In life, there are two kinds of people: the organized ones... and the others! You know, the ones who pack their bags last minute before a trip – and then the rest of us. At CABAIA, you guessed it, we’re definitely on Team No Unnecessary Stress — we like to keep things simple and smooth. That’s why we swear by the ultimate travel checklist to make sure we don’t forget a thing. And because we’re super nice, we’ve decided to share our top packing tips with you.

There are only upsides to making a packing list for your holidays. Sure, it might sound a bit control-freakish, but trust us — planning ahead saves a ton of time, ensures you don’t leave anything behind, and lets you pack your suitcase without stress, all while making the most of the space. In short: it gives you total peace of mind before, during, and after your trip. And isn’t that what holidays are all about? Stress does not belong in your suitcase. Thank you and goodbye!

The secret before diving in? Start by creating a holiday packing checklist divided by category. One for clothes, underwear and accessories, another for toiletries, then one for electronic devices, and finally one for travel documents. Ideally, everything should be packed by category into separate compartments in your suitcase — and lucky you, CABAIA's cabin suitcases and travel bags come with clever storage features to make your life easier.

Here’s a list of essentials — of course, feel free to add to it depending on your destination and type of trip!

1. Clothes : We’re not going to tell you exactly what to pack or how much — that depends on your trip length and the local climate. But make sure you’ve got the basics covered: enough underwear and socks, sleepwear, comfortable daytime outfits, and at least one or two slightly dressier options for evenings out. A windbreaker and raincoat are often lifesavers. If you have access to a washing machine where you’re staying, you can pack even lighter!

2. Accessories : Hats, belts, bags, and of course shoes suited to your activities. The key here is to travel light, so no need to bring that "just in case" pair. One comfy pair, one for rainy weather, and one slightly dressier pair should do the trick!

3. Toiletries : We highly recommend packing one (or two!) CABAIA toiletry bags — objectively the best, with their super practical wide-opening design!
Don’t forget : Toothbrush & toothpaste (yes, even though you can find them almost anywhere), shower gel & shampoo, skincare and makeup essentials, makeup remover & cotton pads, tweezers and scissors (note: scissors aren't allowed in carry-on luggage), antibacterial gel (a post-2020 must-have!), deodorant, perfume, hairbrush, trimmer or razor, and hair accessories

4. Electronics : Camera, laptop, tablet, e-reader, and smartphone — all the travel tech essentials!

5. Travel documents : This section deserves its own dedicated zippered pocket, but keep it easy to access. Include: ID card and/or passport, plus any visa required, payment cards, driver’s license, insurance and assistance documents, European Health Insurance Card (if applicable), vaccination records and health booklet, printed copies of your travel tickets (plane, train), accommodation bookings, student ID (to snag those sweet discounts!), and finally, be smart — digitize all important documents and save them in your email or cloud storage, just in case.

With all this prepped, you’re on your way to stress-free travel — the way it should be!

The advantage of our cabin suitcase is its perfect 40L capacity, which forces you to pack only the essentials and leave the unnecessary behind. Once you've checked off everything on your holiday packing list, it's time to organize your items by category in your bag. It's simple — designate one spot for clothes, another for your toiletry bag, one for your papers, etc. As for folding your clothes, we encourage you to channel your inner Marie Kondo and put her foolproof folding method into practice! She suggests folding your clothes in half and then rolling them, but not into a ball, more like a spring roll. See what we mean, or did it just make you hungry?
Finally, to balance the weight of your suitcase, it's best to place heavier, sturdier items at the bottom near the wheels, and pack the things you'll need during the trip last, so you can easily access them on the go.