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Vacation packing list carry on only packing essentials! Your updated guide for 2026!

I find that keeping these items in your carry-on makes you flight much more pleasant!  This guide works for both domestic and international trips. I just tested this out on a 2 week trip to Europe!

Nº 1 // Travel bag – You need a bag big enough to fit all of this stuff in that fits under the seat in front of you! My FAVORITE bag is this expandable Longchamp bag. Other bags I would consider is this MZ Wallace travel tote OR this MZ Wallace travel tote. I also like this Tumi travel tote.

Nº 2 // Noise canceling headphones – I *highly* recommend noise canceling headphones, especially for your 12 hour flights. For long flights I prefer the over the ear headphones as they are better at noise canceling.

Nº 3A //Toiletries bag– I bought this exact bag last year and I love it. It has multiple compartments. It can hang on a towel hook in the bathroom. It also comes with a clear bag that you can put your liquids in for TSA.

Nº 3B //Toiletries products holder – I bought these cadence capsules for my products and I loved them. I initially bought this set, but then I bought several other small capsules. I felt like the small once plenty for less than 2 weeks, but it depends on how much product you actually use.

Nº  4A // iPad – The iPad has everything I need… books, movies, music, and a notepad to jot down thoughts.  I read my travel books on this on the way to the location I’m headed to.

Nº  4B // Kindle – another alternative to an ipad given how fancy our phones are these days, is to bring a kindle and just your phone.

Nº 5 // Camera – you need to put your camera in your carry-on so it does not get lost or stolen in your checked bag. I have a GoPro camera and I cannot sing enough praise about it for a travel camera especially if you like to hike/do adventurous things. It is waterproof, you can take it surfing, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, biking.

Nº 6 // Medicines– You need to pack all of your medications in your handheld carry on. I always bring some pain relief medication, upset stomach medication, antihistamine, band-aids, mole skin, and any prescription medications.

Nº 7  // Lip Balm – Your lips will get dry on the airplane.

Nº  8 // your Purse – Most recently I brought this MZ Wallace metro scout cross body deluxe. It was great. I also would consider this micro sling bag, this larger sling bag, or this classic Longchamp tote.

Nº 9 // Snacks – This is nice to have because you never know when you’ll be starving

Nº  10 // Water bottle – I usually just buy one in the airport, that way if I’m desperate for space on the way home I can toss it. I know that it is using plastic and I’m trying to reduce my plastic use, but I do use the same one the rest of the trip.  However, you can also bring your own. Note though, bring your own will increase the weight as they are usually heavier and bulkier.

Nº 11 // Hand sanitizer and Hand wipes – Airplanes are full of germs. You’ll feel better after using this, even if you washed your hands in the loo.

Nº 12 // Charging Essentials For your Electronics! – I like to bring this one as it doubles as a compact travel fan!  This one converts your power for Europe

Nº 13 // Ear plugs – You will wish you had these when it is too noisy on the plane or in the hotel room!

Nº 14 // Scarf – The temperature of the airplane varies too much. A blanket scarf is nice for those temperature fluctuations.

Nº  15 // Travel size perfume – You’ll want to reapply your perfume just before you get off of your flight. You can use one of these to fill up with your favorite perfume. Alternatively, you can use my trick which is to bring the sample size perfumes you receive with gifts with purchase.

Nº  16 // Eye mask – You will want this for when the person next to you leaves their reading light on the whole flight.

Nº  17 // Toothbrush and toothpaste – So, 10 hours into your international flight, it is now suddenly morning time where you land and you realized you haven’t brushed your teeth in approx 24 hours. You’ll be glad you brought this!

Nº  18 // Jet Lag Mask – Since I’ve created this list, a brand new beauty mask came out this year and I cannot sing enough praises about it! It’s called the Jet Lag Mask and it is seriously FANTASTIC.  Like if you had to buy one beauty thing to travel with it is this mask!  It makes your dehydrated sorry looking airplane skin look amazing!  It seriously did wonders to my face.  The great part is you don’t have to rinse it off – you just wipe off the excess after 10 minutes.

Nº  19 // A Travel Pillow – On a really long flight it is nice to have an extra pillow besides the one they give you. There is this one that has 32000 reviews on Amazon.

Nº 20 // Passport and wallet – If there’s one thing you *must* bring on international travel it is your passport. If you’re traveling overseas, you will want an anti RFID theft one because in crowded spaces/subways/buses they will use little scanners and steal your credit card information from your chip credit card.

You can shop the collection here.

Check out my “What to Pack in a Carry on for TWO WEEKS without any checked bags!”

Miss any of my Paris Posts?? Check them out here!

Headed to Paris or London? Check out my What to Pack to Paris and London post here.

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What to pack for vacation in your carry-on luggage bag

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