Travel Light Guide

Luggage fees have really hit the bank when planning a holiday. 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 and using this travel light guide essential.

For example, the carry-on size on Ryan Air is 56 x 45 x 25cm. Fee’s like this can really add up. And take a good bulk of your travel budget if you don’t pack savvy. Travelers including myself, have begun to find ways of packing smarter for business, pleasure or a mix. See how you too can save on the cost of those pesky luggage fees too.

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

Travel Light Guide Table Of Contents

Mission To You

The next time your packing your luggage, I challenge you to save on those luggage fees. Use my travel light guide below and be sure to tag #GTMBagchallenge and @girltakesmundo on your social media handles. Show off how you’ve levelled up your packing game. Who’s ready to accept the challenge?

Pleasure Trip Luggage:

This is what an 8-day Latina travel blogger luggage looks like when you travel on an economy airline. I flew Ryan Air for a summer holiday in Spain. 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 practice some minimalist travel guide strategies. I wanted to be as simplistic and smart as possible.

Have a look at what I brought using my travel light guide. How I packed it and what was purchased once I got to my destination. This helps you save on those luggage fees for your next vacation / holiday.

Tips For Packing Light For A Pleasure Trip

1. 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.
2. Light tops are an easy way to mix and match outfits with your staple bottom options brought.
3. 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)
4. Speaking of the outfit you will wear on flights, consider wearing this same outfit to return home. 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.
5. 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. Your body won’t die because you use something that isn’t what it’s used to. Trust me!
6. Towels are bulky so try to just use the ones provided at hotels. Alternatively, rent from hostels if they don’t provide them.
7. Bringing a detergent pod is useful just in case you have access to a laundry facility. This means the possibility of clean clothing during your trip.
8. Using compression bags even with a carry-on bag really goes a long way. This will help condense the clothes you will be bringing.

For Female Travelers

• Bring 1 pair of heels/nice dress shoes if you plan to go on a night out during your holiday.
• The right light dresses can easily be transformed. A light dress with flats creates an easy day/pleasure outfit. Rightfully, the same light dress with heels can easily be transformed into a night out.
• 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.)

Light Packing Strategies For Business + Pleasure Trip:

This is what a 2-weeks #Lifeinabag #GTMBagchallenge looks like when you go on a business trip and extend said trip. Adding a bit of pleasure either before or after the work portion of a 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 holiday. A mix of professional but also travel fun.

Tips For Packing For A Business + Pleasure Trip

1. 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.
2. Light tops are an easy way to mix and match outfits with your staple bottom options brought.
3. Need your outfits for business to be more professional? Consider a blazer coat. This will make any outfit including dresses for women even more professional. Additionally, itcan be worn multiple times.
4. 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)
5. Speaking of the outfit you will wear on flights, consider wearing this same outfit to return home. 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.
6. 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. Your body won’t die because you use something that isn’t what it’s used to. Trust me!
7. Towels are bulky so try to just use the ones provided at hotels. Alternatively, rent from hostels if they don’t provide them.
8. Bringing a detergent pod is useful just in case you have access to a laundry facility. This means the possibility of clean clothing during your trip.
9. Using compression bags even with a carry-on bag really goes a long way. This will help condense the clothes you will be bringing.

For Female Travelers

• Bring 1 pair of heels/nice dress shoes that are comfortable. Especially, 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.
• The right light dresses can easily be transformed into business or pleasure. This means these can easily be doubled up during the trip. A light dress with flats creates an easy day/pleasure outfit. The same light dress with heels can easily be transformed into a night out/business outfit.
• 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.)

6 Must Have Travel Accessories

Be sure to add these Must Have Travel Accessories to your list when packing a bag. See how simple items like these can really upscale your travel light game and make traveling easier.

6 Must Have Travel Accessories To Make Travel A Breeze 

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