Have you ever envied those people who sail past the baggage reclaim area? Wondered how they get away with packing for a week away with only hand luggage? Well read on!
Introducing Alison Goodwin
I have known Alison for around 12 years now, in fact she taught my prenatal yoga for my eldest son – who is now 11! Alison offers inclusive classes and workshops for all sorts of situations. I have been following her more recent addition of Yoga retreats both here in the UK and abroad with excitement.
Please see her website for more details of up and coming dates.
An avid traveller herself Alison is a pro at packing light. Here’s Alison’s guest blog post with tips on how you can do the same…
Hand luggage only?
I am a bit obsessed with travelling only with hand luggage. I hate waiting by the carousel when I could be on my way, and I don’t need as much as I think – I often don’t use everything even on this amount of luggage.
This is the Ryanair allowance you get if you purchase priority + 2 x cabin bags, packed and ready for a 10 day working holiday to Crete (I have a couple of days for me, then my clients arrive for a 7 day yoga holiday). The most we have done as a family on this luggage allowance is 2 weeks around mainland Greece in April in changeable weather and we have done 5 days in Spain this year on just the small bag. Both the bags pictured here actually still have some space in them. People often ask “how do you do it”. This is not to say I think you should – it’s up to you what you want to travel with and to some extent it depends on the duration, type and destination of your trip. But as people often ask how, this is how…
Top tips
Maximise the amount you have available by having specifically measured luggage – we got these from Cabinmax. That second bag is a funny size, but surprisingly spacious.
Make sure what you bring works hard for you – things should ideally be multi-use.
Wear bulkier items e.g. your biggest shoes, warmest sweater, fullest skirt.
Email your accommodation in advance to check what’s there – hairdryer? Washing machine? (If no washing machine you can still wash things in the sink, I often use soap rather than carry something extra!)
What to wear to fly
I will fly in:
Long skirt – bulkiest item so wearing to travel
Silver sandals (off in the airport lounge so want to be presentable! These are flat so comfy for day to day wear but dress up an outfit nicely)
Vest top, tie front bolero cardi, denim shirt worn as jacket Trusty pashmina – covers shoulders and decolletage to prevent burning, works as a beach mat or pillow, beach cover-up, head cover (for sun, or I used this visiting a mosque in Turkey for example).
I will buy a large bottle of suncream at the airport.
In the smaller bag
In the smaller bag I have:
· A pair of flip flops (by Fitflop, they have a proper footbed and are comfortable for everyday wear as well as beach)
· A bikini
· A novel and a puzzle book for the flight plus a pen
· Snacks for the flight
· Tissues and wet wipes (biodegradable!)
· Small pouch of favourite jewellery
· Sunglasses
· Toothbrush
· Small handbag for evening
· Magazine
· Refillable water flask (all airports have a water fountain these days and in the UK any catering outlet will fill it for you; in Palma earlier this year they were arsey about it but still filled it; remember to take it out at security).
My regulation zip lock bag for liquids 100ml or less: containing a roll on deodorant (these take up less space per 100ml than a spray), a travel size bottle of my favourite perfume, toothpaste, a special suncream I like for my face as it doesn’t give me spots, a cool water spray (forecast is a lush 30 C), concealer, mascara, lip gloss, travel size of my usual moisturiser, bite and sting cream as I always get bitten.
In the larger bag
In my case, which weighs 9.5kg (limit is 10kg) I have:
· A pair of trek sandals (we will be doing some walking)
· Another novel and two books I refer to for my yoga
· A 3 pin plug adaptor A small hairbrush
· A microfibre travel towel (our villa for the 7 days supplies beach towels but I’m not sure about the apartment I have for my first few days)
· About 250g/half a bag of gluten free pasta just in case
· Soap/shampoo solid bar
· Mini battery powered alarm clock as back up
· A packlite rucksack for taking to the beach
· 2 x Sol supermarket cotton reusable bags for my shopping (I’m doing some of our catering so the supermarket will feature large)
· Sunhat – large and flattable!
· PJs (shorts and vest)
· An all in one thing I teach yoga in
· Beach trousers (can also teach yoga in)
· Denim shorts (ditto and these wear so well)
· Two sundresses
· 4 vest tops of varying design
· A light cardigan
· A belt (along with some silver jewellery, and the silver sandals I will fly in, dresses up a sundress for evening)
· Underwear – I pack about 50%, there is a washing machine in the villa
· Bikini and swimsuit
· Beach coverup
· Makeup not needing to be in the liquid bag – blush/highlighter/eye pencil (I have a nice blue one that economises on the need for eyeshadow)
· Medication, small first aid kit – plasters etc, sanitary stuff (bad timing for this trip!)
· A travel yoga mat – I have been able to borrow 5 mats from a local teacher but there are 6 of us so I need to pack one.
Thanks Alison for such a comprehensive look at how you pack lightly! Don’t forget to check out Alison’s website for all details of her Yoga classes, workshops and retreats – both here and abroad - http://www.alisongoodwinyoga.com
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