking about what goes in your suitcase is choosing the right suitcase to fit it all.

Maybe you're used to always traveling with a backpack, a wheeled suitcase, or a duffel bag — and that's totally valid. But it's worth stopping to really consider the best option for your trip before making that decision.

Will there be hiking and camping involved? Rustic lodges in hard-to-reach areas? Charming little inns tucked away in the historic centers of old towns (hello, European villages!)? Lots of stairs to climb? Hopping on and off metros and buses with your luggage in tow? In any of these cases, go with a backpack. Mine is 50 liters (it's one of the small ones), I love it! I bought it at Amazon (here is the link).

Doing a road trip? Traveling through cities with minimal luggage movement? A duffel bag can be a great option — and so can wheeled suitcases..

Planning to stay at multiple hotels, take trains, metros, and planes, but mostly walking on paved sidewalks, using escalators and elevators? Wheeled suitcase all the way! I'm a fan of the Amazon Basics suitcases— in my opinion, they're the best value for money.

In the end, there's no right or wrong when it comes to choosing your luggage — just what best fits your destination and makes you feel most comfortable.

Just make sure to pay attention to the size and weight limits for carry-ons, as I explain in the next section.

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8 – Attention to the weight and size of the carry-on

You might think it’s all the same, but carry-on size and weight limits can vary a lot from one airline to another.

For domestic flights within the U.S., most airlines allow a carry-on bag up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches (including wheels and handles). This one and this one one are great options that meet those requirements. But for international flights — or when flying with low-cost or regional carriers — be extra cautious, as size restrictions can be smaller. Just take a look at the photo below showing the carry-on limits for major airlines at Seattle Airport in the U.S., just to give you an idea of how much it can vary.

Weight limits also vary: while most U.S. airlines don’t enforce a strict weight limit, international airlines often do, with carry-on allowances ranging from 15 to 22 lbs (7–10 kg).

Sometimes, even within the same airline, different flights have different restrictions — depending on the aircraft type, especially smaller regional planes.

The key is to check the baggage details on your ticket, and if you're unsure, contact the airline to confirm.

One more important point: if you're traveling with children, you're usually allowed to bring a stroller. The best option is a foldable model that fits in the overhead bin or under the seat. Just double-check the airline’s policy and accepted dimensions beforehand.

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9 – Organize everything inside the suitcase

Once you’ve made your list and laid out all the items, it’s time to actually pack the suitcase.

Don’t start packing while you’re still deciding what to take. Make sure everything is selected, clean, and folded before you begin . That way, organizing it all — and keeping things accessible throughout your trip — becomes much easier.

Packing cubes can be super helpful at this stage. I like to use them when I’m backpacking or when more than one person is sharing a suitcase.

I organize the contents by category — it makes it way easier to find things later. Pants in one corner, shorts in another, tops over there, underwear in one small pouch, socks in another… you get the idea.

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10 – Personal item (a.k.a. your "hand bag")

In addition to your carry-on suitcase, airlines allow a smaller personal itemthat fits under the seat in front of you — think of it as your purse or a school-style backpack. I use a large one from Jansport .

I usually carry in my backpack:
- cell phone
– wallet and documents
– sunglasses
– laptop and charger
- outlet adapters
– phone charger (but a good one, please)
– camera (I use a Canon Mirrorless R)
– headphones (mine are from Bose— not cheap, but totally worth it)
- sleep mask (a must for overnight flights)
– neck pillow (I like the classic U-shaped ones )
- for long-haul flights: a small toiletry kit with the essentials I’ll need mid-flight — toothbrush, hairbrush, moisturizer, headache meds, etc.
– makeup kit
– reusable water bottle (yes, you can bring it through security as long as it’s empty)
– a book and a pen

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11- Enjoy the trip

Now it’s time to enjoy the journey — light and easy.

Packing is an art we get better at over time. Through trial and error, picking up tips along the way, we eventually find what works best for us — which might be completely different from what works for someone else.

There’s no magic formula, no one-size-fits-all method.

Some of the strategies I use might sound helpful, others might seem a little out there (haha), but if you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing something resonated with you. And if you’ve tried or adapted anything I mentioned, let me know — I’d love to hear about it!

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These tips apply to any kind of trip — whether you're flying, driving, taking a train, cruising, hopping on a bus, or even riding a tuk-tuk Because traveling light isn’t just about avoiding airport stress or saving on baggage fees — it’s a mindset. A way of traveling (and living) that’s lighter, freer, and open to whatever new experiences the adventure brings.

What would you add to this list? Share it in the comments, here or over on Instagram — I’d love to learn from you too!

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Let’s Stay Connected!

Have questions or thoughts to share? Drop a comment below or reach out on social—I love chatting about all things travel! 😉

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