Trying to see as much of the world as possible can be costly, which leads many to choose budget airlines so that cash can be spent on making as many memories as possible. The biggest problem I find when travelling on budget airlines is the additional costs that they add on for luggage, even when taking a bag in the cabin! I have flown with enough of them now to have learned a few tricks so, today I thought I would share my top 10 ways to make the most of the space you have in your carry on bag.
Take a backpack
Most airlines allow a wheelie case and a handbag on board but did you know that handbag also means a backpack, as long as it fits the size requirements of your airline? It means you can squish so much more stuff in your luggage and the Osprey Daylite Travel is my favourite pack for flying.
The pack is small enough to fit under the seat on the plane and has lots of pockets to store important items such as your passport and sunglasses. There is a padded laptop sleeve making it perfect for people who want to work on the go and also has a RFID blocking liner to keep your contactless equipment safe and secure.
The other bonus of taking a decent backpack away is you can empty its contents in your accommodation and then use it during the day to take your essentials. This pack has a secure waist strap and is really sturdy, so just as good for an adventure holiday.
Get a Keratin treatment
This will probably sound like a strange tip when it comes to packing but if you have hair that needs drying and styling, I would highly recommend a decent keratin treatment. I had the treatment which removes frizz from your hair before travelling Thailand and it not only kept the frizz at bay in the humidity, it massively reduced the need for heavy styling items.
Most hotel rooms allow access to a hairdryer yet without this treatment, the heat is never hot enough to prevent frizz when drying. After having a keratin treatment I no longer needed a decent hairdryer and most hotel ones have been just fine. The reduction of frizz also encourages my hair to stay straight so I no longer need to pack my hair straighteners either. The weight of a decent hair dryer and straighteners is a massive saving if you don’t have to take them!
I have my treatments done at Hair By Sam in Sale and she is the best!
Invest in multi use items
Multi use items are your friend when it comes to packing light! Take a long thin scarf which can be used to tie up hair, cover your head in the sun or wrap around your neck when it gets a bit cooler. Lots of makeup items can be used in different ways too. Most bronze and highlighter products can be used on eyes as a simple eyeshadow as well as the cheeks for contouring. The less you pack in your makeup bag, the more space you have for buying more. Or is that just my motto?
Organise your clothes with packing cubes
My life has never been the same since I discovered packing cubes. I find they are the best way to pack items into categories such as underwear, swimsuits, day wear and night wear. I also take a spare for dirty washing so that I can keep everything separate and clean.
Minimise your liquids
Most toiletries are easy to pick up at your destination and messing about with those little plastic bags at airport security are my worst nightmare. I would recommend sorting your liquids before you head to the airport so you can literally just hand over the little bag, rather than digging around your neatly packed luggage at security.
I use the toiletries available at my accommodation so rarely pack shower gel and shampoo, but this Shower In A Can is a great little find especially if you are camping or out in a hot country all day. The light foam is alcohol, paraben and aerosol free whilst also being vegan. The can contains 20 ‘top to toe’ showers and, whilst I certainly wouldn’t recommend it over a proper shower, it is a good addition if you are going from beach to bar and want to freshen up.
Wear heavy shoes
Pack your lightest shoes and make sure you wear the heaviest shoes. I always take a pair of trainers on holiday with me but usually just pack a light pair of sandals or ballet flats for the rest of the time. I put my trainers on to travel through the airport and then change into my sandals when at my destination. You can save a serious amount of weight with this little trick.
Make a list
I’ve written about my list writing and bullet journalling before so it won’t be a surprise to you that I love a good list when going away. I make a list of everything I need to pack and STICK TO IT. Nothing else gets packed unless it is on the list and it really helps to monitor those sneaky things that can find their way into the bag when I really don’t need them. Once you have a list you can recycle it for most trips as well with a few tweaks.
Pack a purse spray
I tend not to wear a lot of fragrance when travelling as the mosquitos usually take a shine to me! I wrote about the cute purse sprays from Ormonde Jayne a while ago, but I also like a travel purse spray as you can fill it with your favourite scent directly from your main bottle making it sustainable too.
Read a Kindle
I read a lot when travelling and, whilst I will always favour a paperback, I would highly recommend packing a Kindle for a trip. It means you can take as many books as you want and they are all kept in 1 extra light place. I have the oldest Kindle known to man as I am not a fan of anything backlit when reading, so it’s almost like reading a paperback. Well, as close as I can get whilst feeding my thirst of reading whilst trying to travel light.
Be savvy with your clothes
Last and definitely not least, pack savvy and don’t take stuff you don’t need. I tend to pack a week’s worth of clothes as you can always wash and dry whilst away. Lots of destinations either offer this service on site, or pop to a laundrette. You’ll be surprised how quickly they can get your stuff washed, dried and ready to wear in no time!
Is there anything you would add to the list?
