Help me pack ten days in ryan air under Seat

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To do a ten day holiday in europe with ryan air under Seat hand luggage only. I think I can do it but I have been met with FURIOUS resistance from people saying it’s impossible. Please tell me your best packing hacks for the smallest hand luggage. I can wash clothes six days in so that feels inmediately like only a six day holiday…. Help!

You can have a Boots meal deal, book, bottle of perfume etc. from Duty Free in your carrier bag but you can't put a load of rolled up clothes, a small handbag and your hair straighteners in it.

Use it on the trip.

Ryan air bags are now bigger than they used to be - for those people imagining the old dimensions. I was pleasantly surprised when I realised.

The compression cubes with zippers, rather than vacuum, are brilliant. It’s amazing how much you can take. I also take a carrier bag but my denim jacket has huge inside pockets that I can decant the carrier bag contents into, if need be.

Of course he can. Wear one pair of jeans on the flight, pack a 2nd pair. 4 t-shirts, some pants and socks. Phone and charger. No problem.

Yep I did. Bought suncream which i used all of so that was binned and small shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and hair mousse which i just disposed of at the hotel.

It was the bottles I meant. And the swimwear/beachwear/sandals/flip flops that pp have also suggested buying at resort.

Obviously it depends where you're going but I've done 2 weeks sun holidays with just the Ryanair free backpack.

Pack: sandals, swimsuit, 1 dress, as many bike shorts & t-shirts to go under those dresses as will fit ( also used for pjs), only necessary toiletries.

Wear: runners and heaviest planned outfit (normally another dress for me), including travel scarf (that can be used as a sarong/dress), jumper and jacket.

I wash the bike shorts, t-shirts and underwear if needed (normally in sink) as it will dry quickly in a sunny country.

Me too.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking your flight is only costing £50 each way.

It was marketing genius to break down every single element of the cost of a flight in order to reduce the headline price of a one way flight to a few pounds. But it’s just a ploy. Don’t fall for it!

No one needs a one-way flight, you always need to come home. You need to travel with luggage and you’ll probably want a drink or snack whilst you’re up there too.

Just accept that the £50 headline one way price means your flight is actually going to cost around £300, like it always did!

Absolutely this.

Just save yourself this aggro and pay for the damn bag.

I get return flights for 30€ to 50€ on a regular basis. You don't have to pay for extra luggage or food/drinks. Food and drink isn't included on most short haul flights anyway, even if you don't fly lo cost.

It's doable, but a squeeze depending on what you have to take with you. I have contact lenses so no way am I going without toiletries and planning to buy at the destination. A flight pack of fluid is 60ml, a 100ml bottle of shampoo, similar shower gel, travel insect repellent, small bottle of sunscreen, one of the travel sizes toothpaste (I need sensitive teeth version so take a normal tube that's nearly done) and that will fit into a flight compatible size ziploc bag.

Undies for 5/6 days, swimming costume, one pair of sandals/flipflops, a few dresses (saves on separates). Or one shortish skirt, two shorts, 3 t-shirts/vests, max 3 other tops with longer sleeves. If you're prepared to travel wash twice part way through, you can pare back even more. Wear trainers, trousers/jeans on the plane with a cardi and a light jacket. For evenings wear the same tops and stick cardi or jacket on top if needed. Sleep in tee and knickers. I use a hamam towel on holiday, this is the only thing I think I would buy at destination. It's doable but you would have be rolling your garments pretty tightly I would think.

Or be easier on you to pay for the overhead cabin bag instead, less stress...

It takes 5 mins to rinse knickers, much better than lugging a heavy bag around, and waiting for it on the conveyor belt, in my opinion. But each to their own.

Erm...yes, have travelled plenty on a one-way basis. In one airport, travel over land, out of a different airport....

I generally agree, pay for a check in case, but I'm flying out, for two days, to have a 30th birthday dinner with my DD and I'm thinking I could get away with a under-seat bag, if I use my neck cushion as storage. That's actually a decent tip.

@DressOrSkirt You don’t need a heavy bag for a few more pants and tops! You buy a light weight spinner and just take the top bag on the plane. It’s just no brainer for 10 days!

I've had plenty of flights that pretty much do cost £50 each way, or not much more, including proper luggage. My last flight to Malaga was something like £105 return, Jet2 on the way out, which includes a 10 kg cabin bag as standard and RA on the way back, where I paid for a 20 kg hold case because the bag I take on Jet2 flights is too big to use on RA flights and I had things to bring back.

I don't pay to select seats or buy anything on the plane but do splash out a whole £6 on flights out of the UK on a Boots meal deal which, due to careful selection, is sufficient for breakfast and lunch as I usually get a sandwich or pasta bowl, smoothie and yogurt/cereal pot.

You can get stuffable travel pillows which will hold quite a lot. Also any toiletries and clothing you buy in duty free doesn't count. But by the time you've done that, and had to leave the almost full toiletries behind its often cheaper just to pay for a small case.

It depends why you're flying. I went to meet my friend's new baby and flew up to Scotland for £50 return, but I only needed 2 nights stuff which easily fit into an easyJet bag. I bought a Costa in the airport but I would have bought one if I drove or went by train - I don't see that as a flight cost.

Yes! Some of the competitive under packing here is hilarious!

Ahhh ok. Makes sense thank you

Did ten days in Malta with a shade under a kilo including phone 😎

This was my personal fave ;-)

This in spades.

A cabin bag added prior to the airport is cheap, just get a bag.

Then you have to bring that through the airport with you, I just can't be bothered.

Assuming by "Europe" you're going to a sunny/warm city location but please do let us know as it'll be much harder to pack light for a colder climate. Also, are you staying in one place or are you visiting different locations in Europe?

• buy your bigger toiletries when you get there, assuming you're in one hotel or apartment the whole 10 days.
• wear your bulkiest footwear on the travel day - this could be your chunky trainers or doc martens - whatever you'll use for any days with lots of walking. You can slot some flat leather sandals down the side of your bag as an alternative option. I did a trip with my converse daps and a pair of flat leather sandals.
• only pack your essential makeup bits. You don't need all your eyeshadows ever. same with jewellery, wear your favourite stuff and opt for things that'll go with everything. Of course, it doesn't take up loads of room but it's one less thing to worry about
• take stuff that you could wear for different situations, so a satin midi skirt that you can dress up for an evening meal or wear with a tee for day time exploring. or a silky cami dress that looks lovely in an evening situation with your sandals but you can wear over a tshirt with your trainers for a day out.
• you might not need to take socks depending on where you're going and your footwear. take undies that go under anything. do you need your swimming cozzie?
• does your accommodation provide a towel? if not, take a microfibre one.
• think layers rather than bulky jumpers.
• a denim jacket that rolls up small is better than a leather jacket you have to lug around everywhere
• a denim skirt/shorts will go with every top you own and can be worn over and over again
• you don't need loads of different chargers - get one of those power banks with 4 different wires on and just charge that
• take a kindle rather than bulky books or be prepared to borrow what other people leave at the hotel
• check what's at the hotel - you probs don't need hair dryer.
• the ryan air spaces are tiny so do double check your bag will fit. squishy is your friend. I took a big rucksack with the exact right measurements and it was fine.
• do you really need a different outfit to change into every evening? I never do on our family hols but I did on a recent city break. it was all lightweight, took up v little room.

It's not impossible