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By Katy A seasoned budget traveller, Editor Katy has already been to every country in the EU, and is gradually ticking off the rest of the world - when she can bear to leave her cats.

You love low fares, we love low fares. It’s why Jack’s Flight Club exists, and it’s why you’re here! If you’ve ever tried flying anywhere on a budget, you’ve no doubt run into low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air or easyJet. With fares that are often dirt-cheap, it’s hard not to be lured in…

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—their top moneymaker—bringing a regular-sized cabin bag onboard can apparently be classified as true luxury these days.

That’s where so-called “one bag travel” comes in. More than just a logical way of being tight-fisted and sticking it to the man by refusing to pay up, it’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’t have to pay extra for a checked bag.

I can already hear the cries of “that won’t work for me!” and “just pay up!” from the other end of this newsletter. So, how on earth are you meant to pack for anything longer than just a couple of days using only a “personal item”?

The community of minimalist packers over on One Bag Travel 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’s the Carry-On Travel Backpacks section that is worth its weight in gold (or would be, if it weighed anything). It’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 ‘ Ultimate Guide to Packing for Carry-On Only Travel’. 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’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’s something they do a lot, I asked them for their top tips on keeping those bags under control:

You can find lots of “10 best collapsible water bottles” articles online, with options for all budgets. I’d recommend checking reviews for mentions of durability and leakage—the last thing you want is your one bag to be soaked through!

Absolutely no disagreements from me. Flight Finder Lauren swore by packing cubes to keep everything in order when backpacking across Europe, and I’d go as far as to say that packing cubes are now an essential part of my packing regime at all times.

Regardless whether I’m travelling light or with a full suitcase, I rely on them to maintain some semblance of organisation. Even my giant, sturdy (absurdly neon) Herschel number gets the packing cube treatment these days!

Flight Finder Kristi puts her somewhat superhuman packing skills down to her cubes, too:

Next step, packing the kids in the cubes?

I must admit, it does look like an especially smart solution for carrying a suit or dress that you don’t want to get creased in your bag. Not everyone is an expert in tight rolls!

Okay, bright colours might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’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’t alone in her love of Osprey, either, with Olivia and Robin firm brand loyalists.

Stuffing your pockets definitely feels like something from the Joey Tribbiani school of packing! While I’m all about being cut-throat with my clothing choices, I’m really not convinced that I could go without socks. Too many cables, however…

Even though the team’s tips seemed pretty comprehensive, I took to Reddit (r/onebag) 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’t quite dry properly before you have to pack up, and they develop what can only be described as a stench.

Overwhelmingly, Reddit’s one-baggers recommend Turkish towels, 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’s not a packing hack, I really don’t know what is!

So tell me, readers, who among you is a dedicated one bag traveller? How long can you live out of one carry-on-sized backpack? Hit ‘Reply’ to impress us with your skills—pictures and packing lists are more than welcome!

Thank you very much for your great tips in response to my plea for advice on Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan! I’ll share all your wisdom next week, so if you have anything more to add before then, please do get in touch!

Bonnie from Boston also wrote in with some intel on a lesser-known ship graveyard in England…

We love an unexpected suggestion for a day out, so thanks, Bonnie. If any of you decide to visit, please do send us your pictures!

CC photo courtesy of Richard Walker on flickr

As always, the team here loves to get involved and help you plan a your holidays. So when this question about an Italian road trip dropped into our inbox, there really was only one Flight Finder for the job…

Answered by Fran Flight Finder Fran is an Italian globetrotter with a passion for remote destinations and snacking. Currently based in Brussels, she can tell you where to find the yummiest fries around.

Sounds like you're in for an awesome road trip with your little one! The drive between the two cities is only 2.5 hours, so if your kiddo is in nap mode, you could easily just keep going. But you would miss some seriously nice spots if you didn’t turn off the main road along the way!

Considering how short the drive is, there are actually a surprising number of places worth stopping. That said, you might start to sense a somewhat monastic theme, so you might just want to pick a couple that sound most interesting to you:

Scanno is a medieval town nestled into the Majella mountains in Abruzzo. Its old churches, narrow streets and a beautiful natural lake make a pretty great backdrop for stretching your legs.

Guardiagrele is known as one of Italy’s most beautiful towns, both for its panoramic views over Majella National Park, and for the historical monastery and churches. It’s worth timing this one for that afternoon coffee and cake craving, because where else are you encouraged to eat “nun’s breasts”?

Scanno

Loreto Aprutino is genuinely ancient, dating back to the Italic tribes and later becoming a Roman colony. It’s also where you should grab some souvenirs, like top-notch ceramics and high-grade olive oil! Grab some food at family-run La Bilancia if you have time for dinner—that’ll definitely fill your belly.

Oratorio di San Pellegrino in Bominaco is the must-see for all you history buffs and art lovers. The small UNESCO site is covered in frescoes depicting stories from the bible and of medieval Abruzzo. The surrounding views of the valley don’t hurt either!

Parco dei Monti Simbruini is a sanctuary for biodiversity, home to wolves, eagles, and numerous other species. This is the place to get out for a little wildlife spotting, freshen up in a waterfall, or check out the ruins of a Roman aqueduct system.

Parco Villa Gregoriana may as well be something out of a fairytale. The villa itself is surrounded by 32 hectares of lush greenery, plenty more waterfalls big and small, and an actual Roman temple. Fair warning: heading down into the valley is easy enough, but coming back up might be a little strenuous while carrying the baby!

If you're down for a bit of a detour once you arrive in Pescara, I’d also suggest visiting the coastal town of San Vito Chietino. Perched on the Adriatic Sea, the town’s shoreline is dotted with trabocchi, long wooden platforms that jut out like docks and were traditionally used for fishing in the area. This one has even been converted into a picturesque over-water restaurant!

These spots are absolutely top of the list, but you really can’t go wrong. The whole area is beautiful and fascinating! Hopefully that’s given you a few ideas, and please let us know how it went when you get back :-)

Got a burning question for our expert Flight Finders? Is there an article you’d like to see? Get in touch!

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All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• Security experts are now warning against charging your devices at handy airport charging stations.
• From being snowed in at the Ritz in Aspen to locked down on a cruise ship during a potential cholera outbreak, here are some of the best and worst places to get stranded.
• How far would you go for a free bottle of wine? How about Italy? Sounds good, but there’s a catch—you’ll have to hand over your phone.
• And finally, watch out for the owls in the bog! Enjoy these 20 incredibly entertaining idioms from around the world. Lid shut, monkey dead.