Checking baggage at the airport is both expensive and annoying, which is why it’s now so important to pack light. If you’re going to travel with just your hand luggage, you’ll need to be a little creative, but you’ll be surprised by just how easy it is to travel for at least a week using just what’s in your carry on.
Here are some tips for packing your hand luggage, so you can swoop past everyone else waiting for their baggage at the carousel, and jump straight into a taxi:
Choose the right bag
The first step is to make sure you’re bringing the right bag. Most people opt for four-sided, hard, wheeled cases due to their superior durability.
But since it will be with you the whole time you’re flying, and won’t be thrown around by the baggage guys, it makes more sense to take a square cornered, soft-sided bag since you can often stuff more into them. They’re more forgiving when you’re trying to squeeze it into an overhead locker, and it’s also lighter.
Wear the clothing which weighs the most
If you’re travelling somewhere cool, you’ll need more space for warm clothes. Regardless of where you’re going though, you should wear the heaviest clothes on the plane. The air conditioning is usually turned up high anyway, and you can use the extra pockets of your jacket or jeans for small, heavy items.
Roll your clothes
This is an excellent way to reduce the chances of you needing to find an iron once you arrive, plus it saves tons of space. Roll clothes as small as you can, and use the corners of the bag for shoes or rolled up socks. You’ll be impressed by how much extra space you find. Here’s a cool video that will teach you tricks on how to roll your clothes when packing.
Judge each piece of clothing
Before packing each piece of clothing, decide whether you’ll actually use it, how many times you would wear it, and if it can be mixed and matched to make multiple outfits.
If you’re going somewhere hot, you’ll probably be in a bathing suit most of the time anyway. If you’re traveling from place to place, no one will notice if you’re wearing the same clothes multiple times.
Bring a small amount of washing powder to wash underwear and smaller clothes items, and a stretchy line to hang them over the tub.
Send your excess baggage
If you’re moving countries, you’re probably wondering just how you’re going to get all of your belongings on the plane, and mentally preparing to throw most of it out. However instead of stressing, an excess baggage specialist like World Baggage can be a wise alternative. Companies like them will send your unaccompanied baggage at a much cheaper price than paying for another bag, or excess luggage at the airport.
Simply head to the website and enter the weight and measurements of your bags, choose how you would like it to be sent (courier to door, sea freight, or air freight), and you’ll have one less thing to worry about as you travel or move countries.
Travelling with hand luggage will save you a lot of time and will also give more value to your hard-earned money. Make your journey as easy and as cheap as possible by travelling with hand luggage through these tips.
