Surely you might have found yourself desperate when trying to pack a suitcase! Weekend trips in Europe are more common every day. We often book flights with low-cost airlines that offer us only one carry-on bag or even just one backpack. Sometimes we don’t know how it will be possible to travel with so little luggage. But the truth is that there are tips to help you pack lighter. So, I’ll share some of my favourite tips I’ve learnt over the years and that have helped me to save some bucks in paying for extra luggage.

If we are going abroad, do we really need all the cards that we carry in our wallets every day? Probably not! A simple card holder (which can easily be supplemented with a small bag for coins and notes) is more than enough to carry the few cards we need: credit/debit card; driving licence (only if necessary) and citizen card/passport.

Another precious tip when it comes to pack lighter is to roll up your clothes instead of folding them. Whether you are going on a hot or a cold trip, rolling up your clothes may not seem like it, but it really does allow us to gain a lot of space in the suitcase. Try it on and you’ll understand why!

For years now, I have had a pre-made list of things to take with me on trips. Besides helping me in making sure I never forget anything and not having to make a new packing list every time I travel, it also helps me to take only what I really need.

This tip is a bit more obvious but if you wear the heaviest clothes items you will certainly gain a lot of space in your bag. Whether it’s summer or winter, this is a tip that I always give to people who want to pack lighter! This applies to shoes (in case you take more than one pair), outer jackets, but also scarves or even trousers. For example, on my summer trips, I usually take a pair of jeans with me on the plane because they’re usually my bulkiest pair of trousers.

You don’t have any space left and have a bulky camera? Although it is not the ideal solution and one I like to repeat often, it works: carry the camera around your neck when flying. However, I think this only applies to very short journeys and to destinations not too far away. I wouldn’t say overuse this tip as the cameras should be carried in better ways to avoid damage.

If we think in advance of a set of possible outfits to use on the trip, we won’t be tempted to take things that then end up not matching anything or that we don’t even need. This could be other key tip to make sure you pack lighter. It may mean you “waste time” before your trip, but I promise you it will help you come back with fewer unworn items.

Most hotels (and even hostels/local accommodations) offer some kind of amenities. Therefore, just risk it and believe that the hotel will provide amenities. If they don’t offer this kind of products, there will most likely be some supermarket that sells them.

I’ve just discovered vacuum bags very recently and find them to be a great help when you need that extra bit of space. Although many of the bags require the use of a special pump or hoover to make the vacuum effect, some work by just rolling and are much more practical for travel.

This last tip is one I discovered recently and is extremely helpful. If you need to take some cream, any kind of liquid makeup, this is really the best solution to avoid carrying the whole package. For example, I usually carry my face creams and foundation in contact lens cases.

Packing cubes are probably one of the best inventions ever when it comes to travelling and they help a lot when it comes to pack lighter. Apart from helping to save space in the suitcase because the items inside the cube are packed in a more compact way, it comes very handy in the day-to-day organisation during the trip.

I hope this has inspired you to try to pack lighter on your next trip. Believe me, it’s possible to travel lighter… the secret is to prepare beforehand! Happy travels 😉