If you're feeling as optimistic as we are, your holiday will not be subject to lost luggage or endless queues. The only thing to consider, other than where to go first, is what to pack and the right bag to do it with. After all, the best travel and weekender bags will make any trip easier – and more stylish.
Call it what you like, a weekend/holdall/duffle, but a travel bag that has enough space for a few outfit changes, a washbag and a spare pair of shoes is your best bet for mini breaks.
Most of the best travel and weekender bags are cabin-friendly, which gives you a head-start in the taxi queue at the other end, and come in fabrics like leather, waxed canvas and nylon to suit every traveller tribe.
Of course, the best travel bags are now so much more than just luggage – they've morphed into the new status symbols that are every bit as stylish as your actual handbag. Plus, design innovations mean that they can now actually make your trip a whole lot easier thanks to canny packing gadgets, on-the-go chargers and detachable straps.
From high street hold-alls with practicality in mind to super-luxe weekender bags designed to last forever, there is quite literally a travel bag for every single type of trip you're ever going to make.
So whether you're ready for a weekend break, a staycation road trip or something a little warmer, here's our pick of the best travel and weekender bags to see you on your way...
Shop: The Best Travel and Weekender Bags
shop.kaai.eu
If you're looking for a more compact weekend bag that's still super chic, Kaai's Loop tote is the one. This may look like your regular leather handbag but, in actual fact, it has qualities which make it fairly magical. Crafted from soft leather which moulds to your body, this bag can be worn cross-body for extra practicality when travelling. It discreetly fits a 13" laptop, has organised interior pockets and even has a reinforced bottom, keeping your bag's shape intact and providing extra protection.
www.mytheresa.com
A great option for travelling, this Marc Jacobs tote would either make for great hand luggage (which you don't have to put in the hold) or as a compact bag for an overnight stay. It has an internal zipped pouch for all of your valuable items and would even be a great accessory to throw in your suitcase and use as a chic take on the beach bag on holiday.
Everlane
This bag is so good it's practically a Mary Poppins bag. Deceptively large, you'll find you can fit much more in here than you think. It has a padded laptop sleeve, two water bottle holders, an exterior zip pocket, a luggage handle pass-through (that's also a pocket), and multiple ways to carry: crossbody, shoulder, or in-hand. It's also made from recycled polyester.
Antlerwww.antler.co.uk
If you're looking for a bag just for short, overnight stays, this is the one for you. Not only does it have back sleeve to fit over a suitcase handle to make travelling easier, it will fit perfectly under the seat in front of you on a plane, too, meaning you can use it for hand luggage you never have to stow.
Katie Loxtonkatieloxton.com
Katie Loxton has a range of great travel bags, but this one is particularly chic. It's available in different colours and can even be personalised with your initials for just £4.99.
Stubble and Co.www.stubbleandco.com
Stubble&Co. has a range of beautifully crafted luggage options, including The Weekender and The Weekender XL. Made using British Millerain Tekwax® water-resistant canvas, this cabin-sized bag features a 15” laptop compartment, detachable shoulder strap and trolley sleeve. Available in four colours.
John Lewis
The classic brand has crafted a bag that will fit everything you need for a weekend trip and more. Designed to be light as a feather with sturdy durability, it also folds away with ease for neat storage - Longchamp bags are just the crème de la crème of weekend bags.
AWAYwww.awaytravel.com
AWAY doesn't just make suitcases; its travel bags are just as appealing. This one features a detachable padded shoulder strap and top handles sized to carry it comfortably. It fits a few days' worth of belongings if you're using it on its own, and it even secures to any AWAY suitcase if you want to use it as hand luggage.
Free Peoplewww.freepeople.com
If you're looking for something slightly more eye-catching, Free People has these artisan-crafted bags, making any weekend break instantly more stylish.
Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.