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.

One Reply to “How I Packed for 10 Days in a Carry-On”

So much value here! Thank you so much!