Travelling Light: 4 Nights with Under-Seat Hand Baggage Only

There comes a point when you look at the price of luggage and think… absolutely not.

I’m heading off to Zakynthos early tomorrow morning for a 5-day, 4-night escape, and this trip felt like the perfect opportunity to prove that travelling with only an under-seat bag really can be done.

Because honestly, when the flights themselves cost around £100 return with seats selected, paying £47 each way for a 23kg suitcase — or even £43.50 each way for a 15kg bag — feels painful. That’s nearly the price of the holiday flights again just for luggage.

As someone who travels fairly regularly, I know I’m guilty of packing “just in case” outfits, especially on long-haul trips where luggage is usually included. But for this chilled Greek island break, I decided enough was enough. No overpacking. No dragging a suitcase around. No paying ridiculous baggage fees. And also no heels needed (not that I really own let alone wear them very often now, if at all).

And actually? It’s surprisingly freeing.

The Key to Packing Light

The biggest mindset shift is accepting that you do not need a different outfit for every possible scenario.

The weather in Zakynthos is looking lovely, the vibe is relaxed and laid back, and realistically I’ll spend most of my time in swimwear, light clothes and sandals.

So the strategy is simple:

Wear the Bulky Items on the Plane

This is the oldest trick in the book, but it works.

Tomorrow I’ll be travelling in:

• Black linen trousers

• Converse trainers

• A vest top

• A cardigan

The cardigan is mainly because it takes up too much room in the bag, and airports and flights can still feel chilly even when heading somewhere warm.

Converse are always my go-to travel shoes because they’re comfortable, practical and give you a covered toe option if needed.

What I’m Actually Packing

Here’s what made the cut for 4 nights away:

Clothing

2 lightweight dresses (easy to dress up or down)

2 pairs of shorts

1 casual cotton pair

1 smarter denim pair

1 versatile skirt for both daytime and evenings

3 tops/vests

1 blouse (doubles as an evening layer or beach cover-up)

Nightdress/PJs

Swimwear

2 bikinis

No rash vest. No wetsuit. No “just in case” extras.

Underwear & Extras

A few pairs of knickers

1 spare bra

Flip flops

Fold-flat crossbody bag

Sunglasses

Toiletries

Minimal and travel-sized only.

This is where checking what your accommodation provides can save loads of space. Hairdryer? Towels? Shampoo? Don’t pack what you don’t need.

And if you’re travelling with others, buy larger toiletries once you arrive from a local supermarket rather than paying airport prices or trying to squeeze everything into tiny bottles.

Little Space-Saving Tricks That Help

A few things I always do:

Roll Clothes Instead of Folding

I swear by rolling clothes. It saves space and somehow helps reduce creasing too.

I haven’t personally used vacuum bags or packing cubes for under-seat luggage, but I do use them for longer trips with hold luggage.

Wear Your Accessories

Jewellery, sunglasses and hats all count towards space if packed.

Wear them through the airport if possible or clip them onto your bag.

Take a Reusable Water Bottle

This is one of my favourite travel habits.

Take an empty reusable bottle through security and fill it afterwards. Airport bottled water prices are ridiculous, and it’s useful throughout the holiday too.

Even better if your bottle clips onto your bag.

The Non-Negotiables

No matter how light I travel, there are a few essentials I always pack:

Phone charger

Plug adapter

A good book

My trusty journal or notebook

Pens

As a writer, I never travel without something to scribble thoughts, ideas or memories into.

The Best Part of Travelling Light

No waiting at baggage reclaim.

No worrying if your suitcase made the flight.

No dragging heavy luggage over uneven pavements or up apartment stairs.

And honestly? There’s something really satisfying about knowing you can manage perfectly well with less.

I think we often overpack because we fear not having enough options, but most of the time we wear the same favourite pieces repeatedly anyway.

So this trip is my little challenge to myself — proving that 4 nights in the Greek islands with only an under-seat bag is absolutely possible.

Now let’s see if I still feel this smug when I’m trying to zip the bag up later tonight.

If you’ve mastered travelling light, I’d genuinely love to hear your best tips, tricks or genius packing hacks because I’m always looking for ways to make it even easier next time!