Gone are the good old days where you could get away with cramming anything and everything into your luggage. Airlines worldwide are really cracking down on excess baggage lately, decreasing both the size and weight of baggage allowances.

Many airlines have begun charging for even a single checked bag and recently even carryon bags come with a fee. They say these changes are to ensure passenger safety, but whether this is true or simply revenue raising, there’s not much we can do!

We’ve all seen some of the crazy and ingenious hacks designed by fellow travellers to beat the system. From stuffing a suitcase worth of belongings into a large bulky jacket to wearing a half a dozen layers of clothing, there are many ways to sneak a bit more onboard than you’re allowed to.

In a perfect world we would be allowed to take whatever we want with us travelling, which begs the question; what would you take if there were no luggage restrictions and you had infinite space?!

This is my list …

What to Pack if You Had Infinite Space!

Garment Steamer & Iron

Despite every packing trick to minimise creases and wrinkling, I swear these never seem to work. And my wardrobe always seems to take on that distinct suitcase smell before I even reach my first destination.

So wouldn’t it be lovely to bring along a garment steamer and a travel iron so you can arrive in a destination and be able to dress presentably! Steamers also have the extra benefit of removing odours and killing bacteria in your clothes.

Of course many hotels have ironing boards available, and these are much better for pressing dress shirts and pants. Though you won’t find them in hostels or motels, and the amount of times I’ve ruined or burned my clothes from dodgy / old hotel irons you wouldn’t believe.

Thankfully you can easily iron your clothes while travelling, as there are some wonderful travel-friendly Philips portable clothes steamers and irons that are lightweight, comfortable, compact, and very user friendly.

My Own Bicycle

I don’t think I’ll ever manage to get away with packing a bike in my suitcase, but it would make checking out cities so much easier!

Yes I know there are many cites which now offer easy bike rental systems, but I can never seem to find them when I need them, often the rental machines are broken, and the time limits are quite annoying.

Having my own bike would be lovely; I know it’s a good fit for me, and cycling around town on it won’t make me stand out as a definite tourist.

So many cities are now super bike friendly, so always having a bike to more quickly explore many of the hidden gems of a city would be fabulous!

Image credit: Roman Boed (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Washer/Dryer

Oh if only I could wash my clothes whenever I needed to while travelling, and not having to waste time finding a laundromat or forking over $5 for a pair of socks or $10 a shirt for the hotel dry cleaning!

I would love to bring an actual full sized washer dryer combo, be able to press a button and not have to scrub clothes in the hotel sink manually.

During a trip in Costa Rica we actually had the front desk call us and ask us to remove the clothes we had hanging over our balcony to dry as it was an eyesore!

Of course, even if I could somehow manage to magically bring a washer and dryer, I may run into trouble when it comes to making them compatible with foreign outlets and voltage … I may or may not have blown a fuse in a room before for travelling with an international hair dryer!

Oven and Stove

While I love trying new food like any traveller, I’ve never been a diehard foodie. I would much rather save money by cooking up my own meals sourced from a local market or grocery store which can then extend my budget for more travel experiences.

Plus, the grocery store experience is usually a great way to immerse yourself locally, and you can still buy local foods, for instance we picked up fermented shark while grocery shopping in Iceland!

While travelling with an oven and stove is beyond ridiculous (though I have been known to travel with a microwave), you can much more easily pack an electric frypan or skillet which can cook a range of meals.

Enjoy eggs for breakfast, a ham and cheese toastie for lunch, and tacos for dinner all with ease on an electric frypan. Just remember that point about the voltage.

And if you’re cooking in a hotel room do it next to an open window, or in the bathroom with the shower fan on … otherwise you’ll set off the fire alarm and that’s costly (I may or may not be speaking from experience).

A Full Sized Fridge

Of course if you plan on cooking your own meals, you may want a fridge, unless you plan on making daily trips to the supermarket.

Although hotel rooms often come with a small bar fridge, they often don’t cool down enough to keep food items safe and they are of course filled with drinks for purchase which leaves little room for anything else.

Yes you can move the items but be careful the fridge doesn’t have weight sensors installed or your hotel bill may come with a big surprise (also, speaking from experience!)

Also, good luck trying to fit a full ice cream tub in that tiny bar fridge freezer compartment. We’ve tried many times. It can’t be done.

While packing a full sized fridge would be incredibly epic if only by some act of sorcery, I wouldn’t recommend having it prepacked with food unless you wish to end up on an episode of Border Security.

What Would You Pack?

So there you have it, my top 5 things I would take with me if I had infinite space and weight availability.

While some may seem a bit ridiculous and unnecessary for general travel, when you travel consistently you do begin to miss the ease and comfort of home.

Sadly we don’t live in a perfect world, but it’s definitely fun to imagine! For now I’ll continue to conceal my ever-present excess luggage …

What would you pack?

OUR FAVORITE PACKING CUBE SETS. CLICK PHOTO ↓

Pack-It Original™ Starter Set

Pack-It Specter Cube Set – 3pc

Pack-it Original Large Cube Set

INSPIRED? PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS ↓

In a perfect world we would be take whatever we want with us travelling, which begs the question; what would you take if you had infinite space?!

In a perfect world we would be take whatever we want with us travelling, which begs the question; what would you take if you had infinite space?!

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.