Beat the travel chaos by travelling with only hand luggage: Here's expert packing advice

After a year of travel chaos, flight cancellations and lost luggage, 2022 travel hasn't been the easiest. 

Due to the energy crisis, flight prices are higher than ever so we're all looking for ways to cut costs whilst still enjoying our well-earned time off. While you can't do anything to change the cost of an air ticket, you can cut added costs, such as hold luggage. 

Travellers with just hand luggage can also avoid the baggage drop queues by checking in online and heading straight to security. Plus if your flight is cancelled, it’s much easier for the airline to transfer you straight onto another if they don’t need to find your luggage in the airport system first.

I recently managed a four night stay in Belfast with everything I needed - including my laptop - packed into a small rucksack. It left me quietly confident that I could rise to the challenge to pack everything I need for a full week away.

However, to test the theory in a more scientific way, I gathered every item I took on my recent seven day trip to Croatia to see how much I could fit into a hand luggage sized bag.

There are two key factors to consider when it comes to deciding what type of bag to take.

Firstly, what airline are you travelling with? Budget airlines like easyJet and Ryanair now only give you the equivalent of a handbag or small backpack as standard. (40 x 20 x 25 cm for Ryanair and 45 x 36 x 20 cm for easyJet.)

If you want a bigger backpack or a wheelie mini case, you’ll have to pay extra. But if you’re going for a week or more it’s probably worth forking out a few euros more.

The second thing to consider is where are you going and what type of holiday is it?

I’ve just come back from a wonderful week in Croatia, exploring Dubrovnik and the nearby