Skip the airport queues: Here’s how I packed for a week away with only hand luggage

By now we’ve all read countless horror stories of endless queues and lost baggage at airports this summer.

And, as a travel journalist, I’ve become an expert at packing lightly for a long weekend away. It got me thinking: can I pack for my summer holiday using just hand luggage?

Travellers with just hand luggage can avoid the baggage drop queues by checking in online and proceeding 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 somewhere 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 of 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 what I could and couldn’t fit in 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 islands.

During my trip, I discovered it was probably a bad idea to take a wheelie suitcase to Dubrovnik.