To ask how on earth people pack light?!

I get dressed? What are you doing while sitting in your dress gown?

We did the Hungarian GP 5 days/4 nights we only had a back pack each. I took 3 pairs of shorts and 3 t shirts for each day of the GP and wore home what I wore there (bar a clean t shirt. I then took 4 evening outfits (1x dress, 2skirts and tops and 1 jump suit), also underwear and hair straighteners. We didn't get back from the track each night before 8-8:30 ish and were worn out so just went to dinner in what we wore at the track. I wore trainers and took 2 pairs of sandals. Had a small bag of travel size toiletries. This all fitted in a back pack I brought on Amazon with the correct dimensions for our airline. You just have to be organised and decide what you wearing before you go and don't take extras.

Second this. I take my hamman towel everywhere!

Man in the house

No. Not a thing for me. If I'm wearing trainers, I'm also wearing socks. If I'm wearing sandals, well, no, sweat is not an issue.

Two points.

1. It was meant in fun hence the 😀.
2. On a more serious note, l travel a lot for work and mine goes everywhere with me.

Only in your head is a 'vibey' a routine part of women's packing lists. Sorry about that.

My "hand luggage" can take several dresses, shorts and tops etc. I've used it to go away for seven nights. You can also take personal items in your handbag which can also be a decent size. I often pack a smaller hand bag inside my main bag and then take a holdall as my personal item. A trolley case and holdall should be enough. Do decant toiletries into smaller bottles - just for space. You probably only need two bras - one you'll be wearing. Same for shoes ideally.

I notice that StarlightLady is always posting about sex, women’s bodies , breasts, vaginas , vibrators, masturbation , women’s underwear etc , even on threads which have nothing to do with these subjects .

I wonder why that is.

Lol I doubt OP wants to use that with her dad in the next room

Everyone has forgotten to pack their vibey 😀!

Does the air b n b have a washer? I travel quite light (hand luggage only for a 2 week, multi country trip) BUT I always wash. And I know some people would say I don't want to wash on holiday-that's fine and valid, but I'd rather do that (chuck a wash on as soon as I get home from a day out, hang washing to dry before bed) than lug a big case around.

I would say take very minimal makeup/toiletries, and only things you're picky about-so if your face needs a particular face wash take 100ml of it, but if your body is fine with any shower gel grab one at the airport. Also tampons or pads I'd grab at the airport because a few days of those can take a chunk of space I find.

For a 3 night trip I'd be wearing leggings on the plane that I'd then wear to slob about the apartment. I'd wear trainers or walking shoes on the flight and put a pair of light, pretty sandals in my hand luggage. Pack a pair of shorts, three vest tops, two dresses. Rolled up (and put into a packing cube) this takes barely any space. Add trainer socks, enough pants for your trip and an extra bra, maybe two if you're expecting to get sweaty because it's hot. That should be one packing cube that takes half or less of your carry on bag. Check if the air b n b has a hairdryer, it likely will so then I wouldn't take mine. Phone charger, kindle, camera, charging bank, spare camera battery and I'm done.

Surely pants x4, tshirts x4, shortsx2 warm top for cooler evenings, swimsuit, travel towel, change of shoes, frock, travel wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant. Suncream. If uk, add waterproofs. Fits in hand luggage.

My packing light goes wrong when I add paddleboard, wetsuit, thermals hiking gear...

Well it helps if you’re going to a hot country and you’re doing the same kind of activities ( like being on the beach). If you’re going to experience different temperatures / weather
and activities then that’s different. So if you’re hiking for a week in the mountains and then off to a city where you’re going for some nice dinners or the theatre then that’s more challenging.

Something I find helpful to trim my packing down (as mentioned this is a work on progress and I'll probably never reach the holy grail but hey,baby steps, right?!) is to write my outfits down by each day including footwear, underwear and accessories. This allows me to "see" what I can double up on and means I can tick each outfit as I pack so the temptation to put any "just in case" items in is massively reduced - although still there if I'm not disciplined.

I have travelled to Spain for 30 days with hand luggage only. DD1 came for 5 weeks with only under seat bag but she is the queen of packing light!

This exactly! I just posted almost the same! It can be done really easily. Just think smaller / lighter

We only ever travel hand luggage (backpacks, not even little cases) and we have 3 kids too. If it's just a long weekend, you will be able to manage - and don't forget that you are going somewhere that has shops even just the airport has shops for shampoo etc. For a 4 day trip, I'd pack travel size day cream, night cream, mascara, eyeliner, and cleansing balm. Leaving my skincare routine for one weekend is something I can bear. I buy shampoo and conditioner at the airport. For periods, you need period pants - saves your life. Or a decent cup! The Victoria's Secret period shorts are my favourite for comfort and dryness. Cotton dresses roll up crease free in the bag. Wear your heaviest shoes - I wear hiking trainers. Pack your light evening shoes in the bottom of the rucksack. Always "wear your coat" to the airport and just hold it, no need to pack it and take up space, or take a pack a Mac.

DH and I went away for 2 weeks earlier this year with hand luggage only as an experiment.
It was EASY!
Roll up clothes (hot country so lightweight clothes), put toiletries in 100ml bottles and took a small bar of laundry soap.
As pp have said, wear your heaviest clothes and sturdiest shoes. I took in my bag 7 dresses, 1 shorts, 4 t shirts, swimsuit & lightweight bath sheet, underwear & 7 bottles of toiletries. Also 2 pairs sandals/shoes. I wore most of it and didn't miss anything.
We are both v low maintenance which helped.

A Turkish cottom hamman towel is great.to take for beach holiday - they fold up really small and can be used as a towel, something to sit on and a cover up (sarong etc..)

Another tip is Uniqlo - they do a lot of dow jackets and water proofs that fold in to small drawstring bags. Not suitable for really cold or wet weather but ideal to take in sping/late summer as a just in case.

It's easy. Forget the "just in case" plus the kitchen sink packing. Really think in terms of the least you can get away with. Have gone away for a week to Greece with just under seat free luggage. 3or 4 days in Europe is a no brainer.

This! Add to that not just the wait for the luggage but the Russian Roulette game of wondering whether it will appear. And after passports, you are free!

As for the 3 week trip mentioned above, surely nobody could pack for 3 weeks and not do any washing.

@DickEmery - it’s not the cost of luggage but inconvenience of having to wait to collect or arrive early to check in. If you are travelling public transport then on and off trains or walking over cobble stones or up and down stairs at tubes or hotels with no lifts it’s just far far easier to take small luggage so it’s easier to carry and move.

Generally I find ba hand luggage of small hand luggage case and handbag has enough room for a weeks worth of clothes. So it’s pretty easy to travel longer as even for a 3 week trip you just take max a week and launder on route.

Cashmere and merino tops, dresses, socks, and trousers can be worn multiple times without washing.

I flew to the canaries for a week with just a carry on plus personal bag (easyjet). I wore trainers on the plane, plus layered a light hoodie and a jacket over the clothes I traveled in, then packed flat sandals. The hotel had a hair dryer, but I managed to fit straighteners in. Clothes wise I chose lightweight trousers and skirts, plus a selection of T-shirts and vests that I could mix and match, and swimwear. I still had space for a dress or two as well! What I didn’t do though was try to take many toiletries.. I bought 90% of what I needed at boots at the uk airport, used it for a week and then left it behind (obviously stuck to cheaper brands, I did take my more expensive makeup etc in small quantities and bring it home).