12 CARRY-ON PACKING MISTAKES TO AVOID FOR QUICK TRIPS AND WEEKEND GETAWAYS — PLUS, WHAT TO BRING INSTEAD
Your suitcase basically packs itself with these weekend trip must-haves.
As a professional traveler on the road every week, I’m a big fan of quick trips that let me spend more days at home before hitting the road again. I'm known to do weekend getaways or hop on a flight for a couple of days in Europe, and you can bet that I’m not bringing a checked bag for shorter stays — a feat that's only accomplished by avoiding the most common packing mistakes so I can enjoy any city with just my trusty carry-on bag.
Sure, landscapes and climates vary dramatically across the United States and Europe, so it’s important to prepare with specific garments for the right conditions. But you can't let the specifics of your wardrobe take priority over certain travel accessories; it’s the rest that makes or breaks your ability to fully enjoy any city from a simple carry-on.
From years of constant travel, I’ve compiled a list of the biggest mistakes I’ve encountered and the 12 things you can pack to avoid them yourself on quick trips and weekend getaways — starting with the right suitcase.
Mistake: Bringing the wrong bag
Pack this instead: Samsonite Freeform Carry-on
$160
After going through all this effort to pack the right items, make sure they’re protected by the right carry-on bag. Ensure everything arrives undamaged by packing it in a reputable carry-on like the Samsonite Freeform. It’s expandable (which is great for bringing home souvenirs or for compressing the bag to fit in tight overhead bins) and durable, but also incredibly lightweight. The double spinner wheels are essential for easy transport around the airport and to your hotel or house, and it comes with a 10-year warranty for repairs or replacements between trips.
Mistake: Forgetting to adapt
Pack this instead: A compact Euro adapter kit
$13
Not all European cities have the same power outlets, but nearly none of them will fit your U.S. plugs. I pack an all-Europe combo kit that includes both UK and EU adapters so I never have to worry about bringing the wrong one. This also ensures that I don't need to stress over changed plans, like when I recently flew last minute from London to Spain for a quick stay at the exquisite Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona. If I’d only had a UK adapter, my two nights of pampering at one of the city’s most storied hotels would have been spoiled by scrambling to shop for new adapters with a draining phone battery and a dead laptop. Over at Amazon, you can get an adapter kit that comes with multiple ports to help you save valuable personal item bag space while keeping everything fully charged.
Mistake: Wasting space
Pack this instead: Compression packing cubes
$17
In my experience, most major airlines don’t actually weigh carry-on bags, so this is your golden opportunity to pack on a few pounds without penalty. The best way to manage that is with compression packing cubes that condense your clothes and free up space in your carry-on for more items. They’ll also keep you better organized on the go so you’re not wasting your short visit rummaging through a chaotic carry-on. And hey, if you go a little overboard and the airline does weigh your carry-on, you can slip the largest packing cube out of your bag and carry that separately as a personal item.
Mistake: Overpacking clothing
Pack this instead: A jewelry organizer
$16
For a carry-on-only trip, bring fewer garments in solid colors that can be mixed and matched to create diverse looks, and change them dramatically with accessories. A soft-sided, flexible jewelry organizer like this one lets you triple your looks while using only a fraction of the space an extra pair of jeans would waste. I was able to take the same clothes from casual afternoon drinks on the Majestic’s rooftop terrace, La Dolce Vitae, to a posh dinner with friends nearby just by making a few simple styling changes that mostly hinged on changing my accessories.
Mistake: Bringing expensive sunglasses
Pack this instead: Sojos Classic Polarized Sunglasses
$13
You should definitely protect your eyes outdoors in all seasons, but expensive sunglasses are a mistake on a light-packing trip. They often come in bulky, hard-sided cases — for a good reason: to protect those fashion investments — but take up a ton of unnecessary space in your carry-on. For quick-trip travel, inexpensive alternatives in classic styles like this Sojos pair still offer protection and universal style, but you won’t need to worry when storing them in a simple cloth pouch. If you do scratch, break, or lose them, it won’t ruin your trip.
Mistake: Getting all tied up
Pack this instead: A small cord organizer
$7
Nothing complicates a carry-on like loose wires and cords tangling and knotting, or even wrapping around your other packed items. They’ll slow you down every time you reach into your bag on your journey, but can be especially frustrating on planes when you’re rummaging with limited space and visibility. Organize all of your cords in a soft-sided pouch and you’ll not only be able to charge anything at a moment’s notice, but you’ll keep the rest of your bag clear of knots and tangles. This one saves space, time, and peace of mind. Plus you’ll keep your chargers safe from potential spills.
Mistake: Bringing too many shoes
Pack this instead: A pair of slip-on shoes
$80
Shoes are admittedly my weakness, but nothing takes up more space faster in a bag than multiple pairs of them. I’ve learned to streamline my footwear allowance with one or two versatile styles like these OluKai slip-ons that pair with a wide range of outfits. They combine support and comfort with style so you have everything you need even if they’re the only shoe you bring, but they’re also flexible and bulk-free so they pack nicely if you do want to slip an extra pair in your bag.
Mistake: Bulky hydration accessories
Pack this instead: A collapsible water bottle
$9
Water is basically free almost anywhere in the U.S., but that’s definitely not the case in Europe. Instead of factoring in a big water budget to stay hydrated, pack a refillable water bottle and take it on your jaunts so you’re not stuck overpaying every time you need a sip. But this isn’t the time for your giant workhorse bottle. Save space in your carry-on with a collapsible, rollable, lightweight bottle like this nifty Amazon-loved one. It’ll add practically no weight to your bag and waste no space. This one has a triple leakproof design with a comfortable carry strap perfect for travel.
Mistake: Losing your toiletries
Pack this instead: A TSA-approved toiletry kit
$13
Most full-size toiletries aren’t allowed in your carry-on. If you try to pack them, they’ll be confiscated (and trashed) by TSA. You’ll have wasted your packing space and your cash because now you’ll have to buy all new European products when you land — and you won’t be able to bring those home either. Invest in a TSA-approved toiletry kit with a variety of refillable squeeze tubes, spray bottles, and cream jars to pack your favorite products with no worry. This kit also comes in a clear pouch for easy review at security, in case you’re required to remove them from your carry-on.
Mistake: Ruining your limited clothing options
Pack this instead: A portable laundry bag
$10
You won’t have many clothes with you, so don’t let dirty clothes or muddy shoes ruin the limited options you have. These laundry bags fold into tiny pouches for easy packing on the way out, and keep your soiled items separate from your clean clothes (and everything else in your bag) during your trip and on your way home. Even better, they’re waterproof, so toss your swimsuit in there if you don’t have enough time for it to dry before returning. Honestly, you should bring these on every trip to keep clean and dirty clothes separate, but it’s critical for these quickies.
Mistake: Losing garments to stains
Pack this instead: A stain remover pen
$8
Separating dirty laundry keeps clothes safe inside your bag, but even more accidents happen when you’re wearing them. Protect yourself from knocking one of your limited garments out of rotation with a wine spill or sauce splash. Stain remover pens like Tide to Go's fan-favorite version can save you on the plane, in the restaurant, or even just strolling down the street with your iced latte. Even if you’re not clumsy, strangers are, so come prepared. Pack a couple in your carry-on, but don’t forget to throw one in your bag each time you go out, too. The quicker you hit the spot, the less likely it is to become a stain.
Mistake: Bringing bulky pill bottles
Pack this instead: A pill organizer
$10
Medications, vitamins, supplements — it doesn’t matter what kind of pills you’re bringing, all those bottles are bulky with tons of empty airspace inside. Streamline your packing with a travel pill organizer to bring what you need without bulking up your bag. If you have multiple pills, an organizer with multiple compartments also makes it a lot easier to grab everything quickly if you need to find them on a plane or the go, saving you time and stress throughout. This one is waterproof with a secure lid, so no worries about spills. Pro tip: Always pack a couple more pills than you need in case of unexpected plane delays or cancellations coming home.
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2024-09-07T10:08:17Z dg43tfdfdgfd