Hand luggage packing tips

[MaJoady]

I'm off to Greece for a week and am wanting to take hand luggage only to minimise airport chaos. No kids, and our allowance is the standard cabin size bag and 10kg. So I'm thinking it should be possible.

I won't be doing anything specific, just sightseeing, eating out I'm the evening and lounging by the pool/sea.

I'm going to get some compression packing cubes, use solid toiletries where possible and buy sun cream at the airport post security. Any more tips to maximise my allowance?

Also, I have a hard wheelie case and also a soft rucksack that both meet the requirements. Any thoughts on which would be better to take? I'm pretty fit (and hike with a tent etc), so carrying 10kgs on my back is fine

I was going to say packing cubes. They are brilliant but you already are getting those. Rolling clothes is a good way to save space rather than folding. Mix and match clothing as much as possible. Consider getting all toiletries airside if you are short on space. Wear your heaviest clothes and shoes. So if you are taking trainers and flip flops, wear your trainers.

Make sure all your clothing matches so you have more outfit options.

Buy travel wash so you can wash things.

Put underwear inside shoes to maximise space.

Microfibre towels for the pool take up hardly any room

If you are allowed a duty free bag, put stuff in there too

Shoes. You really only need a pair of flip flops and something sturdier for sightseeing. Keep them plain or pretty enough that they will work if you want to feel more dressed up in the evening. Wear the heavier ones on the plane. I find a hard case easier to pack and handle of putting overhead on the plane. A rucksack may double up to take to the beach though. Can you take hotel towels to the beach, or would you bring your own? Maybe easier to buy something there.
Can you bring a separate handbag, or will this have to fit in your hand luggage? Either way, a small crossbody is good for tickets, passports etc and when on holiday.

Look up Travel Fashion Girl - lots of capsule wardrobes for different types of holiday and sizes of luggage!

They never even weigh the case as you can check in on line so if you use those vac pac things you can take more 🙄

Wear the heavier bulkier things on the plane. You need the see through clear bag form toiletries but can get at airport. Supposed to only be 1 but I had 2 and nothing was said.

By mini toiletries as under 100mls and take less room. Make up needs to go in plastic bags to.

I went to Portugal for a week and fives night in Prague in the winter and found it just about doable. It was all about mix and matching for me, I actually came up with some good outfits I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of.
I used a small cases called 5 cities and that was perfect.

Thomas cook weighed my hand luggage, I was over so had to transfer things to my hold case. I was lucky I had hold luggage. I have never had my case weighed by anyone else but it’s worth being aware.

My case was weighed when I flew with TAP, it was over the allocated 8kg so that put it in hold free.

I'm in Greece now for 5 days. Agree with some pp. Mix and match is the way to go. It's baking here so light shorts and sun dresses. I packed a black chiffon beach cover up that can go over everything. Black and white strappy vests that can be dressed up in the evening but also sun dresses that can be worn day or night. Minimal make up of mascara and blusher and lip gloss. Black sandals that are good for walking but can also pass at dinner and a tan pair of block heeled sandals. Purchased sunblock at the airport and had miniatures for other toiletries.
It's definitely doable. If a choice between hard case and rucksack of say the case. Enjoy!

Rucksack less likely to be put in hold than case if there is a shortage of space.

How do you vac pac it on the way back?

Ironically nothing for 1 week in Europe though!

@Musicalmistress you can get bags that you just squeeze the air out of. Really handy for travel.

Ryanair weigh hand luggage

Wear the heaviest stuff and do layers. Plus if it gets chilly you have something to wear. So on the plane I will have a pair of trousers, vest top, trainers, T-shirt and a cardigan, wrap or jumper plus a waterproof jacket. I get cold very quickly especially in the airport. The jacket and whatever if needed one is tied to the handle of the suitcase and one around my waist.

Toiletries I just take my toothbrush, a proper bar of soap and any samples I’ve amassed. Then I go into a local shop near where I’m staying for whatever I need if I’ve run out.

microfibre towel as not only do they fold
incredibly small but are light and dry quick.

To maximise space it’s all about how to roll the clothes. There’s loads of videos on YouTube including military people.

Cross over bag for trips and the actual travel.

poolstuff I always rinse out anyway regardless of the pool/beach to get rid of everything. So for a week I would take 2 maybe 3. 2 vest tops and the one I’m travelling in as they dry very quickly. Skirts/shorts neutral that goes with anything and a dress. Plus a pair of sandals. I’ve usually got space left in the case/bag as well 😂 and of course enough underwear. The bar of soap not only gets used on my body but also those vest tops whilst I’m having a shower.

Just marking my spot. We are going away for a week and also hoping to avoid baggage reclaim.

My plan so far is layers on the plane, buying toiletries at the airport. I have a pair of shiny Birkenstocks that I'm hoping will do in the evenings and will wear my trainers on the plane.

My main strategy is to not care what I look like!

Sounds anal but I always "pack on paper" first, I.e do a grid for the week with an am and pm box not forgetting travelling days. Write my outfits in each down to shoes, accessories and undies. This means I can mix and match and avoid over packing. Then screen shot the paper list and use it to tell me what to wear each day. Also makes a handy inventory so I don't leave anything behind.

The November before the pandemic we went to Rome for a week hand luggage which panicked me a bit as whilst I know o need to dress practically I also like to look nice IYSWIM?

Did my grid and looked great all week.

Although I get paranoid about running out of clean smalls so like to take sufficient that I could shit myself every day and not have to run out of knickers 😁

Agree with microfibre hamman towels ... light and dry quickly.

I'm going on holiday tomorrow to Italy for five days. Hand luggage only. I'm taking the socks and underwear I will need, a dress (full outfit in one), shorts, a vest and a swimming costume. That's it. Oh and a tiny hairbrush, tooth rush and toothpaste.

If you can try and wear your evening clothes from the first part of the week as daywear during part two

In my head I picture myself a La Gwyneth in Talented Mr Ripley when ever we go to Italy.

The reality however ..,

I hope this link works - it’s how to pack more in one of those round your neck pillow things!

www.instagram.com/reel/Ccm83mjulna/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

But yes if you like dresses and get some which are forgiving of being in a case it's a great choice as it's all in one.

I love dresses on holiday 😊

www.travelfashiongirl.com/functional-and-fashion-packing-list/

This has different wardrobe guides from 6 pieces and up. I find it really helpful to keep the amount I take to a minimum. I've never been stuck without the right clothes.