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Everything you need for a week in carry-on

You can see several of our outfits in these pictures from June.
I'm wearing my backpack in the bottom left.
I love to travel and I really enjoy traveling with my kids. When I fly I normally choose by price and flight times.  The budget airlines that fly out of my local airport charge for everything, especially luggage. So I have learned to pack in carry on.  It helps that I travel where it is warm most of the time but not always.

That being said, here is how I pack for a seven day trip without checking luggage and having spare room for souvenirs.  Everyone in my family packs the same stuff but here is where we start. 


My luggage:
1 hard sided carry on - get one with wheels and an expanding zipper
1 medium sized back pack - I like one a day pack style rather than a school style
2 vacuum seal bags - Get the self sealing kind that you roll to get the air out

Here is a work outfit.
Clothes I bring:
7-10 outfits - I wear skorts most of the time and pack dresses for the rest.  My favorite brand is Skirt Sports .  In transparency I am an ambassador for them but I have tried other skorts from Costco, Eddie Bauer and Nike and the important part is the fit, so choose what works for you.  The great thing about the skorts and dresses designed for running is that they don't wrinkle when squished in the vacuum bags and they have pockets. Plus they dry fast and I will work out in the clothes I wore the day before. 
3 pairs of shoes - One black and one brown.  If I am traveling to Disney or on vacation those are usually Keens sandals, if I am traveling for work they are usually ballet flats.  I wear my sneakers, hiking boots, or fancier shoes on the plane because they a bulky.
A make-up toiletry bag - Use travel size everything, except I bring my fancy toothbrush.
Sweatshirts/sweaters (based on type of travel) - I am cold in the winter and in A/C so I bring an extra sweatshirt or sweater and I wear one on the plane. A cardigan will dress up an outfit if pared with the right jewelry.   
A jacket - I pack a rain windbreaker and a couple throw away ponchos.
Jewelry - I put mine in a zip lock bags so they don't get lost in my luggage.  Adding jewelry to an outfit can dress it up. 
Swim suit
PJs

You can see my mom is in shorts,
she packs 3 sets, same with hubby.
I match my outfits before I leave so that I don't end up with a purple skirt and an orange shirt and I lay my socks flat.  I then put all my outfits on my bed and stack them before I put them in the vacuum bags.  (HINT: Do not put bras with under wires in the bags, those go on top.)  Then roll up the bags to get all the air out and once they are flat, stack them in your luggage on top of your shoes.  Make sure your luggage closes with the expanding zipper zipped when you leave home, you can open it for more room on the way back. 

Some other things I bring (these all go in my backpack):
iPad - I use mine for movies on the plane and work so I don't have to carry my laptop.
Yellowstone trip, same packing strategy
keeps the camper clean.
Clutch - I travel with a couple forms of ID, a couple credit/debit cards, and my medical card only.  I don't need everything in my purse or my big purse.  
Water bottle - I hate buying water and as long as it is empty when you go through security you are good.  I also bring powder drink mixes incase the tap water is gross. 
Cell phone and chargers, etc. - I suggest a outlet extender with multiple USB inputs, so you can charge everything at once. 
Snacks - A couple granola bars or fruit snack packs
A book
Glow sticks - I buy cheap ones off Amazon and use them for everything, like in the hotel bathroom for a nightlight or my car window so I can find it faster in the parking lot. 
Basic first aid kit - One of the small ones they give away is perfect in case you get a blister or hang nail. 
I bring lots of other stuff but it matters where I am going. 

Other helpful tips:
Open boxes and packaging of non-gift items before returning home.  You can save a ton of space by opening your kids toys at the hotel and then packing them.  New shoes, recycle the box before you go home.
Use the vacuum seal bags as dirty laundry bags so nothing gets lost. 
Most hotels have the following so don't pack them:  Hairdryer, Iron, Shampoo/Conditioner/Soap, Towels, Extra blankets. 

I swear all of this fits easy in a carry on bag and my backpack, plus tons of other stuff I bring that I really don't need. We spent 8 days in Disney World in June and there were four of us ranging in age from 5 to 65 and we all used this same luggage plan.  I brought plenty of stuff home including a teapot, mugs and a full pirate costume. 

What tips and tricks do you have for packing light? 
 
 
 


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Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL 32830, USA

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