The Savvy Packer

Guides

Packing lists and guides

Carry-on sized packing lists for real trips, built from what travelers say they used, forgot or regretted, plus weather data for each destination.

The short answers

Clothes scale with laundry: With one wash midway, about a week of clothes covers any trip length. Socks and underwear matter most. Read more
Keep the essentials with you: Medication, documents, chargers, glasses or contacts and one change of clothes go in your personal item, never in a checked bag. Read more
Pack what you can't replace first: Most forgotten things can be bought at your destination. Prescriptions, contacts and your passport can't. Read more

By destination

Green rice terraces and palm trees at Tegallalang near Ubud, Bali

Packing listWhat to Pack for Bali: A Light, Carry-On Only ListBali packing list: is 7 kg enough, what to bring vs buy there, temple dress, health basics and dry vs wet season weather.October 30, 2026 · 9 min read

Kirkjufell mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in Iceland

Packing listWhat to Pack for Iceland (Yes, It Fits in a Carry-On)Iceland packing list built on real regrets: layering, waterproofs that work, jeans or not, hot springs and Icelandair's strict carry-on.October 30, 2026 · 8 min read

Rows of orange torii gates on a stone path at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto

Packing listWhat to Pack for Kyoto: Temples, Trains and Real WeatherKyoto packing list from real traveler questions: temple shoes, coins, towels, Shinkansen luggage rules, weather by month and bag limits.October 30, 2026 · 8 min read

Manhattan skyline with the Empire State Building at sunset

Packing listWhat to Pack for New York City in Any SeasonNYC packing list: weather by month, boots or sneakers in winter, layers for hot subways, tap-to-ride subway and US carry-on rules.October 30, 2026 · 8 min read

Paris rooftops at dusk with the Eiffel Tower in the distance

Packing listWhat to Pack for Paris in Every Season (Carry-On Only)Paris packing list built on real traveler questions: weather by month, what Parisians wear, avoiding pickpockets and bag limits.October 30, 2026 · 8 min read

Blue-domed church above the Santorini caldera

Packing listWhat to Pack for Santorini: A Carry-On Only ListCarry-on packing list for Santorini: monthly weather, what to wear (monasteries too), getting a bag up the caldera stairs and common mistakes.October 30, 2026 · 9 min read

For any trip

A travel clothesline in a hotel room with a t-shirt, socks and underwear drying in front of an air conditioner and a small fan

Packing listHow to Do Laundry While Traveling (Sink, Shower or Laundromat)How travelers really do laundry on the road: the sink and shower method, drying clothes in humid rooms, the tiny kit to pack, and when to use a laundromat.November 2, 2026 · 14 min read

An open carry-on on a bed the night before a trip, with a toiletry bag, chargers and a pill organizer beside it

Packing listThings People Forget to Pack: Travel Essentials ChecklistThe travel essentials people forget most, and the small items they swear by, from Reddit's biggest packing threads. Plus what not to pack and how to stop forgetting.November 1, 2026 · 9 min read

An open backpack under an airplane seat with a water bottle, headphones, a small pouch and a hoodie

Packing listWhat to Bring on a Plane: Personal Item Essentials ChecklistWhat to keep with you on the plane, from Reddit's biggest flight threads: the lost-bag kit, what actually helps on long-haul, what passes security, and what to skip.November 1, 2026 · 10 min read

Tools and charts

Questions people ask

How many clothes should I pack for a week carry-on only?

About 6 to 7 tops, 2 to 3 bottoms and 7 to 8 pairs of underwear and socks. If you can do laundry every few days, 4 of each is plenty.

What should I always keep in my carry-on?

Medication, passport and documents, phone and charger, glasses or contacts, valuables and one change of clothes, in case your checked bag is delayed.

What do people forget to pack most?

Medication, hairbrushes, underwear, chargers and contact lenses top the list in traveler threads. Medication is also the hardest to replace abroad.

More topics

Airport security rulesWhat you can and can't carry through security: the liquids rule, food, medication, power banks and batteries.Carry-on and personal item rulesHow big your bags can be, when airlines weigh them, which fares charge for an overhead bag, and what to do at the gate.