I spent nearly a month in Italy with just a carry-on and backpack. Here’s how I packed without checking a bag.

• My husband and I spent 25 days in Italy without checking any bags.
• We laundered things with a portable clothes-washing bag or the in-unit washer at one Airbnb.

My husband and I embarked on a 25-day trip to Italy without any checked bags. We each had a backpack and a carry-on suitcase.

I could only fit a week’s worth of clothes and toiletries, so I had to be strategic with what and how I packed.

Here’s how I made it work.

I made sure laundry was always accessible

I’ve been solo traveling for years now, and one of my go-to products to pack is a portable clothes-washing bag.

I fill it with warm water, pop in a laundry-detergent sheet, scrub my clothes inside the bag, and hang them to dry. Then I can roll it up and pack it when it’s time to move.

We also chose to book an Airbnb in Florence, Italy, with an in-unit washing machine.

By prioritizing laundry, I could pack everything from beach clothes for the Amalfi Coast to mountain-hiking threads for the Dolomites.

I layered up on the plane and packed clothes I could wear more than once

Although it was hot in Cincinnati, Ohio, when we left for our trip, I wore multiple layers to the airport so I had less to pack.

I usually wear hiking boots to fly because they’re bulky, but since this travel day was about 24 hours long, I wore sneakers. But I still maximized space in my luggage by stuffing socks and underwear into the boots.

I also prioritized packing versatile clothing. I made sure my T-shirts also worked as undershirts, and I only packed one pair of dress pants.

Wearing the same outfit in multiple photos was OK with me — convenience over style was key for this trip.

I packed strategically and opted for travel-size toiletry containers

I can’t imagine embarking on international travel without packing cubes. They keep my suitcase organized by separating different types of clothing, including dirty laundry.

TSA rules make it challenging to travel with liquids, so we also packed small bottles of toothpaste, sunscreen, bug spray, and Vaseline until we could buy bigger ones from a local shop in Italy.

I moved pills, like Ibuprofen, to smaller, labeled bottles. I also packed Band-Aids, Q-Tips, and other essentials in snack-size sealable bags.

I put a big backpack and a smaller hiking backpack into my carry-on

We often travel with backpacks. On shorter trips, they become our day bags for hiking and activities. Given how much we had to pack for this trip, they also served as additional space for medicine, toiletries, and electronics.

I rolled up a smaller hiking backpack and stowed it in my larger backpack. Once we were in Italy, that smaller backpack became our day bag for portable chargers, sunglasses, snacks, and water.

That way, we didn’t have to empty out items from our larger backpacks each day before heading out.

Living out of a carry-on for a month requires creativity and sacrifice

If you plan to spend a few weeks abroad, I highly encourage you to do it all with a carry-on suitcase and a personal item.

There weren’t outfit changes each day and I had to reuse a shirt or two, but packing light made international travel easier and more affordable since we didn’t pay for any checked bags. We also didn’t have to worry about them getting lost.