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I Spent a Week in Europe With Just a Carry-on—and This $20 Flight Attendant-approved Hack Made It Possible
You see, when I was recently packing for a near-week-long London trip, my usual methods weren't cutting it. Despite planning out my outfits for every day and night of the trip, my carry-on suitcase was overflowing. I decided to try packing with the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, which are flight attendant-approved and on sale, and much to my delight, everything that I'd laid out to pack now fit in my carry-on.
Apart from their space-saving magic, I'm impressed by how easy Gonex packing cubes are to use. They open from the top, allowing you to stuff in as many clothes as possible (which, trust me, I did), and close it like a pouch. Then, you simply push down on the cubes and use an extra zipper to manually compress them. All together, it's extremely satisfying to witness in action. I have the pink packing cubes, but this four-piece set comes in 19 styles total, including more neutral colors and a fun floral pattern that I'm tempted to order myself.
They're sold in three sets depending on your packing needs: A four-piece packing cubes set, a five-piece set, and a six-piece set that includes four packing cubes, a toiletry bag, and a shoe bag. I opted for the four-piece set that includes one 17.3-inch by 13-inch extra-large pouch, plus the large, medium, and small packing cubes. The brand recommends that you pack larger items like jeans and sweaters into the larger cubes, while the smaller sizes can be used for socks and underwear.
All four cubes are designed to fit together into your carry-on like a puzzle. However, my personal favorite way to use them is to start with the extra-large cube and work my way down if I feel I need more space. I've found that the largest cube fits perfectly into one side of my go-to Away Bigger Carry-on.
The Gonex packing cubes have close to 1,500 five-star ratings at Amazon, with reviewers praising their high quality and durability. They're made with waterproof, lightweight nylon to alleviate some of your common travel conundrums: if liquid leaks into your bag, you don't have to worry about it getting on your clothes, and the cubes won't make your suitcase heavier. Each pouch also has a durable handle to make it easier to pull in and out of your suitcase. I was also excited to discover that my clothes didn't wrinkle any more than usual inside the packing cubes, since they are packed so tightly together.
I recently put the packing cubes to the test once again—here's what my suitcase looked like before using them:
Travel + Leisure / Rebecca Shinners
But, once I packed everything into the Gonex packing cubes, I was left with more empty space. This ended up being the perfect spot to tuck my shoes so I wouldn't have to worry about them getting dirt on my clothes. And just imagine how much more I was able to fit into my suitcase once I convinced my puppy to move.
Travel + Leisure / Rebecca Shinners
I was so impressed with the packing cubes that I raved about them to my family and friends, and my brother already ordered them in blue for his next trip. Amazon reviewers have called them everything from their 'favorite packing necessity' to 'rockstars," and many of their fans are flight attendants.
One wrote, "They are great space savers and make it possible for me to pack for a four-day trip to frigid destinations without having to bring an extra bag." Chiming in, a second flight attendant shared, "I routinely pack for a week in the medium bag only. If I used all four bags, I could pack enough to last months."
Another reviewer said the cubes were 'worth every penny' after using them to pack everything they needed for two weeks in Europe in a carry-on bag, and a traveler added, 'The compression feature allowed me to overpack and still get everything neatly tucked into my suitcase." They made sure to note that the zippers still worked smoothly, no matter how much they overstuffed the pouches.
It's safe to say that I'm no longer a packing cube skeptic. After my London trip, I'm now more confident than ever in my ability to pack just a carry-on for my upcoming trips. I even just booked an economy ticket to Paris to avoid checked bag fees. Whether you're looking to skip checking a bag like me or just want to fit more into your suitcase, you won't regret ordering the Gonex Compression Packing Cubes for your next trip. Read on for more carry-on packing essentials from Amazon.
At the time of publishing, the price started at $20.
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The Details: 4.5 pounds for L/XL | 60-liter capacity for L/XL | 15-18-inch torso length for L/XL | Bluesign-approved nylon and recycled polyester | Water-repellent Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: REI View on Amazon View on REI View on Backcountry If you're looking for a reliable pack that will stay strong for years to come, this 55-liter Gregory pack is a great choice. The shoulder, arm, and chest straps are all easy to adjust with standard pull-cords, and the frame is adjustable and fits up to 22-inch torsos (one of the longest frames we tested). The capacity works well for overnight and weekend camping trips, and while the main compartment doesn't have a clamshell opening, the zippers span the length of the pack so you can easily access your items. 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The Details: 2 pounds for small | 60-liter capacity for small | 16-18-inch torso length for small | Recycled Robic nylon Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Osprey $290 at Amazon View on REI $290 at Backcountry While this pack has an adjustable ladder system to get the frame height right, it fit right off the bat thanks to the curved design that kept the weight off our back and on our hips. The hip, shoulder, and chest straps are all adjustable, and we found it useful to adjust them along the trail as our balance (and the pack's weight) shifted. After an all day hike that ended in tent camping, we didn't feel sore at all, and our backs felt fine the next day. 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The Details: 4.06 pounds for L/XL | 54-liter capacity for L/XL | Recycled nylon | Water-repellent Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: REI $240 $180 at Amazon View on The Osprey Kestrel Backpack (and similar Osprey Kyte pack for women) is one of the most comfortable packs we tested despite its large size and hefty materials. Adjusting the backpack was incredibly easy as the shoulder straps are attached to the frame rail system for added convenience. The hipbelt is also wider than the belts on some other packs, so it carries more weight off the back and shoulders. This pack was even comfortable when rotating what straps we were using (shoulder straps alone, shoulder straps and hip belt, shoulder straps and chest strap) to give other muscles a rest period. In addition to its comfort, the Kestrel has plenty of compartments and gear loops. There's even a large pocket on the outside in which you can store extra clothing or reading material. The backpack can expand to allow for more storage for longer trips. The pack also comes with a rain cover, but we found the backpack material to be water-resistant enough on its own that you wouldn't need to rush to cover it in light rain. The Details: 4.9 pounds for L/XL | 58-liter capacity for L/XL | 19-23-inch torso length for L/XL | Bluesign approved nylon | Water-resistant Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: ULA Equipment View on This ULA pack is the first we've seen where you not only choose your frame and hip size, but you're able to select your shoulder shape as well before purchasing your pack. The Circuit comes with either a traditional J-strap or a contoured S-strap that is designed for those with curved or sloping shoulders. If you're someone who suffers from chafing at the arms or shoulders while hiking, this design may be perfect for you. 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The Details: 2.4 pounds | 68-liter capacity | 18-21-inch torso length for medium | ULA 400 Robic and UltraStretch mesh | Water-resistant Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: REI $360 $285 at Amazon View on REI View on Whether you're heading off on a long trek or heading to your local camping site, this bag is the perfect companion. It has room for everything, with individual pockets and storage compartments to keep things in place. For a weekend camping trip, we packed clothing (pants, tops, raincoat, socks, underwear, and extra layers), rain gear, a camping stove with a fuel container, camping utensils, food, toiletries, a water filtration device, a sleeping bag, walkie talkies, a phone, a wallet, a first aid kit, dog food, and small lantern with room to spare. Because the pack has a high-capacity, but is still quite short, it can be a bit more rounded than others we tested when packed full, so be aware of your central point of balance (and be sure you aren't weighing yourself down). This backpack is also designed with a built-in rain cover, plenty of padding, adjustable straps, trekking pole straps, a water bladder sleeve, and external loops for hanging additional gear. We also loved the external cinch straps that you can tighten once the bag is packed to keep your internal gear from shifting around. Despite its large size, we found it to be comfortable and loved how easy it was to adjust while hiking. The Details: 4.7 pounds for small | 70-liter capacity for small | 15-18-inch torso length for small | Recycled nylon and recycled polyester | Water-repellent Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
5 hours ago
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The City of Lights is one of the world's most beautiful metropolises, with renowned art and architecture, a vibrant café culture, and awe-inspiring landmarks that have delighted visitors for centuries. Everyone lucky enough to visit is bound to make precious memories there, but for Gwyneth Paltrow, the French capital holds an incredibly personal type of magic. In a recent solo episode of her Goop podcast, Paltrow reflected on the most meaningful destinations she's visited since childhood. 'Travel has been a really integral part of my life,' she shared from a hotel room in Naples, Italy. When she was 10 years old, Paltrow lived with her family in the U.K. while her mother, actress Blythe Danner, worked on a film. On one of the weekends abroad, Paltrow's father, director Bruce Paltrow, took her on a trip to Paris that would stay with her for the rest of her life. "We stayed at the Ritz and he took me to all the museums—all we did was see art everywhere we went,' Paltrow remembered. 'And he let me order French fries for breakfast. And he let me take a walk by myself,' she added. 'I'll never forget that. He let me walk around the Place Vendôme all by myself.' On the plane back to London, Bruce told his daughter the touching reason he'd planned the Parisian getaway. 'He said, 'Do you know why I took you to Paris, just you and me, and mommy and Jake didn't come with us?' And I said, 'No, why?' And he said, 'Because I wanted you to see Paris for the first time with a man who will always love you, no matter what,'" Paltrow shared. 'From that point forward, Paris became a special idea in my head, a place that I returned to many, many times, and that will always intrinsically hold my father's spirit for me,' she continued. 'I never feel very far away from him when I'm there. It was his favorite city in the world.' Naples has also played a major role in Paltrow's life story. Before her 2025 trip, she was last there to film 1999's 'The Talented Mr. Ripley.' During the shoot, she received devastating news about her father and grandfather Arnold Paltrow. ''Ripley' was, in fact, a really tough movie for me. My father and my grandfather were both diagnosed with cancer within six weeks of each other when I was on that film,' she shared. Three years later, her father passed away while on an Italian road trip with Paltrow to celebrate her 30th birthday. Bruce fell ill from complications related to his oral cancer on their way from Tuscany to Portofino. He died in Rome on Oct. 3, 2002. 'This sort of solidified my complicated feelings about Italy. And yet, I've always been so drawn to it,' Paltrow said of her father's death. It wasn't until over 10 years ago that Paltrow returned to the country with now-husband Brad Falchuk and 'started the process of healing' her emotional relationship with Italy. Later in the podcast, Paltrow took a more lighthearted turn and revealed how decades of practice have made her an expert at one coveted travel skill: 'While I'm packing, I literally try on what I'm going to wear every day. I think it all out, I lay it all out—it takes me hours. But then, I have a perfect little suitcase. And I don't underpack, I don't overpack,' she said. 'This is an art I feel I have mastered after years of travel mistakes. I now front-load it with time and attention, and then I have a stress-free trip.'
