My Flight Essentials ✈️ : Hand Luggage Only

Written By

Alicja Lago

When it comes to packing, I consider myself something of a minimalist Mary Poppins. A maximalist minimalist. Somehow managing to take everything, while seemingly taking nothing.

I’d call myself the master of a capsule wardrobe — capable of condensing a three-day trip into one. single. carry-on. I did it for Pescara (post coming veryyy soon I promise) , and now (in light of my family reunion in Poland), I’m doing it again. Here’s what I’m packing:

Electronics 💻

MacBook – I’ve been glued to it lately (editing vlogs, writing posts, analysing FinTech submissions). With an 8am meeting on Monday and a Sunday flight home, this isn’t a true vacation — so the laptop is a must.
Travel adaptor – non-negotiable.
Portable charger – mine charges up to 5 devices to 100%. I bought mine maybe 2/3 years ago but I’d be lying if I said I used it often. However, a recent event has made me absolutely dependent on it. So as I’m writing this the night before our flight, you bet its charging, I don’t travel without it.

Handbag Essentials ✨

(HANDBAG, not carry-on, but still essentials for the flight!)

Passport (duh — don’t forget it).
Makeup wipes (not just for makeup, but for freshening up when you’re too tired to shower — this is a safe space).

Beauty 💋

Here’s where my maximalist minimalist tendencies come out:

Makeup wipes (yes, I said it twice. Skincare girlies, don’t come for me — but I skip my full routine on short trips oops). I just don’t see the point in getting travel size skincare of everything especially for just a 3 day trip. So yes, for me, mandatory.
Caffeine eye patches + hydrating face mask – You see what I mean when I say maximalist minimalist? My skin tends to get super dry after flights, so for me a hydrating face mask is a must. As for the eye patches, let’s just say beauty sleep is definitely real. When I don’t sleep enough, you can tell by my eyes, so for me, essential.
Day cream – the one skincare product I won’t skip.
Basic makeup – on this trip, I’lll be sharing with my sister Maja (the perks of having sisters who also own makeup).

Clothes 👠

Keeping it as minimal as possible:

One dress for the reunion (I went with the red strappy one).
Heels for the reunion (I went with a nude – and also a matching handbag)
Sneakers for the flight + casual wear.
Undies (lol, obvious but essential).
One bra (yes, just the one I’m wearing on the flight — don’t judge).
Jeans for the flight (weirdly comfy lately, and you don’t need to wash them after every wear).
Leggings (super thin, backup for when jeans get annoying).
2 extra tops to rotate with jeans.
Socks (self-explanatory).
Jewellery – rule is: if I want to take it, I have to wear it. Rare exceptions for a second pair of earrings.
Oh and most importantly, the actual carry-on haha — I took one from RI which is also my university bag for the coming semester