Pack in a Carry On

Pack light, travel well. When it comes to having a memorable travel experience in Cuba, you want to make sure that anything can happen—that means not having to worry about excess baggage weighing you down when you need to hop on a bus to Cienfuegos. Stay flexible, agile, and fancy-free by keeping all your necessities in a carry-on. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to travel light—we promise. Here’s our packing guide so you can have everything you need for your Cuban adventure in a carry on.

 

Choose Your Clothes Wisely

You’ve heard it once, and you’ll hear it again from any packing guide: make sure the clothes you pack are versatile and can be easily mixed and matched. Basic styles in neutral colors work best. Think tee shirts, plain tank tops, a pair of jean shorts, a pair of cotton pants, one dress/buttoned shirt, one pair of sandals, a pair of sneakers, and a light sweater or jacket to round out your lineup. You shouldn’t need any more than four shirts and two pairs of bottoms total as a general rule of thumb.

 

Roll Up!

The easiest way to make the most of the space in your carry on is to roll all of your clothes up. Put socks and tee shirts inside your shoes and stack rolled up shirts and shorts on top of one another. Aside from conserving space, this also keeps your clothes from getting wrinkled in the island humidity.

 

Get Smart With Sundries

Repeat after us: travel size toiletries. Not only do they save space, but they save you time going through security by ensuring that everything you have packed is within liquid-allowance regulations. Bring several travel size bottles of sunscreen and bug repellent to make sure you have enough for the entirety of your trip. Then, make toothpaste “pills” to save space. Before your trip, take a tube of toothpaste and squeeze pea-sized dots onto a paper plate. Sprinkle the “pills” with baking soda to keep them from melting later and let them sit out and harden overnight. Scrape them off the plate, put them in a sandwich bag, and enjoy your single-use toothpaste pills! Additionally, pack some baby powder. It can be used as a dry shampoo, moisturizer, deodorizer, stain remover, and more.

 

Don’t Worry About Underpacking

Forget a jacket and end up cold at night? Need strappy sandals for a day at the beach but forgot your favorite pair at home? Don’t worry, this is your opportunity to take part in the local apparel scene. Buy yourself a Cuban shawl or some handmade leather sandals and you’ll have a utilitarian souvenir that allows you to fit right in with the locals.

Have you been to Cuba before? Tell us what YOU would pack for a trip to Cuba and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Written by: Lauren Steele