First thing first, start by making a priority list. And no, this is not your usual packing list. It’s the very first step of your planning.

Indeed, traveling light doesn’t mean sacrificing everything. So start by identifying the elements you think you really can’t live without, even those that may seem superfluous at first.

For example, I absolutely want to bring my flat iron with me. Some will definitely say it’s overkill, but I don’t care. I need mine! So it’s on my personal priority list, and I make sure to save room for it. I’m ready to sacrifice something else!

Even more, I take the time to wonder if I could find a more compact option for everything. Indeed, travel sizes aren’t just reserved for shampoos and deodorants. As an example, did you know that there are travel-size flat irons?

Now, time for the classic packing list. It may sound obvious, but it’s an absolute must, especially when you travel light. You may want to have a look at ours to see what we carry in our 40L backpack. You might be impressed to see how much we are able to take with us.

Don’t bring anything “just in case”. Only bring things you know you’ll absolutely need. There is no room for “maybe” or “we’ll see”. You want to take only the essentials.

Even if you think it could be convenient. You won’t wear it abroad either, trust me. Instead, choose only pieces that you love to wear because you’ll be wearing them often!

The simpler, the better.

As a matter of fact, you don’t want to bring a pair of colorful pants that only match one of your shirts. When you don’t have a lot of space, you have to make the most of it!

All your pieces should be carefully selected with the idea that they can be used to create different outfits. But be careful, it’s not about planning specific outfits. The key is to make sure your pieces can almost all fit together! 

The best way to do this is to choose either only neutral tops or bottoms. For example, if your shirts are mostly colorful, choose neutral pants that go with all of them. Personally, I prefer to choose neutral and natural colors in all cases.

I also always pack a few one-pieces, because they don’t usually take up more space than one single piece of clothing and they make life much easier.

Finally, guys, jeans are heavy. I never bring more than a pair, but in the best of worlds, it’s best to avoid them. Choosing lighter fabrics that dry more easily is smarter.

This is a major tip to pack your carry-on that you NEED to know. The way you fold your clothes has a huge impact on the space they take up. You must learn the best techniques. You can roll your things, but Marie Kondo’s method is also excellent.

If you don’t know this woman, now is the time to find out. She’s an expert in minimalism, but also in folding. Yup. I haven’t folded my clothes the same way since I learned about her, even at home. Definitely check out her videos on Youtube before your next trip!

I know that packing cubes are popular and always strongly suggested. I think they are extremely practical, even essential, for underwear. I also use them for my toiletries to keep everything in one place.

For my clothes, however, I find them more of a hassle than anything else and prefer to do without. I think it’s really a matter of personal preference. If you’re very short on space, they can definitely be a good option.

Shoes take up space. A lot of space. So you have to think very carefully about which ones you’re going to take with you.

My secret is Crocs. Yes, I’m afraid you read that right. Not just any Crocs, of course. I opt for a kind of ballerina shoe that I’m comfortable walking long distances in during the day. What’s perfect is that these shoes can get wet without any problem. So I also wear them to the beach and to take my shower.

In fact, they are so comfortable that I could take only this pair with me if I wasn’t planning to hike. When I do, or when I know that the weather might get colder, I also take a good pair of closed shoes with me.

That being said, I never have more than one extra pair to carry in my bag. And I fill this pair with socks to make the most of the space!

On a different note, I highly suggest choosing black shoes, it’s neutral and it gets dirty less easily.

Also, don’t forget a plastic bag or shower cap to put your shoes in when you need to pack them. You don’t want to get all your stuff dirty!

When you’re not flying, you can attach your shoes outside of your bag with a carabiner.

Given these points, the important thing remains to be sure that you’ll be comfortable. It means something different for everyone. Comparatively, Claudia always brings her Converses because that is what she’s comfortable in! There is no good answer, but there’s nothing worse than realizing that your feet hurt when you get to your destination, so don’t skip on comfort.

When traveling with carry-on luggage, there are limits to the liquids allowed on board. Each airline may have slightly different rules, but generally, you’re only allowed a small bag with bottles of 100 ml or less. So you have to get creative.

Here are our top tips:
– We pack a moisturizing shampoo and conditionner bar (It’s more eco-friendly and if you’re going away for a long time, you’ll soon run out of shampoo with your travel-size bottles anyway!)
– We use a bar of soap, not a shower gel, same goes for face soap! Lush has some great facial cleanser bar. 
-You can avoid packing makeup remover by just washing your makeup off in the shower like me, or do like Claudia and bring makeup remover wipes.

– We swap moisturizer with coconut oil (which is solid) instead of a face cream

My liquid products are limited to :
– A small-sized perfume bottle
– A travel-size tube of toothpaste (you could even choose solid toothpaste)

Now don’t panic. This list works for me. But I can already hear you telling me that it’s unthinkable for you not to bring your face wash, or that perfume seems unnecessary.

But remember the personal priority list we suggest you make? That’s because everyone has different needs, you just have to define yours and make it work for you. For instance, Claudia usually brings more products, including her travel-size contact solution, acne cream and serum. We just want to show you that there are many alternatives.

What do we mean by this? For example, instead of packing a warm sweater, poncho, and windbreaker, we just pack a warm, waterproof windbreaker that has a hood.

Instead of taking a brush AND a mirror, I bring a folding travel hairbrush with a mirror (It may seem an insignificant object,  but it’s by far my favorite purchase. It’s SO practical and compact). 

Our quick-drying microfiber bath towels will also be our beach towels. It’s not ideal, we recognize that, but since we bring a bar of laundry soap, we can wash our towels when needed.

Please note that if the type of trip you’re taking involves mostly beach time, obviously your priority list will be different and you should probably pack a beach towel!

Finally, we invested in a phone that allows us to take very good pictures, so we don’t need to carry a camera.

Ladies, if you didn’t know it yet, the Diva Cup will REVOLUTIONIZE your life. Not only do you no longer have to carry around tons of tampons/sanitary napkins, but it’s also so much more ecological and takes up no space. You can change it less often and the chances of leakage are minimal. You can bring a few panty liners just in case, but it’s still going to take up very little space.

We now swear by it, and we haven’t had any problems washing it properly anywhere so far. We beg you to try it. There’s no reason to be afraid of it and it will also make you save so much money!

Since razors are not always accepted on planes, you must think of alternatives if you personally prefer to shave. Here are a few options:
-You can simply choose not to shave while you’re abroad, it’ll save you time and money!
-You can opt for a waxing treatment before you leave, but if you’re going to be away for a long time, you may have to find ways to do it again abroad.
-You can buy a disposable razor once you get to your destination although it’s less ecological.
-You can start electrolysis/laser treatments, etc. before your next trip. I personally use an IPL laser handset at home. 

But then again, some flight companies accept razors, so make sure you look it up beforehand. You might be able to bring yours from home!

You may want to bring back some souvenirs or you may have done some shopping locally. Not surprisingly, when we about to get home, we often realize that not everything fits in our bags anymore!

But you have an option. On days when you have to fly, wear all your biggest pieces of clothing. I remember having to wear several shirts, my coat, and my scarf in the middle of summer at the airport. It’s not very pleasant, but it’s nice to know that it’s an option.

No one is going to tell you that you are overdressed! And it’s totally worth it to avoid the trouble of checked-in luggage.

There are so many more foldable objects than we think, and yet they’re SO practical.

For example, it’s always convenient to take a container with you if you plan to cook on-site and make lunches. But it can take up a lot of space. That’s why I really suggest foldable Tupperware-style containers. They’re amazing since they’re compact and will make you save so much money on food.

The same thing goes for water bottles. Did you know there were collapsible ones that take up almost no space in a bag?

Not to mention foldable toothbrushes, combs, hairdryers, etc.

When you travel with a carry-on, don’t forget that you’re usually also entitled to small hand luggage.

This bag really makes a difference since it’s valuable extra space. It’s handy for keeping your travel documents, headphones, charger, warm jacket, etc. easily accessible. It’s also the bag you’ll be carrying around during the day once you reach your destination.

It doesn’t have to be a purse. We use a very small backpack and it’s absolutely perfect. We even store our laptops in it so we’re not afraid to damage it.

Finally, beware of articles that suggest travel items you didn’t know you needed. If you didn’t know you needed it, YOU CLEARLY DON’T NEED IT!

PLEASE ditch the travel pillows, you don’t want to drag that around for weeks/months because you didn’t want to use your sweater to snuggle on the plane.

You don’t need that portable speaker, that pair of high heels, those 4 different bags, or all your usual makeup stuff.

Give simplicity a chance.

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