Last month, I did something that would have terrified my younger, over-packing self: I spent three weeks traveling through Portugal, Spain, and Morocco with nothing but a carry-on bag and a personal item. No checked luggage. No “just in case” items filling a second suitcase. And honestly? It was the most liberating travel experience I’ve ever had.
The decision wasn’t just about convenience—though breezing past baggage claim while other passengers waited was pretty sweet. Between my outbound and return flights, I saved $180 in checked bag fees (most airlines are charging $45-60 per checked bag each way in 2026). But more than that, packing light forced me to be intentional about what I actually needed, and I discovered I needed far less than I thought.
The Bag That Started It All
I invested in the Osprey Farpoint 40 ($185 on Amazon), and it’s genuinely changed how I travel. This bag sits right at the maximum carry-on size for most airlines (22″ x 14″ x 9″), but here’s the thing: it doesn’t look or feel cramped. The clamshell opening means I could pack it like a suitcase rather than stuffing everything through a top hole, and the hideaway straps let me carry it as a backpack through cobblestone streets in Lisbon or check it as a “personal item” when needed.
For my personal item, I used a basic crossbody bag ($32 from Target) that held my laptop, kindle, travel documents, and a change of clothes. This redundancy saved me when my main bag got delayed for six hours in Madrid—I had everything I needed to shower and change at my hotel while I waited.
The Capsule Wardrobe That Actually Worked
I’m not going to pretend I’m a minimalist fashion guru, but I planned my wardrobe around a simple color scheme: black, navy, gray, and one accent color (I chose rust orange). Everything had to mix and match, and everything had to serve multiple purposes.
Here’s exactly what I packed for clothing:
- 3 merino wool t-shirts ($78 each from Unbound Merino)
- 1 long-sleeve button-up shirt that worked for nice dinners
- 2 pairs of pants: one Bluffworks chinos ($128) and one pair of athletic joggers
- 1 versatile dress that I wore four times in different ways
- 7 pairs of underwear and socks (including 3 ExOfficio quick-dry pairs for $24 each)
- 1 lightweight rain jacket that compressed into its own pocket
- 1 swimsuit
- Comfortable walking shoes (already on my feet) plus sandals
The merino wool was expensive upfront, but those shirts never smelled even after full days of walking. I hand-washed them in hotel sinks every few nights, hung them to dry overnight, and they were ready by morning. In Marrakech, where temperatures hit 95°F, this system kept me from drowning in laundry.
Toiletries and the 3-1-1 Rule Reality Check
The TSA’s 3-1-1 rule hasn’t changed in 2026: liquids must be 3.4 oz or less, fit in one quart-sized bag, and you get one bag per person. I used to stress about this, but here’s what I learned: you can buy almost anything at your destination.
I packed travel-sized versions of my essential products in reusable silicone bottles ($16 for a set of six on Amazon) and bought a full-size shampoo at a pharmacy in Lisbon for €4. Many of my hotels—which I booked through Booking.com using their “free cancellation” filter to maintain flexibility—provided basics like soap and lotion anyway.
My toiletry bag included: toothbrush and toothpaste tablets (game-changer for packing), deodorant, sunscreen stick, solid face cleanser bar, lip balm, and my prescription medications in their original bottles. I left the hair dryer at home since every accommodation had one, saving precious space and weight.
The Tech That Earned Its Place
Every electronic item had to justify its existence. I brought my laptop (necessary for work), my phone, a universal adapter ($28 from Anker), one portable charger, and my Kindle. That’s it.
What I specifically didn’t bring: my camera. This hurt at first—I love photography—but my iPhone 17 Pro’s camera was phenomenal enough for everything I needed. I also skipped my iPad (redundant with phone and laptop) and my nice headphones (too bulky, used earbuds instead).
One tech investment that paid off: I bought an eSIM data plan through Airalo ($38 for 20GB across Europe) before leaving. Having data from the moment I landed meant I could pull up directions, translation apps, and book activities through Viator on the go without hunting for WiFi or dealing with international roaming fees.
The Things I Actually Used Daily
Some items became absolute heroes of this trip. My packable daypack ($25 from Matador) folded into a pocket-sized pouch but expanded to carry groceries, beach gear, or souvenirs during day trips. I used it literally every single day.
Packing cubes ($32 for a set) kept everything organized and let me compress clothes to maximize space. When I rented a car in southern Spain through Discover Cars ($280 for a 5-day rental), I could quickly grab what I needed without unpacking my entire bag at each new hotel.
I also never regretted bringing: a microfiber travel towel (my Airbnb in Faro didn’t provide beach towels), a simple cable lock for hostels, and earplugs for noisy accommodations. These small items took up almost no space but solved real problems.
What I Wish I’d Left Behind
I’ll be honest: I still overpacked some things. I brought a travel-sized sewing kit that I never touched. The “nice going-out outfit” I carefully selected spent the entire trip folded in my bag—I ended up wearing my everyday clothes to nicer restaurants and nobody cared. I packed four pairs of pants but only rotated between two.
If I did this trip again tomorrow, I’d bring one less pair of pants, skip the sewing kit entirely, and trust myself to solve problems locally rather than preparing for every hypothetical scenario.
The Insurance and Safety Backup Plan
One thing I didn’t skimp on: travel insurance. I signed up for SafetyWing ($42 for 3 weeks of coverage) before my trip. While I thankfully didn’t need it, knowing I was covered for medical emergencies and trip interruptions gave me peace of mind worth far more than the cost.
I also kept digital copies of important documents in a secure cloud folder and emailed myself a backup itinerary. When my phone died unexpectedly in Seville, I could access everything from my laptop without panic.
Bottom Line
Packing light for three weeks isn’t about deprivation—it’s about freedom. Freedom to take local buses instead of expensive taxis because your bag isn’t awkwardly huge. Freedom to change accommodations without dreading the logistics of moving. Freedom to say yes to spontaneous day trips without worrying about luggage storage.
My total investment in packing gear that I’ll use for years (quality bag, merino shirts, packing cubes) came to around $580, but I’ve already saved $180 in baggage fees on this one trip. More importantly, I spent less time managing my stuff and more time actually experiencing the places I visited. That mental bandwidth was worth every penny.
Start with the bag size as your constraint, not your ideal packing list. You’ll be amazed what becomes negotiable when you have finite space and realize you can buy soap anywhere in the world.