⚠️ The Golden Rules
- Size First: Check your airline's carry-on limits before packing
- Liquids Rule: 3-1-1 rule - containers ≤3.4oz, in 1 quart bag, 1 bag per passenger
- Weight Matters: Some airlines have weight limits (typically 7-10kg)
- Electronics: Large electronics must be removed at security
- Accessibility: Keep essentials easily reachable
📋 Essential Categories
👔 Clothing Strategy
- Roll clothes to save 30% space
- Wear heaviest items (boots, coats)
- Stick to 3-color palette
- Merino wool for versatility
- Quick-dry fabrics only
- 1 outfit per 2-3 days
💻 Electronics & Power
- Laptop + charger
- Phone + portable charger
- Universal adapter
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Power strip (for hotels)
- Cables in organizer pouch
🧴 Toiletries (3-1-1)
- Travel-size everything
- Solid deodorant/shampoo bars
- Toothpaste tablets
- Contact solution (if needed)
- Medications in carry-on
- Clear quart bag ready
📄 Documents & Money
- Passport + copies
- Flight confirmations
- Travel insurance docs
- Credit cards (notify bank)
- Emergency cash
- Hotel confirmations
🎯 Space-Saving Hacks
🌀 Rolling Technique
Roll clothes tightly starting from heaviest end. Place rolled items vertically to see everything at once. Use compression straps or packing cubes to maximize space.
👟 Shoe Strategy
Wear heaviest shoes. Pack only one extra pair. Stuff socks, chargers, or underwear inside shoes to use dead space efficiently.
🧥 Layer Smart
Wear your coat, heaviest sweater, and boots on the plane. This saves luggage space and keeps you warm in air conditioning.
📱 Digital Everything
Store tickets, maps, guides on phone. Use cloud storage for documents. Download offline maps and entertainment before departure.
🎒 Dual-Purpose Items
Sarong as towel/blanket. Phone as flashlight/camera/alarm. Bandana as washcloth/first aid. Minimize single-use items.
📦 Packing Cubes
Use compression packing cubes to organize and compress. Different colors for different categories. Cube dirty clothes separately.
Pack a complete outfit and essential toiletries in your personal item. If your carry-on gets gate-checked, you'll still have everything needed for the first day.
❌ What NOT to Pack
- Liquids over 3.4oz (will be confiscated)
- Sharp objects (knives, scissors, razors)
- Lithium batteries in checked bags (carry-on only)
- "Just in case" items (you can buy most things anywhere)
- Multiple shoes (wear heaviest, pack one extra max)
- Cotton clothing (heavy, slow-drying)
- Towels (use quick-dry microfiber or skip entirely)
🔄 Pre-Flight Checklist
- ☐ Check airline carry-on size/weight limits
- ☐ Weigh packed bag
- ☐ Liquids in quart bag, easily accessible
- ☐ Electronics charged
- ☐ Important docs in easy-reach pocket
- ☐ Medications in carry-on
- ☐ Check weather at destination
- ☐ Download offline content
- ☐ Notify banks of travel
- ☐ One complete outfit in personal item