To ask how on earth people pack light?!

PS I went to Europe for 4 weeks with hand luggage only. I simply washed my clothes whilst away. Either in the bathroom or some hotels had a laundry service, charging a small fee per item.

I always raise a wry smile when people don't seem to realise that they have shops abroad, too, AND that you can wash clothes whilst away!

Cancel the two 10kg cases & rebook a 23 kg case.

I wish I knew. I am incapable of it, always have to check a suitcase. Inevitably never even wear half of it but I just cannot stop myself from overpacking!

"I'm wondering what everyone who's aghast at the thought of a dressing gown does post shower, getting ready etc, just sit wrapped in a towel? Some hotel towels can be pretty skimpy."

I just.... get dressed? Why would I be sitting around?

And if I feel the need to do so the only other person in the room is DP, so skimpiness of towel isn't an issue!

It depends on the type of trip

We just did hand luggage for a 10 day trip to Turkey. 4 of us so 4 hand luggage suitcases

Being a swim holiday We were mainly in swim suits and packed 3 evening outfits. Also packed washing sheets and on day 3 and day 7 hand washed clothes in the sink and dried on the balcony overnight.

You can't do that if you have nowhere to dry anything but for us they wanted 80 euro a bag for checked luggage so we decided to go save ourselves €320 as happy to pack light and rewear stuff and being a hot holiday it was possible to dry stuff.

I prefer a robe but if there isn’t one and the towels are skimpy or being naked is a problem I just dry and dress. You don’t have to sit around after a shower!

I pack, then I take half of it out. I find I never wear or use most of the stuff I take.

Like many others, for 4 days I am struggling to see what the problem is. But we're all different.

On your test weekend, what did you take? What didn't you use and what did you wish you'd had?

If it helps at all, for your 4 day weekend I would take:

Pair of jeans (worn)
Hoody or cardigan (worn)
Waterproof Jacket (worn)
Pair of trainers (worn)
Extra pair of jeans or a pair of shorts
4 t-shirts
8 pairs of knickers (1 worn!)
8 pairs of socks (1 worn) possibly ready lace a couple of pairs with tights
A jersey dress you can roll up
A pair of dressy shoes
Possibly a t shirt for sleeping and a silk dressing gown.
A pair of dressy shoes.
Shampoo, gel, conditioner in travel containers, one mascara, one lipstick, foundation, small eye shadow pallet. All In a see through toiletries bag.
Small jewelry box with a couple of pairs of earrings and a necklace.
A box of tampons (normally wear period pants, but not if traveling).

I have never taken a dressing gown on holiday. I just put my pjs on if I need to but generally I have a shower and get dressed straight away.

I find it easy but you just have to forget about feeling special in different outfits all the time. You can look good but you’ll just be wearing the same thing all the time which can be hard if you’re used to wearing different styles every day. I’m not really bothered about that but I understand it’s important to some people.

Evening clothes don’t get dirty so just take 1 dress and wear it every night. Take 4 tops, 1 pr shorts, 1 pr linen trousers and travel in jeans. Wear trainers. Pack sandals that you can wear day and night. Simple!

I don't find it hard. Wear one pair of trousers that will go with any top you are wearing and pack one other pair or a skirt that does the same, one dress, one pair of PJs and some lightweight lounge wear that can double as PJs, underwear and socks. Silky dressing gown, not big bathrobe one. Wear a light knit sweater and coat or long jacket that works with every outfit including a dress. I usually pack just a good 2-in-1 shampoo /conditioner in a scent I love, that I also use as shower gel, and a 5ml sample scent for perfume. Wear your chunkier shoes (trainers or shoes you can walk in) and pack one other pair for going out, and flipflops that double as slippers, sandals and beach/spa footwear if needed. Minimal makeup, not the whole bag - just one lipstick, mascara, eye palette, travel sized cleanser and toner. All that easily fits into even the meanest Ryanair size hand luggage.

Me too! I only take a shortish cotton one, so it doesn't take up much room and always gets used. I'm wondering what everyone who's aghast at the thought of a dressing gown does post shower, getting ready etc, just sit wrapped in a towel? Some hotel towels can be pretty skimpy.

This might be the secret. I don't use any make up, or straighten my hair etc, so only have to pack a tooth brush and clothes!

Packing cubes or roll up compression bag. A non wheeled bag has more useable space consider what toiletries you need limit shoes. What non clothing things are you taking?

We just flew hand luggage only with BA and the cabin bag size is generous, plus you can
Take a rucksack or similar. They could not have cared less how much stuff we had. As long as you can get your bag in the overhead locker you'll be fine

I wish I knew. I went to Greece for a week in June and was over the 23kg allowance - thankfully my travel companion was well under so I didn’t have to pay extra.

I’m away again next month and I’m trying really hard to cut down what I pack

I can, and went handluggage only to South Africa for three weeks. During that time I of course expected to use the the washing machine.

It's really hard to pack light if you are travelling somewhere with unsettled weather (like the UK!) which means you can't just pack for one type of weather.

But for four days with uncertain weather I'd pack -

5 x knickers
5 x socks
1 x bra
1 x Jeans
2 x lightweight jumper or cardi, prefer wool as it doesn't smell for ages
3 x dresses (I have several which fold up to almost nothing and don't crease for travelling).
4 x t-shirts
1 x Sandals
1 x white trainers
Phone charger
Book
Travel sized toothpaste, toothbrush
Travel sized shampoo and conditioner unless the accommodation is guaranteed to supply. I use the shampoo as body wash too.
Eye mask
Jacket
Sunhat
Sunglasses
1 x pjs

I'd wear the jeans, trainers, one t-shirt and jacket for travelling. If it was guaranteed to be hot then I'd pack linen trousers instead of jeans, only take one cardi and only two t-shirts (for travel days).

In your scenario I'd take five outfits and in the evening I'd wear the outfit I planned to wear the next day. It won't be dirty after wearing it for a few hours at dinner.

OP is travelling with BA. They already include carry-on suitcases even in their cheapest fares. She can’t book a second carry-on suitcase, unless she upgrades to Business (Club Europe).

One pair of shoes, which are on your feet, and one jacket, which is on your back.

My user name should give it away travelling light is not in my vocabulary!

Yes I do but I never have to travel light so it’s not an issue.

Are you sure the Airbnb doesn't have toiletries? Often they do so worth messaging to check.

Don't take pyjamas. I always shower in the morning so happy to sleep in the t-shirt/knickers I have worn that day.

Don't take options. Layer clothes if necessary.

Wear any heavy clothes to travel, regardless of the weather. If you have to take a waterproof either wear it or make sure it's very light and small. Put books, chargers etc in your pockets for travelling.

Unnecessary for you maybe, not for me, hair straighteners are my number one item, and I do take a robe if I possibly can, would hate to get out the shower and not have one, or get up in the morning without one.