There are many “genius ways” to beat baggage limits and pack effectively when flying, according to a leading travel journalist.
On The Pat Kenny Show today, Megan Virgo said there are many ways to get stuff onto the plane without paying for it, including stuffing neck pillows and using packing cubes.
Ms Virgo recommended all travellers flying with Ryanair buy a €14 bag that perfectly maximises their baggage allowance.
“I can fit about ten days’ worth of clothing into this bag," she said.
“It means that you don’t have to pay extra for a carry-on – but it’s not just the bag, it’s how you pack.
“Some people just throw everything into a bag and think they have no space but you have to be efficient with how you pack.”
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For the most efficient use of space in a bag, Ms Virgo recommends packing cubes which she described as “small square bags”.
“What you do is put your clothing into them, you don’t just throw it in – you fold and roll the clothing according to the size of the cube,” she said.
“It could be the size of a book, the size of a toiletry bag, a newspaper, and they are quite flexible with how they are made so you can compress them.
“You can get normal packing cubes which you can squish down, but you also have a compressible packing cube which has a second zip.”
Sneaky tricks
Using neck pillows is another clever way to get more clothes on board, according to Ms Virgo.
“Make sure you invest in a travel pillow that has removable memory foam – it has to have the zip in it,” she said.
“You fill it up with clothes so If I’m going on a two-week trip, I might put some t-shirts and dresses in there – light clothing like underwear and swimwear.
“I think the last time I did it, I got four outfits into my pillow and it cushioned my pillow quite well too.”
Ms Virgo also recommended using duty-free bags to store some additional clothes on the return flight home for those who partake in some shopping while on holiday.
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