How I Pack ONLY A Carry-On for Six Weeks Abroad!
Hello from France!!! Eeeeeeek… our Summer adventure is finally here and we are already having the time of our lives. We spent our first four days in Barcelona after our direct flight from Atlanta into Barcelona last week. As I shared last year on my “How to Plan the Ultimate Long Summer Trip Adventure” post, I always plan our trip around direct flights. I map out the first city and the last city based on direct flight options out of Atlanta. I knew I wanted to start in the South of France so Barcelona seemed like the best “fly in” option with a chance for me and my girlies to experience a little bit of Spain as well. From there, we traveled by a short 1h 10m flight to Marseille and then by taxi into Cassis, France which is where I am typing from tonight. France is my favorite place EVER and we are having THE BEST TIME.
Today I am popping in to finally share my packing post!!! I will be short and sweet but my main tips involve the luggage I use which I share toward the bottom of this post, the mix and match outfits that I pack AND a washer/dryer in our Airbnb’s or hitting up a laundromat during our travels. I can ASSURE YOU that it is worth every single bit of the planning ahead that it takes to pull off such minimal packing. Between multiple flights and train rides and cobblestone streets and lots of stairs and keeping up with two kiddos, I cannot IMAGINE taking much more! I PROMISE you that you can do it. Simply come up with multiple outfit options that all fit into one single carry-on, pack only ONE pair of comfortable shoes and then use the under-seat “personal item” carry-on luggage that I suggest below for everything else. You will be AMAZED at what all you can fit! Here is what I packed for this Summer away…
White T-Shirt / Floral Skirt / Blush Pink Pants
Pink Floral T-Shirt / White Jeans / Black Leggings
Pink Tank / Grey Skirt / Blue Tie-Die Pants / Jean Skirt
Floral Dress / Yellow Ruffle Dress / Striped Romper
Black Body Suit / Striped Pants / White T- Shirt
Striped Pants / White T-Shirt / Blush Skirt
Black T-Shirt / Floral Skirt / White Jeans
Blue Dress / Pink Dress / Pink Cardigan
Jean Skirt / Grey Skirt / Ripped Jeans
White Off of the Shoulder Top / Blush Skirt / Jean Skirt / Ripped Jeans
White T-Shirt / Striped Skirt / Black Body Suit
Black T-Shirt / Blush Skirt / Blue Skirt
Quick Packing Tips…
This Underseat Carry-On is literally KEY in packing on a carry-on for our trip! It allows me a pretty large “personal item” that rolls under the seat and stacks easily right on top of my larger carry-on. It holds my TWO organizers, my jewelry organizer, my laptop and my curling iron and flat iron. Literally everything but my clothes!
For toiletries, I used THESE TSA Approved Toiletry Bags for all four of us! And even though the girls really just needed a toothbrush, I filled their bags with more of my stuff!
For the most part, we just purchased toiletries in Europe because for six weeks you end up using almost an entire container of most anything anyways. For the items I cannot live without, I just either purchased smaller versions OR I transferred them into TSA approved containers like THIS.
Bring THE CORRECT Travel Adaptor Plug!
There is nothing like spending nine hours on a plane and then an hour in an Uber, arriving at your hotel exhausted only to find that you cannot even charge your phone! Although it may seem just as easy to purchase an adaptor in Europe, think again. My advice is to purchase one and pack it now! We found it somewhat difficult to find an extra one once we arrived in France. Plus, that’s probably the last thing you will want to do once you arrive at your destination. Here is the one I used and it worked everywhere we went…
But there’s a catch! And one piece of advice I so wish I had then and it is to MAKE SURE YOU USE AN ADAPTOR CONVERTER WITH HIGH VOLTAGE ITEMS! Yes friends, I blew my very favorite $100+ flat iron by not knowing I needed a converter. The adaptor I shared above worked great for my phone charger and heating pad but NOT for my curling iron and flat iron. Here is one option…
Ditch the “Fancy” Shoes!
If there is one thing that I am REAL stubborn about, it is my shoes. I wear heels A LOT and am usually pretty “cozy-ish” in them too! So for Europe, I packed my heels! Yes, I have been to Europe before and I know it’s a lot of walking but I honestly thought I would maybe wear them to dinner or SOMETHING! But nope! Not even once. This time around we were in Europe way longer than ever before and saw WAY more than ever before and we walked A TON. Like maybe 4+ miles a day! Plus, lots of that was on cobblestone streets. So my advice, pack the coziest shoes!!! Here are my top suggestions…
My Shoes…they are SOOOOO cozy and literally the only shoes I packed!!!
For Kids… Yes, they are pricey but they are worth every penny! Winter wore them every single day and she could even get them wet at the beach! Plus, I can honestly say that she did not get a single blister the entire time.
and Addie’s Green Chacos…
My MUST HAVE Carry-on…
The Finished Product:
Additional Items I Packed…
XOXO, Brittany Hayes
Love your email about packing! And I just bought the sunflower bathing suit from
Target! Thank you for all the links!
What type of suitcase did you use?
And what types of products did you pack for toiletries that you didn’t purchase abroad!
You provided Excellent ideas❣️
I was wondering about laundry and you answered a lot of questions I was thinking of! Once a mom always a mom!
I can’t believe you packed all those clothes in a carry-on luggage!
Wait… all these clothes? What was your carryon luggage choice?
I am seriously impressed with this! I take more than a carry-on for a weekend trip and I always, always check a bag when flying! So, the cosmetic bags – can you fill those up to the brim with products? As long as they’re all under the 3.4 ounces?
What was your carry luggage – not the black on the other one .. thank you for sharing this !!! Love it
I am curious about the liquids and gels. I have had tsa make me get rid of anything that didn’t fit into the required small ziplock bag. Do they not say anything about all of yours? Great packing skills though!! WOW
I was wondering the same thing. It’s all the liquids that make me have to “check bags”.
By the time I do hair products, skin care, and make-up the quart size bag is overflowing.
Great packing post! I’m definitely inspired to try this for an upcoming 3 week trip. My problem is always the bathroom stuff and shoes! I have problem feet and need more than one pair. As others have inquired, I’m curious about all of the liquids your toiletry bag appears to have. I’ve always thought it all had to fit into a quart size ziploc to meet TSA regulations. As a result, I end up putting 75% of my bathroom products in a checked suitcase. How do you get around this?
Girlfriend if I looked like that in a bathing suit I could get away with a carryon too!!
I was wondering what you use for a purse to carry your cash/creditcards/passport? I didn’t see you carrying anything in the photos you posted on Instagram.
Would you still recommend this Nordstrom carryon or have you found something else? Ready for a new one