PACKING FOR A WEEK IN EUROPE IN A CHILD'S SIZE SUITCASE!

I assume if I check a bag at the airport, I will never see it again.  I will end up spending my entire vacation without my luggage and will have to purchase more clothing, makeup, and toiletries.  

Why would I think this?  Because I spent two weeks in Europe without my luggage.  I had to purchase enough clothing to get by, makeup, and toiletries.  It added several hundred dollars to my vacation that I hadn't planned to spend.

I have not made that mistake again.  I only travel with a small carry on and small backpack and traveling has become a breeze.

These are the two suitcases that my friend and I purchased from Walmart for $15.  She also carried the red/white/blue backpack you see in the photo and I carried the black purse.  That's it!

GETTING EVERYTHING INTO A SMALL CARRY-ON 

This is everything I packed.  I promise, it will fit in a small suitcase. (My clothing planning board is the first photo in this post)

I haven't made a video yet because there are so many great ones already on YouTube. You can do a search for "How to pack a carry on for a week" (or two weeks or a month) and you will find a plethora of videos. 

After many years of travel, I have discovered what works best for me.  First, I use packing cubes.  They have been a lifesaver.  They work similar to those space bags you get at Walmart or Target.  They help to compress the clothing into a much smaller space.

If you don't travel much, see if you can borrow some from one of your travel friends. 

Here is a video I found that is very similar to the way I pack.  Plus the girl is much cuter than me.  Hope you find this helpful.

QUART BAG FOR LIQUIDS

Here is a link to a post I wrote solely dedicated to getting more into your quart bag.  You can read it HERE. 

MEDICATIONS

Medications can take up a lot of space in a suitcase.  I have a small bag that contains all of my medications.  I use small clear jewelry bags and label each bag with a sharpie.  I do this with over-the-counter medications along with my prescriptions.

If it is in a box or bottle, I take it out and put it into something smaller.  You can also look for sample packets or travel packets.  

The only time I have been questioned by airlines, was when they went through my medications and questioned my gummy vitamins.  

If  you really feel you need to carry more than you can pack into a small suitcase, you may want to look into getting a Scott E Vest.    I own one but they are not cheap.  

I have one friend that puts everything into her vest and does not carry a suitcase.  You just run you vest through security and the put it back on a walk away.  

Here is a link to their site if you want to check on their products.  I get no money if you purchase anything from, but I do own one and do recommend them if you don't want to pay airline fees for large checked bags.