In March this year, I embarked on a month-long trip to Ireland and the UK with just carry-on luggage. Ever since I posted the photo of my luggage, I’ve received dozens of emails, mostly from female readers and friends, asking how did I do that?
What tips could I offer to travel that long with just a 22-inch carry-on roller and a cabin bag? So, here are my secrets, crafted from traveling more than 1 million miles… and that’s just by plane.
I have three key tips to make this happen:
1. The Dozen: Buy or pick out from your existing wardrobe 12 coordinated, simple pieces that can be mixed-and-matched, and dressed up with accessories.
Clean as you travel. A little planning and a few items can help you reuse clothes, especially undergarments, shirts and bottoms.
3. Bags and cubes. Organizing in cubes helps you keep things tidy, extra plastic bags offer a variety of uses as will a collapsible shopping bag.
Building “The Dozen”
Your base should include versatile, neutral-toned bottoms and simple tops. This method allows for endless mix-and-match options. Your dozen will likely be different from mine, but here’s my approach for a long summer trip.
One skirt in black, white, or a neutral coordinating color
One pair of leggings
One pair of jeans, capris, or trousers. If traveling in summer, you can add shorts. Note: Absolutely avoid anything that looks remotely like “mom jeans.”
Five or six lightweight tops. Make one a white t-shirt and another a light, non-wrinkling long-sleeve button-up for layering against sun or a chilly night.
One or two easy-to-wear dresses. Simple dresses are fantastic because you can easily dress them up or down with jewelry, toss a button-up top over one for a sunny day, or add a sweater or pashmina for cooler nights, and double as a swimsuit cover-up.
A coordinating warm, but lightweight sweater or jacket.
A warm, but light pashmina, the ultimate layering piece.
Accessories: simple jewelry and a coordinating scarf (or two), maybe a hat.
Packable Purse: I never take a big purse on vacation. I have a small one that I can nestle among packed items on the way to/from the destination.
Shoes: No more than three pairs. In summer, sandals, low heels and sneakers should suffice. Key: All must be comfortable enough for extended walking. I never bother taking uncomfortable shoes on vacation, I’ve learned that I never wear them. While traveling, wear your heaviest shoes.
Seasonal Adjustments
Always check the weather right before you leave.
Rain: Add a lightweight raincoat and small umbrella. I have a packable trench coat that I bought in Rome years ago for this purpose.
Winter: Take a coat, or a packable down jacket, wear warm shoes/boots to/from your destination since they’ll be heavy. Swap a couple of tops for sweaters; layering is your friend
What the “Dozen” Looks Like
To illustrate the strategy, here are two examples of “the dozen” in different color palettes, one focused on black, blue and beige.
The same concept, but in pastels and more geared toward a seaside or island getaway.
To illustrate this further, here are 14 outfits for a variety of scenarios throughout the trip, from a casual arrival outfits to market strolls to a day at a museum.
The Outfit App Trick: Pack Confidence, Not Clutter
If you’re a geek like me, consider downloading a wardrobe app like Indyx or Fits. (To understand how they work, listen to this recent Wirecutter podcast.)
You can also do this old school by just using your camera phone. Either way, whether using either the app or just manually piece together, assemble a dozen different outfits together with accessories (jewelry, scarf, etc.). If using your phone, just lay the items on your bed and take a photo of each ensemble.
This way, you’ll feel confident and can easily put together outfits without a lot of thought. For an added bonus, print them out as small 3x5 photos and put them into an envelope in your suitcase.
You don’t have to pack all these pieces, either. Wear layers while traveling. For instance, leggings, tank top, long-sleeve shirt, sweater, and heaviest shoes on the plane and carry a jacket. See? No need to pack those, you’re wearing them. Put the pashmina in your tote bag for the flight.
Other Essential Minimalist Travel Tips
Laundry, Hygiene, and Comfort
To pack less, you must plan to wash. Bring three or four pairs of light underwear and two bras, and plan to hand wash them, along with some tops.
Tip: If you’re renting an Airbnb, look for one with a washer. Few places in Europe have American-style dryers but they likely have a drying rack. Some hotels also offer reasonable laundry service, often by the pound, and hostels often have laundry facilities.
Downsize your cosmetics and toiletries to fit into a small pouch. Facial products can take up a lot of space. Use small containers or reuse ones you have on hand. Remember, you can always buy more when you’re there. Buy sunscreen after you arrive; European sunscreen is much better than what’s sold in the U.S.
Leave the bulky hair dryer and curling iron at home. Most hotels or Airbnbs provide hair dryers, and your curling iron won’t work in Europe anyway. Consider heatless rollers instead.
Money and Identity Security
Take only two credit cards, an ATM card, and your passport. You won’t need your driver’s license (except as a backup ID or to rent a car), loyalty cards, store cards, etc. so leave them at home. Consider using Apple or Google wallets which are encrypted to store extra credit cards digitally, but protect them with biometric sign-ins, such as a fingerprint, in case your phone is stolen.
Take a photo of your credit cards, passport, and license before you go, print it out, give it to a trusted friend or relative and then delete from your phone. If anything happens to them, you can call and get all the necessary information to replace them quickly. You can bring a photocopy of your passport with you, but store it separately from the original.
If you are going to Europe or most Asian countries, don’t carry too much cash; just go to an ATM when you get there to get local currency. Amex and most banks can send you a new card within 48 hours anywhere in Europe should something happen.
Technology and Wellness
Download a translation app or get familiar with Google Translate. Now you can speak into your phone and get a reasonable translation, avoiding the need to speak slower and louder.
Adapter: Get appropriate adapters for your phone, tablet, and laptop. I recommend one with USB slots so you can charge more than one device at a time. I use this one from Tessan.
Portable charger: A backup charger can be a life changer. Everyone’s had that moment when they missed a great photo due to a dead battery. However, they can be heavy. I recommend an ultra-light one like this one from Amazon.
Fitness Gear: If you plan to work out, pack your lightest pair of running or training shoes, a single sports bra, and your lightest shorts and workout top. Leggings can possibly double as workout gear. If you pack heavy, clunky workout stuff and don’t use it, you’ll feel worse for having dragged it across a continent.
Luggage Tips
I deeply value a bag that expands. Part of traveling is finding treasures, from those trinkets or spices at a market to that handmade sweater from that cute village in Ireland. I have a 22-inch Briggs and Riley expandable wheel bag purchased more than 20 years ago. My favorite part, in addition to the lifetime warranty, is that it can expand to extend its capacity by a full 30%.
I travel with an expandable cabin bag from Briggs and Riley that I picked up on eBay, and pack a purse inside it or my roller bag. Briggs & Riley is spendy, but it’s rugged. I have had my luggage fixed several times over the years, and when I eventually replace mine, here are the two bags that I plan to get: 22-inch expandable spinner and the expandable cabin duffle.
However, if you’re looking for a lower price point, consider the brand trusted by flight crews everywhere: TravelPro. They have a classic crew 22-inch that’s under $300 with great reviews, and a matching cabin bag. This $30 expandable tote from BagSmart is another good option to take inside the cabin; I have one of these, too.
Last, but not Least
On your trip home, make notes on how well you packed. What did you pack but never wear? What did you regret not bringing? What turned out to be a lifesaver? What did you have to buy? Part of becoming a seasoned traveler is learning from each trip.
Have your own tips? Email them to me, or if you’re a paid subscriber, add them to the comments.
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