Travel & Hotspots

KIKI’S HANDBAGGAGE SURVIVALGUIDE

All the unnecessary little things that are actually very handy on the plane

Packing minimally seems to be super trendy, but if there’s one thing I’m absolutely terrible at, it’s that. When I go on vacation, I take the whole mess with me in triplicate.

Really, totally not practical and cool of course, but I can’t make it any different. Going to Barcelona for three days? Big suitcase plus hand luggage. (check this travel vlog but seriously, meine gute, I was laughed at.) That was a city trip with the boy where I could convince myself that those twelve pairs of shoes were really necessary, but when you’re invited on a press trip, the idea is actually just to pack modestly. So I can’t do that. When I see in an email ‘only hand luggage’, I have a problema muy grande. Because HOW does one pack minimally? If you want to know, definitely read these tips this (which I for Christ's sake wrote myself), but again: it’s not for me.

My checked luggage suitcase has always been reasonably overpacked, but the little pink hand luggage suitcase is a complete joke. It basically comes down to not blowing on it (or actually breathing at all near it) because then it falls apart. I have no FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) but a kind of FOMS. Fear of Missing Stuff. And since that little pink rascal is the last bit of myself that I’m allowed to take on the plane, I stuff it completely full.

And that’s why a lesson on what you don’t REALLY need on a plane, but what is super handy just in case:

“Good luck packing!”

– An extra piece of clothing: imagine the checked luggage suitcase gets lost, imagine the baby on the left throws up on your well-thought-out airplane ensemble. Just saying. Go on a trip with me and I always have a plan B for you.

– Tweezers: super handy if you’re bored on the plane. You’re sitting, you can’t go anywhere, so might as well make those eyebrows on fleek.

– Makeup remover wipes: if you wear makeup on the plane, take a long trip, and look like a wilted flower pretty quickly, off it goes and just before landing, a quick touch-up.

– Slippers: if you’re wearing boots, it suddenly gets super hot during that short flight. There’s nothing as delightful as kicking off your shoes and putting on slippers. And remember: with sweaty feet, it’s a less good idea for your fellow passengers.

– A jar of cream/lip balm/something greasy: Because dry skin. Because dry elbows. Because dry EVERYTHING.

– Paracetamol/iPad/good book/card game/earplugs: you get it, I get why.

– A tampon: cause you never know… Oh, if you look sweetly at a flight attendant, she’ll probably come running with one, but I’d rather spare myself that walk of shame.

– Small brush: in case of unruly airplane hair, always handy. SOMETHING WITH STATIC. Oh, and speaking of brushes, a small toothbrush and toothpaste is also not a luxury on a long flight.

– Citrus juicer: you might just suddenly crave a good, freshly squeezed – OKAY JOKE.

Good luck packing!