Look like a local. Pack like a minimalist. Pay nothing for bags.
Pack for there, and know what to wear.
“I’d rather go away lots of times a year than have one expensive luxury holiday.” Karen
Come and say hello: meet Karen → · Traveller stories →
27 destinations
Big cities 11 guides
Paris
Long dark coats, black boots and very little colour. Here's how to look like you belong in Paris without paying for a cabin bag.
London
Waterproof, layered and Tube-proof. London winter dressing is about coping with damp streets and overheated trains.
Vienna & Prague
Standing still outside in the cold is the hard part. Dress for hours at a market stall, not a brisk walk.
Amsterdam
Wind, rain and cobbles. Amsterdammers solve all three with a hooded rain jacket, flat shoes and layers.
Rome
Milder and sunnier than northern Europe, but wetter than you'd think. Romans dress warmly, in earthy colours.
Tokyo
Mild, dry-ish and golden. Ginkgo season calls for light layers, not a heavy coat.
New York
Cold, bright and festive. Dress in layers you can peel off in overheated shops and the subway, and one pair of warm waterproof boots does day and night.
Sydney
Warm days, cool evenings and very strong sun. Pack for the beach and the harbour bars, and leave muddy walking boots at home.
Barcelona
Warm days, mild nights and a city that dresses up for dinner. Cover shoulders for the Sagrada Família and keep swimwear on the beach.
Lisbon
Seven hills and shiny stone pavements. Grippy trainers do all the work; a light jacket covers windy viewpoints.
Athens
Warm days, cooler evenings and a lot of ancient marble. Grippy flat shoes are the one thing you can’t get wrong.
Sun & beach 7 guides
Orlando
Hot queues, cold air-con and the odd downpour. Quick-dry clothes, broken-in trainers and a poncho beat a full suitcase.
Miami
Warm, dry and stylish. Beachwear by day, bright resort-chic at night, and a cardigan for the air-con.
Benidorm
Still warm, beach weather and lively evenings. Light layers, swimwear and one dressy outfit for the Old Town.
Tenerife
Warm in the south, cold on Teide. Pack summer clothes plus one proper warm layer and closed shoes.
Algarve
Hot days, warm sea and cooler evenings. Swimwear, linen and proper shoes for the cliff paths.
Dubai
Hot days, warm nights and icy air-con. Cover shoulders and knees for malls and the old town; swimwear stays at the beach and pool.
Tunisia (Hammamet)
Warm days, cooler evenings and some rain. Pack summer clothes, one warm layer and something modest for the medina.
Greek islands 4 guides
Crete
Hot, dry and windy at times. Beachwear, linen, real walking shoes for gorges and a cover-up for monasteries.
Corfu
Green, hot and occasionally showery. Beachwear, linen and something to cover shoulders in churches.
Rhodes
Warm, sunny and breezy. Grippy shoes for the medieval cobbles and the Lindos acropolis, linen for everything else.
Santorini
Photogenic, steep and windy. Flat grippy shoes for the steps, a layer for the wind and a light outfit for sunset in Oia.
Balearics 3 guides
Majorca (Palma)
Hot, sunny and long evenings. Linen, swimwear and one covered-shoulder outfit for Palma Cathedral.
Ibiza
Hot, sunny and stylish. White linen, swimwear and one going-out look, with shoes that cope with Dalt Vila’s cobbles.
Menorca
Warm sea, quieter coves and the odd storm. Swimwear, strapped sandals for rocky paths and a light rain layer.
Winter & cruise 2 guides
Iceland (Reykjavík)
Wind, wet and about four hours of daylight. Wear your warmest things on the plane and pack thin layers.
Caribbean cruise
Seven nights, one small bag. Warm weather packs light, and the formal night is easier than you think.
One formula, every destination
Real climate, not vibes
30-year WMO climate normals via NOAA, in °C first with °F alongside, plus daylight hours.
What locals actually wear
Only from linked sources such as local writers, official tourism boards and guides. We never make it up.
3 outfit formulas
A small capsule you mix and repeat, so you pack fewer pieces and still get more outfits.
Fits the free baggage allowance
A packing list planned to 40 × 30 × 20 cm, the strictest common free bag in Europe.
Find your holiday style → New: day-to-night outfit swaps, casual to chic →
What each budget airline gives you free
Checked against official airline pages in October 2026. Spirit Airlines isn’t listed because it ceased operations in May 2026.
Spend less getting there
The carry-on capsule checklist
It’s the one page I’d hand you before a city break: the 12 pieces that work almost anywhere, and how I’d pack them into a 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag.
Get the checklist →