To pack in just carry-on for one week and longer trips, particularly to different climates, is a slowly learned skill. You can only take essentials and have to plan on washing clothing.

My packed carry-on consists of these collections, which I have written about previously:

• Specified easy wash clothes in 3 packing cubes, plus extras/swaps depending on the trip (e.g., bathing suit, dress, socks, etc).
• Random things pouch  it’s frequently useful but small and light
• Convertible clothing can be swapped out for some of the quick wash clothing above
• Health and Safety pouch
• Bathroom pouch – medications, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.  These are great for taking reasonably sized liquids/gels.
• Electronics bag

All of this easily fits in a carry-on suitcase, so then it’s just a matter of the other specific things I want to take: umbrella,  snorkel mask/fins, trekking poles, etc, that vary by where I am going.

Make sure to bring all your travel paperwork including insurance documentation on the plane with you (I recommend World Nomads for insurance).  Also, make sure you have some cash with you and, if you are traveling internationally,  at least one credit card that doesn’t charge fees for using it in a foreign country (two if you have them, or bring an extra regular card for back-up in case it is lost or damaged).   Generally it isn’t worth it to change money before traveling as atms are plentiful at most airports and generally offer good exchange rates.  If you are traveling internationally, also remember to contact your credit card/debit card companies to let them know where you’ll be, so they won’t cut you off thinking it’s fraud.

Additionally, if I’m going on a cruise, this set of items gets added to make life easier by giving you more storage in such a cramped space and better lighting using these magnetic motion-activated lights, which are really helpful when trying to move around in the dark (and get into the bathroom) without waking others (the bathroom light switch is on the outside of the bathroom, and you don’t need to bother with it if you put one of these in the bathroom and 2 down by your ankles in the room.)

My personal item consists of my sleep kit (on longer flights) and the things I can’t stand to lose (camera, Kindle, etc.)

And away I go. . .

Happy Travels!