Today I am leaving for a three week adventure in Europe. This trip is a week-long business trip sandwiched between two weeks of vacation. I have packed for many different kinds of trips but this is the most difficult type of the trip to pack for due to multiple factors all difficult on their own but when combined make for the hardest packing job EVER!
1. Length of Trip: Three weeks is a long time to be on the road and living out a suitcase. I realize people often go abroad for longer but they likely aren't looking to live out of a suitcase and bring only a carry on. That's right I'm bringing only a carry-on and my backpack.
2. Dual Purpose Trip: Business and vacation in a single trip means needing two types of clothing. You need the professional business attire and possibly even uniform along with fun clothes for the vacation aspects, which I find rarely fall into work appropriate.
3. Weather: On top of needing two types of clothing and a lot of it to last three weeks, this trip is also taking place during the winter. I will be facing temperatures ranging from 33 degrees to 62 degrees. That's a huge fluctuation in temperature to prepare for. Plus, cold weather is always harder to pack for because warm clothes means bulkier clothes. Bulkier clothes take more space.
I have included pictures my carry-on suitcase to prove that I was able to accomplish the task of packing three weeks of needs into this bag.
Here is a list of contents:
2 Pairs of jeans
1 Pair of dress pants
1 Pair of leggings
11 Long-sleeve shirts
4 Sweaters
2 Work uniform polos
1 Sweater dress
1 Black cami
1 Set of pajamas
1 Cardigan
Undergarments
Flats
Vans
Slippers
1 Pair of gloves
2 Hats
1 Scarf
Toiletries kit
Liquids bag
Make-up bag
Curling iron
6 Plug adapters
1 Voltage converter
2 Wine Bubble Wraps
1 Duffel Bag
The key to fitting three weeks worth of stuff in a carry-on is to bring stuff that can serve multiple purposes. This means basic tops and bottoms that can easily be mixed and matched including accessories like jewelry, scarves, and hats. Also, bringing a minimum number of shoes. I have my boots for the cold and rainy days I face. My vans or tennis shoes for nicer, warmer days. My flats can double as my work/tradeshow shoes and for a nicer dinner out. If you choose to bring heels (which I could have easily fit into this bag) choose a versatile pair that be worn out or to work. I find a simple black pump is usually best.
Some weird things you might notice in my bag: slippers, wine bubble wraps, and a duffel bag. In all the traveling I do, I have come to appreciate simple things that can make the hotel stay feel more comfortable. For me, that means always bringing my slippers in the colder months of travel. I like to walk around in slippers and having these makes my stay more enjoyable. The wine bubble wraps are these great little sleeves designed specifically to hold a bottle of wine. I brought these along because I anticipate bringing some wine home as a souvenir and in the event I have to check these I would prefer not to end up with red wine all over my clothes. I also brought a duffel bag because inevitably on a trip like this, I get to the end with these bags of souvenirs I somehow need to carry home. Having an extra bag to carry these in makes this so much easier and more comfortable than cutting off the circulation in your wrists. My duffel bag rolls up really nicely and fits into the crevices of the suitcase.
Here are a other few tips that made this feat possible:
1. Roll your clothes. I know this seems counter-intuitive. I certainly didn't believe it when I first was given the audience. But it works! It is possible to fit so much more into a suitcase when it's rolled rather folded. You can stack up to three layers of rolled clothes in a carry-on by squeezing items together. Start with the bulkier items and keep them on the bottom and build up.
2. Segregate. I keep all the clothes on one half of the suitcase. The other half is for everything else. On the second half the suitcase, shoes go in first and add any toiletry bags between shoes if possible. Then stack remaining toiletry on top of the shoes. The curling iron or straightener acts as the divider and sits snugly between the two sides.
3. Use the nooks and crannies. First use all the compartments. I used the separate zipped compartment for my black slacks and sweaters. I use this area for the nicer things I don't want to get wrinkled. I use the zippered pocket for all my undergarments. Don't be afraid to use the outer compartments for things like extra socks, gloves, scarves, and hats. Second, use all the little extra spaces around everything. I shove my dirty laundry bag, chargers, and outlet adapters into every little space I can find. Let no space go wasted!
4. Wear or carry the bulky stuff. My travel outfit for a long trip like this consists of a tracksuit. This can double as a second set of pajamas or hotel lounge wear. Plus the top half can be a lighter weight sweatshirt if needed. Next I carry my big winter coat on board. This doubles nicely as a blanket for those freezing planes. The boots are the shoes I wear on board. These take up too much space in a suitcase, plus my first stop is London....enough said
The next step is effectively using your personal item to fit everything else. But I'll save that for another blog post! Stay tuned...
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