Practical advice for travelling with hand luggage

Now that summer vacation is in full swing, we're all traveling a bit. Cooking on the beach in Spain or spending a month in Asia, nothing is too crazy. If you're planning to travel with only a carry-on, here are some tips for packing. How to pack as little clothing as possible while still making sure you bring the items you need. Of course, in this article, you will also get other tips on how to pack your carry-on bag so that you can leave on vacation well prepared. Have a great vacation!

What jacket to take on vacation?

Yes, it's your vacation destination. However, you should not forget to bring a jacket when you travel. If you are going to the Maldives, Curacao or any other sunny and hot destination in the summer, this tip is not for you. On the other hand, destinations such as Spain, France and Italy can sometimes be quite cold in the summer. In this case, always choose a lightweight summer jacket that you can easily pack in your suitcase or backpack. If you're going on a vacation by plane, you can put on the thin jacket at customs and tie it around your waist if it won't fit in your suitcase. By thin jackets, you will find different types of intercoats or summer jackets. Consider a sporty jacket like a slim model from adidas or Nike, or opt for a softshell jacket that can be easily rolled up. These are jackets that aren't too warm but can warm you up on a cool summer evening. Since they are often lightweight and made of a thin, soft fabric, you can easily pack them in your suitcase or bag. Don't worry if you don't bring your jacket at all on vacation. Either way, it's a good idea to have one with you. A good sweater or cardigan will do as well.

Invest in a good suitcase and arrange your things well

In addition, it is important to choose a good suitcase. A quality backpack is of course also allowed, as long as it has the dimensions of a carry-on. The good thing about a suitcase is that you have a better overview of what you put in it and what goes in it. Also, always check in advance if the size of your suitcase is accepted by the airline in question. Note that if you are traveling by train or car and want to travel light, the dimensions are not important. It is also recommended to consider the weight of your suitcase. If your suitcase is heavier than you thought it would be, you will still be traveling heavily. The next step is to pack your hand luggage efficiently. At the bottom, you can put, for example, your towels and pajamas, after which the rest of the clothes follow. Make sure you have things you think you'll need when you get on the roof. Think about a denim jacket or another nice intermediate coat, but also drinks, your laptop, camera and other necessities that need to be removed at customs. There really is a lot that fits in a carry-on, as long as you take the time to pack it the right way. Did you know that you can make clothes very small with special vacuum bags to fit them in your suitcase?

Thick clothing in your carry-on

Heading to a slightly cooler vacation destination in the summer and prefer to bring a few sweaters or cardigans along with a heavy coat? You can certainly pack that in your carry-on. On the day of departure, make sure to wear the thickest sweater possible in combination with warm pants and an outer jacket. This may make you sweat at the airport and on the plane, but it will save a lot of space in your suitcase. You can also opt for fleece sweaters. Indeed, a fleece jacket or sweater is wonderfully warm and takes up little space. It is ideal when you need to minimize your stuff in your small suitcase while staying warm during the weeks of travel. Lastly, a little vacation tip: instead of bringing multiple outfits during your stays, it's best to focus on more accessories than clothes. For example, bring several necklaces, pick a pair of cool bandanas, find several bikinis or swimsuits and bring a hat or cap. This way, you can have a different look every day while wearing the same clothes. By the way, in most accommodations, you can simply wash your clothes, in case you are afraid of having to wear the same dirty outfit at some point.