#GTMBAGCHALLENGE

Luggage fees have really hit the bank when planning a holiday as these fees can be anywhere from $25-$60 each way especially when traveling on an economy airline. If you think airlines in America are bad, economy airlines in Europe have even smaller size restrictions when it comes to carry-on luggage’s making packing a #LifeinaBag a real art form. For example, the carry-on size on Ryan Air is 56 x 45 x 25cm if you don’t pay to check-in your bag. Fee’s like this can really add up and take a good bulk of your travel budget if you don’t pack savvy so travelers including myself have begun to find ways of packing smarter for business, pleasure or a mix of both in order to save on the cost of those pesky luggage fees.

In the spirit of passing on knowledge like a master does with a grasshopper I decided to test my own packing secrets on my most recent trips to Spain (pleasure trip) and Austria + Slovakia (business + pleasure trip) and am ready to pass down my knowledge to you.

So next time your packing your luggage, I challenge you to save on those luggage fees using my tips below and be sure to tag #GTMBagchallenge and @girltakesmundo on your social media handles to show off how you’ve leveled up your packing game. Who’s ready to accept the challenge?

Summer Pleasure Trip Luggage:

This is what an 8-day #Lifeinabag #GTMBagchallenge looks like when you travel on an economy airline. I flew Ryan Air in July for my holiday in Spain and while I could have packed more given the above carry-on luggage size restrictions (56 x 45 x 25cm), I really tried to push my own #Lifeinabag limits and be as simplistic and smart as possible.

Have a look at what I brought, how I packed it and what was purchased once I got to my destination to help you save on those luggage fees for your next vacation / holiday.

Tips for packing for a Pleasure Trip

1.  1 pair of heels/nice dress shoes that are comfortable if you plan on going out and partying during your trip.
2. Solid color bottoms (exp. skirts, jean pants or shorts). Since tops are less bulky your bottom staples can be worn multiple times throughout the trip. TIP: Repeating outfits while traveling is perfectly acceptable.
3. Light tops are an easy way to mix and match outfits with your staple bottom options brought.
4. For women, the right light dresses can easily be transformed into a day and night outfit so they can be doubled up during the trip. A light dress with flats creates an easy day outfit and the same light dress with heels can easily be transformed into a night out outfit.
5. Wear your heavier stuff on the plane to save space in your luggage. (I’ve worn my gym shoes and a hoodie when I’m trying to pack smart and am mindful of space)
6. Speaking of the outfit you will wear on flights, consider wearing this same outfit to return home as this means one less day to pack an outfit for. 8 days of outfits easily transforms to 7 outfits needed when you wear the same outfit you flew with.
7. Buy toiletries at the place you will be if not staying in a hotel that provides them. They shouldn’t be fancy as you will have to throw them out when the trip is done and your body won’t die just because you use something that isn’t what it’s used to, for say, 2 weeks. Trust me!
8. For my ladies, when packing makeup just bring the essentials; foundation, mascara, lipstick, eye shadow, blush, etc. You only need 1-2 lipsticks and 1-2 eye shadow so no need to bring the whole closet of makeup. (This may seem like a difficult one and it was at first for me but it’s very doable once you are forced into doing this and you will be surprise how little you need.)
9. Towels are bulky so try to just use the ones provided at hotels and rent from hostels if they don’t provide them.
10. Bringing a detergent pod is useful just in case you have access to a laundry facility which means the possibility of clean clothing during your trip.
11. Using compression bags even with a carry-on bag really goes a long way when trying to condense the clothes you will be bringing.

Business + Pleasure Trip Luggage:

This is what a 2-weeks #Lifeinabag #GTMBagchallenge looks like when you go on a business trip and extend said trip to add a bit of pleasure either before or after the work portion of the trip. In my case I was working 1 week in Austria and spent the following week on holiday traveling through Slovakia. My luggage for this trip had to include outfits that I could wear for work and were a bit more professional but also outfits that I could wear while on holiday.

Tips for packing for a Business + Pleasure Trip

1. 1 pair of heels/nice dress shoes that are comfortable if your work trip requires you to look more presentable or if you plan to go out for work events or on a night out during your holiday.
2. Solid color bottoms for business (skirt and or pants). Since tops are less bulky your bottom staples can be worn multiple times throughout the trip. TIP: Repeating outfits while traveling is perfectly acceptable.
3. Light tops are an easy way to mix and match outfits with your staple bottom options brought.
4. Women, the right light dresses can easily be transformed into business or pleasure so this means they can easily be doubled up during the trip. A light dress with flats creates an easy day/pleasure outfit and the same light dress with heels can easily be transformed into a night out/business outfit.
5. Need your outfits for business to be more professional? Consider a blazer coat which will make any outfit including dresses for women even more professional and can be worn multiple times.
6. Wear your heavier stuff on the plane to save space in your luggage. (I’ve worn my gym shoes and a hoodie when I’m trying to pack smart and am mindful of space)
7. Speaking of the outfit you will wear on flights, consider wearing this same outfit to return home as this means one less day to pack an outfit for. 8 days of outfits easily transforms to 7 outfits needed when you wear the same outfit you flew with.
8. Buy toiletries at the place you will be if not staying in a hotel that provides them. They shouldn’t be fancy as you will have to throw them out when the trip is done and your body won’t die just because you use something that isn’t what it’s used to, for say, 2 weeks. Trust me!
9. For my ladies, when packing makeup just bring the essentials; foundation, mascara, lipstick, eye shadow, blush, etc. You only need 1-2 lipsticks and 1-2 eye shadow so no need to bring the whole closet of makeup. (This may seem like a difficult one and it was at first for me but it’s very doable once you are forced into doing this and you will be surprised how little you need.)
10. Towels are bulky so try to just use the ones provided at hotels and rent from hostels if they don’t provide them.
11. Bringing a detergent pod is useful just in case you have access to a laundry facility which means the possibility of clean clothing during your trip.
12. Using compression bags even with a carry-on bag really goes a long way when trying to condense the clothes you will be bringing.