How To Pack For Two Weeks With Only A Carry-on

Going on a long vacation often requires that you have a lot of items you need to pack. This doesn’t mean that you have to lug around a large suitcase with you or even have to check a bag. There’s always the risk of being late for a flight because pulling a suitcase around the airport slows you down or a checked bag gets lost. There is a solution to this: pack all of your stuff into a carry-on. Here’s how to easily fit two weeks worth of stuff into your carry-on luggage.

Don’t Pack Clothing That You Don’t Love
We all have those pieces of clothing that we like, but we don’t love. They may feel a little too tight around our midsections after a big meal, get a little itchy when we’re sweaty or not provide enough warmth on a breezy evening. Don’t pack these types of items. It’s important that you only pack clothing that you will be comfortable wearing no matter what. The pieces you pack should be able to be worn in a variety of situations and weather conditions.

Go With Neutral Colors
Even if you like to wear a lot of colors, you can’t deny the fact that neutral colors are versatile. They can pair with almost anything. If you just have to have a pop of color with your outfits consider packing neutral bottoms and more colorful tops. This will allow you to wear the same bottoms more than once as they will match a variety of your tops. It will also save space in your suitcase as you won’t need to pack nearly as many clothes. You can always add a few small accessories such as bracelets or necklaces if you want to jazz up your outfits just a bit. It helps to lay out potential outfits before packing them so you can get a visual of what they will look like when each piece is paired together.

Don’t Overdo It On Shoes
One item that takes up the most room in your luggage is a pair of shoes. By packing 3, 4, 5 or more pairs, you will just take up a lot of space in your suitcase and not have enough room to pack two weeks worth of clothes. When packing shoes, don’t overdo it. Wear a pair of sneakers on your flight, pack a pair of flats or loafers and if you must pack on more pair of shoes, skip the boots and opt for something smaller like flip flops.

Have A Plan Before Putting Items In Your Suitcase
No matter what you pack, if you just throw everything in your suitcase you won’t have much room. Try to roll your clothing up, piece by piece, in order to make them as small as possible. Sure you will probably need to iron them before wearing, but almost every hotel has an iron anyways. You can also utilize compression bags that look like large sealable plastic bags. You simply place your items in there and roll them in order to squeeze out air. By doing so the items are compressed as flat as possible. Also, try not to pack bulky items and wear sweatshirts or jackets on the plane instead of putting them into your luggage to save space for other items.

Find Out About Your Hotel’s Laundry Facilities
A lot of hotels have laundry facilities. While it will cost you money to wash your own clothes (just like a laundromat), it will allow you to bring less items with you. Some hotels even have laundry services available for a fee. If you are feeling particularly cheap you can always rinse out some of your clothes and pay to dry them at the laundry facility at your hotel. The convenience of having less luggage might just outweigh the inconvenience of having to do a load of laundry when you are on vacation.

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