Naturally, I love clothes. When I travel, I also love options. How am I supposed to know what dress I want to wear five days from now? Better pack five different ones, just in case!
Yeah, except that doesn’t work. When I’m going with my family to Maine or Rhode Island, you bet I’m packing that suitcase to the brim with every outfit I want. But, with leaving for Portugal, I want to make sure there is room in my bag for anything I may want to bring home with me, without going over the weight limit. Basically, I pretty much have to outfit plan my entire trip, while also including a couple sweaters here and there for cooler nights, or beach days.
Even though I’m checking a bag, I have to make sure everything fits in the rental car, so I’m taking a regular Vera Bradley small spinner suitcase, as well as a this Vera Bradley weekender bag as my carry on. Mine is in an older pattern, but I’m dying for the Water Bouquet pattern! As far as the suitcase goes – I have had it for about four years now, and it has held up pretty well! Sure, it has a few nicks from all its travels, but it’s been a lot of places (including back and forth to New York) and has served me so well.
There is so much going on in my checked luggage. Rather than tell you exactly what’s in it (why spoil every outfit of the trip?!) I’ll tell you how I did it. Rolling of the T-shirts and outfit planning. That’s really it. I laid out what I wanted to wear everyday of the trip, with a few extra thin t-shirts, and a cardigan. It really works out perfectly when you think of exactly what you want to bring and wear each day. Plus, like I said, I want to make sure there’s room for anything I might buy while I’m there!
However, my carry on has more essentials!
The Carry On:
As far as the carry on goes, I want to make sure the bag is light, everything is accessible, and I have all my necessities incase my luggage were to ever get lost.
- Makeup
- My laptop (Unfortunately, I will have some homework the vacation!)
- Sweatshirt – just your basic Watch Hill, Rhode Island gift shop purchase. 😉
- Change of clothes. I went with a Ralph Lauren Tee & J. Crew Denim Shorts.
- Chargers: Laptop, Apple Watch and iPhone.
- Medicine (Tylenol, Benadryl, Dramamine – the basics of what I might need.)
- Small Purse (I chose to bring this J. Crew one. It closes and fits what I need for walking around!)
- TSA approved bag for all liquids – so useful and easier than using a bunch of ziplock bags!
- My bullet journal – because, obviously I need it at all times.
- Neck Pillow FOR SURE. I love my Cloudz micro bead pillow, I fell asleep the whole flight last time!
What do you all make sure you have in your carry on?
