You've flown the nest, and you're ready to start seeing the world on your own terms.

Poland

Romania

Thailand

Hungary

Albania

Mexico

A serene view of Wat Phra Singh temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand, featuring traditional architecture surrounded by lush greenery.

chiang mai

It&rsquo;s a tale as old as time: you leave high school, gain newfound independence, and before you know it, your days are spent searching for cheap student travel destinations. Sound familiar?
Even though you&rsquo;re working with a tight student travel budget, we reckon you should still be able to go out and see the world. So, we&rsquo;ve rustled up a list of the best places for students to travel on a budget, no matter what kind of trip you&rsquo;re planning.&nbsp;
Whether you&rsquo;re looking for the cheapest European cities, the best solo travel destinations, or just some cheap beach holiday destinations, you&rsquo;ll definitely find something that takes your fancy.
Ready? Okay, here are six cheap places for students to travel this year:
<h2 dir="ltr">Cheapest European Cities for Students</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Krak&oacute;w, Poland</h3>
With pubs and bars on every corner and streets steeped in history, Krak&oacute;w makes the perfect budget weekend trip for students.
If you&rsquo;re just looking to let off some steam, the city has one of the best and most affordable nightlife scenes in Europe. And if you know where to go, buying yourself a <a href="https://budgettraveller.org/10-budget-tips-for-krakow/#:~:text=Cheapest%20beer%20is%2010zl%20(%20%E2%82%AC2.38%20)">beer for less than &euro;2.50</a> is totally doable; nothing screams &ldquo;student-friendly&rdquo; like &euro;2 beers!
Then for the students who wanna see more than the inside of a pub, a free walking tour is a great way to see the city on the cheap, and attractions like <a href="https://www.liverpoolguildstudentmedia.co.uk/2025/11/05/four-days-in-krakow-pierogi-pints-and-plenty-of-history/#:~:text=St%20Mary%E2%80%99s%20Basilica%3A%20Right%20in%20the%20heart%20of%20Market%20Square%2C%20St%20Mary%E2%80%99s%20Basilica%20is%20one%20of%20Krak%C3%B3w%E2%80%99s%20most%20iconic%20sights.%20You%20cannot%20miss%20the%20opportunity%20to%20go%20inside%20(for%20%C2%A33!!)">St Mary&rsquo;s Basilica won&rsquo;t cost you the world</a> to get into either.
You&rsquo;ll find plenty more recommendations in our <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/jfcs-guide-to-krakow">Krak&oacute;w travel guide</a>, including where to find a good meal on the cheap.

<h3 dir="ltr">Bucharest, Romania</h3>
If you&rsquo;re looking for a cheap European capital city, Bucharest has got to be on your list.
Your student travel budget will be very grateful for the affordable street food, accommodation, and cheap public transport over there &mdash;&nbsp;a <a href="https://romaniatourism.com/guide-to-public-transportation-in-bucharest.html#:~:text=three%2Dday%20pass,%C2%A0%20%C2%A0%20(approx.%20%244.45)">three-day pass</a> for unlimited buses and trams will cost you less than &pound;3.50/&euro;4.00.
It&rsquo;s not just us saying it&rsquo;s cheap, either. Earlier this year, the Post Office ranked Bucharest as the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/cheapest-cities-in-europe-review/">second cheapest city break in Europe</a>, with Sarajevo just nipping it by a tenner.
And don&rsquo;t worry about it being cheap but boring because the city&rsquo;s got a lively Old Town, great museums, and its nightlife is world-renowned. Seriously, you&rsquo;ll find somewhere to suit everyone there: from extravagant clubs and live music venues to rooftop bars and cosy pubs.

<h2 dir="ltr">Best Solo Travel Destinations for Students</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Chiang Mai, Thailand</h3>
When it comes to solo student travel, Chiang Mai is often ranked as one of the best destinations in Asia &mdash; specifically for <a href="https://halyourtravelpal.com/solo-travel-asia/#:~:text=Chiang%20Mai%2C%20Thailand">female solo travellers</a>, too!&nbsp;
Of course its location plays a part: it&rsquo;s got it all, including busy night markets, an Old City, lush green national parks and ethical elephant sanctuaries nearby.
But it&rsquo;s also known for having a huge community of backpackers and digital nomads making the most of the city&rsquo;s laid-back vibe, so you&rsquo;ll find plenty of like-minded travellers in the local hostels &mdash;&nbsp;there are lots of options for <a href="https://www.hostelworld.com/hostels/asia/thailand/chiang-mai/f/private-rooms/">private rooms under &pound;10 per night</a>.
And if you want to take a bigger solo trip to Thailand and see more of the country, you can still keep things cheap. By doing a few key things (e.g. swapping big tourist hubs for somewhere a little quieter, taking public transport rather than taxis, considering a shoulder season trip) visiting <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/thailand-on-a-budget">Thailand on a budget</a> is totally doable &mdash; if not easy!&nbsp;
How to get there
Flying into Chiang Mai (CNX) is the easiest way. But it may work out cheaper to fly into Bangkok (BKK) and travel between the two via bus, train, or an internal flight booked separately &mdash; get a rough idea of how much each option will cost and how long it&rsquo;ll take <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights/search?tfs=CBwQAhogEgoyMDI2LTA5LTIyKABqBwgBEgNEVE1yBwgBEgNCVFMaIBIKMjAyNi0wOS0yNigAagcIARIDQlRTcgcIARIDRFRNQAFIAXABggELCP___________wGYAQE&amp;tfu=EgYIABAAGAA&amp;hl=en-US&amp;gl=DE&amp;curr=EUR">here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Budapest, Hungary</h3>
Budapest has everything you could want as a budget solo traveller: it&rsquo;s super walkable (though public transport also works well), it&rsquo;s <a href="https://budapestcollege.hu/is-budapest-safe/">one of Europe&rsquo;s safest cities</a>, and there is plenty of affordable accommodation, with private hostel rooms for <a href="https://www.hostelworld.com/hostels/europe/hungary/budapest/f/solo-travel/">as little as &pound;10-&pound;15 per night</a>.
Sticking to your student travel budget is easy for meals too, since <a href="https://mini-adventures.com/budget-cheap-food-budapest/">cheap food in Budapest</a> is super accessible, and you can expect to have a proper dinner for less than &pound;15!&nbsp;
But don&rsquo;t just take our word for it. <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/postcards/694ebbd54865226977bfb278">Jack&rsquo;s member Sam</a> took an impromptu solo trip to Budapest, and while they weren&rsquo;t exactly the traditional student age (sorry Sam!) they say it&rsquo;s a journey they&rsquo;ll cherish forever.

<h2 dir="ltr">Cheap Beach Holiday Destinations for Students</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Albanian Riviera</h3>
As I&rsquo;m sure you&rsquo;ll have seen all over socials, Albania is really having a moment, and rightfully so!&nbsp;
While most travellers flock to the already busy Amalfi Coast and the South of France, the Albanian Riviera has beautiful spots that lots of people are still sleeping on, which makes it a much cheaper alternative.
Ksamil in particular is stunning, with sandy coves, nearby islands, and water so beautifully clear it&rsquo;s often compared to the Maldives &mdash; just without the luxury price tag!&nbsp;
You can also get a 2-for-1 on your trip and tick off another country by jumping on a ferry over to the Greek island of Corfu from nearby Sarand&euml; &mdash; it&rsquo;ll cost around <a href="https://finikas-lines.com/#:~:text=Generally%2C%20prices%20range%20from%20around%20%E2%82%AC10%20to%20%E2%82%AC25%20per%20person%20for%20a%20one%2Dway%20trip">&euro;10-&euro;25 each way</a>.
How to get there
Fly to Tirana (TIA) and take the <a href="https://albaniatourguide.com/how-to-get-to-albanian-riviera/#:~:text=By%20bus%2C%20it%20takes%203%20%E2%80%93%205%20hours%20and%20it%20costs%204%20%E2%80%93%2011%20euros.%20By%20taxi%2C%20it%20costs%20between%2086%20%E2%80%93%20165%20euros">bus or a taxi to the coast</a> &mdash; the bus will cost considerably less than a taxi.

Pro tip: It&rsquo;s also worth looking at flights to Corfu (CFU), and doing the reverse of what we suggested above by taking the ferry over to Sarand&euml; instead. This might work out cheaper, especially if your local airport doesn&rsquo;t cover Albania.

<h3 dir="ltr">Isla Mujeres, Mexico</h3>
Now this is a prime example of somewhere worth spending a little extra to reach.
Of course, flights to Mexico aren&rsquo;t exactly cheap from the UK and Europe, but TUI does usually pop up a couple of times each year with last-minute bargain fares to Canc&uacute;n &mdash; we&rsquo;re talking <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/flights/cancn-in-350s-550s-rtn">&pound;300-&pound;500 return</a> for non-stop flights. Canc&uacute;n itself can get very pricey with all the resorts, but it&rsquo;s a great starting point for more budget-friendly destinations nearby, like Isla Mujeres.&nbsp;
There you&rsquo;ll find a range of affordable accommodation, with a good amount of cheap hostels aimed at budget backpackers &mdash; you can expect to pay anywhere <a href="https://www.booking.com/hostels/city/mx/cancun.en-gb.html?selected_currency=GBP">between &pound;25-&pound;115 per night</a>. And even though the island is much more laid back than Canc&uacute;n, it still has a great nightlife scene, and is a favourite among US college students looking for a cheap spring break vacation.
The most important thing with Mexico really is to just steer clear of the tourist traps where the prices are bumped up. Luckily for you, Navigator Kash has a whole list of <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/8-lesser-known-destinations-in-mexico-that-most-travelers-miss">lesser-known destinations that most travellers miss</a>, including a great spot in Oaxaca with accommodation for $5 a night!&nbsp;
How to get there
Fly into Canc&uacute;n (CUN), drive or take local transport to the ferry docks, and hop on a&nbsp;<a href="https://isla-mujeres.net/getting-to-isla-mujeres/">ferry over to Isla Mujeres</a>.

<h2 dir="ltr">Budget Student Travel: Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
Hopefully you're full of travel inspiration now, but before you go running off to pack your bags, it helps to think about any other costs that may pop up; we're talking extra baggage fees, how to find the best airfares, and if there's any bonus discounts out there for students. So to help you plan your perfect trip, we've answered some of the most common questions about how to travel cheaply as a student:
How do I find cheap student flights? That&rsquo;s what we do every day here at Jack's Flight Club! But if you want our top tips on where to look, what to avoid, and all things error fares, read through our&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/find-cheap-flights-to-anywhere">guide to finding the best flight deals</a>.
How do I avoid paying extra for baggage on low-cost airlines? There&rsquo;s an art to cramming all your worldly goods into 1 teeny tiny bag, and you&rsquo;ll find our top tips on how to do just that in our <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/one-bag-packing-hacks-to-change-the-way-you-travel">guide to minimalist packing here</a>.
What&rsquo;s the best carry on bag? Osprey is one of our favourite brands of backpacks for student travellers since their bags are practical, supportive, and last a long time. Find our <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/the-best-underseat-and-carry-on-bags-for-travel">roundup of the best travel backpacks here</a>.
What airlines offer student flight discounts? Quite a few major international airlines offer student flight discounts and other perks, including SAS, United, and Iberia. Read through our rundown of <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/which-airlines-offer-student-flight-discounts">airline student discount programmes here</a>.
What should I pack for a budget backpacking trip? From power banks and travel adaptors, to packing cubes and Birkenstocks: find our top tips on things you do and don&rsquo;t need in our <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/what-to-pack-when-backpacking-around-europe">backpacking packing list</a>.

Cheap Student Travel Destinations

Student Discount Featured

Which airlines offer student flight discounts?

Airline Sales

When you&rsquo;re planning to buy a ticket for a flight, should you wait for a sale? The answer isn&rsquo;t as obvious as it seems... mostly because airlines can have a creative definition of &ldquo;sale&rdquo;.
We&rsquo;ve been monitoring flight prices for over nine years, and we&rsquo;ve picked up on some useful insights and patterns in that time. Some airlines have sales seemingly at random, while others have them at the same time each year like clockwork (ahem, Black Friday).
Sometimes, a sale is a sale in name only. That &ldquo;featured price&rdquo; could simply be the highest price the airline thinks it can get you to pay. So, it&rsquo;s important to know what a good price is for your ticket before you buy, even during a sale.
We&rsquo;re going to break down when most airlines have sales, so you&rsquo;re prepared next time you plan to book a holiday.

Airline sales explained: who has the best sales and when

cinque terre

The ultimate guide to finding cheap flights to anywhere

backpack

You love low fares, we love low fares. It&rsquo;s why Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club exists, and it&rsquo;s why you&rsquo;re here! If you&rsquo;ve ever tried flying anywhere on a budget, you&rsquo;ve no doubt run into low-cost airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, Spirit or Frontier. With fares that are often dirt-cheap, it&rsquo;s hard not to be lured in&hellip;
But when it comes to actually booking your flight, you quickly find out that these prices come with seemingly endless additional fees for things we used to take for granted. Sitting with your travel companions, having a drink (even water!), and&mdash;their top moneymaker&mdash;bringing a regular-sized cabin bag onboard can apparently be classified as true luxury these days.
That&rsquo;s where so-called &ldquo;one bag travel&rdquo; comes in. More than just a logical way of being tight-fisted and sticking it to the man by refusing to pay up, it&rsquo;s become a whole way of life with a passionate online community. In fact, many travellers prefer the one-bag life, even when they don&rsquo;t have to pay extra for a checked bag.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/6e565bc4f82ab568afe7592c2e6264770056b8aa" width="655" height="436" alt="Packing essentials like a camera, sunglasses, and summer clothes are spread out next to an open suitcase in preparation for a trip.">
I can already hear the cries of &ldquo;that won&rsquo;t work for me!&rdquo; and &ldquo;just pay up!&rdquo; from through the screen. So, how on earth are you meant to pack for anything longer than just a couple of days using only a &ldquo;personal item&rdquo;?
The community of minimalist packers over on <a href="https://onebag.travel/">One Bag Travel</a> has most of the answers you could possibly want.
Their example packing lists for different lengths of trip and destination are good for inspiration, but it&rsquo;s the Carry-On Travel Backpacks section that is worth its weight in gold (or would be, if it weighed anything). It&rsquo;s basically a comprehensive database of backpacks suitable for use on different airlines, including dimensions, capacity, user reviews and links straight to Amazon.
Rummaging around the site, I also spotted an &lsquo;<a href="https://onebag.travel/content/ra7jbxtrb9/ultimate-guide-to-packing-for-carry-on-only-travel">Ultimate Guide to Packing for Carry-On Only Travel</a>&rsquo;. There are lots of handy pointers there to get you thinking practically before you pack, especially when it comes to being selective about the clothes you bring. That said, I personally draw the line at the suggestion of only bringing one pair of underwear!
It won&rsquo;t surprise you that many among the JFC team also like to travel light (or, in my case, resent the idea of paying for a full-size cabin bag!). Knowing that it&rsquo;s something they do a lot, I asked them for their top tips on keeping those bags under control:
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Olivia: Collapsible everything! Only buy water bottles, Tupperware or household goods that you want to keep with you if they can collapse.
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You can find lots of &ldquo;10 best collapsible water bottles&rdquo; articles online, with options for all budgets. I&rsquo;d recommend checking reviews for mentions of durability and leakage&mdash;the last thing you want is your one bag to be soaked through!
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Tara: Packing cubes/stuff bags!
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Absolutely no disagreements from me. Flight Finder Lauren swore by packing cubes to keep everything in order <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/what-to-pack-when-backpacking-around-europe">when backpacking across Europe</a>, and I&rsquo;d go as far as to say that packing cubes are now an essential part of my packing regime at all times.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/7002c1a230e9e988900aae46fef2e9949cfa6784" alt="An orange backpack and several blue packing pouches are neatly arranged on a bed, to be packed into one bag." width="1000" height="750">
Regardless whether I&rsquo;m travelling light or with a full suitcase, I rely on them to maintain some semblance of organisation. Even my giant, sturdy (absurdly neon) <a href="https://herschelsupplyco.co.uk/shop/welltravelled/luggage/hard-shell">Herschel</a> number gets the packing cube treatment these days!
Flight Finder Kristi puts her somewhat superhuman packing skills down to her cubes, too:
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I'm very good at packing. We usually travel carry-on only, but even for our year of digital nomadding with two kids, we got enough stuff for 4 people for 1 year - from winters in Iceland to summer in Croatia - into 2 bags. One for clothes and one pretty much just for emergency medication! The key is packing cubes!
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Next step, packing the kids in the cubes?
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Andrea: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@momikeproducts2/video/7342162881447873835">This bag</a> went viral, and now it&rsquo;s on my whole family&rsquo;s must-have list!
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I must admit, it does look like an especially smart solution for carrying a suit or dress that you don&rsquo;t want to get creased in your bag. Not everyone is an expert in <a href="https://www.cabinzero.com/blogs/our-journey/how-to-roll-clothes-for-packing">tight rolls</a>!
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Lauren: I am obsessed with this <a href="https://www.osprey.com/eu/osprey-tempest-24-2021">Osprey backpack in 24l</a>. I've never been able to fit more in a carry on than with this. And you can adjust this one for small people, so the hip straps fit properly and you don't get back pain. I got mine fairly cheap as apparently nobody wanted bright orange, so it kept getting reduced!
And nothing to do with packing, but my larger Osprey comes with a built-in whistle, which I almost had to use as our only form of self-defence when attempting a sketchy group walk between airport terminals in Tanzania!
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Okay, bright colours might not be to everyone&rsquo;s taste, but if you&rsquo;re going to invest in a nice bag, you might as well take the discount! And the whistle definitely deserves some bonus points. Lauren isn&rsquo;t alone in her love of Osprey, either, with Olivia and Robin firm brand loyalists.
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Robin:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Pockets = free storage and don't count as bags.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Wear a coat through security and stuff it full.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Wear combats/techy travel gear with leg pockets.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">For your carry-on, get <a href="https://www.eastpak.com/uk-en/luggage-c140/travelpack-tarp-nearby-pEK-0A5BBR-6A8-OS--1-.html">something rectangular</a> that maxes out the dimensional allowance. I don't bother with wheels as the hardware takes up space. Do get shoulder straps, though.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Buy used bags on eBay way cheaper than brand new.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Don't be precious about outfits. Take gym/active wear type stuff that is quick drying. Wear one, dry one, rotate. Avoid socks.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Portable vacuum pack is your friend too.</li>
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Stuffing your pockets definitely feels like something from the <a href="https://youtu.be/zxCY0KsCCLI?si=_bhqwiUi1syPMKn-&amp;t=47">Joey Tribbiani school of packing</a>! While I&rsquo;m all about being cut-throat with my clothing choices, I&rsquo;m really not convinced that I could go without socks. Too many cables, however&hellip;
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Drew: Two that I use a lot:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Remove the foam from a neck pillow and use the cover to fill with clothes</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Most of my devices are USB-C now so I just take one cable. For anything not USB-C I have tiny little adaptors</li>
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<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/90f984566f4da6bc6e041f6e012b99b1231f54d1" alt="A white wireless earbud case and various adaptors rest on a wooden surface." width="950" height="575">
Even though the team&rsquo;s tips seemed pretty comprehensive, I took to Reddit (<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/">r/onebag</a>) just to check whether there were any other tips the gang were yet to discover. And actually, there was one in particular that I was sold on right away!
Travel towels are typically made of microfibre, making them compact, lightweight and quick drying. Sounds good, until they don&rsquo;t quite dry properly before you have to pack up, and they develop what can only be described as a stench.
Overwhelmingly, Reddit&rsquo;s one-baggers recommend <a href="https://herpackinglist.com/turkish-towels-for-travel/">Turkish towels</a>, aka peshtemals. As well as making a great quick-drying towel, peshtemals can double as scarves or blankets if you get chilly on your travels, or be tied into sarongs or bags for beach trips. If that&rsquo;s not a packing hack, I really don&rsquo;t know what is!
Are you a dedicated one bag traveller? How long can you live out of one carry-on-sized backpack? So far, we have reports from JFC members who have spent as much as 100 days travelling with just a single bag. If you think you can do better, get in touch and impress us with your skills&mdash;pictures and packing lists more than welcome!

One-bag packing hacks to change the way you travel

Scotland

Highland cows roam along a rural path in the Scottish countryside.

Highland Cows Scotland

As a Scot who travels a lot, it&rsquo;s not uncommon to find yourself meeting someone abroad who will tell you they love Scotland or they&rsquo;ve always dreamed of visiting Scotland. And quite rightly so, it&rsquo;s a fantastic wee country. The landscapes, the castles, the fluffy coos, the whisky: they all paint a pretty romantic picture. And Outlander hasn&rsquo;t done too much harm either, I suppose.
When I was a student, I spent a couple of summers working in the Visit Scotland information centres in Aberdeen and Glasgow. People from all over the world would drop in for a map, some tips, help with accommodation, or to book a tour&mdash;but they all had a different idea of how they wanted to see the country and in what timeframe. 
The majority of visitors staying longer than a few days tended either towards a self-drive road trip or a full-on guided tour. Both have their merits, of course, but I was surprised at how few people thought of taking public transport to get around the country. This has only intensified in recent years with the surge in popularity of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northcoast500.com/">North Coast 500</a>.

Here&rsquo;s where I confess: I don&rsquo;t drive&mdash;rather, I can&rsquo;t drive. Buses and trains are my go-to whether I&rsquo;m at home or away. All it takes is a little patience and planning (and a decent podcast), and you really can reach most places without getting behind the wheel.&nbsp;
So here are some tips from me, a local and a public transport nerd, to help you make the most of travelling around Scotland without a car.
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Trains</h2>
ScotRail is the main train company operating routes across Scotland. Others do operate within Scotland, but they tend to be long-distance routes connecting us across the border. These include LNER, Avanti, TransPennine, CrossCountry, and Lumo. Additionally, the Caledonian Sleeper runs a night train service 6 days a week (no Saturdays) <a href="https://www.sleeper.scot/about/our-trains/">between London and various parts of Scotland</a>.
Our <a href="https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/our-routes">train network</a> is actually pretty decent, connecting even more remote parts of the country and often syncing up with island ferries. That&rsquo;s especially handy for any of you planning to tackle the <a href="https://www.westhighlandway.org/the-route/">West Highland Way</a>, go on a <a href="https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blogs/feature/exploring-scotland-s-distilleries-by-train-and-on-foot">distillery crawl</a>, or even just enjoy a <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/stonehaven--united-kingdom/homes?refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&amp;place_id=ChIJCUqwt7MYhEgR5yb_p6JQLZg&amp;adults=2&amp;query=stonehaven%2C%20united%20kingdom&amp;flexible_trip_lengths%5B%5D=one_week&amp;monthly_start_date=2026-04-01&amp;monthly_length=3&amp;monthly_end_date=2026-07-01&amp;price_filter_input_type=2&amp;channel=EXPLORE&amp;ne_lat=56.56973657468622&amp;ne_lng=-2.5626367884672447&amp;sw_lat=56.547377010487565&amp;sw_lng=-2.605995674858775&amp;zoom=14.636762951783304&amp;zoom_level=14.636762951783304&amp;search_by_map=true&amp;search_type=user_map_move&amp;price_filter_num_nights=5&amp;search_mode=regular_search">windswept coastal retreat</a>.
It&rsquo;s easy to get swept up in the romance of a Scottish train journey, especially on the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20231204-the-west-highland-line-one-of-the-worlds-most-scenic-train-lines">West Highland Line</a> from Glasgow to Mallaig. Just look out for flying cars along the way&hellip; If you stick it out all the way to the end, you&rsquo;ll be treated to <a href="https://www.wayfaringkiwi.com/things-to-do-in-mallaig/#Things_to_do_in_Mallaig">rugged coastal beauty</a> featuring cozy pubs with live music and a roaring log fire.

<h3 dir="ltr">The nitty-gritty</h3>
Ticket pricing on trains in Scotland (and the UK in general) can vary wildly from one service to the next when you&rsquo;re booking in advance. Typically, the earlier you can book, the lower the price will be.&nbsp;
Buuuut there are exceptions, which are utterly mind-boggling if you&rsquo;re not a local (and, frankly, also if you are). There is no advance pricing on short-distance, high-frequency commuter routes in Scotland. You&rsquo;d think that would just apply within cities, but it also applies to journeys between Glasgow and Edinburgh. So on these routes, just rock up and hit the rails whenever it suits.
Generally, though, planning your route in advance will pay off. ScotRail releases tickets 12 weeks ahead, so if you want the best fares on longer distances at the times that suit you, set a reminder to book.
That said, if you&rsquo;re a UK resident planning a somewhat spontaneous train-based trip within Scotland, I&rsquo;d recommend checking out the unlimited travel passes that ScotRail offers&mdash;yet doesn't really advertise! Pick from 4 different options to suit your trip length and the areas you want to see, and away you go. Even better, book a combined Rail and Sail ticket, and you needn&rsquo;t worry about a separate ferry booking.
For those of you resident in other countries, it&rsquo;s even better. You can use a Global Interrail/Eurail pass to combine your travels with other parts of the continent, or you can hone in on Britain with a <a href="https://www.britrail.com/">BritRail pass</a>.

<h2 dir="ltr">Buses</h2>
Anyone who has ever travelled on a budget in the UK has taken a long-distance bus ride. Sure, they take a little longer than the train, the legroom can sometimes be pretty rotten, and the single lavatory often makes itself known to everyone onboard. But it&rsquo;s always affordable, and sometimes it&rsquo;s your only option.
While the train network is decent, Scotland has a lot of rural spots in between that rely on bus connections. Taking a long-distance coach between bigger towns is a good start, but if you want to reach <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles/scotland-castle-trail">those castles</a> and <a href="https://www.wowscotlandtours.com/blog/how-to-visit-the-old-man-of-storr/">rock formations</a>, you&rsquo;ll likely need to catch a local country bus from the closest hub, too.&nbsp;
Take the <a href="https://maltwhiskytrail.com/">Speyside Malt Whisky Trail</a>, for example&mdash;a major draw for international visitors who love a tipple. Somehow, the steam billowing from the distillery chimney stacks, nestled in among the hills and on the banks of roaring rivers, actually adds to the charm of these <a href="https://must-see-scotland.com/is-moray-in-the-highlands">(almost) Highland</a> towns and villages.
The buses here even go beyond our charming borders. Living on an island, it always feels like a novelty when I see a bus to a different country, but it is possible, even in Glasgow. If you want to avoid the cheap Ryanair hop from Scotland to Ireland, simply spend 9 hours on a coach*, and you&rsquo;ll be breathing in the brisk Donegal air before you know it.
*the coach may or may not board a ferry across the Irish Sea to Belfast before continuing west.

<h3 dir="ltr">The nitty-gritty</h3>
The big hitters in the Scottish long-distance bus game are CityLink, Megabus, FlixBus, and, more recently, Ember. CityLink has the most elaborate network, connecting all the major cities and also taking you up to towns like Ullapool in the northwest, where no other train or bus is brave enough to go.
Megabus and Flix usually compete for the lowest fares on the intercity routes, while <a href="https://www.ember.to/">Ember</a> is the new kid in town, with modern electric vehicles and a pretty competitive network.&nbsp;
Aside from Inverness, none of Scotland&rsquo;s airports have their own train stations. Since most visitors from abroad will be flying into Edinburgh or Glasgow, it&rsquo;s worth mentioning that you&rsquo;ll find long-distance bus connections straight from both to other parts of the country.
From Edinburgh Airport, you can get &ldquo;through&rdquo; to Glasgow, as we say, in under an hour on the bus, without having to head into Edinburgh first. You can also find FlixBus and Ember connections north to cities like Aberdeen, Dundee, and Stirling, and even over to Oban on the west coast.
It&rsquo;s a similar story from Glasgow Airport, with many of the CityLink buses from the city stopping by on their way up the west coast and plenty of coaches heading northeast through the city. Just be aware that trips to and from airports tend to cost a fair whack more than non-airport counterparts double their length.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re gallivanting around the country for a week or two, I&rsquo;d definitely recommend considering a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citylink.co.uk/tickets/explorer-pass/">CityLink Explorer Pass</a>. They work much like train passes, but they&rsquo;re soooo much cheaper and available to all, regardless of where you live.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ferries</h2>
As alluded to above, many train routes offer combined &lsquo;rail and sail&rsquo; tickets, and certain buses straight up just board the boat with you. These tickets are great for connections to the Hebrides and Northern Isles in particular, where flights can be particularly expensive.&nbsp;
Most ferries in Scotland have a nearby train station for easy connections; however, the route from Ullapool to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis is an exception. Since there&rsquo;s no train line up there, the CityLink bus from Inverness is your best bet. Island day trips from Glasgow are also feasible to Arran, Cumbrae, and Bute with a well-planned rail and sail.&nbsp;
Island hopping is a big thing off Scotland&rsquo;s west coast, but it will take a little planning. CalMac ferries let you make all your bookings in one go, and they have some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/blogs/ultimate-guide-to-island-hopping/#/">inspired suggestions for island-hopping routes</a>. Public transport gets spottier once you reach land, so I&rsquo;d recommend asking your accommodation host for tips about buses and taxis.
For Orkney and Shetland, your connection is with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/book/routes-times-and-prices/timetables/">NorthLink ferries</a> from Aberdeen. The port is close to both the bus and the train station, so it&rsquo;s fairly easy to line up with transport from all over the country.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll notice that the vibes up on the Northern Isles are more rugged and Nordic than anywhere else in Scotland, while the Hebrides are famed for their traditional music, the Gaelic language, and beaches to rival the Caribbean. There are more than 90 inhabited islands to choose from, so pick wisely.
In all this overland public transport chat, the one exception I&rsquo;ll make is an essential part of any Orkney trip: the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DLpTGIVI1tV/">world&rsquo;s shortest scheduled passenger flight</a>. If you have the chance, make the journey from Westray to Papa Westray (usually in under 2 minutes) and live the aviation enthusiast&rsquo;s dream.

There&rsquo;s a lot more I could say about my favourite public transport routes around the country (Glasgow&rsquo;s no. 90 bus is pretty fantastic, I must say), but these are my starting points for encouraging you to get out there without a car.&nbsp;
Using a combo of buses, trains, ferries, local taxis, and public bike rentals, you&rsquo;ll never have to worry about where to park, how to pay, driving on the wrong side of the road, who&rsquo;s on distillery driving duties, etc. Some may see travelling without a car as limiting, but I like to think of it as freeing. Take your time and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
If you have any questions about routes or destinations in Scotland, ask away in the comments or <a href="mailto:katy@jacksflightclub.com">drop me an email</a>. I'm always happy to share my tips or bother my family and friends for theirs!

Visiting Scotland by Public Transport: a Local's Guide

What to pack when backpacking around Europe

Iceland

Blue lagoon

<h3>A budget-friendly trip to Iceland? Challenge Accepted!</h3>

Accommodation: Surprisingly, staying in an Icelandic Guesthouse isn't as expensive as you think, and you'll find tons out there highlighting some of the country's most affordable options. But that's not your only choice when it comes to a place to plop your head. <a href="https://www.twowanderingsoles.com/blog/iceland-campervan-rental">Renting a camper van</a> offers great value, combining the convenience of wheels and a bed. Otherwise, pack your tent and check out <a href="https://www.camping.info/en/country/iceland">this list of campsites</a>!
If you&rsquo;re traveling for a longer period, check out Iceland's <a href="https://utilegukortid.is/?lang=en">Camping Card</a>, it gives 28 nights of access to designated camping spots all around the country.
Alternatively, for a free stay, you could also look into <a href="https://www.workaway.info/en/hostlist/europe/is">volunteering opportunities</a> or <a href="https://housesitsearch.com/location/iceland">keep your eyes peeled</a> for any house-sitting assignments. And sometimes, even <a href="https://www.couchsurfing.com/places/europe/iceland">a stranger's couch</a> will do. Female travelers, take a look at the popular Facebook group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/hostasister/">Host a Sister</a>. It's a global network of women who offer their homes to other female travelers.&nbsp;
Food:&nbsp;Eating out is expensive in Iceland, so instead of forking out your life savings for a roadside burger, aim for hotdogs (they're <a href="https://www.firefly.is/iceland-travel-info/best-cheap-eats-in-iceland/">much cheaper</a>) or better yet cook your food back at your base.&nbsp;
Activites: Thankfully, Iceland's waterfalls, black-sand beaches, geysers and mountains don't have a price tag. And if you're experienced enough of a hiker, ditch the tour-guide and head out into the wilderness for a solo hike. <a href="https://www.mountainguides.is/blog/solo-hiking-iceland">This guide</a> is a great resource for hiking in Iceland.&nbsp;
While the Blue Lagoon is the most popular, it's also the most expensive. Luckily, you'll find <a href="https://www.ontheroadiary.com/free-hot-springs-in-iceland/">a whole slew of hot springs</a> dotted around the country that are entirely free.
The island also has many caves too, <a href="https://www.islandihnotskurn.is/Places.aspx?ID=6">if you know where to look</a>.

After You Land: Budget-friendly Iceland

A person with a backpack walks through a lush, green forest.

Herschel backpack

Frequent travelers tend to be pros at efficient packing, and you just know that means they have opinions on the best carry-on bags available. When we asked the Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club Community for their ultimate cabin bag, the kind that still passes as a &ldquo;personal item&rdquo; on budget airlines, the opinions came rolling in, and the camps became clear.
Personally, I love my Herschel backpack for work and play &mdash; it&rsquo;s got good volume, inside pockets for water bottles, toothbrush, cables etc., and a delightfully furry, padded laptop sleeve. The inside lining is water-resistant, so it&rsquo;s super easy to clean when your moisturizer explodes. And then there&rsquo;s the handy zip-closure front pocket for those little things you want easy access to.&nbsp;
But, alas, my favorite red rucksack is nearing the end of its life. Like any good Millennial, I&rsquo;ve checked Vinted for replacements. But when a second-hand bag in great condition costs nearly the same as a brand-new one in the style you actually want, it makes you think twice.
So, where does the Jack&rsquo;s Community recommend I invest my backpack budget? The loudest voices sing an avian chorus:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.osprey.com/">Osprey</a></h2>

&ldquo;I've had an Osprey Farpoint 40 for the last few years, and so far it's passed every test with flying colours. It's had dozens of work trips, backpacking in Japan, hiking in Iceland, travelling around Europe visiting 28 countries in 28 days with 100s of buses, coaches and trains, numerous trips to the US &amp; Canada and here's the thing: nothing has broken 😱😱 no broken zips, no frayed ends, no rips, nothing. And I have not been careful!
It also opens up fully laid down which is a great plus. If the 40 is a little big, Osprey have brought out a smaller Sojourn backpack in the same style, which I bought my gf and she loves. The Farpoint is probably a 4/5 on comfort when carrying but easily a 5/5 on endurance. I think there is a "trek" version they've recently brought out that is presumably more comfortable. I've also gotten away with it as cabin baggage on easyJet many times, even though it's technically too big (only been fined on 2 occasions out of maybe 25?). Hope this is useful for people!&rdquo;&nbsp;-&nbsp;UninhibitedBackpacker38333
<hr>
&ldquo;I bought my Osprey 40 litre Fairview pack 3 years ago and have been using it nearly year round ever since. It opens flat so I can see everything inside, has enough compartments and easy access whilst on the move. I have travelled for several 3 month trips and it takes everything I need and more, and is comfortable for a nearly 60 year old like me to carry!&nbsp;
There are no signs of wear and tear. 100% recommended.&nbsp;
Good luck, it's a tricky and important decision!&rdquo; - Claire

Pros: Osprey bags are practical, supportive, and clearly have staying power. There are a few nice colorways to choose from, for those who like their functionality served with at least a little pizzazz.
Cons: They&rsquo;re not the cheapest; Navigator Lauren&rsquo;s fave Fairview is currently clocking in at around &pound;115/$140/&euro;150. And while they do come in different colors, they&rsquo;re hardly serving up that enduring <a href="https://www.fjallraven.com/eu/en-gb/bags-gear/kanken/">K&aring;nken</a> style. Maybe more for the outdoorsy types than purely savvy travelers?
Next up, the zero frills, zero fuss crew:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://cabinmax.com/">Cabin Max</a></h2>

&ldquo;The cabin max bird and stars is amazing, I&rsquo;ve used it for a few trips and I also use it at work!&nbsp;
It easily fits clothes and toiletries in for a whole week for one person, with room to spare for a drink and snacks. Though I haven&rsquo;t tried to fit a proper jacket in there yet as it&rsquo;s only been used for warmer trips.&nbsp;
But it still looks brand new after being used almost every day since the start of May. It even has a clip on bit for you to pop glasses/goggles/sunglasses into, and the front zip up pocket has extra compartments and a tether that clips onto items for extra security. It has a little padded slot for a tablet or such and buckled straps in the main section to hold items in tight for you to fit in extra! I love it.&rdquo; - Danielle
<hr>
&ldquo;Another Cabinmax fan here, especially the Metz 20L that fits the Ryanair bins. Sturdy and it fits a huge amount of stuff!&rdquo; - DauntlessHolidaymaker17406

Pros: Cabin Max cater to nearly every airline&rsquo;s dimensional whims. It&rsquo;s all in the name: you&rsquo;ll get the max cabin space possible (without paying extra). Plus, they&rsquo;re super affordable and come in a variety of jazzy colors and styles, some even a little more stylish than purely functional.
Cons: Not ideal for lugging around on your back all day &mdash; the shoulder straps are all you&rsquo;ve got in the way of support, so don&rsquo;t bring the kitchen sink. And yes, they are on the cheaper side, so pay close attention to design elements like laptop padding and secure closures.
And now we&rsquo;ve got a PSA from Navigator Fran, who, surprisingly, is not being sponsored for this rave review:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cotopaxi.com/">Cotopaxi</a></h2>

&ldquo;So I have a couple of Cotopaxis, but the ones that I use the most are the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L and the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. The thing that I love the most about them is that they open fully like a suitcase, but they&rsquo;re backpacks. That&rsquo;s the key thing for me because I hate having to put my hands inside a backpack without seeing what I&rsquo;m touching. Everything gets messy, whereas if your backpack opens completely like a suitcase, it makes everything much more orderly.&nbsp;
Another thing that I love is the material. The external material, especially the front, has a kind of waxy feel, but it&rsquo;s not actually wax, so you don&rsquo;t need to treat it. Even though it&rsquo;s a soft backpack, it's made with sturdy materials, so even if it gets thrown around, it feels like the things inside won&rsquo;t get hit too hard.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/a4a6e696d247b91ff1b2f8c198c762c9f99997cd" width="501" height="626" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="A Cotopaxi backpack resting on a wooden floor.">
I really love all the pockets inside and outside. That&rsquo;s important for me for storing things properly and for accessibility. The Allpa 28L I have is the new model, and it comes with a side pocket, which I absolutely love. I use it for my water bottle, flip-flops, thin sneakers &mdash; whatever fits. That pocket only exists on the newer version Cotopaxi released last year. My 35L is the older model, so it doesn&rsquo;t have it, and I really miss it. I&rsquo;m honestly considering upgrading my 35L just for that pocket (lol Cotopaxi I love you pls send me one).
Another key thing is: the 35L one has back support, which is crucial for me. It has the adjustable chest buckle and the waist strap, while the 28L doesn't have the waist strap. I&rsquo;ve walked endless kilometres with it, and it&rsquo;s essential that the weight sits on my hips and not fully on my back.
I also love the little loops on the outside where you can attach a lock or hang things. Anything with a carabiner can go there &mdash; a portable speaker, flip-flops, whatever. I really love the colours too. They&rsquo;re veeeeeeery fun and stylish.&rdquo; - Fran

&ldquo;The Cotopaxi Allpa is AMAZING. I will not have another bag, ever. The 35L one is still Euro airline friendly, and I've lived out of it for months.&rdquo; - Layla

Pros: Cotopaxi bags are clearly super reliable and practical. Plus, you gotta love their <a href="https://uk.cotopaxi.com/collections/del-dia-collection">&lsquo;Del D&iacute;a&rsquo; collection</a>, made from a patchwork of leftover fabrics. That means you get a completely one-of-a-kind bag, which can come in pretty handy during the shuffle of international travel.
Cons: That price, though. You&rsquo;re looking at &pound;140-&pound;200 new on the Cotopaxi website. If you dig around online, you&rsquo;ll no doubt be able to find them a little cheaper, but they&rsquo;re still far from a budget-friendly option. More of a long-term investment, perhaps.&nbsp;
Also, you might be joining a cult that it&rsquo;s really hard to leave if you buy one.
Now, not to be confused with the Max competition above, the Jack&rsquo;s Community is also fond of&hellip;&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cabinzero.com/">Cabin Zero</a></h2>

&ldquo;Hello! I love my cabin zero. The 28L one is small enough for under Ryanair seats, and you can get them in a variety of sizes. Happy bag shopping!&rdquo; - Daniella
<hr>
&ldquo;I absolutely adore my Cabin Zero military backpack. I used it for 6 months to travel through Asia next to my larger backpack, used it as hand luggage while making short trips. Very roomy, holds a bottle, can be locked and has a separate space for a laptop.&rdquo; - BoldHiker86402

Pros: Once again, we&rsquo;ve got bags designed to beat airline restrictions. Looking for a carry-on that&rsquo;ll fit under the seat in front of you? Just filter by &lsquo;Underseat&rsquo;. They&rsquo;re functional, affordable, and they come in pretty much every color. 
Cons:&nbsp;What they offer in color, they kind of lack in actual style. Maximizing functional bag space is key here, and every model appears to be a cuboid bag designed to fit perfectly in a bag sizer.

<h2 dir="ltr">Honorable mentions</h2>

&ldquo;My Decathlon Quechua NH500 is a dream. Survived my Lupine Racing trip!&rdquo; - DauntlessVacationer96089
<hr>
&ldquo;I swear by my Eastpak Travelpack. Two separate compartments, laptop sleeve, functions as a rucksack or carry bag. Full rectangular form so you can max out the space. Comes in a bunch of colourways, even a few waterproof.&rdquo;&nbsp;- WayfaringHopper65951
<hr>
&ldquo;I absolutely love my <a href="https://solgaard.co/products/lifepack-venture-backpack-with-closet?variant=42373594448045">Solgaard</a>. It's durable, eco-friendly, and comes with a warranty and collapsible closet.&rdquo; - Britny
<hr>
&ldquo;Herschel is hard to beat in terms of price &amp; fun colours. My two suggestions are:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://bellroy.com/products/lite-travel-pack?color=clay&amp;material=dura_lite_nylon&amp;size=30l#slide-0">Bellroy travel bags</a>. The water proofing is no joke!</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.incase.com/collections/backpacks/products/arc-travel-pack">Incase travel bags</a>. Unlimited pockets for everything, but zippers could be better.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bonus suggestion for&nbsp;<a href="https://uk.beistravel.com/collections/backpacks">cute styles &amp; functionality</a>. The backpacks don't have padding, though.&rdquo; - Ramir</li>
</ul>
<hr>
&ldquo;Came across the shop &ldquo;<a href="https://thepropertyof.com/collections/backpacks">Property of</a>&rdquo; during a layover in Amsterdam. Such a fantastic blend of style and practicality. It was next for me after my Herschel. I used the Karl on my 6-week South America trip (hand luggage only: and included a suit). Also completed the 5 day Salkantay trek with it, so comfortable for all day. The back completely zips open; a detachable hip belt, looks unreal&hellip; works for me.&rdquo; - TrailblazingTripper71477
<hr>
&ldquo;I am currently in Bali. I&rsquo;ve travelled with <a href="https://www.samsonite.co.uk/backpacks-with-wheels/">this hybrid carry-on wheeled backpack</a> since at least 2011. I first bought it in an outlet store, then when the telescoping handle failed after 8 years.&nbsp; I purchased a replacement from Amazon in 2019. At that time, it was $73.
For me, it's well worth it. Soft like a backpack but constructed of rugged water-resistant nylon, it's backpack straps are hidden in the back zipper compartment, waiting for you to hit that rocky dirt road that doesn't take the wheels well. It has many compartments, including a good computer sleeve.&rdquo; - Nancie

If, like me, you&rsquo;re in the market for a trusty new travel bag, hopefully the wise words of the Jack&rsquo;s Community have helped you. Whether you&rsquo;re looking for an investment, or just something to get you through the next long weekend getaway, you have plenty of options here.
The winner? Personally, I&rsquo;ve already got a larger rucksack with waist straps that's suitable for a week of Interrailing. What I&rsquo;m really looking for is that handy under-seat bag fit for a weekend away, which may incidentally also look a little bit cool. Right now, I&rsquo;m torn between a cheaper Cabin Max and sticking with my fave &mdash; only time (or a really good offer) will tell.
Let us know below if we've missed anything. Or if you have a favorite full-sized, wheeled cabin bag that fits in the overhead bins, share your tips in the comments.

The Best Underseat and Carry-On Bags for Budget Travel

Backpack Cover

You love low fares, we love low fares. It&rsquo;s why we set up Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club, and it&rsquo;s why you&rsquo;re here! If you&rsquo;ve tried getting anywhere in Europe for under &pound;50 return, it&rsquo;s likely you&rsquo;ve come across both Wizz and Ryanair. These insanely <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/budget-airlines-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low-cost carriers</a> rival the likes of easyJet by offering fares that can&rsquo;t help but lure in budget-savvy travellers.
<h4>For anyone who&rsquo;s tried to book a ticket with either carrier, you&rsquo;ve likely seen that these prices come with a cost in additional fees for things you&rsquo;d often take for granted, such as sitting with your travel companion(s), having a drink (or even water!) on board, and especially their top moneymaker &mdash; bringing a regular-sized cabin bag on-board.</h4>
To ensure that your flight remains as cheap as possible, we&rsquo;ve written this handy guide all about the two airlines&rsquo; personal baggage policies and how to make the absolute most of your free allowance.
<h2>Ryanair</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/33a4c5bf3ac55445c5e322e8ed356422e04fca19" alt="Ryanair Airplane" width="740" height="450">
Love them or hate them, you can&rsquo;t help but be impressed at Ryanair&rsquo;s pan-European coverage (200+ destinations, including some hidden gems) or their super low fares. Their personal baggage policy is, in their own words, designed to maximise the efficient turnaround of its aircraft. Whichever way you look at it, your cheap ticket could end up looking a little less appealing once you&rsquo;ve added a decent sized bag into the mix.
<h3>How strict is Ryanair&rsquo;s personal baggage policy?</h3>
Very. If your free personal bag doesn&rsquo;t fit in the bag sizer at the check-in counter (and sometimes even at the gate), you&rsquo;ll have to pay ~&pound;25&nbsp;to have it placed in the hold. At an allowance of 40 x 20 x 25cm, this means that anything over the size of a small rucksack, handbag, or laptop bag is at risk of being charged for. That said, you do have a little bit of wiggle room as the bag sizer is a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@riutbag.com/video/7474936748578000150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small bit bigger than the maximum allowance</a>, so you&rsquo;re still free to live life on the edge, at least a little.
<blockquote>Pro Tip: Unless you&rsquo;re checking a bag, avoid the check-in counter at all costs. Check in online, print your boarding pass (or have it ready to go on your phone), and go straight through security. Their staff will often avoid doing thorough baggage allowance checks at the gate (especially on delayed flights), while a stop at the counter only gives them another opportunity to find a reason to fine you. Less staff interaction is encouraged!</blockquote>
<h3>Why do they charge fees to add a regular-sized cabin bag?</h3>
Ryanair insists that efficiency and timekeeping is the primary aim of this exercise. Anyone who has taken a late evening flight on Ryanair will know all too well its punctuality issues, so the airline&rsquo;s aim is to reduce the number of bags having to be removed at the departure gate and checked into the hold and thus speed up the boarding process.
Additionally, charging add-on fees for nearly everything helps them keep their base flight prices as low as they are, driving more customers to their website over the competition.
<h3>What is their baggage policy &amp; how much do they charge?</h3>
Passengers are allowed one free bag up to 40 x 30 x 20cm, with a &euro;/&pound;46-&euro;/&pound;60 fee at the gate should this not fit in the bag sizer. For an additional cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20cm, it costs between &euro;/&pound;9.49 and &euro;/&pound;44 to add at the time of booking (dependent on route), or between &euro;/&pound;23.99 and &euro;/&pound;44.99 if added later, with priority boarding included. Cabin bags that exceed this size will be liable to an eye-watering &euro;/&pound;70-&euro;/&pound;75 fee to be placed into the hold at the gate.
In terms of checked baggage, a 20kg piece can be purchased for between &euro;/&pound;18.99 and &euro;/&pound;59.99 each way at the time of booking, or between &euro;/&pound;39.99 and &euro;/&pound;59.99 either later on or at the check-in desk (max dimensions 120 x 120 x 80cm). It&rsquo;s worth pointing out that a &euro;/&pound;13 per kilo excess will be charged should your checked bag be over the weight allowance.
Find the most up-to-date info and a detailed breakdown of all bag fees and charges (including those for sports equipment, musical instruments, etc.) <a href="https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/fees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/a055c39f7b3c233e30c0f0aa1609f11670f91c03" width="615" height="368">
<h3>How to make the most of Ryanair&rsquo;s free baggage allowance</h3>
Whisper it, whilst your free bag is supposed to fit under the seat in front of you, it can usually be placed into the overhead lockers without too much fuss, freeing up a bit more room for you. Be sure to arrive at the departure gate early in order to find some space on board. Space and budget-conscious travellers should consider a bag such as <a href="https://aeroliteluggage.co.uk/collections/ryanair-approved-hand-luggage-aerolite/products/aerolite-40x20x25-ryanair-maximum-size-backpack-trolley-bag-with-2-wheels-eco-friendly-cabin-luggage-approved-extendable-handle-travel-carry-on-holdall-flight-rucksack-with-10-year-warranty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this</a> that complies with Ryanair&rsquo;s free baggage allowance, or this <a href="https://cabinmax.com/products/travel-hack-stowaway-cabin-backpack-flies-free-on-ryanair?variant=34928634790054" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stylish little number</a> (Note: We are not affiliated with these sellers).
<blockquote>Pro Tip: Avoid hardside luggage and go with a softside bag for your carry-on. You&rsquo;ll typically be able to fit at least 25% more and still muscle it into their bag-sizer at the gate if asked to!</blockquote>
You can read all of the <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/one-bag-packing-hacks-to-change-the-way-you-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JFC team's one-bag packing tips here</a>, too!&nbsp;
<h3>Other ways Ryanair can catch you slipping:</h3>
Know what you paid for. If you do choose to pay for a full-sized carry-on or checked bag, remember that you did. Ryanair&rsquo;s check-in process and boarding passes purposely make it difficult to see what you&rsquo;ve already paid for, as they try to encourage you to make those same purchases again by mistake. You won&rsquo;t be getting a refund if you&rsquo;ve accidentally paid for 2 checked bags.
<h2>Wizz Air</h2>
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/1bac753de2749f4a817e51fc11c0bf989602f528" alt="Wizz Air Airplane" width="740" height="483">
The Hungarian carrier has been rapidly expanding over the past decade and has emerged as a leading competitor to both Ryanair and easyJet. They specialise in flights to Eastern European destinations so are well worth a look if you&rsquo;re looking to get to places like Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, as well as some further out destinations like Armenia.
Much like Ryanair, they offer rock bottom fares with the proviso that a standard cabin bag and other items will cost you extra, shockingly even more so than Ryanair!
<h3>How strict is Wizz Air&rsquo;s personal baggage policy?</h3>
A little less so than Ryanair&rsquo;s. At 40 x 30 x 20cm their free carry-on allowance permits a wider, yet slightly shallower, bag than Ryanair. Wizz Priority includes the larger cabin bag, and you can purchase this for up to &euro;57.50 dependent on season and route if purchased at the time of booking, or for &euro;65 at the airport.
<h3>Why do they charge fees to add a regular-sized cabin bag?</h3>
In order to compete with the likes of Ryanair, not to mention to attract potential customers with their low base fares. Basically, all the same reasons as those stated above.
<h3>What is their baggage policy &amp; how much do they charge?</h3>
Passengers are permitted to travel with a bag up to 40 x 30 x 20cm for free. Purchase Wizz Priority as mentioned above and you can bring along an additional 55 x 40 x 23cm bag (note the competitive advantage of 3cm extra depth over Ryanair&rsquo;s allowance). Both bags are guaranteed to go into the cabin unless operational requirements make it absolutely impossible, lessening the risk of having to wait at the other end in baggage reclaim.
<img src="https://d20k4h1q6oowm6.cloudfront.net/id/fdd572bb390c440f8cb08e1c850e0ba9164cb083" alt="baggage policy diagram">
As far as checked baggage goes, things get a little more complicated. The standard allowance is 10kg for between &euro;15 and &euro;163 per flight, depending on the season. Do note that, like Ryanair, Wizz places size restrictions on hold baggage (149 x 119 x 171cm). If you require additional weight then it&rsquo;s worth considering the Wizz Go package which allows for 20kg and a small carry-on bag, or Wizz Plus which takes it up to 32kg, and the two cabin bags. More information can be found on their&nbsp;<a href="https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/prices-discounts/fares-bundles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fares and bundles page</a>. An excess of &euro;13 per kilo is payable for overweight checked baggage.
Find the most up-to-date info and a detailed breakdown of all bag fees and charges (including those for sports equipment)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/prices-discounts/all-services-fees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<h3>How to make the most of Wizz Air&rsquo;s free baggage allowance</h3>
Smart and affordable options such as <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cabin-Max-Budapest-Medium-40x30x18cm/dp/B01BFE8JSO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this</a> could be a good option in order to comply with the size regulations.
<blockquote>Pro Tip: If you&rsquo;re going somewhere cold, wear your most space-consuming clothes at the airport (or even carry them on your arm). Wizz policy dictates that jackets do not need to be paid for as extra luggage so opt for a big coat with deep pockets and fill them with anything that won&rsquo;t fit in your free bag. Once on board, you can usually fit it between the cabin bags in the overhead locker.</blockquote>
And again, you can read all of the <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/one-bag-packing-hacks-to-change-the-way-you-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JFC team's one-bag packing tips here</a>!&nbsp;
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