How to pack for vacation in Carry-On Luggage
Hello Hello! It's been a minute since my last post, but I'm back and the content is coming! I have so many new things planned for Luxe Like Lea!
Things have been so busy lately that I feel like I haven't had a chance to catch my breath. I'm so excited to get a break from the hustle of work & life in general because....
It'sssssss Puerto Rico Week!!!!
I'm headed to San Juan for 5 days & 4 nights with 12 of my college girlfriends to celebrate our first Bride to Be! I haven't seen some of these ladies in years & we haven't all traveled together since our last spring break in 2012. Woah! Just writing that made me feel so old.
As I've been preparing for the trip, I have accumulated a ton of stuff from clothes, shoes, accessories, & tech gear. Usually, I check a large suitcase and just throw everything in without thinking, but being so thoughtless has often caused me a lot of headaches because I always forget things.
I am a proud, self proclaimed maximalist. I do the most, especially on #slaycation!
For this trip, I wanted do things differently and be efficient & concise. I wanted to take my most fabulous pieces all the while challenging myself to pack everything in a carry on + personal item only.
I won't lie, it was a hard, but I pulled it off!
Here are my tips & tricks for packing like a minimalist on vacay!
1. Pick an aesthetic or color theme
Since I'm a blogger, I'm always thinking in terms of photos. What's going to look good on my body in pictures? What vibe am I going for? My Instagram aesthetic is lots of color. I pick a color scheme for a month (give or take) and transition my feed accordingly. See below!
I wanted to be mindful of the seasons, since we're transitioning from summer to fall, but also keep in mind that the temperatures are still pretty brutal. In Memphis, TN the heat index is still at 100 degrees! Temperatures in San Juan this time of year are 85-90 degrees, so I'm going to think cool thoughts the entire trip.
Also, always do your research for your location. I looked up our housing location & the city itself. With all the beauty in PR, I went with black/neon + some neutral tones!
2. Plan each look + Accessories
It's important to know exactly what each outfit is going to look like in it's entirety. Try all your clothes on with your shoes & accessories. Don't forget your shape wear! It's 2019 ladies, we're too old be out here jiggling around, no matter what size your body is.
3. Organize your looks by days or category
I lay everything out in two categories: day & night. I don't like to plan each day with the outfit because my mind is always changing once I get to my destination. Since my packing space was limited, I packed 4 dressier/night outfits with flat sandals since we'll be doing a lot of walking & 1 pair of heels for the bacherlorette party that's going to be at our AirBnB.
The majority of my day time outfits consist of swimsuits/coverups and sneakers so I can be comfortable while we explore.
I organized all of my outfits and their accessories and placed them on floor. Once everything was laid out, I got honest with myself about what I really needed to pack or pass on for this trip.
4. Condense your items
When packing like a minimalist, (especially when you're a maximilalist), you have to conserve space. I got these jumbo Hefty bags from Walmart for $3. I stuffed each bag with similar clothes, for example: swimsuits, pjs, & undergarments went in one bag while light dresses went in another.
If you have bulkier items like sweatpants or jackets, distribute them amongst your storage bags so you can zip them up.
Once your items are in the bags, squeeze as much air out as you can until it seals. You can buy the actual vacuum storage bags by Hefty or Ziploc here.
5. Pack it up strategically
I put my light sandals and sneakers in the bottom of my carry on and placed the sealed storage bags on top. I left enough room on the side of the suitcase to put my heels.
I packed my makeup items & toiletries in small fashion bags that I've saved over the years. My favorites are from Lancome & Target!
I stuffed the bags & one of my purses in the inside zipper of the cary on.
6. Invest in a travel tote
You can carry a backpack, or duffle, but I suggest investing in a good travel tote. I splurged on the Christian Dior oblique tote. Find it pre-owned here. There are tons of affordable options out there. Shop these fab finds from Target. Just make sure your bag is sturdy & can slip on your suitcase for easy transport.
The Dior is really sturdy, so I packed quite a bit into it and it wasn't too heavy. It fit my bacherlorette gift, Canon SL2, vintage Louis Vuitton purse that I borrowed from mom's closet (love you mom!), my sunglasses, and random tech gear.
I'm glad I packed so light, so I won't have to pay checked bag fees. I need to save my little coins!
I'm so excited for this trip I can hardly even stand it! My girls & I are due for a trip & it's going to be a movie!
"The Mafia" takes San Juan coming soon!!
Thanks for reading!