The idea for this piece came about when I was discussing exactly how light I was packing for my upcoming holiday to Portugal with my work colleagues.
I think the term "mind blown" would accurately describe their reactions when I told them I would only be taking a normal-sized rucksack, and now I'm going to tell you exactly how I'm doing it.
Some of you will know that the airline Ryanair are constantly decreasing their cabin baggage size limit, it is now a mere 40x20x25cm. Now this would have most people opting to upgrade to put their bags in the hold - well not me! I refuse to pay the same for my clothes to take a flight as me.
First things first, this type of packing works best for, what I like to call a "flop and drop" or in other words, a sun lounger holiday. Secondly, if the phrase "if I don't have it I can't wear it" doesn't sit comfortably with you, then neither will this packing list. Personally I have found I will happily sacrifice a lot of things to sail through the airport with my backpack on and be happily ensconced in my Uber before the baggage reclaim conveyor belt has even begun to churn.
So here we go, as you can see this is the rucksack I am taking. It's from the mens department in Primark and measures 50cm tall. However, as my bag won't be full, once I pull the drawstrings it'll fit nicely in the 40cm bag measurement basket. I have found when travelling with tight size restrictions it is best to go for a soft bag, this way you can squish it in if you're asked to.
Now, let's move onto what I'm actually packing. I've checked the weather forecast and it is looking incredible, the kind of sunshine and temperatures you're crossing your fingers for from the moment you booked the holiday. This makes it infinitely easier to decide what to take - here's my list:
Clothes
4 x Vest Cami Tops
1 x Denim Cut-Offs
1 x Thin Cardigan
3 x Dresses
1 x Jumpsuit
2 x Bikinis
1 x Nightshirt
1 x Pair of Cosy Socks
9 x Pants
1 x Bra
1 x Pair of Flip Flops
Liquids (100ml)
Shampoo
Conditioner
Tanning Oil
Face Cream
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Concealer
Mascara
Non - Liquid Beauty Items
Face Wipes
Soap
Shower Cap
Tweezers
Tablets
Hair Straighteners, Grips, Brush & Sectioning Clip
Other Items
Kindle
2 x Chargers
1 x USB Adapter
Teabags
Cigarette Filter Tips
Tobacco
Rolling Papers
Lighter
For the flight I am wearing black cotton harem trousers, a t-shirt, a thin long sleeve zip up and black pumps. I also have with me a small black across body bag, which fits onto the top of my rucksack if necessary. I chose to wear these items as I wanted something lightweight that will be easily packed in replacement of whatever I wear for the journey home. Thick jumpers and bulky jeans aren't going to fit in my rucksack, and I certainly won't be wearing them in the predicted 30 degree Portuguese heat!
So, that's it. I hope that this will be useful if you ever find yourself trying to travel light. Here is one last photo of the bag packed and ready to go!