To ask how on earth people pack light?!

I always need changes of shoes for comfort so that messes lightweight up for a start!

🤣

I have the opposite problem - I don’t know how to pack any more than your allowance!

What do you need for your period apart from a small pack of tampons/ pads?

Answer is you really need to consider your outfits. Do you need more than 2 pairs of shoes (1 of which you’ll wear)? Probably not!

If you have 4 days, let’s say 2 active and 2 more dressy, I’d pack as follows:

• 2 pairs of bottoms (1 of which you’ll wear)
• 3-4 tops (for choice)
• 2-3 dresses
• underwear and socks
• pair of heels
• cosmetics etc in travel sizes
• electronics etc

That’s it. If you can’t decide what to wear and want many options that’ll cause a problem.

Wear any bulky items.

If you really can’t do it get a check-in bag between you.

I did a 4 week trip (across multiple climates!) with just hand luggage. 4 days is extremely doable. Although I suspect some PPs would consider me "low maintenance"!

• Check your Airbnb listing (or the reviews for the listing) to see if towels and toiletries are provided, as they frequently are. If not, take a hand towel, toothbrush and some bar soap OR just buy the toiletries once you get there and then discard at the end of the trip. You can't get away with much liquid in hand luggage anyway.
• Roll your clothes tightly or use compression cubes. For a small suitcase I would strongly recommend you roll rather than compress. Compression cubes still take up a lot of room in small bags.
• Be ruthless on the shoes. My advice would be to wear a pair of shoes that are nice enough to wear in the evening and also comfortable to walk in, then you don't need any spares in your suitcase.
• Personally I would pack one nice top and a smart pair of trousers for going out. Don't bother with the dress if you're short on space, unless you're going somewhere extremely posh. Trousers can be worn for longer than tops so use the extra space for more t-shirts.
• Don't bother with shorts unless you have space. Between shorts and a skirt, a skirt is probably better because you can wear it in more settings.
• I would also suggest packing only complementary colours so you can mix and match without any risk of clashes.
• Take either a disposable poncho or one of those mac-in-a-sack type raincoats. Don't bother with anything bulky.
• If you want makeup, take only a few basics.

We have two daughters, close in age.

One requires two large suitcases for a week in Italy.

The other requires one small one, which a generous check-in person might allow as carry-on.

They both dress appropriately throughout. It's not that one looks glam and the other looks unglam.

I don't know how that works. Except that, when we get back, the two-suitcase daughter admits she took a lot of stuff she didn't use. Actually, thinking about it, she was still throwing all her stuff into suitcases as we ordered the Uber to Heathrow.

The one-small-suitcase daughter was packed and ready to go 36 hours earlier.

I suspect that has something to do with it.

Spent a week away. 3 desses that dry fast if they get dirty and 3 bikini and a sarong for the beach. Buy toiletries at the destination just face mosturiser and lipgloss and lots of undewear. Trainers on my feet and packed leather flipflop sandals Fit in a backpack

You pack things that match each other. So a shirt that can be worn over trousers or a skirt or as a cover-up over a dress - add a belt. For a week-end you should be ok with one pair of jeans (which you could wear to travel since they are a bulky item), 2 dresses or a dress and skirt, which will both go with the shirt - try for stuff that doesn't crease. Nightdress if you wear one. Slip. Enough knickers so you aren't worried you will run out (about 8 pairs should be ok). Whatever you need for your period. Presumably hotels etc will provide towels, which leaves a toilet bag with toothpaste and toothbrush, hair brush, deodorant and perfume). Wear one pair of shoes and dressier pair in bag.

You can still check in online and just go to bag drop - it's usually pretty fast assuming the case isn't over sized or over weight.

A sarong is multi functional and doubles as a bathrobe.

Everyone else seems to be learning how to pack less. Whilst what I am getting from this thread is that maybe I now need to pack a light cotton bath robe…

Are you going to wear trousers on the flight? Do you need a waterproof coat? What about PJs?

I'm sure your Dad wouldn't mind taking some bits for you.

You can add a suitcase to your booking probably. Also, you are going to the Netherlands and they have supermarkets I am sure. Travel with the precious stuff and buy what you want when you’re there. Leave the shampoo etc behind when you come home . Maybe book a suitcase to come back.

Why don’t you just pay for a larger case? Stress finished. As for buying toiletries and leaving them behind, you might as well pay for the larger case and wear what you fancy on the day.

I use a sarong instead of a dressing gown.

@S00LA

I certainly can't and it is worse when you hit menopause

Prioritise knickers 🤣

I was recently in Portugal for ten days and packed - one pair of leggings (on top of the one I was wearing), two extra tops, a bikini, one dress and lots of knickers 🤣. All fitted into one small rucksack.

I wore a hoody onto the plane for colder nights.

It was fine. But maybe I'm just a bit scummy.

I think you are taking the OP too seriously. It is a pretty lighthearted post and of course she will cope and be fine. I’m not sure she needs deep advice on her lifestyle! Were you the poster that said she needed to see a doctor?

I don't think your comments have been dismissed. I'm not in the 'packing light' camp generally (although I did manage a few days in Poland earlier in summer just on Ryanair's small bag allowance - found it hard though and in no hurry to repeat😆) but you've given me an idea for when I head to Peru later this year. It's a mixed itinerary of some hiking and some cultural but I think I'll pack just one specific outfit for the hiking days, 1 cargo/walking pants and 1 or 2 shirts.

Someone else has said they dress immediately, whereas for me dressing is the very last thing I do, even when in a rush or work days. Interesting how we all have different routines!

OP - sorry to add to your list but I didn't see a travel adapter in your list above.

Generally I get dry and then I immediately get dressed! Just like at home. I sometimes take a very lightweight gown on holiday with me if I've got space, but only really if sharing a house with family/friends other than DH and want to cover up between bathroom and bedroom. Not if I'm just in a hotel room.

This, this and 3 times this.

Plus the fact that BA have one of the most generous carry on allowances that exist.