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

Take the weight limit seriously - my hand luggage was weighed when I left Greece. However…

• duty free doesn’t count as part of your hand luggage weight limit so consider putting heaving things in a duty free bag from the airport before you get to the gate
• Wear your heaviest shoes and coat/jacket on the plane, or at least carry the jacket, don’t pack it. It won’t be weighed.
• travel size toiletries (how naice is your hotel? Will you need to shampoo or conditioner or can you use theirs?)
• take minimal toiletries - you won’t waste time doing a home facial on holiday and you really don’t need three different lipsticks
• you probably don’t need to pack your own towel (see above about naice hotels) but if feel you must, microfiber towels are lightweight, pack small, and dry quickly.
• a wheelie bag probably can’t fit under the seat in front of you but a backpack can - how much stuff will you need in flight?
• Mix and match clothes/outfits, be willing to rinse things in the bathroom sink and let them dry overnight
• pack an extra outfit and undies, just in case
• check the weather report before you go and pack accordingly, not for every season
• remember that part of the fun of travelling is going to local shops to buy the stuff you forgot
• packing cubes are great for organisation, consider how you will use them before buying so you get the right size - eg will you pack an outfit per bag or all tops together, all skirts, short and trousers in another bag etc. decide first and get the right size.

Loads of great tips, thanks! It definitely feels doable for a summer break, bikinis and shorts take up much less room than jumpers and jeans.

I'm still wavering on rucksack v case. Case is easier to pack neatly, but rucksack might be more useful as a day pack and less likely to be put in the hold if cabin crew full as pp said. I might try both and see.

I have checked and it is one piece of handll luggage only. So my daily crossbody will also have to fit in the bag

Stand your case on its end and pack your cubes like a shelf.
Reversible clothing is a game changer.
I have a cotton skirt from White Stuff.
A reversible swimsuit from Lands End
A reversible summer dress and a reversible short sleeve top.

Ooh, I like the shelf idea! Thanks.

We're going to go for it. DP just looked at me like I was mad when I said we should be able to fit everything in: apparently he's only planning on taking swim shorts and a few t-shirts. Oh to be a man!😆(in reality he packs more than I do)

How do packing cubes work? Is it just that you can squish things down a bit more?

It's such a non issue. That's plenty for a week in the sun, it's not like you need to plan for changes in weather so need waterproofs and jumpers etc.

Hardest part is the liquids limits but if you can buy it after security in the airport, that's your problem solved, just don't go mad as you won't be able to bring any of it back with you.

Unless you're planning on going hiking while you're there, will you need a big day pack?

I'd take a lightweight cross body bag or folding reusable shopping bag of some description that you can use as a day bag while you're there.

I finally cracked this when I came to terms with the following: no-one cares what I wear except me; no-one notices what I wear except me; I wouldn't notice what anyone else was wearing unless it was really distinctive.

So I think 'holiday not fashion show', take low-key mix and match separates and wash bits and bobs in the sink each day (takes minutes).

Can't tell you how liberating it was (and the best bit really was just sailing in and out without check-in or baggage reclaim !)

Enjoy your holiday !

I never said it is an issue. I was simply asking for tips to maximise what I could take away with me. Please don't try to be disdainful on a thread that was nice and helpful, there is enough of that on MN.

I assume that lots of people are also thinking about whether they really want to take hold luggage away at the moment, so hopefully these tips are helpful for others and not just me

Google compression packing cubes, they look amazing, but I have to confess to not actually trying any yet to see if they live up to the hype. Basically, you put your stuff in and then an extra zip compresses it all right down and squeezes the air out. So a 4inch pile becomes 1.5 inches. And you can maximise you packing in a small bag.

Downside, is stuff creases more and they don't compress completely flat, they are domed, so can't stack perfectly.

Definitely doable, I do one-week conference trips all the time on hand luggage only.

Hand luggage can and does get weighed, so weight of the luggage itself matters - it's several kilos for a hard case, and likely to be less for your rucksack.

Look into wearing a hiking vest/photographer's vest with lots of pockets and put the heaviest stuff (e.g charger cables) in pockets.

Re one piece of luggage only, depends on airline. E.g., Lufthansa allows a "personal item" in addition to the suitcase, that can mean either a lady's handbag or a laptop case. If your airline is more restrictive, duty free doesn't get challenged so put reading material - paper is heavy! - in that.

Definitely wear the heaviest/bulkiest items. Hiking boots in particular if you're taking them. Shoes in general are the heaviest items in luggage so pick carefully.

I get enough in a Ryanair size priority boarding case for a fortnight.

Buy toiletries when you arrive at your destination. Although most places provide them now, so you won't have to rush to get shampoo!
Take travel wash!

Usually I take flip flops, a wedge and wear sandals for travelling in.

7 pairs of underwear- one strapless bra (wearing one to travel!)
A couple of swimming costumes.

Two pairs of shorts
5 vest tops

5-7 dresses

A couple of "evening tops"

Wear jeans travelling and cardigan

Makeup in clear bag in handbag

But! You will have to do some washing while away, things usually dry quickly though. I take a travel washing line too.

Packing cubes and compression cubes are not the same thing.

Packing cubes are fabric or mesh cubes with a zip that goes 3/4 of the way round. They keep things contained and can compress a bit.

Compression cubes are designed to shrink the volume of the items rather than contain or organized. There are different compression systems such vacuum packing or packing cubes (as described above) with a second zip to pull around to squeeze things in even tighter.

There is a down side to these - it makes things smaller so you can fit them in, but it doesn’t make them lighter and people that use them tend to overpack.

Packing cubes don't compress, but you can squash a lot into them and it helps keep everything organised. We use them to keep kids clothes separate from ours and if you pack in underwear it's does take up less room.

So with packing cubes (not compression) would you say you do get more in the case? As opposed to just doing things like rolling instead of folding, putting socks & things into shoes etc?

Yes, because things are rolled or folded and the packing cube keeps them that way (a little bit of compression, I guess).

Another huge plus is that things stay in the cubes when you open you bag or case. Things don’t spill out onto the floor of the plane or table of the train when you try to get a book out, or your make up bag etc.

I’m a big fan of packing cubes and have converted everyone of my travel companions except my mum! 😂

So do you fold dresses up really small and put them in the cubes?

In addition to what has already been said, I take 2 or 3 paperbacks from charity shop to read when I’m on holiday. I then leave them behind at a book exchange or similar, and that gives me a wee bit of space if there are any small souvenirs I want to take home.

I have just bought some compression cubes and I am very impressed so far. I find rolling the clothes is better than folding, and not being tempted to overstuff the bag means they don't dome in the middle.

Agree it's fantastic walking past everyone waiting for their case

We've done this loads of times. Roll your stuff, do a little rinsing out whilst you are there and buy toiletries at the airport or when you get there.

If push comes to shove and you absolutely need something you can buy it on holiday.

I've only had a hold bag once in 10 yrs and that was because I was going from -10 to 75c
I see this as my superpower!
I did Ryanair last week with the tiny bag for a 4 day trip.

Firstly get a soft sided bag. There are some out there for the "one baggers" which are very good!
A soft bag has a better structure and often has side fastenings to shrink the size down.
You'll also not weigh yourself down.
Add in a cross body or a cyclist type for day trips inside the bag.
Fold down water flask.
Packing cubes
Heavy clothes, pashmina and trainers for the plane.
Cotton lightweight Kaftan for lounging about, sleeping in etc
Collect samples or decant things you can't do without.
Many duty free bags are clear so be careful!

Remember there will be shops!

Hammam towels as beach towels and sarongs.

Order toiletries from Boots and click and collect post security.

Was just going to say Boots Click and Collect, the full range of products and high street prices not airport. You have to order about 8 days in advance. It really was a lifesaver this time as Boots looked like Mother Hubbards Cupboard the shelves were so bare. I overheard a staff member say it had been extra busy, presumably more taking hand luggage only and having to buy in the airport

My containers have arrived!