Travel help please?

[Graphista]

First holiday in a long time. Flying Ryanair and trying to get me head around baggage rules, liquids rules, check in etc

I have priority & 2 cabin bags booked, had planned to take tote bag as personal bag but that's too big as are my rucksacks? Even though rucksacks are mentioned as an option? Don't want to incur extra charges.

Also currency/spending - I may have left things too late to organise here!

I have a hbos current account & visa debit card also capital one and M&s credit cards I think Mastercard?

Can I use these without it costing me a fortune? Am I better getting some euros and if so how do I find best exchange rate? (Maths is not my strong suit!)

Tips on liquids? It seems a very small amount 100ml will I need to pack most makeup and toiletries in hold bag? And if so how to protect items like perfume? (I may leave the perfume and just take body spray!)

As I said not been away in ages (pre smart phones!) so it's all quite alien to me. I need your help!

Seems I'm best taking euros cash with me than using my cards though I could at a push.

Going for 10 days staying with friends not sure how much I will need? Any guidance?

Hi. If you're staying with friends, surely they might have a better idea?

Especially as you haven't said where you are going to.

Cash/card depends on where you're going. Many Euro destinations are predominantly card/contactless now, others require cash.

If you have hold baggage I'd put the majority of Toiletries in the hold bag. Essentials/meds in cabin bag.

If you have a hold bag, then I would only take essentials on the flight. It’s easier with no liquids in cabin bags if you have hold luggage as then you don’t have to remember to take out at security.

You can take rucksacks etc in Ryanair. Just not massive ones. I recently flew with Ds as we had my small rucksack by feet ( with my essentials, water, etc), Ds I took standard baby changing bag size by his feet ( fitted several changes clothes as potty trained just, toys, epipen,snacks etc), and then his pram folded to cabin size for our piece above head.

if your not travelling with child, and have hold luggage, take as little as possible

When are you flying and where are you going? If you have time I'd get a Monzo bank account and transfer some funds over, there are no fees for spending abroad and you get the daily exchange rate. Not sure whether your current cards have fees for using abroad.

I'd put as many of my liquids as possible in the hold. I usually put them a few at a time in a ziplock bag and then the bag inside my actual toiletries bag just in case the pressure causes any of them to leak.

All you need on the plane is a purse really, just your wallet, passport, book/magazine, any meds you need to take, unless you are travelling with small children. Everything else in checked bags.

Personally, I just get cash out there or use my cards, unless where you’ll be will be remote enough that no cash machines.

You can take a daypack sized bag eg the kind teenagers use for school, though I tend to use a large handbag.

All liquids need to be less than 100ml and fit into a clear plastic bag (the small ziplock bags) so if you are checking a bag, put it in there, remember make up including powders count as liquid. I just take a much smaller essential makeup kit

Whilst I agree to an extent I always carry a spare pair of clothes per person (even if it's small like shorts and a tee) in my hand luggage. After a bad experience where my hold luggage got lost and took a few days to get to us it would have made a huge difference having a spare outfit so you can wear one and wash the other. To keep you going if your bags went missing. On that same train of thought make sure you have any essential medication in your hand luggage and anything you couldn't survive without for a few days if needed.

Apply for a Halifax clarity card which you can use for foreign currency with no charge and their exchange rates are fair. Standard cards with any bank usually apply a 3% charge for foreign currency transactions

Op says she has booked priority and 2 cabin bags , so no hold bags ? Liquids are a 100 ml of each item . In a clear re sealable bag . One cabin bag , plus one other bag each . Handbag, small rucksack. Has to fit under seat in front . Money wise I'm not sure . Where are you going op?and what will be the set up food wise and trips/travel with your friend ?

Great spot, I think when OP is talking about putting her make up in the hold it's thrown people.

Op, are you aware priority doesn't give you hold luggage?

Bear in mind if your tote bag or rucksack isn't full, it may well fit in to their bag measuring contraption, squashed up a bit.

Thanks for all the replies.

The friends I am staying with have lived there many years they aren't familiar with what it's like re holiday plans though they have given me some guidance on how much money I may need etc.

It's a major EU city would rather not say more.

I have spoken with bank and credit card companies re fees, they're not huge but still cost something so would prefer not to use if possible. I will take them and use them if necessary but will mostly be taking cash.

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If you have hold baggage I'd put the majority of Toiletries in the hold bag. Essentials/meds in cabin bag.

Thanks yes that makes sense

I have a lot of meds and medical equipment I need to take so that must take priority in cabin luggage of course.

Measured my tote bags and rucksacks and they're definitely too big, going to town to try and get a larger handbag (my others are really too small for my needs) that fits their requirements tomorrow.

I go next week yes I am disorganised this time! Annoyed at myself. Yes I had read about monzo and also chase on Mse but don't think I'll get them in time? Might try anyway if they don't arrive in time then I'm no worse off than I am currently am I?

I'd put as many of my liquids as possible in the hold. I usually put them a few at a time in a ziplock bag and then the bag inside my actual toiletries bag just in case the pressure causes any of them to leak

That's good advice. I am trying to keep liquids to a minimum but I have certain products I prefer that I may not be able to get there? Might ask friend re brands etc

All you need on the plane is a purse really, just your wallet, passport, book/magazine, any meds you need to take, unless you are travelling with small children. Everything else in checked bags

I get what you're saying but I like to be prepared. I also need my tech with me for various reasons inc charging kit. Plus I like to have pjs and a change of clothes and shoes in cabin case just in case.

remember make up including powders count as liquid

Crikey didn't know this! So is there a limit to how many items of 100ml in the ziplock bag? I'm thinking I might take my expensive makeup in cabin luggage and put the rest in hold and hope they're ok? I love my makeup! I was planning on taking a pared down/adaptable kit. Colours and items that work with lots of different colours/styles of makeup if that makes sense?

Apply for a Halifax clarity card which you can use for foreign currency with no charge and their exchange rates are fair. Standard cards with any bank usually apply a 3% charge for foreign currency transactions

Thanks for that tip

Op says she has booked priority and 2 cabin bags , so no hold bags ?

Priority boarding, seat booked, 2 cabin bags and 20kg hold bag (need that for shoes alone! )

and what will be the set up food wise and trips/travel with your friend ?

Friends live there. She's an AMAZING cook as it's her job! So I'm gonna be spoiled! Travel they drive and have 2 cars and bikes so pretty sorted there, they're meeting me at airport kindly. We have some days planned which will incur certain costs so I'm prepared for that.

Bear in mind if your tote bag or rucksack isn't full, it may well fit in to their bag measuring contraption, squashed up a bit

Wary of taking the chance as don't want to get caught on extra charges. Would rather be organised.

It's a loooong time since I've been on a holiday so I feel like I've forgotten all the basics! Plus a lot has changed eg no paper tickets, need to check in at library and print out boarding passes. (No printer at home at the moment)

If you’re flying with Ryanair you don’t have to print your boarding pass, they just scan it on your phone.

I contacted them by chat and they said I needed to print it out. Can I do both so I'm covered either way?

Weird question I love listening to radio will I be able to listen to uk radio out there? Via app on phone usually. Gonna download some music for the flight.

I contacted them by chat and they said I needed to print it out. Can I do both so I'm covered either way?

Yes goof plan

You can take medical equipment without it counting towards your hand baggage allowance but you might need to apply for a pass. Look at the special assistance section of the Ryanair website.

I always print out boarding passes where possible as it's a lot easier than faffing with a phone at the airport and it provides protection against lost or damaged phones or flat batteries.

For money, Monzo, Starling etc usually come quite quickly so could be an option. I think it's other debit cards you need to be most careful with as they charge a fee per transaction so obviously work out very expensive if you use them for every single coffee, lunch, bus ticket etc so make sure you really understand what your cards charge.

Just remember all electronics need to be charged when going through security as they may ask you to turn them on.

BBC radio was fine to listen to in France this month. Can you download a load of your favourite podcasts before you go to be on the safe side?

Chase account opened and card on apple wallet.

Awaiting monzo opening/verified

Just remember all electronics need to be charged when going through security as they may ask you to turn them on.

Thanks would probably have done this anyway but good to be reminded

Re liquids what's the situation with lipsticks? My favourites are expensive and I would rather have them in the hand luggage because of this.

Is it cheeky to ask for samples of my favourite perfume at beauty counters?

You can fill a small sandwich sized bag with your liquids to take as hand luggage.

As long as no container is more than 100 ml, you can take as much as you can get in the bag, so there's plenty of room for a few bottles/products if you take travel size toiletries and just about all perfumes and cosmetics are smaller than 100 ml. So just put your most valuable items in your hand luggage and things like shower gel that are cheap and easily replaced in your hold bag.

I would strongly suggest a paired down make up kit in hand luggage and put boring easily replaced things like shampoo and sunscreen in your hood luggage, do put any hold liquids /creams in a plastic bag to prevent the disaster I had, squished, lid came off!

Make up must fit in a 1 litre ziplock clear bag (a few places are now exempt but most airports this applies

I wouldn’t worry about luggage being lost in value tbh. If you have decent travel insurance your suitcase being lost will be covered. Ours is something like £150 per person per day it’s lost whilst your away, so if your away a week you get money back to buy and replace any essentials.

If you never get bag back as lost lost then it’s another amount ontop ( depending on what insurance again )

On the other hand, if your that worried about value of items, just take less? I wouldn’t take more than 2 lipsticks maximum on a trip. They might melt in heat also if your going somewhere hot so could be ruined anyway.