Fitting everything you need for a week or two away into a Ryanair or easyJet underseat bag can be a challenge. But five travel experts have shared the same advice for freeing up luggage space: leave the ‘just in case’ wardrobe at home.
More than a dozen travel experts were asked about their holiday essentials and the items they would leave behind. Their must-haves ranged from a sarong and a fully charged battery pack to cereal bars and a favourite comb.
Fitting it all in isn’t easy (Image: Getty Images)
When it came to what not to pack, however, they agreed. Don’t bring too many clothes.
Natasha Inglis, client experience director at Good Business Travel, recommended thinking carefully about whether each item deserves a place in your bag.
She said: “Many travellers say they regret taking too many ‘just in case’ outfits which take up valuable space in your luggage. Before packing anything, ask yourself whether you’ll genuinely wear it and whether it works with at least two other items in your suitcase. If the answer is no, it probably doesn’t need to come with you. Pack versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched, with a simple colour palette so everything works together.”
Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, takes a similar approach after years of travelling.
He said: “What I leave at home is the ‘just in case’ wardrobe. After years of living out of a suitcase in places as different as Tokyo and Buenos Aires, I have learned that you never wear the extra pair of shoes and the extra jacket. Laundry is easy to find nearly everywhere, and anything I truly forget I can buy on arrival, often for less than the cost of checking a heavier bag.”
For Jim Webber, a retired teacher who runs the travel blog Travelwidstom, doing laundry on longer trips is key to keeping luggage to a minimum.
He said: “I leave as many clothes at home as possible when I travel. So, my strategy focuses on packing light and doing laundry on extended trips. For example, my wife and I travelled for 17 days out west. We each had a carry-on and a personal item backpack. We were able to wash our clothes a few times on the trip at the hotels we stayed at.”
Aman Thakran, founder of BharatFare, said ‘just in case’ items were often packed for occasions “that never happen”. Instead, he chooses clothes that can be worn in different combinations.
He said: “I travel with clothes that all go together, so everything mixes and matches and nothing extra comes along. It saves weight, and often means you can skip the checked bag altogether.”
Vummy Kihaule, founder of Tanzania Safaris, said packing fewer clothes can be particularly useful on safari, where laundry services may help travellers keep their bags light. He advised checking what your accommodation offers before setting off.
He said: “Most hotels and lodges wash your clothes every day and return them to you the same evening. So three shirts will last you 10 days. Ask your hotel if they do washes every day and you’ll be able to cut half of your clothes from your bag. Weight is also a huge issue with small aircraft on regional routes, and most have a 15kg maximum weight including your hand luggage.”