How to Travel Carry-On Only for Long Trips (and Still Have Room for Souvenirs)
The Carry-On Travel Dream
There’s something freeing about the idea of traveling with only a carry-on. No checked bag fees. Little risk of lost luggage. No waiting around at baggage claim while everyone else crowds the carousel.
After one especially stressful trip where my husband and I lost all our checked bags on an international flight, I decided I was done with this hassle. I was going to have to figure out how to make carry-on only travel work for me. I didn’t think it was possible, but I started looking for small changes that could make it easier. I came across an idea that seemed too simple not to try. It cost less than $20, so I figured, what did I have to lose?
The Big Challenge: 16 Days, 7 Cities, One Carry-On
The real test came with a 16-day adventure through Italy. Seven cities, lots of train rides, and plenty of walking. Could I really live out of one carry-on suitcase and a bookbag? I knew it wouldn’t be a problem for my other half, but I didn’t want to be the one causing delays and added stress with big bags.
I carefully folded, rolled, and tucked everything into my bag until I fit all of the essentials. The zipper closed, but just barely. That was when I realized the problem. If my carry-on was already stuffed full, where was I supposed to put souvenirs or the extras that always pop up on a long trip?
The Simple Solution That Changed Everything
That’s when I discovered the foldable duffle bag. It packed down flat inside my suitcase on the way over, taking up almost no space. During the trip, it became my dedicated laundry bag.
Keeping dirty clothes and soft items in the duffle freed up precious space inside my carry-on. That way, my hard-shell suitcase had room for souvenirs and more fragile items that needed the protection.
It also made laundry day much easier. Halfway through the trip, I carried the duffle straight to a laundromat instead of hauling my entire suitcase. A small convenience, but one that made a big difference.
A Simple Travel Strategy That Makes Carry-On Only Easier
I stumbled onto this travel strategy during a trip to Scotland, and it completely changed the way I plan longer journeys. It wasn’t something I read in a guidebook. It came from trial, error, and the limits of one carry-on.
- Start in a larger hub city. I usually fly into a big city with a major airport. There’s better availability for flights, and usually plenty of hotel options in or near the city. Starting here just makes the logistics easier.
- Head somewhere more local: Next, I head to a town that’s less busy and more local. I slow down, settle in, and experience the destination in a different way. Here, I get a vacation rental with either a washer and dryer or a convenient laundromat nearby.
- Loop back through another hub: I finish in the same hub or another one. Connections are easier, and I have flexibility if plans shift.
This rhythm is flexible. Plan two stops or five or even more — it’s really up to you. The principle is what matters. Build in a natural reset so laundry isn’t an interruption. By the halfway mark I wash, repack, and start the next stretch with fresh clothes and a little more space in my suitcase.
What I like most is the mix. Big cities give me museums, food, and plenty to do. Smaller places let me slow down and get the local feel. That balance keeps carry-on only travel practical for longer trips.
Why Carry-On Only Makes Travel Easier
Solving the “souvenir problem” with a foldable duffle and planning for laundry stops gave me more than just space in my bag. It made the trip itself smoother.
I never had to stop at baggage claim, which saved time and stress at every airport. In Italy, I watched plenty of travelers dragging giant suitcases up train station staircases and across cobblestones. I, on the other hand, rolled my carry-on with my backpack strapped on top and had nothing weighing down my shoulders. Moving between cities was easier, faster, and so much less exhausting.
Times I Was Grateful to Be Traveling Carry-On Only
I didn’t realize just how much easier carry-on only would make my trip until I hit situations like these:
Switching train platforms — stairs were no problem.
On buses and trains — my bag always fit.
After flights — no waiting at baggage claim.
Hills and cobblestones — easy to roll, not drag.
The Foldable Duffle I Used (and Recommend)
I ordered mine on Amazon, and it turned out to be one of the best travel purchases I’ve ever made. Before I tried it, I didn’t want to make a big investment. Now that I’ve tried it, I believe you don’t need anything fancy or expensive.
WANDF For Spirit Airlines Personal Item Bag 18x14x8 Foldable Travel Duffel Carry on Weekender Overnight for Women Men
Key features:
- Packs down to 7 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches
- Expands to 18 x 14 x 8 inches (40L capacity- it held my King size duvet)
- Carry by hand, shoulder, or slide over suitcase handles
- Water-resistant, tear-resistant fabric
- Works perfectly as a laundry bag so your suitcase stays fresh
- Creates more room in your carry-on for souvenirs and fragile items
At around $20, it was an affordable solution that made my 16-day Italy trip so much easier. With a 4.6 rating from over 6,500 reviews, I was confident my under $20 experiment would be worth it!
My WANDF foldable duffle bag — you can find it here on Amazon.
Benefits of using a foldable duffle bag like this to travel lighter
- Travel light on the way out, expand (and check it on the plane if needed) on the way back
- Room for souvenirs without overstuffing your carry-on
- Built-in laundry bag keeps clean and dirty clothes separate
- Easy to carry to a laundromat mid-trip
- Small and lightweight, so it barely takes up space
Things to Keep in Mind
- A foldable duffle won’t work for everything.
- It doesn’t have rigid sides, so it’s best for soft items like clothing or linens.
- Fragile items should stay in your carry-on for protection.
The Carry-On System That Finally Worked for Me
The foldable duffle bag was the game changer, but it works best as part of a simple system: pairing it with a sturdy hard-shell carry-on. Together, they’ve made countless trips easier, no matter the itinerary — from city-hopping to slower-paced getaways.
- The carry-on suitcase protects souvenirs and fragile items and rolls smoothly through airports, train stations, and uneven streets.
- The foldable duffle handles laundry and soft items, keeps dirty clothes separate, and creates extra space when I need it.
🎒 WANDF Foldable Duffle Bag — packs flat, under $20, and makes laundry and overflow packing easy.
🧳 My Hard-Shell Carry-On — reliable protection for everything fragile and easy to roll anywhere.
Packing It Up
Traveling carry-on only is absolutely possible, even for long trips. The key for me was combining two simple tools: a foldable duffle bag and a planned laundry stop.
Those changes let me enjoy all the benefits of carry-on travel while still leaving room for souvenirs and extras on the way home. I saved time, avoided heavy lifting, and kept the trip stress-free. For me, this was the approach that finally made carry-on only travel realistic.
