I am often asked, “How do you do it Stephanie?” That is, how do I pack a carry on bag and one personal item for 8 months of traveling? I have been traveling about 300 days a year for the last 5 years and when I say I am an expert traveler, you can trust that. I pack for all seasons and all occasions and rarely do I pick up items along the way. Today I am going to share with you my tips to packing the perfect suitcase and being an expert traveler.

First of all, most of us over pack when going on vacation. How many trips have you gone on and never touched half of the clothes you just had to pack? Come on, be honest with yourself. Packing in a carry on bag has many benefits.

1. It saves time. If checking a bag, you need to arrive to the airport an hour early.
2. We can use the self check kiosk in instead of waiting in line.
3. We know our bags will actually make it to our final destination.
4. We fly through customs instead of having to wait with everyone else at baggage claim for our bags.
5. I always have everything with me right then and there.
6. It’s usually free. (most airlines are now charging for checked luggage)
7. It’s easier to travel on buses, trains, and ferries the less stuff you have to carry.

When packing my bag, the first thing I do is pick the shoes I am going to take with me. Stick to one color scheme; so if you bring black shoes, go with clothes that match that color pallet. I pack a pair of tennis shoes, flats, black heels and sandals. My husband Joby wears a pair of sneakers and packs a pair of black leather dress shoes and sandals. I place my tennis shoes in a plastic bag so they do not stink up or dirty my clothes.

I pick out a few versatile tank tops, t-shirts and long sleeve shirts to add to my bag. Many of these items can be mixed and matched to create new looks. I pack a pair of dress pants, jeans, shorts and a cocktail dress. I always bring a set of work out clothes, pajamas and slu of accessories to mix up my outfits. A scarf is an easy way to change up an outfit and doesn’t take up a lot of room.

Part of being an expert traveler is knowing how to pack to get the most space out of your bag. I can fit so much into my little carry on. Put items you may not need right away on the bottom and items you need first on top. Cottons that do not wrinkle easily on bottom are typically best and the items that might wrinkle on top. Keep socks, underwear and bras safe in the inside zipper pocket.

I keep my cosmetics, lotions and gels (remember to keep these items to 3 ounces or less otherwise TSA will confiscate them in the name of safety) in a ziplock bag in my personal carry on. Also keeping these items assessable makes going through security much easier as you do not have to search through your bigger carry on bag for it. I also pack my computer, iPad, chargers, passport and light jacket (sometimes the plane is down right chilly) in this bag. For a full list of what I currently have packed see below.

I wear the bulkiest items on the plane; for example, heels can take up a lot of space so I wear something nice with my heels onto the plane and keep my saddles in my carry on in case I need to change into them. Plus you never know who you are going to sit next to or run into at the airport, so always look your best while maintaining an air of comfort.

Now that you know how to pack like an expert, try only packing a carry on a go on your next trip.

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