How to Pack for 2 weeks in ONE carry-on bag

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First things first, you are packing for 2 weeks not 2 months, so accept that you won’t need to bring everything in your closet. Remember you are trying to limit your baggage to ONE carry-on. What are the benefits of only using a carry-on? Less luggage to carry and store & no extra baggage fees on airlines. Trust us, while you’re favorite airline may allow you to have one checked bag and one carry-on bag for free, the smaller European flights you may be taking won’t. Extra luggage means extra costs and extra headaches. This is your fool-proof guide to packing for 2 weeks abroad in the summer into ONE carry-on bag.

Our personal favorite carry-on bag is the eBags Mother Lode Travel Backpack.  This bag is a backpack with an adjustable sternum strap. There is ample storage for laptops, eyeglasses, toiletries, clothes, and other essentials. We’ve provided a step-by-step guide below.

The next item we suggest are the eBags Classic 6pc Packing Cubes. These are perfect because they fit into the eBag well & help keep things organized!

Step One

Choose 10 or less outfits for the days you’ll be gone. Keep in mind that pants and shorts can be worn multiple times, so pick tops that can be mixed and matched. Ladies, dresses and rompers take up less space because they require only one article of clothing for the day. Often rolling clothing rather than folding it saves space, too. If your accommodations have a washing machine, or if you can stand to pack less, totally do it! No one wants a heavy backpack.

Lauren chose to pack her largest eBags Packing Cube with 5 dresses, 1 romper, 1 pair of shorts, 2 skirts, 2 shirts, and 2 body suits. Can you see how they will all be mixed and matched throughout the trip? Pro tip: Don’t pack shirts with capped sleeves if you can avoid it. It’ll keep your sweaty armpits from stinking up your shirt. (Gross I know, but true). If you can’t avoid it, bring along travel sized Febreze Fabric Spray to spray your worn clothes at night. Let them air out then pack them back up. No stinky clothes!

Step Two

Shoes!! Now we know that we all love a good pair of shoes and we don’t like to wear the same shoes with every outfit, but get rid of that mentality now. Find shoes that are versatile and comfortable, especially if you’re going to be walking a lot each day. The general rule of thumb is 2 pairs of shoes; however, 3 is the maximum! Lauren packed 3 because she wanted to bring her work out tennis shoes. Wear one of your shoes on the flight so that you only have to pack 1-2 pairs in your bag.

Lauren’s favorite travel shoes:

Chacos or a similar type of sandal. They are made to be worn in the water, on hikes, for long walks, etc. I chose to get a skinny strapped solid black pair because it’d match more outfits. I am a girly-girl, so I like to mix looking cute with practicality when I have to.

Tennis shoes are a good option weather or not you work out. The arch support can’t be beat. I have found that I am often comfortable in Converse if I need a closed toe shoe, but will not workout on the trip. This is a cuter option than regular tennis shoes.

Cute sandals (optional). A lot of times I go without these unless I have room. Just a simple pair for going out at night when you’re done exploring is nice.

No heels! You won’t be the only one in the club wearing their flats. Lots of tourists will be rocking the same footwear as you, and if you’re confident in your look who cares anyway?

Step Three

Under garments are definitely not something you want to forget to pack, or skimp out on. Pack a few extra pairs of underwear than you’ll actually need to stay on the safe side. You never know if your flight will be delayed. I don’t know about you, but re-wearing dirty underwear sounds like a nightmare.

Ladies, if you can manage to only bring two or three bras do it. I like to bring 2 bras and several bralettes because they store more easily. Honestly this is a personal preference, though, and if you need to pack more, skip out on packing an extra outfit or workout clothes.

Step Four

Pajamas are always a last minute thought for us. Because we generally shower at night, our PJs don’t get that dirty. We bring about 4 pairs of PJs that are made with lightweight fabric so that we stay cool at night while we sleep. US peeps, don’t assume everywhere will have AC. This is definitely something to check before booking your accommodations if it’s important to you.

Step Five (optional)

If you’re going to a beach destination, or you’ll have a pool nearby, pack your swimsuits! Once again, this isn’t your time to show off all of your fancy suits, pick 2 of your favorites and pack those along with a light beach towel, a hat, and a Universal Waterproof Pouch to keep your phone dry. Once again, you don’t want to be worried about carrying a lot of stuff. No one is going to notice or care if you wear the same swimsuit everyday.

Step Six (Optional)

If you’re into health & fitness and you don’t want to ruin your routine, bring your work out clothes! Of course this is going to mean more clothes in general, but health is a necessity, so we’ll tell you how we keep our workout clothes from weighing down our bags too much. Remember these clothes count toward the 10 outfit maximum.

Pack 2-3 workout clothes, and no more than 5 pairs of socks (unless you really have to). Sure you’re going to be wearing the same sweaty clothes more than once, but remember the Febreze I suggested you bring? Spray it on your clothes and let them air out after a workout. Do you have an eBag Packing Cube? Store your workout clothes here so that they don’t dirty the rest of your bag!

We hope you found this guide helpful! To share questions or tips, subscribe to our blog! We’d love to hear from you.

Xoxo,

Brit+Belle