
Pack the Perfect Hot Vacation Carry-On

I can’t tell you the last time I checked a suitcase. Or wait…I can. It was on a family vacation to Mexico. When we arrived, all five of our bags were deemed “lost.” My mom ended up buying me a Corona bikini from a tourist shop (which felt a bit inappropriate on my awkward, 14-year-old body), and a beach cover-up. That’s what I wore for two days, until I was dramatically reunited with my stuff. You can imagine how not having my own cleanser and moisturizer was also a tragedy for my teenage self. From that moment on, I vowed to never be more than five feet away from my belongings when travelling. Now, it’s carry-on or bust.
Packing the perfect carry-on is a bit of an art. I’ve honed it over the years and, combined with my fear of having a bag that’s “too full” (is this a legitimate phobia? Anyone else?), I think I have some good advice on how to make it work. Especially for hot destinations.
First: packing cubes. If you have not been introduced to these, welcome to a whole new world. Packing cubes let you diligently organize your clothes into little sections that fit seamlessly into your carry-on. It’s like the easiest game of Tetris you’ve ever played; it’s also great for when you unpack because you know exactly where everything is.
Now, what goes in the cubes? Here are a few of my favourite items for warm weather carry-on travel.
White linen button-up: Tuck it into a pair of shorts or wear it over your bathing suit as a cover-up. Easy breezy. My favourite is this relaxed-fit one because baggy is better.
Easy tank: Everyone needs an easy tank they can throw on with shorts, pants, or during that downtime in your room. I am partial to this one; comfort is queen.
Romantic blouse: In this instance, “romantic” just means anything with ruffles or frills that feels super cute. We’ve covered off most of the casual wear, so it’s nice to throw a special blouse in for that more upscale dinner you’ve planned. This one in any of the three colour options will do just fine. Also looks great with cutoffs.
Simple dress: This one is a gorgeous mossy colour, and the full skirt makes it appropriate to wear day and night.
Shorts: A great vintage pair of denim cutoffs (or your own DIY version from an old pair of jeans) is just so classic and versatile. I like to keep my eyes on Bohème Goods for when new ones drop.
Pants: I know these are technically “beach cover up” pants, but I love how flowy they are. And whenever I’m somewhere hot, it’s so nice to not wear tight jeans or have anything sticking to you. A pair of breezy, wide-legged trousers is always a good idea.
Bathing suit: I’m always tempted to pack six different swimsuits (they’re so tiny to throw in!) but realistically, you can get away with two: a bikini and a one-piece. I like to go for a more playful bikini and then a black or white one-piece that can double as a bodysuit.
Clutch: I like to stick to packing pretty neutral colours so that everything can be paired together quite seamlessly. That’s why I opt for a more colourful clutch. My friend brought me back one from Morocco that’s a bit like a loud, furry little monster, which is why I love it. When I pack this in my suitcase, I also stuff any miscellaneous items inside so I’m not wasting any space. It looks something like these.
Shoes: Open-toed shoes are a no go for me on the plane, so I usually wear a pair of sneakers. Then I pack one pair of flat slides (slide them together and they take up less room) and one pair of heels.
Oh, and make sure to leave some room for shopping.
CULTURE

CULTURE

CULTURE
