A couple of weeks ago, I sent this email about the good and the bad of carry-on travel.

And wow. The replies came POURING in.

It got me thinking... something really resonated here. And if this many of you had questions, there were probably just as many who didn't hit reply, maybe because you assumed I don't actually read or answer my emails 😂

But I do. Every single one.

So I gathered up the questions I've been getting the most and answered some of them right here.

⚠️ Fair warning: this one is long. Just scroll to the question you care about and skip the rest.

A few of these could honestly be their own full email someday (and probably will be). You guys basically handed me content ideas for the rest of the year, so truly, thank you 😂

Before we dive in: there's no single "right" way to do any of this. For every tip below, there are advantages and trade-offs, and the best choice is always the one that fits YOUR trip and YOUR life.

My job isn't to hand you a rulebook. It's to help you think about exactly what YOU need.

Okay, let's get to it!

1️⃣ How do I leave room for souvenirs?

This was a HUGE one.

I have tips, but in full transparency, I'm not a souvenir shopper myself. I LOVE them, don't get me wrong, but I have to carry everything I buy and for longer trips, it starts accumulating quickly. Plus, we don't have a home so what am I going to do with all these random things anyway 😂

A few tips that work (not all at once LOL - grab what would work for you):

• Pack 75-80% of the bag and leave the rest empty on purpose. Plan for what you'll buy instead of being surprised by it. (this is what we both do)
• Leave as much room as possible in your personal item. That's where I stuff fragile or smaller souvenirs on the way back if I need to.
• If your carry-on has an expandable feature, save the "expand" for the way back home.
• Plan to travel with items you don't mind leaving behind. This way you can start clearing up space towards the end of your trip.
• Bring a foldable tote or duffel bag empty. Fill it up, use it as your carry-on or personal item on the way back, and check your actual suitcase.
• Buy small souvenirs: postcards (then write something nice and send it), magnets, pins, a small bar of soap, embroidered patches, pens, keychains, etc.
• Buy souvenirs on your last stop. This way you won't have to lug everything during your entire trip.

We buy one coffee mug per country for ourselves (at small, locally owned ceramic shops - we make it special), magnets here and there, and one small snow globe per country for my sister and nieces.

It all fits because we limit our souvenir quantities AND our carry-ons are never 100% full when we leave to travel.

2️⃣ Can I do carry-on for trips longer than 2 weeks?

I have this fundamental belief that if other people can do something, so can I.

I live out of this 20" carry-on for up to 6 months at a time. If you don't have any true non-negotiables [more on that in #6], you also can. I'm no different than you.

The secret isn't packing 30 different outfits for 2+ weeks. It's packing about 15 pieces that mix and match into 30 different LOOKS. Same pieces, new combinations.

The math: 5 tops x 4 bottoms that all coordinate = 20 outfit combinations before you add a layer or swap shoes.

Throw in 2 dresses, 2 layers, 3 pairs of shoes, and you can have up to 30 looks. Add laundry every 8 days or so if you're going longer than 12 days, and you're set for as long as you want.

This is exactly why I share so many packing lists and travel capsule wardrobes on the blog.

Once you see it laid out (the pieces, the outfit combos, the system in action), it stops feeling impossible and starts feeling like, oh wait, I can totally do this.

And once you do it once? You'll never go back.

3️⃣ What do I wear on the plane?

My summer go-to: comfy pull on pants or wide-leg Ponte pants, a soft tank or tee, a cozy layer for the freezing AC, leather sneakers, and a pashmina which becomes my blanket the moment I sit down.

The non-negotiable rule: every piece on your travel day should keep working once you land. Nothing is packed "just for the plane." I'm particularly strict with this for longer trips (2+ weeks)

For super long travel days (20+ hours) I keep a tiny "emergency packing cube" with a clean outfit, travel toiletries, and a few essentials. Mid-layover, I wash my face, brush my teeth, change clothes, and step into a new version of myself who can handle the next 10 hours. Priceless.

4️⃣ How do I pack light when my trip has different temperatures?

• Connector pieces. These are items that work in BOTH climates. A button-down shirt (open over a tank in heat, layered under a sweater when it cools). A pashmina (scarf, blanket, plane layer, mosque cover). A sweater vest (easy to wear on its own or layered with a cardigan/jacket)
• Another tip: count your days in each climate. If 70% of your trip is warm, don't let the cold days dominate your suitcase. Pack for where you'll spend most of your time and use connector pieces to bridge the rest.

For unpredictable weather (think Baltic in June, Scotland anytime), layering is your best friend.

A merino base layer + cashmere cardigan + lightweight packable puffer lets you stack or shed throughout the day. If most of the pieces you pack are "stackable" you can mix and match them as you go.

And don't forget about your cold weather accessories. Don't underestimate the power of a good cashmere beanie, a cashmere wrap or a cashmere blend pashmina instead of a linen one. This makes a huge difference.

You see a pattern for colder weather? 😂. Cashmere is warm, packs small and doesn't stink. You can wear it MANY times before having to do laundry.

👀 More specific tips inside about mixed climate trips in this blog post.​

5️⃣ When should I shop before a trip?

NOT the week before. That's how you end up with random pieces that don't match anything you already own.

If you genuinely need new items, give yourself 2 months. You need time to:

• Receive the order
• Try it on at home WITH the rest of your packing list
• Test it
• Return what doesn't work
• Reorder a different size or color if needed (or find a different option and repeat the process)

If something arrives 1 week before the trip and the fit is off, you're stuck. Plan shopping into the timeline, not into the panic.

And before you buy anything new, audit what you already own. 9 times out of 10, the piece you "need" is already in your closet, you just haven't been pairing it right.

6️⃣ What if I have too many non-negotiables?

First: some non-negotiables are 100% real. Medical needs, dietary restrictions, specific products your hair or skin genuinely needs, comfort items that make a long flight bearable. Those stay. No guilt.

The question isn't how do I get rid of my non-negotiables. It's how do I figure out which ones actually are.

Try this. Write down every "must have" piece or product on your list. Then run each one through these questions:

1. When was the last time I actually used this on a trip? If the answer is "never" or "once five years ago," it's not a non-negotiable. It's a habit.
2. Can I replace this at my destination if I need to? Most toiletries, basic clothing, and "just in case" items can be bought anywhere. Pharmacies and shops exist in every country. If something is replaceable, it doesn't have to come with you.
3. Is this medical, dietary, or a real comfort issue? Prescription meds, gluten-free snacks, your specific skincare for a sensitive condition. These are legit. Keep them.
4. Am I packing this for the trip I'm taking, or for a "what if" that probably won't happen? A flat iron for "if I want to dress up one night" when you know you won't is autopilot packing. The supportive sandals you wear every day at home? That's real.

The goal isn't to pack like a minimalist robot. It's to be intentional. Honor the real non-negotiables. Question everything else.

And remember: there are no medals for pure carry-on when it doesn't actually serve your life.

7️⃣ What does "testing pieces" even mean?

Great question, because most people skip this and then regret it on day 2.

Testing means BEFORE you zip the suitcase, you try on every combination you're planning to pack. Tops with bottoms. Shoes with each look. Layers with everything underneath. Full outfit. On your body. In a mirror.

Why? Because flat lays lie. A skirt that looks great with a tank in your head can look totally off IRL. Pants might sit differently with sneakers than with sandals. And a jacket you're counting on as your main layer might look great over your tops but completely wrong with half your bottoms, which is a big deal because layers are the pieces you repeat the most.

The combos people skip most (and regret):

• Every top with every bottom. This is the big one. If you're packing 5 tops and 4 bottoms, you need all 20 combinations to actually work. One top that only goes with one bottom is dead weight.
• Layers with everything, not just a tee. Everyone tries the jacket over a tee. Almost no one checks it against their skirt, their wide-leg pants or layered over a sweater. A jacket that fits great over a tee can feel snug or sit wrong once you add a sweater underneath, and that's exactly the combo you'll need on cooler days. Since a jacket or cardigan is something you'll wear over and over, it has to work over your warmer layers AND with everything below it.
• Tops tucked AND untucked. A top that looks great untucked over wide-leg pants might bunch weirdly when tucked into a skirt. Test the way you'll actually wear it.
• Shoes with every bottom. Your sneakers might be perfect with pants but look off with a midi skirt. Sandals might disappear under wide-leg pants. Check each pairing.
• Dresses with and without a layer. A sleeveless dress you're counting on for dinner might need a cardigan or button-down for a cooler night or a more modest setting. Make sure that combo looks intentional, not like an afterthought.
• Actually WALK in your shoes. Don't just slip them on in your bedroom. Wear each pair around the house, ideally for a mile or more, before they make the cut. A sandal that feels fine for 30 seconds can shred your heel by hour three of walking a cobblestone city. Better to find out now than on day 1 of your trip.
• Try bottoms on when you're bloated or full. Real talk: you will eat. There will be pasta, bread, wine, jet-lag bloat, irregular bathroom schedules, all of it. A pair of pants that fit perfectly on an empty stomach in the morning can feel miserable after a big dinner. Test your bottoms when you're full (or at the end of the day when you're naturally a bit more bloated) so you KNOW they'll be comfortable on vacation, not just in your closet.
• Base layers under your bottoms. For cold-weather trips, you'll often layer tights or thermal leggings under pants or skirts for warmth. Test it first, some slim pants won't fit a base layer underneath without pulling tight or looking bulky. Better to know before you're freezing and stuck.

8️⃣ Do I really need to do laundry on my trip?

If your trip is 10-12 days or less and you've packed a tight carry-on capsule (say 12-15 mix-and-match pieces), you probably don't need to do laundry at all. You can sink-wash a spot here and there, and rotate with the "wear tops at night first" trick.

For anything longer, plan to do laundry about once every 8 days or so. It's so much easier than you think:

• Most hotels offer a laundry service. Easy but can be pricey.
• Look for Airbnbs with a washer. If laundry matters to you, filter for it before you book. This is my favorite option because I can do it on my own time.
• Wash-and-fold shops are everywhere, and shockingly cheap. Outside the US these are a lifesaver. In Mexico they're called lavanderías, and we drop off a whole load and pick it up clean, dried, and folded for a few dollars. Every country we've visited has some version of this.
• Sink wash for emergencies. Use a little hand soap or shampoo for anything you need to rinse out overnight. Merino and cashmere barely need washing anyway (one of the many reasons I travel with them).

I actually do laundry every time I have a washer. Even if it's just a few items. I prefer to be safe.

9️⃣ What toiletries do you share with your husband?

More than you'd think, and it saves us SO much space.

✅ What we share:

• Shampoo and conditioner (one of each, in refillable Kitsch bottles)
• Bar body soap
• Sunscreen
• Toothpaste
• Skincare routine (he steals my antioxidant balm 😂)
• Hairbrush

🚫 What we DON'T share:

• Deodorant
• Razors
• Tooth brushes
• Body moisturizer (he doesn't need it - WTF)

The way to make this work: have the "who's packing what" conversation BEFORE the trip. We split the categories. He carries the toothpaste, soap, conditioner and sunscreen, I carry the rest. Both of us have less stuff and the toiletry kit gets cut almost in half between us.

If your partner has a one-step routine (lucky them), they should absolutely be willing to carry their share. Especially if it means you both get to travel carry-on. Fair is fair.

🔟 When should I start packing?

Earlier than you think.

"Start packing" doesn't mean physically putting things in the suitcase. It means starting the strategy: pulling pieces from your closet, laying them out, testing combinations, and identifying holes.

I start this as early as 2 months out (sometimes sooner). Not because it takes that long, but because if I find a gap, I want time to shop for it, test it, and return it if it doesn't fit (see #5).

The actual packing work is quick. The thinking takes about one hour spread across a couple of days, and packing the carry-on itself takes me about 1 to 1.5 hours. (this includes trying things on)

If you wait until the night before, you'll panic. And panic packing is how "maybe" pieces end up in the bag. That's how you overpack.

I'll leave you with this...

There are no blanket statements. No perfect answers. Nothing written in stone. And honestly? That's a good thing.

What I teach in my emails, blog posts, and packing courses are strategies and principles.

Sometimes I'll gently tell you "you really don't need 20 tops" 😂

But what I prefer to do is to share what works for me and why. And just as importantly, how to make it work for YOU, your body, and your trip.

That's the whole heart of it.

I'm a big believer in teaching you how to fish. I don't want you copying my packing list for every trip. I want you to feel so confident that you can pack a bag you LOVE every single time, with or without me. That's my real end goal, and watching you guys get there is genuinely my favorite part of this job.

One more thing I noticed in your emails, and I want to say this with a lot of love:

There was so much stress, and even guilt, about not being able to travel carry-on. So please hear me. There's a big difference between overpacking a pile of clothes you'll never wear and having real non-negotiables. Carry-on isn't possible (or even the right call) for everyone, and that is 100% okay. You are not doing anything wrong.

Because in the end, how you pack is a deeply personal decision. It's YOURS to make, because you're the only one who lives with that decision. Whether that's dragging a heavier bag through a train station or leaving a little less room for souvenirs. Only you get to decide what's worth it.

So here's my wish for you: pack the bag that makes YOUR trip easier, lighter, and more you.

I sure hope all this stuff helps. I do it all with a lot of love because I genuinely LOVE talking about packing 💙

Thanks for being here! I appreciate you more than you know.

XO,

Aimara