The Carry-On Edit

There are two types of travelers: the “pack the night before” crowd… and the ones who have a color-coded Notes app, reservations booked weeks in advance, and outfits planned by day.

I am firmly the second.

With 11 days until we leave for Spain, I’m in my favorite phase of travel—the prep. Not the stressful kind, but the intentional, Type-A version that makes the entire trip feel effortless once you land.

If you’re heading to Spain (or just want to travel smarter), here’s exactly how I’m preparing—plus a look at my itinerary, reservations, and what’s already locked in.

✈️ The Trip Overview

Dates: May 11–26

Stops: Seville → Marbella → Madrid

Travel Style: Carry-on only (always) + structured planning with built-in flexibility

Flights:

✈️ Detroit → Madrid (Delta One ✨) ✈️ Madrid → Detroit

High-level plan:

Seville (May 11–15): Culture, food, flamenco, historic exploring Marbella (May 15–22): Coastal reset, day trips, slower pace Madrid (May 22–26): Shopping, rooftops, museums, city energy

📅 What I’ve Already Booked (and Why It Matters)

If you take one thing from this post: Spain rewards early reservations.

✔️ Seville Reservations

Flamenco Show (May 12) Booked in advance—these sell out quickly and I wanted a smaller, authentic venue. Alcázar Tickets (May 13) Non-negotiable. Timed entry = no waiting in long lines. Dinner Reservations: La Brunilda (arrival night) Eslava (must for tapas lovers)

These are the kind of places you cannot just walk into and expect a table.

✔️ Day Trip Booked

Alhambra in Granada (May 17) This is one of the most important bookings of the entire trip. Tickets are limited and go fast—booked well in advance to lock in a good time slot.

✔️ Marbella Plans (Loosely Structured)

This part of the trip is intentionally more flexible, but I already have a few priorities:

Staying at Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort Planning day trips to: Ronda (dramatic cliffs + views) Málaga (art, food, walkable city vibe) First-night dinner close to the resort (because travel days = low effort only)

✔️ Madrid Plans

Still leaving room to explore, but priorities include:

Rooftop dining (views are non-negotiable) High-end outlet shopping Walkable sightseeing days A few pre-booked dinners near our Airbnb

🧳 Why I Always Travel Carry-On Only

Let’s be honest: checking a bag to Europe sounds relaxing… until it’s not.

Here’s why I won’t do it:

No waiting at baggage claim No risk of lost luggage Easy transitions between cities Total control over my outfits

My strategy:

22” carry-on suitcase Backpack (personal item) Packable duffle for the return trip (for shopping—because realistically, yes)

👗 11 Days Out: What I’m Doing Right Now

This is the phase where everything comes together.

1. Trying On Every Outfit

Not guessing. Not hoping. Trying on.

I plan outfits by:

Day Activity (walking, dinner, beach, travel) Weather range

If it doesn’t feel right at home, it won’t feel right in Spain.

2. Building a Day-by-Day Outfit Plan

This eliminates overpacking and decision fatigue.

Think:

Comfortable daytime looks for exploring Elevated but easy dinner outfits Layers for temperature swings

3. Checking the Weather (Obsessively, Yes)

Spain in May is generally warm, but varies by city:

Seville: Hotter, dry heat Marbella: Coastal, breezy Madrid: Warm days, cooler evenings

This directly impacts fabrics, shoes, and layering pieces.

4. Finalizing Reservations

This is the window where I:

Lock in any remaining restaurants Book rooftops in Madrid Confirm tickets and times Screenshot everything (don’t rely on WiFi)

5. Logistics Planning

This is what makes the trip feel seamless:

Train from Madrid → Seville after landing Rental car starting in Seville for the Marbella portion Considering train vs. drive for return to Madrid

Everything doesn’t need to be rigid—but the transitions should be.

6. Creating My “Trip Command Center”

This is just my Notes app, but elevated.

I organize:

Reservations (with times + addresses) Daily plans Outfit lists Backup options

Because nothing ruins a vibe like digging through emails while standing on a street in Spain.

🍷 Final Thoughts: The Goal Isn’t Perfection—It’s Ease

Being a Type-A traveler isn’t about overplanning.

It’s about removing friction.

It’s knowing:

where you’re going what you’re wearing and that your dinner reservation is already handled

So when you land in Spain… you can actually enjoy it.

If you’re planning a similar trip, start early, book the big things, and give yourself the structure to be spontaneous.

That’s the sweet spot.

Next up: my full Spain packing list + day-by-day outfits (carry-on only, of course).