With summer now in full swing and numerous budget airlines flying to a whole host of destinations directly from Malta, many will be packing their bags and heading to their dream destination. Nevertheless, the usual conundrum arises: should I pay for hold luggage or can I make it work with just one piece of hand luggage?
So, this month, we’ve teamed up with our favourite influencer – the wonderful Sarah Zerafa (@sosazerafa on Instagram) – to show you how to pack for a week-long getaway when you’ve only got one piece of hand luggage to work with!
We scribbled a rough itinerary. Knowing where you’ll be headed and what kind of clothes you’ll need are key to packing just the right amount. So list down the places you’re planning on visiting – the beach, a fine-dining restaurant, art galleries and religious sites – and plan your outfits accordingly.
We stuck to one colour scheme. All too often, people pack clothes in different styles and shades, meaning that the staples – such as shoes and other accessories – cannot be used throughout. Sticking to one colour scheme helps you reduce what you need to pack and means that you can reuse clothes easily – one skirt, for example, can be coupled with a variety of tops to create all-new outfits!
We limited our options. There are two types of people in the world: those who want to look their absolute best on holiday and those who couldn’t care less. We like to strike a balance by taking a beautiful jacket, our best bag and comfortable footwear to use every day while there.
We minimised on toiletries. Since airports and airlines allow just one small, clear plastic bag of liquids on the plane, toiletries also need to be kept to a minimum. If you’re staying at a hotel, then shampoo, conditioner and shower gel can be left in your bathroom. Moreover, a small amount of any other toiletries you’d like to take with you can be transferred into reusable miniature containers so you can have your favourite products without wasting valuable space.
We cut back on cables and chargers. Invest in a multi-port USB charger and you’ll save lots of space and weight! Also, do you really need to take your laptop or tablet?
We packed wisely. Knowing how to pack a suitcase to maximise space can be a lifesaver. Particularly when it comes to the end of your trip and you have another 10 items you’ve bought that need to fit in your one piece of already-jampacked hand luggage. Using packing cubes or a portable compression vacuum pump are both great options to get yourself some much-needed extra space. But, if you don’t want to spend any more money, here’s a video that shows you how to pack different items of clothing to save as much space as possible!
And, finally, here’s a list of what we took!
- 5 shirts
- 3 shorts or skirts
- 2 dressy options (mix and match with accessories and outerwear)
- 1 outerwear — sweater or jacket
- 1 big scarf which can be turned into a top/skirt/dress
- 1 pair of sneakers
- 1 pair of dressy shoes
- 1 pair of flip-flops
- 1 hat
- 2 bathing suits
- Pyjamas
- Socks
- Underwear
- Accessories (one bag, scarves, accessories)
- Toiletries
- Multi-port USB charger + cables
Do you have any advice to share with our readers? Let us know in the comments section below!
By Iggy Fenech
Iggy Fenech has been pouring his feelings into articles for local newspapers and magazines for the past nine years. His other passions include watching historical documentaries, cooking and putting together eccentric outfits. When it comes to cocktails, his favourite is always the next one.
