This probably sounds familiar: you go on a trip and think to yourself; I don't need to take that much luggage with me. Yet you keep stuffing everything into that suitcase and the pile slowly seems to get bigger.
This was my reality: for every day on vacation I needed a new set of clothes and preferably an extra pair of shoes. The reality of the day is that free checked baggage is – almost – no longer available with most airlines.
This has forced me to switch to traveling with hand luggage only. And oh boy, why didn't I start doing this ten (10) years ago?!!!
Below you will find a number of useful tips on how to fit everything into that one suitcase without having to book additional checked baggage.
Tip #1 Think about what you actually need
Large bottles of shampoo, an extra pair of shoes and three (3) different dresses. Do you really need this? Experience shows that you can easily cover a holiday with a few basic items (a sweater, a pair of trousers, two shirts, two leggings and some underwear). It takes some creativity, but you can quickly master the mix and match of these garments.
Tip #2 Use packing cubes
Remove your makeup from cases and supplies (such as medications) from their containers. Use packing cubes and/or freezer bags instead. These materials take up much less space and this way you can keep a good overview.
Tip #3 Bring a backpack, instead of a carry-on suitcase
Check which dimensions apply to the airline you are flying with. A common size for a hand luggage suitcase is 55 x 40 x 20 cm or 50 x 35 x 30 cm. Experience shows that you can take more with you with a backpack, because you have all kinds of compartments where you can stuff essentials.
Tip #4 Also claim some space in your partner's suitcase ;)
If possible, put your extra pair of shoes and, for example, your hairdryer in your partner's bag. Men – in general – take much less with them than women and often consider it less important to take an extra pair of shoes with them for dressier occasions.
Tip #5 Take some laundry tablets with you
You can often use a washing machine abroad on every street corner, or in a rented apartment via AirBNB or HometoGO, for example. It's still a shame to buy a whole pack and have to carry it back with you - half empty/full.
Wow: once you realize that with hand luggage only, you can skip the often long lines to check in that one large suitcase, you will wonder how you were able to travel with suitcases in the past. A pleasant start to the trip starts with yourself (with only hand luggage!). The time you save because you don't have to wait for your suitcase upon arrival is certainly a pleasant bonus.
You don't have to worry about your clothes and things getting lost (do we all remember the chaos at Schiphol in 2022?).