How to Pack for Six Months of Travel in a Carry-On

 

How do you pack for the adventure of a lifetime? Light.

This is always one of the first questions I receive after sharing our extended travel plans. When strategizing on how to pack for our six month stint abroad, my husband and I agreed to abide by two rules:

1. Everything must fit into one carry-on sized bag and a backpack, each.
2. Every man for himself.

The second rule actually meant that I was not allowed to add anything to Travis’s suitcase when he wasn’t looking, like on most prior trips.

He also reminded me that this isn’t a fashion show, we will be living there. The initial thought of fitting my entire wardrobe into a carry-on suitcase gave me heart palpitations, but I knew that the ability to be nimble would be worth it in the long run.

After successfully passing the suitcase test, I’ve gathered my best tips for packing for long-term travel on a small scale:

Pick a color scheme

Envision one of those spreads in a magazine where one item is worn seven different ways – this is the ultimate goal. Only bring something if you can wear it for multiple occasions, in a few different ways.

Picking a color scheme will set yourself up for success and ensure that all of your outfits will go together. For me that was black, grey, olive, white and denim.

Not sure which items should make the cut? Enlist a friend to police your packing. Sometimes you need an impartial party to bear the bad news that the yellow linen sundress isn’t a practical choice.

Follow the rule of two

Allow yourself two of each:

• Dresses
• Leggings
• Tank tops
• Short and long sleeve shirts
• Shorts
• Jeans
• Rompers
• Swimsuits
• Scarves
• Light jackets
• Sandals
• Sneakers/hiking shoes

Start with two of each, then if you have extra room you can go up from there. Also don’t be afraid to shed items you find that you aren’t using along the way.

Keep it organized

Packing cubes are a girl’s best friend. Not only do they keep your stuff in order, you usually can fit more into your suitcase as a result.

I’ve tried a few different ones over the years, but my favorite ones are these compression packing cubes from Gomex.

Buy the basics when you get there

Universal items like shampoo and toothpaste are sold everywhere in the world. Save your precious suitcase real estate for the things you think won’t be able to find abroad.

Bring enough for the first day or two, then stock up when you get settled. I’m a big fan of these clear TSA-approved liquids bags that are water-tight and the perfect size for your 3.4 ounce bottles.

Pamper yourself on the road

Leaving behind our normal lives (and paychecks) also meant saying goodbye to the luxury beauty habits that had crept into my lifestyle over the years. This meant no more regular mani-pedi’s, facials or massages.

Instead of going completely cold-turkey on the beauty regiment, I found that packing a few secret weapons bridge the gap and still make me feel like a human-being while on the road:

Facial mask sheets – These all-in-one facials come in envelope form, slide easily into your dopt-kit and will rejuvenate your skin in 30 minutes or less. Perfect for combating the dehydrating airplane air!

Nail polish remover wipes – Commit to one color of polish, then pack a few of these Karma Naturals organic nail polish remover wipes. They are super portable and allow you to do your nails without the normal mess or toxic smell.

A teeny tiny hair dryer – Unlike in the States, many Airbnb’s we found in Europe did not come equipped with hair dryers, so bringing one with me wasn’t optional. I found the little sister version of my beloved BabyBliss hair dryer on Amazon. It folds in half, is dual-voltage so you won’t fry it overseas, and has a detachable nozzle for styling. Priorities, right?

A tennis ball – Quite possibly my favorite travel hack ever, bringing a tennis ball is the poor man’s answer to a massage. It’s the cheapest, easiest way to soothe your sore shoulders from carrying your backpack or sitting for hours on a plane.

Mail yourself a care package.

For the things that you anticipating are either only sold in the States or that you are nervous about finding on the road, purchase enough for the length of your journey, then divide it by two. Pack half of it in your suitcase, and have a friend mail the remainder to you on the road.

The US Postal Service sells a flat-rate shipping mailer, and it is exactly what it sounds like — a box that you can fill to your heart’s content and pay only a flat fee.

While we left the U.S. with our travel itinerary intentionally open-ended, we had a rendezvous with friends booked in Amsterdam that was scheduled for, coincidentally, exactly half-way through our trip. I also have a friend who lives there who graciously agreed to receive the package on my behalf.

For example, I sent myself the following:

• Hair serum
• Juice Plus vitamins
• Probiotics
• Foundation

While I’m sure I could find replacements for most all of these items abroad, it gave me peace of mind.

Despite the cringe-worthy $69.00 price tag for the flat shipping fee to the Netherlands, I know that my future self will thank me later. A girl’s gotta do…

Pack a crash bag.

We’ve all been there. You arrive home from a 20 hour travel day craving a shower, sleep and French fries only to find all of the laundry is dirty and you’re out of toothpaste.

Add in our scenario, where we’ve gotten rid of most of our worldly possessions and are technically “homeless”, and it would be the recipe for disaster.

Luckily, we thought this through and packed ourselves a “crash bag.”

What’s in it?

• Clean pajamas
• One day’s clothes
• A few days’ worth of essential toiletries

What item can you not travel without? Share in the comments below!

Cheers,

Meredith