The Carry-On-Only Life: How to Pack Light, Travel Smart, and Actually Enjoy Your Trip
Let’s Get This Straight: You Don’t Need That Much Stuff
Packing light isn’t about deprivation. It’s about freedom.
Freedom from airline baggage fees. Freedom from dragging a 50-pound monster up a hotel staircase. Freedom from standing at baggage claim wondering if your underwear made it to Paris.
Whether you’re flying to Florence, taking a river cruise, or finally using those miles for Munich, the carry-on only + personal bag combo is the easiest travel decision you’ll ever make.
📌 Bonus:
Planning a trip to Germany? I’ve added a full list of helpful Germany travel posts at the bottom of this page so you don’t have to go Googling after your third coffee. Just scroll when you’re done here.
Some of the links in this post may earn Grandpa Bo a small commission, but they won’t cost you a cent extra. It helps keep the site running, the coffee flowing, and the socks from being packed unnecessarily.
Why Go Carry-On Only?
- No baggage claim roulette: After a 9-hour flight, the last thing you want is to wait 45 minutes for your bag to maybe show up. Maybe.
- Customs shortcut: When you skip baggage claim, you get to immigration and customs faster. That often means a much shorter wait before you’re officially on vacation.
- Mobility = sanity: Cobblestone streets, tight train aisles, no elevators? No problem. You’re not dragging a Samsonite coffin behind you.
- Less stuff, less stress: It’s easier to pack, easier to unpack, and nearly impossible to overthink.
Choose the Right Bags (This Part Matters)
✅ Carry-On Roller or Travel Backpack
You want something that meets international carry-on standards (especially for low-cost airlines in Europe), but here’s the Grandpa Bo truth bomb:
I prefer soft-sided carry-ons.
Hard cases may look sleek, but they don’t expand. No outer pockets. No flex. No forgiveness when you’re cramming in one last souvenir sweater.
Soft-sided bags give you wiggle room, compression, and easy access to things like snacks, chargers, or laundry sheets. And they’re way easier to jam into overhead bins.
Look for:
- Expandable zipper
- Compression straps inside
- At least one outer zip pocket
- High-quality wheels and handle
See Amazon’s best soft-sided carry-ons for international travel.
🎒 Your Personal Bag = Bonus Storage
This bag goes under the seat and holds:
- Passport, wallet, meds, snacks
- Toiletries (in a TSA-ready pouch)
- Electronics and chargers
- 1 change of clothes (just in case)
- Travel docs and valuables
Check out this personal item backpack.
What to Pack (And What to Leave Home)
This isn’t about sacrifice. It’s about multipurpose magic.
👕 Clothes:
- 3–4 shirts (blend of casual and slightly nicer)
- 2 pairs of pants (or 1 pant + 1 short/skirt depending on climate)
- 1 light sweater or jacket
- 1 outfit that can dress up or down
- Undergarments and socks (4–5 pairs, max)
- 1 pair of walking shoes (wear them on travel day)
- 1 extra pair of flats, sandals, or slides
- Swimsuit and flip-flops (optional, but nice to have)
Pro tip: Choose neutral colors and quick-dry fabrics when possible.
🧼 Toiletries:
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, deodorant (travel size)
- Travel-sized laundry detergent or dissolvable sheets
- Face wipes, moisturizer, any medications
- Nail clippers, tweezers, lint roller (you know, grown-up stuff)
TSA-approved toiletry kits that actually fit in one quart-size bag.
How to Handle Laundry (Without Losing Your Mind)
This is the key to packing light without running out of underwear.
💧 Hotel Laundry
- Look for hotels with self-service laundry or affordable laundry-by-the-bag options.
- Many chains, boutique hotels, and even hostels offer machines — check the amenities before booking.
Use Hotels.com and filter by “laundry service” to find the right places.
🏡 VRBO
- Many have in-unit washers (and sometimes dryers).
- You can filter for these in search settings.
- Dryers aren’t always common in Europe, but a drying rack and some sunlight work just fine.
Filter for washer/dryer listings on VRBO here.
🧺 What to Bring:
- Small bottle of travel detergent or laundry sheets
- Sink stopper (optional)
- Travel clothesline or quick-dry towel
This flat-pack clothesline with clips is a life-saver.
Travel Day Strategy: What to Wear vs. What to Pack
Wear:
- Your bulkiest shoes
- Jeans or pants
- Jacket or sweater
- T-shirt or long-sleeve layer
Pack:
- Use packing cubes to keep it neat
- Roll or fold depending on your style
- Liquids in an outer pouch for TSA
Best-selling packing cubes that actually fit carry-ons — check them out here.
One Real-Life Example: Germany, One Bag, No Problems
On a recent trip to Germany, I traveled for 10 days with just a soft carry-on and a personal backpack. Halfway through, I stayed at a little inn that let guests use the laundry room. I knocked out a quick load, hung everything to dry, and had fresh clothes for the rest of the trip.
Meanwhile, a guy next to me at the train station was seen wrestling his giant suitcase up flights of stairs. I offered to help… but mostly I offered him pity.
Final Thoughts: Light Bags = Better Travel
When you pack light, you move through the world differently.
You’re not tied to taxis.
You’re not sweating over steps.
You’re not waiting in long customs lines after everyone else retrieves their 14 checked bags.
Instead, you’re already sipping a cappuccino at the café across the street, wondering why you ever packed heavy in the first place.
🧭 Planning a Trip to Germany?
If you’re heading to Germany, don’t stop here. I’ve got a whole carry-on’s worth of travel tips waiting for you:
