Have you got any quick trips planned this year? Whether it’s a weekend city break or a short getaway to a European location, if you’re a thrifty gal like me, you’ll probably want to travel light. That way, you can focus on sticking to a budget-friendly cabin bag… or better still, the totally free under‑seat bag most airlines allow.
Why travel with just an under‑seat bag
The beauty of travelling light is that you avoid those hefty baggage fees that airlines like to charge – something that I’m only willing to pay if I’m heading away for 10 days or longer. Another benefit is that you skip queues at baggage check-in and can head straight through security, saving you time and stress as you arrive for your flight.
Then, when you reach your destination, you can glide straight out of the airport and start your holiday straight away, while everyone else is still waiting at the carousel. Whether you’re wheeling out a compact cabin case or are carrying everything you need on your back, it means you can get on your way in super-fast time.
A 5‑day city break in a sunny destination is the perfect opportunity to embrace minimalist packing. Planning a getaway boosts your mood and, with warm weather on your side, you can genuinely get away with the bare essentials. After doing post-trip audits of the things I took on my last couple of getaways and comparing this to what I actually needed, I can confidently say these are my essentials:
Clothing essentials for a 5‑day sunny city break
The trick is to pack pieces that mix, match and layer. I don’t want to take an item that only works if I have the right pair of trousers. Every item should work together and feel comfortable to earn its place in your suitcase.
- Pack three lightweight tops that can be worn day or night. I go for one floral top, one plain tee and a light shirt, choosing breathable fabrics like cotton or linen to stay cool in warmer temperatures.
- Include one versatile dress or playsuit that works for sightseeing and evening meals, ideally something that rolls up small and doesn’t crease.
- Bring shorts or a skirt that coordinates with your tops, giving you multiple outfit combinations from minimal pieces.
- Add one pair of trousers in case the weather turns cooler. I like a pair of floaty wide-leg trousers or Salsa Jeans. Lightdenim fabrics are ideal for sunny destinations because they offer the classic denim look without the weight or heat.
- Wear your bulkiest items on the plane, such as your jeans, trainers and a light jacket or cardigan, so they don’t take up space in your bag.
- Add a swimsuit if your accommodation has a pool or spa or if it’s likely you’ll be able to visit a beach or lido. Swimwear takes up almost no room and adds a whole extra dimension to your break. Don’t forget underwear and light trainer socks.
- Choose comfortable footwear. I wear my trainers and pack one pair of sandals. I go for light flip-flops tucked into the bottle holder on the side of my backpack.
Of course, this is just MY preferred packing list – yours might include more dresses, sports gear if you’re going to be working out or a for-every-weather jumper. In my experience, I’ve found that these essentials are a great starting point, and then you can add in extra items to suit the destination or season.
For example, I added a long-sleeved base layer and a jumper for exploring Malaga in March, and I’m pleased I did because it was surprisingly chilly where we were staying. Then, during a May city break in Rome, it was much warmer and I didn’t need the lightweight knit I’d packed, but it was handy for the cooler evenings.
You’ll soon figure out what the bare essentials are for you and always remember NOT to pack that item you didn’t wear last time. If you didn’t need it then, you probably won’t need it next time. And, if the weather is unseasonably cool or warm, you can always buy a new piece of clothing when you’re there.
Toiletries that actually fit in a tiny bag
Full-size toiletries are the enemy of carry‑on travel – not least because they take up space, but because you can’t take more than 100ml products through security. So the goal is to minimise, decant and simplify your routine.
- Take solid toiletries wherever possible, such as shampoo bars, lip balms and solid deodorant, which avoid liquid restrictions entirely.
- Use the toiletries available at your accommodation. It’s likely there will be soap, shampoo, bodywash etc available in the bathroom.
- Decant your essential products into smaller containers, only taking the amount you’ll genuinely use over five days, under 100ml. I have a pot the size of a 50p coin and it carries more than enough cleanser for my trip.
- Collect sachets of your favourite products. When I buy my foundation and skincare, the company I buy from allows me to request samples to try, so I stock up on sachets of the same product to take away, so I never need to carry a glass foundation bottle or full-size tube of moisturiser.
- Save the end of your toothpaste. When you’re nearing your holiday, put aside that almost-finished toothpaste tube so you’re only taking a tiny amount with you, and won’t need to bring it back.
- Rely on multi‑use items such as a tinted moisturiser with high SPF, which replaces foundation and sunscreen in one go, and a blush-lip-eyeshadow stick.
- Pack a tiny first‑aid kit, including plasters, antibac, pain relief and any personal medication (with prescription details). Trust me on this, I desperately needed this kit on my last city break trip, so I won’t travel without it now.
Travel documents & tech
Keeping your travel essentials organised makes the whole trip smoother. You can save space by loading most of the paper-based documents and tickets that you’ll need onto your tech – just remember to take a charger! Here’s what I like to do:
- Store your passport, tickets and booking confirmations in one pocket of your backpack so you’re never rummaging at the gate.
- Better still, keep tickets digital. Some boarding passes have to be stored on your phone anyway now so, if your phone has a reliable battery, keep all tickets in the phone’s wallet, screenshot accommodation details and download PDFs of booking confirmations.
- Take a tablet loaded with entertainment and books to enjoy on the journey and throughout your holiday. This means you can stay entertained while waiting and travelling without carrying a chunky book or draining the battery life on your phone, which you’ll need for those boarding passes.
- Download offline maps before you leave, ensuring you can navigate around the city even without data. If you’re super prepared, you can even figure out what bus or train takes you from the airport to your accommodation in advance, so you don’t need to rely on wifi to get you there.
- Carry a compact power bank, as sightseeing days can drain your phone faster than you expect.
- Pack a universal travel adapter, so you can keep your tech charged.
How to make everything fit
Now that you know what you’re taking and how much you’ll need to squeeze into your carry-on, let’s try to make the most of the space available. You can use packing cubes BUT this isn’t necessary – a zip-lock sandwich bag is ideal for your toiletries and will prevent leaks inside your case. Thrifty and handy!
I always pack small items like my socks, underwear and swimming gear in a thin carrier bag to keep them organised within my backpack. This bag is reused for shopping while I’m on holiday, then I can use it as somewhere to put dirty laundry or damp swimwear for the return journey.
A few simple packing hacks make all the difference, such as rolling your clothes instead of folding them. I’ve done this for years and I’ve found it reduces creasing and maximises space BUT for my next trip I’m going to try laying everything flat. I’ve seen this done online and am wondering if it’s better – what do you think?
Finally, leave room in your bag for souvenirs because you’ll inevitably want to bring home something lovely. If you’re taking sachets and nearly-finished toothpaste, there will be a little extra space when you bin these. Change into your heaviest outfit when you’re back at the airport, ready to leave, to ensure your souvenir-filled case is still within the weight and size limits.
I hope these ideas have helped you to plan your packing for your next city break. Please let me know in the comments below what travel essentials you always take. Plus, I’d love to hear your hacks for making space in your case. 🙂
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