Personal Item Packing List: How To Pack Without Paying for a Carry-On

Over here in Europe, gone are the days of budget airlines giving you a free carry-on bag. When flying any of the major low-cost carriers, such as RyanAir, Vueling, and Transavia, you typically only get a personal item for free. And your personal item isn’t the one that goes in the overhead bin — no, it’s the small bag that fits under the seat in front of you.

During our trip through Europe this past fall, we had to bite the bullet and pay to bring our carry-on bags with us on every flight. Which really added up. In our defense, we were packing for two months and needed a lot more than we could fit in a small backpack. But now that we’re based in Alicante, Spain, we’ve been taking long weekend trips to other cities in Europe. And we’ve perfected our personal item packing lists so that we don’t have to pay for a carry-on. (Also, I finally upgraded my backpack to utilize my space even more efficiently with the CabinZero bag.)

Here are five tips for packing for a long weekend in a personal item bag, plus my personal item packing list.

1. Only One Pair of Shoes

When you’re really trying to save space, not packing shoes (besides the ones you’re wearing) is one of the best things you can do. I’m not a shoe person, so this isn’t a big deal for me, but it really does make a difference. So just be sure to bring your most versatile pair of shoes for your trip.

This is not sponsored at all whatsoever, so you can really take my word when I say this: my waterproof Vessi sneakers have been a gamechanger, so definitely consider adding them to your personal item packing list. They’re perfect for rainy days, but they’re also super cute and comfortable for days when it isn’t raining. Which makes them the perfect shoe for a variety of situations when you’re short on space.

2. You Get a Maximum of Two Outfits

While you may be traveling for three or four days, two days’ worth of clothing should be plenty. You’ll just have to re-wear some things, which is fine. No one is going to judge you. I typically like to bring one comfier outfit for the travel days, and one “nicer” outfit for the other day(s). Obviously, you’re wearing one outfit on the plane, which means your other outfit shouldn’t take up too much space.

When I travel for longer periods of time, I usually bring a “lounge” outfit, which might be pajamas or might just be a T-shirt and pair of shorts or sweatpants. But personal-item-only trips don’t get a lounge outfit. Utility outfits only.

3. Ask Yourself, “Can I Survive for Three Days Without This?”

Just like the lounge outfit, there are plenty of other things I leave behind when I’m packing in just a personal item. For example, I love bringing our Nintendo Switch to help pass the time in the airport or on the plane. But it just doesn’t fit in my small backpack with everything else. Neither does my daily planner and pencil case that I use for work. (I usually take a picture of my to-do list before I leave.)

Also, I have a lot of hair/cosmetic products that I use on a daily basis, but I pare it down to just the essentials for short trips. If I skip a couple nights of using my fancy skincare, it’s not the end of the world. Plus, then it’s fewer liquids you have to worry about on the plane.

4. Wear Your Bulkiest Outfit On the Plane

If you can, it’s easier to wear your bulkiest clothing items on the plane so you have more space in your bag. And here’s one other thing I haven’t mentioned yet — I always bring some kind of jacket or outerwear, which I also wear on the plane. Just like I usually bring my waterproof sneakers, I will often bring my rain jacket just because I can use it either as a light jacket or for actual rain.

As a person who gets hot really easily, especially when traveling, this is definitely not my favorite rule. But the good news is that, as long as you’re layering appropriately, you can always take jackets/sweaters off if needed. And I’ve never seen an airline gate agent give anyone a problem for carrying their jacket in their arms when boarding.

5. Don’t Worry About Being a Little Dirty

When I travel for a long weekend, I don’t wash my hair during the trip. My hair routine is too complicated and requires its own arsenal of products, including my favorite travel-sized hair dryer, which ends up taking up way too much space in my bag. Instead, I’ll wash it the day before we travel and ride it out until we get home. (And I typically don’t wash my hair every day, so it’s really not a big change for me.)

Also, re-wearing the same clothes for a couple of days can sometimes make you feel a little bit grimy. Especially when you’re traveling and working up a sweat. But I think the best thing to do is just accept it. 😂 If you want a little extra protection against smelly clothes, I recommend getting some travel-sized Lume deodorant. Besides that, when you’re feeling dirty, just remember how much money you’re saving by not paying for a carry-on bag.

My Personal Item Packing List

Clothing

• 1 casual shirt
• 1 sweater
• 1 pair of leggings
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 rain jacket or coat
• 1 pair of Vessi waterproof sneakers
• 2 pairs of socks
• 3-4 pairs of underwear
• 1 bra

Electronics

• 2 cell phones (American & Spanish)
• Laptop (because I often have to work while traveling)
• Kindle
• EU phone charger & cord
• Portable charger

Personal care

• Contact lenses and travel contact solution
• Glasses and case
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• 2 TMJ appliances
• 3 travel-sized skin care products
• 1 washcloth
• Small makeup bag
• Makeup remover wipes
• Lume deodorant
• Allergy pills, ibuprofen, and prescriptions
• Water bottle

 

I hope you’re now ready to create your own personal item packing list for your next short trip! Let me know what questions or comments you have below.

-Cathy

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Originally Published on April 11, 2024.