We love cheap flights in Europe. But cheap flights come with all these extra payments and the new Ryanair is making it even more expensive to have baggage. For example, as of January customers on Ryanair have to pay an additional 7 pounds to bring cary-on luggage. Upon paying this additional 7 pounds, I can now take:
- A smaller bag – such as a handbag or laptop bag, with a max size of 35cm x 20cm x 20cm and no weight restriction.
- A larger bag – 55cm x 40cm x 20cm with a 10kg weight limit.
I’m going to Italy for work for two weeks (tough break, I know, I know) and this is my maximum baggage allowance so I decided to report what I will bring in the effort to stay minimal.
Smaller Bag: This has to include all the stuff that needs to be pulled out for security (liquids, computer, and coffee pot). Once I make it through security, I can then put the coffee pot into the suitcase, but I need to have it out for security. If not, I’ll get pulled aside and have my bags extra security checked. If you are wondering why the hell I am bringing my stove top coffee pot to Italy, which is surely a place where I will find coffee, I will tell you that I actually do not travel without it. I have a number of stories about traveling with my coffee pot, such as the Japanese customs guy who thought I might be smuggling drugs, but no, its just a coffee pot.
My laptop, phone (iphone 4 that I purchased in 2014 never upgraded), iphone charger, and laptop computer cord.
Wallet and passport (inside wallet) – I specifically got a wallet from my husband for my birthday and asked for one that is large enough to hold my passport – as I only have one purse and one wallet, my wallet is expensive, by a British fashion designer, and I love it. My last wallet lasted me 14 years.
A plastic ziplock bag with: small toothpaste, razor, perfume balm*2, a basal thermometer (that I use for birth control instead of medicine)*3, small sea salt spray, small shampoo bottle, deodorant, dental floss, tweezers, and a bar of sop.
A wide comb (I have fine hair which nothing can be done to so I tend to ignore it) and my toothbrush in a toothbrush holder
My stove top coffee pot
Larger Bag: These are my clothes for 2 weeks plus the books I need for teaching. Because I have to teach, I have to look somewhat professional but like most of Europe there is unlikely to be air conditioning so I also need to have clothes that I’m not going to visibly show a lot of sweating. I tend to wear a lot of black for this reason because I sweat a lot. I once went to the Dr. when I was younger and he said that he could inject my armpits with aluminium to prevent that and I decided to wear dark colours and learn to be okay with sweating instead. The total number of items are 18 clothes items, underwear and sleeping stuff, and 3 pairs of shoes.
2 dresses: one long black casual with built in bra and one colourful with flowers — both versatile for work and going out – also visible sweat proof
1 pair of black jeans and 1 wide legged black cotton pants**
2 skirts: one black and one black with white polkadot
4 blouses: one black button down, one white button down (can observe sweating), one cream, and one white with blue flowers**
7 tank tops: two black, one printed, two cream / beige, one cowl neck white (dressier), one black and white stripped to be worn either independently or under button downs in evening or in the class room
1 black knit sweater (for cold nights)
6 pairs of underwear, socks, and t-shirt and shorts for sleeping in — I’m staying with a male co-worker in a flat for 2 weeks so sleeping gear needs to be comfortable, breathable, and very modest
4 lace bras
I pair of caramel ballerina flats, flip flops and trainers**
My moleskin journal and a roll of stabilo coloured pens for work / research ideas and making lists
Three textbooks -> these are for teaching. Unfortunately, I don’t have electronic copies of these so I have to schlep these around. While this annoys me, I also like the physicality of holding books and writing in them.*3
Often times I will get home and I still wouldn’t have worn something in my suitcase. Do you end up traveling lightly and still bring too many clothes? I’m curious that while I don’t think I am bring a lot of stuff, its very possible that I will still be bringing too much.
Footnotes:
*1 This is like lipstick balm but perfume that I bought last year in Japan. I don’t wear makeup or jewellery but I do wear perfume.
*2 This is not a sponsored post and I love my new hormone free birth control
** wearing to airport
*3 OMG it’s true – I write in books. Going to graduate school totally enabled me to feel more comfortable with doing this. I worked in bookstores all my life and thought doing so was sacrilegious. Now I find it a pleasant way to actually interact with my books
Good old Ryanair. I have discovered if your main bag is a rucksack rather than a wheelie suitcase, they are very reluctant to put it in the hold, and you get to take it on.
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