Travel Bag Checklist: How to Pack Everything In Just A Personal Item

Travel Bag Checklist: How to Pack Everything In Just A Personal Item

Travel Bag Packing Tips

There are endless tips available for how to pack carry-on luggage. Some say to roll your clothes, other say to lie them flat and fold them all together, and some die-hard travelers swear by vacuum storage bags. But, what about your personal item? After all, a personal item is just as important to pack strategically for your travel day. With holiday travel finally kicking into high gear again this season, a sure-fire way to minimize your frustrations at the airport is to avoid checking luggage, even when you’re traveling with several family members. You’ll really need to think about the essentials needed for your travel bag. Traveling light can be an art form. Scroll down to discover some packing tips, courtesy of travel experts and Team Busbee, that will help you pack everything you’ll need for your getaway into a personal item.

Use Packing Cubes

Regardless of whether you’re packing for a day trip or a weeks-long stay, the entire packing process is so much easier when you use packing cubes to pack a suitcase AND your personal item. Packing cubes make it easy to pack efficiently, giving you a dedicated space for each item, allowing you keep clean clothes separate from dirty clothes, and ensuring everything stays organized as you make your way to your destination. Set aside a few of the smaller bags to use for things in your personal item.

Optimize Luggage Space

Packing cubes make this a lot easier, but when you pack items into a personal bag only, it’s crucial that you optimize space in every bag you’re bringing with you. For example, rather than folding clothing, rolling clothes saves a significant amount of luggage space. I also recommend packing bulkier, heavier items, like a pair of shoes, in the bottom of your suitcase. This not only makes your bag easier to carry, but allows you to grab items without unpacking your entire bag. Follow this same idea when you pack your personal item.

Double-Check All Items Meet TSA Regulations

This is probably obvious to many of you, but it’s still worth mentioning. As you check items off your packing list, double-check that everything meets TSA regulations. We highly recommend keeping all your liquids, including makeup and skincare items, in plastic bags. And, of course, make sure they’re all under 3.4 ounces.

Choose The Right Travel Bag

Arguably the most important aspect of packing for a trip is choosing the right travel bag. Keep scrolling to discover our top picks.

Best Travel Bags

BEIS The Weekender

One of our all-time favorite travel bags, The Weekender from BEIS has everything you could possibly need in an on-the-go bag. It has a fully removable bottom compartment that doubles as a packing cube, and it even has a mesh zip-cover to keep it separate from your other items. And when you remove it, your bag becomes the perfect day bag! We also love the removable padded laptop sleeve for saving time as you go through security.

Bric’s X-Travel Montagna Backpack

If you’re more of a backpack kind-of gal, we can’t recommend this bag enough. The X-Travel Montagna Backpack from Bric’s is about as durable as it gets, and features enough handles and straps to carry it any way you want. It also features two zip compartments, an interior laptop compartment with both slip and zip pockets.

Think Royl Jetset Wing Man Tote

Oh how we love the Wing Man Tote! Featured in the photo above, this tote is perfect for traveling in style, even when you have a bunch to bring with you. It’s super lightweight, features a slip pocket to attach to most suitcases, and more than enough pockets for everything on your packing list.

Longchamp Le Pliage Expandable Travel Bag

This travel bag from Longchamp is another fantastic option that can be used as both as travel bag and day bag. Fully extended, it measures 20.5″ tall, and when zipped up, it’s a more convenient 13.8 inches tall. It also comes with a removable adjustable shoulder strap.

Want some additional smart and stylish carry-all tote options? Check out some of my suggestions here. Not ready to commit to light packing? Erin reveals her tips for packing like a pro here.

Please share your travel and packing secrets with us in the comments below! Sign up for the newsletter to take advantage of some incredible resources here. Thanks for reading!

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Choose the Right Travel Bag

Choosing the right personal item bag is paramount to fit what you need for your trip. It’s a good idea to check the airline’s size requirements for specific limitations, but truthfully, I don’t think many flight attendants actually care as long as it fits under the seat. There are plenty of options to choose from like Erin’s tried-and-true favorite, the Think Royln Wingman tote, to chic backpacks with lots of compartments. If you prefer wheeled bags, there are a few small enough to fit underneath an airplane seat while still looking stylish.

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What to Pack in a Personal Item Only

You’ll have to be extremely picky about what goes in your bag if you’re going to travel with only a personal item. There is no room to bring any items on a “just in case” basis. I know, that’s hard for us ladies, but it’s a must if you have just one bag. Not including clothing, I’ve included a list of what I usually bring with me when packing just a personal item. The number of outfits you bring really depends on how lightweight your clothes are and how long you plan to travel. Remember to wear your bulkier items and a few layers on the plane.

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Double Duty Bags & Cutches

Finding a travel handbag that can serve double duty is really important when packing a personal item. You’ll want something that can help keep you organized on travel days with easy access to essentials like your ticket, passport or phone charger. Where this becomes strategic is finding a bag that is versatile enough to pair with any outfit in the evenings, while still being functional enough to carry around all day while sight-seeing.

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