Travel Light with Kids: How We Travel with Carry-On Only
I can still picture it.
Two small carry-on suitcases standing next to each other. No mountains of luggage. No stress. No overpacked car trunk. Just us — ready to go.
While other families juggle large suitcases, extra bags, and “just in case” items at the check-in counter, we walk through relaxed. Not because we do everything perfectly. But because we’ve learned something important: you need far less than you think.
Traveling with children doesn’t have to feel heavy. Not literally. Not mentally.
This is how we do it.
It Starts with Intentional Packing
We are a family of four.
And yet we only bring two small carry-on suitcases.
I share one suitcase with my youngest daughter.
My husband shares one with our oldest.
On top of that, everyone brings their own backpack. Inside are their personal essentials for the journey: a book, snacks, something to draw with, or a cardigan for the plane.
That automatically means making choices.
And honestly? It feels freeing.
Our golden rule is simple:
Only bring what you truly love and actually wear.
No “maybe” dresses.
No “I might need this.”
No extra outfits for every possible scenario.
When we fly, we wear comfortable but stylish sneakers. They look just as nice with jeans as they do with a dress. That way we save space and travel relaxed.
Less stuff means more clarity.
My Vacation Capsule: Small but Complete
Instead of packing “one outfit per day,” I choose a small capsule wardrobe.
This is what I bring:
- 1 white T-shirt
- 1 top
- 1 skirt
- 1 beautiful silk dress
- 1 beach dress
- 1 bikini
- 1 pair of yoga pants (for cooler evenings or relaxed moments)
- 3 sets of underwear
- Sandals
And my sneakers? I wear those while traveling.
On the morning of departure, I put on my favorite travel outfit.
A comfortable, stylish shirt.
A soft cardigan for the cool airport air.
A pair of jeans I can sit in for hours.
And my sneakers.
I always make sure this outfit matches everything in my suitcase.
The cardigan works over my beach dress when the sun goes down.
The shirt pairs with my skirt.
The sneakers look just as good with my dress as they do with my jeans.
Everything fits together.
Everything feels like me.
And maybe that’s the real secret of traveling light:
not packing less just for the sake of packing less —
but intentionally choosing pieces that tell one cohesive story.
So that on vacation, you feel just as comfortable, beautiful, and relaxed
as you did when you closed your front door behind you.
The Kids: Fewer Choices, More Calm
For each child, I pack:
- 3 T-shirts
- 3 sets of underwear
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of leggings (for cooler moments)
- 1 dress
- 1 skirt
- Bathing suit
- Sandals or flip flops
But it’s not just about the list.
The night before we leave, we lay everything out on the bed together.
They choose. They feel the fabrics. They hold shirts up to see what they like most.
“I want to wear this when we go for ice cream.”
“This one is nice for the airplane.”
Everything matches.
Everything can be mixed and matched.
No overwhelming choices. No morning stress.
And just like us, they each have their own backpack.
Inside they pack:
- One book
- A few Donald Duck comics
- Healthy snacks
- Colored pencils or markers
- A small game like UNO
No stuffed animals. No bulky toys. No unnecessary extras.
And maybe this is the most beautiful part:
you see them grow.
They carry their own bag.
They know what’s inside.
They feel part of the adventure.
Somewhere between packing and zipping up the suitcase, something shifts.
We don’t just leave with lighter luggage —
we leave with lighter minds.
Our Toiletry Bag: Small but Thoughtful
We bring one toiletry bag for the whole family.
Inside are the basics:
- Mini shampoo
- Shower gel
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- A thermometer
- Paracetamol
Everything we need — nothing extra.
The kids each have their own washcloth and hairbrush in the suitcase. It feels small, but it gives them a sense of independence.
I also bring a small makeup pouch.
That’s all I need:
- Concealer
- Blush
- Mascara
- Lipstick or lip gloss
- Vaseline (for dry lips, irritated skin, small cuts — a true multitasker)
And my little travel beauty secret:
a small jar of coconut oil.
I use it as a face cream, for dry patches, and sometimes even on the ends of my hair after a day of sun and sea. One product, so many uses. Minimal, but effective.
We always try to book accommodation with a washing machine.
If there isn’t one, we wash a few items in the bathroom or use the hotel’s laundry facilities.
That makes all the difference.
Because when you can do a small load of laundry halfway through,
you don’t need ten outfits.
And that’s where the freedom is.
What the Kids Carry Themselves
We don’t bring stuffed animals, large toys, or unnecessary items.
In their backpacks:
- One book
- A few Donald Duck comics
- Healthy snacks
- Colored pencils or markers
- A small game like UNO
They are responsible for their own bag.
And trust me — that makes them prouder and more independent.
And Then: The Beach
Where we used to bring large, heavy beach towels, we now choose large muslin cloths or lightweight wraps.
They are:
- Lightweight
- Quick-drying
- Multifunctional
We use them as beach towels, picnic blankets, or even as a light blanket on the plane.
It’s those small decisions that make the biggest difference.
The Question We Always Get
Friends and family often ask us the same question:
“How do you manage to travel so light with kids?”
The honest answer is simple: we focus on what we truly use and let go of the “just in case” items. Once you start traveling this way, you realize how little you actually need.
And yes — sometimes we forget something.
On a beach trip in the south of France, we forgot the bikini of my youngest daughter.
On our last trip to Marrakech, my oldest forgot her hairbrush and my husband his electric toothbrush.
Was it the end of the world?
Not at all.
We simply walked into a small local shop and bought a bikini, a hairbrush, and a normal toothbrush.
Problem solved.
Sometimes traveling light also means trusting that whatever you forgot can usually be found where you are.
And honestly, those little moments often become part of the adventure too.
Our trips often start with a flight with Transavia.
If you’re planning a city trip or holiday yourself and looking for some destination inspiration, you can browse the flights here at Transavia.
What Traveling Light Has Taught Us
Traveling with less gives us:
- Less stress
- Less carrying
- Less tidying up
- More calm
- More freedom
And maybe most importantly:
more attention for what truly matters.
Not the things.
But the moments.
Sun on your face.
Sand between little toes.
Making memories together.
And two small carry-on suitcases that turn out to be more than enough.
