Of all the annoying (and expensive) charges that travellers encounter, baggage fees are close to top of the list.
The unbundling of airline services over the past decade or so has been a boon to bargain hunters in some ways as they pay only for the services they use. In other ways, however, they’ve made finding a good deal even harder. You can pack a sandwich instead of having an in-flight meal, take pot luck with your seat rather than pay for a roomy exit-row seat or read a book instead of paying for the in-flight entertainment. But there’s not too much you can do with baggage charges.
There are lots of ways to pack smart and make the most of your allowance. We’ve written a handy guide – read it here.
Other ways to cut down include leaving your toiletries and bottles of sun cream at home and buying them when you arrive at your destination. The same goes for those bulky beach towels.
Another tip is to bring as much as you can in your carry-on luggage (that’s if your airline doesn’t charge to bring a carry-on or have very strict weight limits).
Some savvy travellers even ship their gifts and heavy items ahead of time (most useful at Christmas time).
One of our favourite tips is to wear as much of your clothing as you can on the flight. Sure, you will resemble (slightly) the Michelin Man but you can use your coat or jacket as a pillow and blanket on the flight and may save a couple of pounds there too.
If you’re going on a beach holiday (beach holiday with a dash of exercise, that is) wear your comfiest trainers and tuck your slim, beach flip-flops (maybe something like these?) into your luggage.
For sight-seeing, hopping on and off public transport and racing through airport terminals heels might be best left behind for smart ballet flats that can be folded into a package as small as a camera.
Cocorose London make shoes like these. Practical, stylish and comfy, they fold into a little bundle that can be thrown into a handbag for pain-free walks back to your hotel.
There are a number of ranges, collaborations with Liberty Art Fabrics (using the iconic Liberty prints) and the Royal Ballet, and popular ranges such as Classic Elegance, Luxury Heritage and Made In England.
(Featured image: JD Hancock)
