When travelling with budget airlines such as Ryanair
Chapters
When travelling with budget airlines such as Ryanair one of the major ways in which you end up paying over the odds is luggage. On some routes the price of both taking a suitcase on a return trip can cost more than the price of the flights… which is ridiculous!! But all airlines allow carry on luggage and often this is more generous than you might imagine, with a bit of creative packing you can easily skip the charges and have a true budget trip by travelling carry on only… for any length of trip! Here’s how!
Book Flights
Best Place to Book Flights
As much as we loved hopping on a train or a bus, flights are an inevitable part of travelling, especially long haul.
At The Roaming Renegades we love Skyscanner and trust them for all our bookings.
Bags:
First things first, get some bags which come well within the limits for your chosen airline and also study the fineprint. Wheels, handles etc all count, but we have also found that in practice most carriers, even Ryanair, have never actually measured or checked the size of our bags… but you know, be sensible and stick to the rules. The last thing you want is to have to pay even more at the airport than you would have if you just pre-booked checked luggage!
We have a small suitcase to act as our main carry on bag. just bear in mind that we usually travel with just one between two of us for a week long trip, but we could easily take a case each… this means that we would be set for two weeks easily.
Our Favourite Camera Bag
Wandrd PRVKE 21
We absolutely love the Wandrd Prvke!
It’s mega comfortable when when fully loaded. Has side access so you can grab your camera on the go. The material is weather resistant and there’s even a secret passport stash pocket!
There’s an expandable upper section with a roll top to keep gear separate from your camera.
We both have a standard day pack size rucksack and a small wheeled suitcase measuring just under the 55cm x 40cm x 20cm Ryanair limit (Double check other airlines). If you are looking for luggage that you know will be suitable for the cabin then it is best to buy from a range specifically designed for this. We have found this to be really useful and it means we can just go ahead and pick a suitcase or bag based on design and features whist knowing it fits cabin requirements!
Any length of trip though??
Essentially what this means is that if you can pack for two weeks you can travel on that for as long as you want. No one packs a fresh t-shirt for a 6-month stint travelling so this much room should be enough to wash as you go. Add in some flip flops, a laptop and a few accessories here and there and you are set – and as you will see we still had room in our bags for a few extras needed for longer-term travelling, many things can be bought as you need them too rather than dragging it all along with you!
Why carry on only?
It may seem that bringing half your wardrobe with you and every travel accessory known to man gives you peace of mind, but really, travelling light and having all your stuff together with you is a liberation. No more charges for one, but also no more lost baggage, no more carting massive suitcases as you try to find your accommodation.
Nope! Having it all on your back or in a small case is a real stress buster when travelling, getting in and out of the airport is so much quicker too!
Travelling should be about simplifying things in order to appreciate the complexity of the world too. Don’t bring everything you own with you, anything you forget will be on sale in your destination if all else fails, if you travel light and free and you realise how little you need to enjoy life.
Travel is about leaving material things behind in exchange for experiences… so it follows that you should always try to travel as lightly as you can!
Our Favourite Backpacks
Ok, so how do I do it!!
Pile your clothes up and then count them out for each day, most often all you will need is enough clean clothes to last you a week (The case below has weeks’ worth for two people) at a push of two weeks if that’s the total length of your trip, and that should easily fit into a small case for one person.
Anything past that and you will need to wash your clothes, most hostels and even hotels have pay-per-use facilities as well as local launderettes… or rivers!
Be strict with yourself:
Lay it all out and then think again if you really need it. Most of the stuff you put out will be unnecessary. Try to take a smaller bag to force yourself to travel lighter, think about how likely it is you will ACTUALLY use something compared to the room it takes and if you will be able to get hold of it at your destination. For example, we never take towels as they can be rented/ borrowed or are provided at most accommodation and take up lots of room and weight.
Fold or even better ROLL:
Make sure you get the most out of very nook and cranny of those bags, at the very least fold your clothes properly. Even your dirty ones when you are coming home otherwise that bag won’t shut again. But the best way to maximise space is to roll your clothes. There is this great way where you can fold your t-shirt and your underwear together and each one is good to go for each day. It also means less creases! Even better is if you have some of those vacuum pack bags… but make sure you can repeat on the way back though!
Struggling to Organise Your Stuff?
Get Yourself Some Packing Cubes
Ever get that feeling that your sh*t is just out of control!!
You open your pack and you’ve got underwear, t-shirts, socks and god knows what else overflowing here and there!
Well, there’s an easy solution mi amigo! Get some packing cubes and keep everything organised!
Don’t just shove it all in!
Once it is all rolled or folded don’t just throw it all in and hope for the best, put your socks in your shoes, lay your charger cables out flat. Sometimes the key to getting everything in is rearranging it all a few times and organising the contents!
Leave some room to play with
If you can, always try to leave yourself some spare room for either last minute travel changes/ rule changes as well as the additional stuff we all seem to pick up whilst travelling! This way you are not heading out at your limit and setting yourself up for an expensive return leg!
You will notice that one of our backpacks is quite empty, this is for that exact reason and on our recent trip to Ireland we travelled with two different airlines. The second only allowed one piece of hand luggage per passenger… so we had to fit that backpack into the other – good job we had some spare room!
Remember your liquids
Remember that aviation rules state that you can’t take more than 100ml of liquid (any one piece) on board with you. This isn’t as bad as you imagine as a tube of toothpaste for example is usually small enough. The biggest pain is Shampoo and Conditioner, this is usually too big.
You can buy travel-sized empty containers which are great. We have also often bought some once we arrived if we have been in a cheap region such as Eastern Europe or used whatever is provided in the showers in the accommodation. Soap is also a good idea as it can be carried on, is cheap and lasts a long time!
Remember to put all your liquid in a clear sealable bag for inspection and at the top or front of your bag as you will have to pull it out!
SafetyWing Travel Insurance
SafetyWing
Travel insurance is one of those annoying things that no one likes to think about, let alone pay for, when you’re planning your next trip. It can also be bloody annoying as a backpacker/long-term traveller to find affordable coverage that meets the itinerary-less lifestyle (*cough* World Nomads *cough*).
So instead of getting subpar travel insurance, now we just always go with SafetyWing. It takes like 5-10 minutes to purchase your policy and essentially functions as a monthly subscription plan with near-global coverage!
Consider what you travel in
Ok, so you don’t need to travel in all your clothes to make this work, but just bear in mind if you are taking a coat or some boots, wear them to the airport instead of your flip-flops and vest. You can take them off once on the plane but it will save space in your baggage. When on a short trip we usually only take one pair of trousers and travel in them, then shove the shorts in the bag, same with shoes!
Valuables
I always put my cameras, laptop, passport etc in my backpack and not the case. Occasionally your suitcase will end up checked for free if the flight is too full and you want to make sure your valuables stay with you.
Transfer Your Money Abroad Or Grab An International Card
Wise (The Artist Formerly Known as TransferWise)
In the early days of travel we would get a stack of money out and carry it with us… It wasn’t the best way to avoid a disaster really, but getting constantly stung by ATM fees wasn’t much better,
Now we have Wise and, phew, things have CHANGED!! With our Wise account we can keep money in multiple currencies as well as withdrawing cash and paying by card without paying transaction fees. Plus, if you work online like we do, then it’s a fantastic platform for payments.
The bottom line…
Is that it is easier than you think to pack carry-on only, much like swerving the hidden fees with a budget airline travelling carry-on only is about common sense but also being honest about exactly what you need. Sure, you might have to make the odd compromise here or there, but if you want to travel light and save money this is a great way to do it. Our trips have never suffered because of it, but in fact, have been much less stressful.
Anyway, travelling carry-on only is one of the best ways to travel Europe cheaply, or anywhere for that matter, but ya know, Ryanair!
Our Bags:
How easy do you find it to travel carry-on only or are you sceptical to try. It took a few trips for us to try it out and get it right, but it saved us so much money!
Our Favourite Gear
Osprey Backpack
These Osprey bags open like a suitcase & we’ve used them for 5+ years. They even have a detachable day pack and are super comfortable and tough.
Camera Bag
The Wandrd Prvke 31 with side access is an awesome camera bag for any trip. It’s even got an expandable separate top section and hidden passport pocket.
Sony a7 IV
The Sony a7 IV is our go to travel camera. It’s a lightweight and portable full frame camera that offers amazing quality and a great range of available lenses.
Sony 24-105mm f4
The Sony 24-105mm f4 is the perfect all round travel lens with a mega useful range. It’s also super sharp and light for its type.
Memory Foam Travel Pillow
This memory foam travel pillow is ideal not only whilst on planes or buses but as an extra pillow in hostels & guest houses.
Dry Bag
A heavier duty Dry Bag is great for boat trips and larger items and can be worn as a stand alone.
Macbook Air
A lightweight but powerful Macbook Air is our go to laptop for all our blogging and photo editing on the road.
Sony RX100 VII
Our Sony RX100 VII is our go to selfie camera with it’s 1 inch sensor, articulating screen & compact size.
USB Universal Adapter
Grab an all-in-one travel adapter with USB slots so whatever country you’re in you know you can charge your gear.
Portable Battery Pack
Keep your phone, camera and other gear charged on the road with a portable battery pack. Great for night buses.
Trail Shoes
Trail shoes are a great all round travel shoe for comfort whilst on a city break or hiking.
Waterproof Jacket
No matter where you’re travelling to a waterproof jacket is a must! Invest in a good one!
Manfrotto Befree Tripod
The super lightweight and easy to use Manfrotto Befree is our go-to travel tripod for photography
We trust the 2TB Sandisk Extreme SSD to back up all our important documents and photos on the road.
Hard Case for SSD
We keep it safe on the road with our trusty YINKE Hard Case for SanDisk Extreme SSD.
Organise Your Trip Here
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Yo, I’m Nic (they/them), one-half of The Roaming Renegades.
I’m an adventure (and halloumi) obsessed traveller with a passion for hiking mountains, exploring cities, watching Arsenal win, moshing out to Rammstein in random European fields and getting hopelessly lost on a motorbike somewhere in Asia! I am also a proud member of the LGBT+ community.
I’ve explored 80 countries, lived in Australia and New Zealand, and spent months wandering Southeast Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, all while trying to avoid growing up!
Did it work? I dunno, but my back hurts, and I still collect Pokémon cards! Who wants in?!
