9 Days in Europe with a Carry-On
Some might call me an over-packer. I like to think of myself as always prepared for anything that comes up! But when we were planning our family trip to London and Paris this summer, I challenged myself to pack carry-on only - yes, for 9 days, and yes, with our three kids in tow - and I was so happy I did. Sure, it saved us checked baggage fees, but more importantly, it made navigating the airports, train stations, and cobblestone streets exponentially easier. I couldn’t fathom traveling around Europe with a big honkin’ suitcase. Also, we never had to worry about the airlines losing our luggage because our bags were with us the whole time.
Here’s exactly how I - a chronic over-packer - made it work.
1: Check the Weather Before You Pack
This might seem rudimentary, but always look at the forecast the week of your departure so you’re packing for reality, not just the season. For us, at the end of July, London was in the low 70s and often overcast, while Paris was warmer in the mid to high 70s and sunny. We got so lucky! But you never know - Europe had a major heat wave just a few weeks before our trip.
2: Consider Your Attire
Think honestly about the type of trip you’re taking and your day-to-day itinerary. For us, on this trip, we weren’t going anywhere fancy and we mostly packed for comfort - long days of walking and sightseeing. We didn’t need formal clothes, winter garb, beachwear, and not even rain gear considering the forecast called for no rain. Aside from everyone needing an outfit to wear to Disneyland Paris, we didn’t pack anything “special.” I tried very hard to keep things simple, and it worked.
3: Pack with a Strategy
Let me start by saying I never pack for my husband. Mark is on his own!
For the kids: I packed set outfits (one per day) so there was no morning decision fatigue. Each child wore a hoodie on the flight to London and we packed an additional one in their suitcases. Our daughter packed a couple sweaters as well because she tends to get cold.
For myself: Okay, I would be lying if I said I didn’t put any thought into outfits. It’s me we’re talking about. However, I really impressed myself by focusing on neutral basics (black, white, beige) in solids, stripes and simple florals so everything mixed and matched. My staples were shorts, tees, and casual dresses. To prepare for the cooler mornings and evenings, I added a few versatile layers: a black linen button-down, a striped cardigan with a nice weight, and a denim jacket (which I wore on the plane). Every outfit I packed could be topped with one of these layers, and most of the shorts and tops paired well together too.
Shoes: We limited the shoes in our carry-ons to one pair for the kids and two pairs for the adults. Pro tip: wear your bulkiest pair (which were sneakers for all of us) on the plane. For myself, I packed my white Birkenstocks and a pair of simple gold sandals which I only wore a couple times.
4: Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are a game changer in my opinion. We have been using them for years. First off, you can cram a lot into each one if you roll the clothes tightly (we don’t fold). Second, things don’t get as wrinkled because they’re not sliding all over your suitcase. Lastly, I get great pleasure in taking the packing cubes out of our suitcases and placing them directly into the dresser drawers in our hotel. Just me?? Easy and efficient.
We used one large packing cube per person, which fit just right into each of our carry-on suitcases.
5: Don’t Overthink Toiletries
This was one area I thought would be hard, but it turned out to be much easier than expected.
I have a fairly extensive skincare routine, so I either bought travel-sized bottles or decanted my products into TSA-approved containers.
Instead of my bulky toiletry bag, I pared down to the essentials in a gallon-sized Ziploc. I placed this on the side of my suitcase with my shoes.
For liquids, each person had their own quart-sized Ziploc bag that we kept in our personal item for easy access in the security lines.
We also leveraged the toiletries at the hotels - I didn’t pack shampoo, conditioner, or body wash for the kids, just my own products.
Along the same lines, I didn’t pack a hairdryer because I figured I could use the ones at our hotels (both were very nice by the way, so that turned out better than I expected). I packed a curling iron and used it a couple times. Otherwise, I wore my hair up in a claw clip or down with a headband (my trick for day 2 or 3 hair).
For makeup, I only brought a handful of my everyday products to look and feel my best, without going overboard.
6: Plan for Laundry
Mark and I packed enough clothes for all 9 days, but I wasn’t sure how it would go with the kids. Let’s just say I was kidding myself when I thought maybe the kids could wear something twice. Alas, every night after returning to the hotel, they were filthy and usually covered in food. How??
Most hotels in Europe have an onsite laundry service, but I was appalled at the cost and couldn’t bring myself to do it (something like $15 to clean a tee shirt)! There are laundromats all over Europe, some of which offer a wash and fold service which would have been much more affordable. Ultimately, though, I just didn’t feel like dealing with those logistics.
I ended up packing Tide detergent packets (which I stashed in my quart-sized Ziploc bag with my other liquids) and did a quick wash of one outfit per kid in our bathroom sink. That was enough to get us through the end of the trip and it couldn’t have been easier.
7: Leverage Personal Items if Needed
Along with one carry-on suitcase per person, we each brought a personal item. I’ve had a favorite travel bag for years, so I brought that and a small, neutral crossbody packed inside it. I used the crossbody bag every single day on the trip because it coordinated with all my outfits.
Mark and the kids each took a backpack, as they usually do. By now, we have it down to a science for the kids - they are each responsible for packing their iPad, headphones, Kindle (big kids only), bag of snacks, water bottle, and a blanket/stuffy for comfort if they want.
My travel bag and Mark’s backpack usually function as overflow storage when needed. You never know what you won’t be able to cram into your suitcases, particularly on the way home!
Conclusion
Traveling carry-on only with kids might sound daunting, but with a little planning and preparation, it’s totally doable. You’ll avoid those pesky baggage fees, move through the airports faster, and have everything you need right at your fingertips.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! It was actually much easier than I thought it would be (love when that happens).
Happy travels and thanks for reading!
❤️ Liz
Friendly reminder: We are not financial advisers, we are simply sharing our method and approach with you. Of course, it's important to use credit cards responsibly. Pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges, and never spend more than you can afford just to earn rewards.
