Packing for 17 days in Italy with one carry-on sounds a little ambitious, doesn’t it?
I’ve already shared the capsule wardrobe I planned for our trip, but now comes the real test:
Can I actually fit all of it into one suitcase?
I think I can — but it takes a little strategy!
We’ll be traveling through several areas of Italy, with everything from sightseeing and dinners out to biking, boating, beach time and plenty of walking. I want enough options to feel comfortable and put together without dragging a giant suitcase around with me.
So today I’m showing you exactly what I’m packing, how I’m organizing it, and the little tricks that are helping me fit 17 days of clothing into one carry-on.
Starting With My Away Bigger Carry-On
The suitcase I’m using is my red Away Bigger Carry-On, and I really love the amount of space it gives me.
One of my favorite features is the double-buckle compression pad inside. Once everything is packed in, I can buckle it down and compress the clothing so it stays neat and takes up less room.
That makes a huge difference when you’re trying to pack light!
I also love the hard shell because it keeps everything protected while still being easy to roll through an airport.
And yes — I chose red on purpose. It’s pretty hard to miss. 😂
First, I Lay Everything Out
Before anything goes into the suitcase, I put everything on the bed.
Accessories.
Swimwear.
Jackets.
All of it.
This is probably one of the best packing tips I can give you because it lets you see very quickly if you’ve gone overboard.
Once everything is laid out, I start asking myself:
Can I wear this more than one way?
If the answer is no, it probably doesn’t need to come.
That’s why building a capsule wardrobe first has helped me so much. Then I try on all the outfits to make sure I like the fit and to see if I can mix and match as much as possible.
I’m Packing Pieces That Work Together
Instead of packing 17 separate outfits, I’m packing pieces that can be mixed and matched.
I have neutral bottoms, lightweight tops, a few layers, sporty clothes and a couple of dresses that can all be worn in different combinations.
For example, the same linen shirt can be worn with jeans, black pants or beige pants — and it can even be used as a lightweight layer.
My black shirt dress can be worn as a dress, opened over pants, or even used as a cover-up.
That’s the secret.
I’m not packing 17 outfits.
I’m packing pieces that can create 17 days of outfits.
Rolling Rolling Rolling
I use the roll method but I lay the thicker pants on top of each other end to end. I place the seat part of the pants opposite of each other so as not to add a lot of bulk on one end. Next I start placing rolled t-tshirts, blouses
Lightweight t-shirts, linen blouses and some pants can be rolled fairly tightly and tucked into a row.
Bulkier pieces also seem to work better folded such as my raincoat, sweatshirt, denim jacket and dresses.
I don’t think there is one perfect packing method for every piece of clothing — I just want everything to fit neatly and easily pulled out and put back in.
Being able to see what I packed when I open the suitcase instead of digging through everything is huge for me especially because we go to different places in one trip.
Shoes Take Up So Much Room!
Shoes are probably the hardest part of carry-on packing.
They’re bulky, heavy and they take up valuable space.
So every pair has to earn its way into the suitcase.
I’m bringing a nice shoe for walking, a nicer pair of sandals for dinners (not shown), flat sandals and my lightweight water shoes and my workhorse white New Balance sneakers. I wear those sneakers on the plane so I don’t have to pack them.
I tuck smaller items around the shoes and use the empty spaces so I’m not wasting room.
One thing I’ve learned after traveling quite a bit is that comfortable shoes are not optional.
Cute is nice.
Comfortable and cute is even better!
Accessories Make Repeat Outfits Feel New
Accessories take up almost no room, which makes them perfect for a carry-on capsule.
I’m bringing a few necklaces, a scarf, sunglasses, a hat and a small straw bag.
These are the pieces that can make a repeated outfit feel completely different.
A simple black shirtdress with sneakers can feel casual during the day, then I can add a necklace, scarf and cute pair of sandals for dinner.
Same clothes.
Different look.
My Straw Hat Packing Trick
I love bringing a hat to Italy, but hats can be tricky to pack.
Instead of squashing it flat, I found these cool clips that I can clip my hat to either my backpack or rolling bag.
No wasted real estate in this suitcase!
Swimwear and Beach Pieces
Because we have beach and water activities planned, I’m also packing my tankini, sport skirt, white blouse and lightweight water sandals.
My tankini top gives me plenty of coverage, and the sport skirt lets me go from biking or walking to lunch without needing a complete wardrobe change.
For the beach, I can simply take off the extra layer and I’m ready.
Again — one outfit doing several jobs.
The Extras That Always Come With Me
There are also a few things that don’t technically belong in my wardrobe but are absolute travel must-haves for me.
My backpack holds my laptop, makeup bag to hold jewelery, brush, straightener, snacks and chargers.
I keep my phone, watch and laptop charging cords together in one small zip pouch along with my European plug adapter.
I also bring a La Crosse ball so I can use it against my back or hips during a long flight.
And my biggest must-have is my back pad.
I use it on long flights and road trips, and when I’m walking through the airport it sits right on top of my suitcase between the luggage handles and my backpack.
It’s not glamorous, but I don’t travel without it!
What I’m Wearing on the Plane
One more packing trick: wear some of your bulkier clothing instead of putting it in the suitcase.
For the flight I’ll be wearing my black two-piece lounge outfit with my sneakers.
The tunic-length zip sweatshirt keeps me warm on the plane, and the straight-leg pants are comfortable enough for a very long travel day.
Since the whole outfit is black, it also hides spills — which is always a plus on an airplane!
And because both pieces work separately, I can wear them again during the trip.
Will It Actually Close?
That’s the million-dollar question. 😂
Once everything is inside, I use the Away compression panel to hold it all down and tighten the straps. It is all in there my friends! I did it!
The goal isn’t to cram in as much as humanly possible.
The goal is to bring exactly what I need — and still be able to lift the suitcase!
I’m trying very hard to remember that anything I truly forget can probably be purchased in Italy.
Not exactly a terrible problem to have.
Packing Light Gives Me More Freedom
For me, the biggest benefit of packing in a carry-on isn’t just avoiding checked-bag fees.
It’s freedom.
I don’t have to wait at baggage claim.
I don’t have to worry as much about lost luggage.
And when we’re moving from one place to another in Italy, I’m not dragging a huge suitcase behind me.
That alone makes me want to pack lighter.
Will I come home wishing I had brought something else?
Probably.
Will there be something in my suitcase that I never wear?
Probably that too!
And that’s exactly why I’m going to share another post after the trip about what I actually wore in Italy.
That may end up being the most helpful packing post of all.
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