How I Packed for 10 Days in a Carry-On
Packing Light, Traveling Smart
Planning a long trip with just a carry-on? I did it—and here’s exactly how.
1. Start in Your Closet
Pick the thinnest, most versatile items from your wardrobe—pieces you can layer or dress up/down. This way, you’ll pack less but wear more. Remember, when you travel there’s a good chance you’re going to go shopping there anyways, so packing using what you’ve got already is ideal.
2. Lay It Out, Then Cut It in Half
We always overpack. I laid out everything I thought I needed—then cut that pile in half. I didn’t miss a thing. Take into account the weather, environment, and planned activities of where you’re traveling to – is there anything you’ve grabbed that just doesn’t make sense? You’re probably overthinking and therefore, overpacking – take what you NEED first, add things in later once you’ve sorted out your essentials.
This was the carry-on I used for my 10 day trip to Spain & Greece – it fit everything I needed and I still had a bit of space at the end to bring back some goods from my travels! Here’s the link to shop: Click to Shop My Luggage
3. Choose Favorites First
Start with your 3 favorite outfits. Everything else you pack should work around those. If it doesn’t mix and match at least two ways, skip it. Need outfit inspo? Pinterest is a great place to figure out easy outfits to put together!
4. Shoes: Stick to Three
• Sneakers (for walking)
• Slides (casual)
• Wedges or dressy sandals (for dinners)
Prioritize comfort—especially on cobblestones and long travel days.
5. My Packing Method
I tried rolling clothes but found laying them flat saved more space. Here’s what worked best:
• I folded all tops in half and placed them in a garment bag, which kept them smooth and organized.
• After placing the garment bag into the suitcase, I built up around the sides and ends with what didn’t fit in it:
• A cardigan
• Pajamas
• A few bras
This layering method kept my suitcase compact and wrinkle-free. I also used a couple packing cubes to stay organized – 1 for clothing and a smaller one to secure my quart-size ziploc bag carrying my skincare. I packed items around the cubes once they were in my carry-on! Here’s the link to the packing cubes I used: https://rstyle.me/+yfWD2Vrxc3yIp-xz40jRYA
6. Other Packing Hacks
Here are some more hacks I used when configuring how to pack for 10 days in a carry-on only:
• Socks laid flat—not rolled
• Underwear and small items stuffed inside shoes
• Shoes in grocery bags (not bulky organizers)
• Skincare and haircare decanted into the tiniest containers
• Ziplock bag instead of a makeup bag
• Only one hair tool (I left the blow dryer at home)
There were a couple of glass bottles I found on Amazon for my skincare/haircare – I’ve got them all linked in my Amazon Essentials storefront right here for you to check out: Jocelyn’s Amazon Travel Essentials Storefront
Those little clear containers were PERFECT for my moisturizers and eye cream – truly couldn’t have made my skincare work without all these little guys! They’re also linked above in my storefront.
7. What I Actually Packed
• 3 lightweight dresses
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of linen pants
• 1 pair of jeans (worn on the plane)
• 5 thin tops (mostly tanks)
• 2 cardigans
• 1 denim jacket (worn on the plane)
• 1 sweatshirt (worn on the plane)
• Pajamas
• Undergarments
One more thing I included in my carry on was an empty backpack – this was because I knew I’d be on the go throughout the day and might need to take some essentials with me, but I didn’t need something as big as my backpack I wore on the way to my destination. It layed flat in my suitcase and worked out perfect!
I bring a backpack for all the things I NEED to have on me (leggings & a tank for one easy outfit in case something happens even with my carry on). I included my makeup and 1 bag for liquids in my backpack along with my camera, medicines, sunglasses, and anything extra I felt I needed.
Here’s the backpack I used and I recommend by CALPAK for traveling: https://rstyle.me/+jMZlvaEuPst8sBlvw8pMwg
8. Laundry & Outfit Repeating
I wore the same outfit for travel days and asked hotels to wash what I wore most. This saved space and kept things fresh.
Packing for 10 days in a carry-on isn’t just possible—it’s freeing. Less stuff means less stress. With a little planning and a few smart swaps, you’ll be ready for wherever the breeze takes you.
Outfit Inspo
Here are a few of the outfits I wore while on my trip in Greece & Spain for 10 days! Maybe these can give you some ideas or you might see something you’d like to add to your own closet for the next trip.
