Last year’s girls holiday to Ibiza saw me not breaking with the over packing tradition people around the world honour holiday after holiday. I mean I really went to town, 14 outfits for 7 days, more accessories than Claire, a medical and herbal remedy kit suitable for almost every ailment known to man and a dresser strewn with an array of beauty, hair and body products. Absolutely ridiculous, I ended up wearing the same few outfits everyday, 3 out of the 10 bikinis and took 2 ‘Resolves’. My sister and I made a pact whilst lugging our cases into the taxi after a freezing night flight home that next year we would only take hand luggage.
This year’s holiday is now booked and we are off in two months, excited.com! Ibiza here we come again, yaaaayyyy, but what’s this? - my sister trying to put a downer on our ‘carry on only pact’ asking all kinds of difficult questions . Since we booked this holiday in February I’ve been blissfully thinking about swanning through the airport both ways, no waiting, without actually checking if it’s possible!
So I’ve done some research and made a list of the best tips for travelling light! Here are my top four tips:
1. Check your flight operator’s hand luggage weight allowance and dimensions. This is crucial, there’s no point kidding yourself, if you can’t fit it in you can’t fit it in, paying extra at the airport defeats the object . Easyjet for example will accept any weight as long as you can lift it whereas Ryanair is strict on the one piece, maximum weight of 10kg rule. Some also allow one piece of hand baggage plus one duty free bag - so you can buy to your hearts content items you may need such as toiletries, water, guide books, magazines etc. and place them in one carrier bag from the airside shops.
2. Make a list - separate this into clothing, toiletries and accessories, books and guides, medicines and any other items you are going to need. Assemble all the items on your list. Most people travel with far too much stuff that they end up not using or needing. Now get ruthless and remove everything that is not essential. You can wash clothes or use laundry services while you are away so forget those 'just in case' items. You know you don’t need them.
3. Toiletries - you need to obey the 100ml rule at present and decant items into small bottles that fit within one plastic bag for security. You can always buy items such as deodorant, shower gel, toothpaste, hairspray etc on arrival. And remember no tweezers. Get a good eyebrow wax or threading done, should more than last for a week and if away for longer book in at your hotel spa or the local beauty salon.
4. Wear heavier items of clothing and use pockets for travel documents such as passport, tickets, travel insurance, driving licence and money. You can transfer these items to your bag once you are on board.
I have emailed this over to my sister before posting, fingers crossed (for me) it will be enough to convince her how easy it is to travel light. How about you….will you consider travelling light this year or is all your stuff worth the impatient wait next to the baggage carousel?
UGx
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