How I Packed for 3 Weeks in Italy in a Carry-On
March 3, 2024
And you can, too!
I’m here to tell you: You can pack for a weeks-long trip in a carry-on! In this post I want to run you through exactly what I packed for our three-week trip to Italy last year–putting all links and tips in one spot for easy reference.
Most of the items I linked from last year are still available; for others I found very similar items. While I can’t link every item from last year as some aren’t available, I did my best to include everything, and added in other options when the originals weren’t available.
But the idea behind this list is simple: Lean on chic classics, and add in pops of color and bold prints so you can mix and match.
I also did a post on how to pack for a week-long trip; check out that post here. This post is for you if you’re ready to take the Carry-On Challenge to the next level. 😉
The Biggest Tip to Pack Carry-On Only
The first thing you have to do is get in the mindset. Repeat after me: I do not need a hundred options to travel for a few weeks!
The key is to curate a suitcase that focuses on basic and chic pieces, adding in color and statement here and there. Remember, no one is following you around and keeping an eye on what you wear. Chill! Travel is supposed to be fun, and I firmly believe that packing items that you feel comfortable in will be the thing that shows through most in any picture or video you take.
What Shoes to Pack for a Trip to Italy
I do not think that heels are necessary for a family trip to Italy; just a personal opinion! Of course if you’re a heels girl, go for it. But there are tons of uneven street surfaces in both the cities and the more rural areas, so the last thing I wanted was to be teetering around in uncomfortable shoes. For that reason, you’ll see I stuck to just three pairs of shoes.
Ninety percent of the time I wore my black and white sneakers. (Mine are Chanel, but aren’t available any longer, so I linked a D&G pair that’s very similar in style that I also love.) You’ll be wearing these for travel so they won’t be taking up precious suitcase space.
The other two pairs–a gladiator sandal and a flat espadrille–flatten easily, and therefore are easy to pack. They’re also very chic, and served as my dressy options for outfits that called for a little extra oomph.
The Most Important Thing if You Want to Pack Carry-On Only
I cannot recommend getting these “vacuum” travel bags enough! You don’t need a vacuum to seal them; you simply roll them to release the air, but it feels almost as tight as a vacuum pack when you do! Here’s a quick video tutorial on how to use them.
Because I used these, I was able to pack all of the above items in my carry-on suitcase. If you want to be carry-on only, these are a non-negotiable. Best $10 you’ll ever spend on travel!
The Best Clothes Steamer to Pack Carry-On
Because the vacuum bags can cause wrinkling, I packed this travel steamer and used it when needed. To be honest, I really only needed it for the linen items, but I also used it on some of the kids’ clothes and my husband’s clothes. You use it just like a flat iron. Don’t forget to get a converter to plug it into!
I’m linking specific products below, but as always, please reach out to me via DM on Instagram if you have any questions. Happy to help!
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Here are the products mentioned above
