If you pack for a week (or more) using hand luggage only...

[lucysmam]

HOW on Earth do you do it?

I've just packed my (cabin case) bag for my Guides residential later today & it's almost full with just 3 days worth of stuff in it, plus a few extra bits like snacks and cleaning things .

Maybe I just don't pack light!

Only pack hand luggage only when going somewhere hot on holiday, so no need for cleaning and snack stuff. Plus all the clothes are thin and light

But there really isn't that much, I don't think.

Now I understand why some of the kids at school took proper cases on their residential.

Packing cubes all the way. Did 2 weeks in v hot location with 8yo DS hand luggage only as we had tight connecting flight times and I didn’t want to risk being days without luggage as we were in v remote areas. Also had fins and snorkels! Had laundry done midway through as v cheap where we were.

Roll your clothes up

Wear more in the journey

Be prepared to wear things more than once.

You don't take a choice of things - decide what you will wear in advance and only take enough for the days you are there. Only one (possibly two) pairs of shoes, one jumper, decant toiletries. I think a guide residential is slightly different though, possibly, as you may need did that will definitely not be worn again eg stuff for canoeing will be wet afterwards.

My dd always packs light (because I pack her bag!), but when she went away with school she took loads as they said she needed two towels, shoes for canoeing, several changes of clothes etc.

Oh yeah, and hammam towels - take up no room in your bag.

Tiny toiletries, and hardly any (no hair stuff etc.)
Kindle.
Yy to wearing stuff again - you probably don't need any more for 7 days than 3.
Wear shoes, pack sandals.

I think if it's more than a few days you have to plan on doing laundry there. Which then means you need to know you'll be able to - it's not always easy to find out.

We use packing cubes (which help massively!) and don't take toiletries, snacks and certainly not cleaning things. We buy toiletries there and leave behind. I take minimal make up. We use cabin bags which maximise the size restrictions wherever possible. And I think more carefully about the clothes I will actually need, choosing lighter fabrics, and usually only one pair of shoes which I wear and something flat and compact, such as flip flops in the bag itself.

It helps when you know the forecast will be reliable. Warm weather holidays are easier too.

If it's 3 days and 2 nights you don't need much.

You'll travel in uniform (day 1/3)

Take 2 pairs pants/3 pairs socks
One pair leggings or running type trousers/wear 1 pair for journey
2 t-shirts
1 light weight water proof (use guide jacket as extra layer)
1 X Light weight PJs/nightie (use guide jacket as a sort of makeshift dressing gown if needed)
1 X spa bra (if you want...I use sorts bras in Guide Holiday, more practical and can be rolled)
Mini toiletries( I just use shower gel for two days, it's fine for hair)
(Flip flops if camping)
Wear your trainers on journey
A small towel or one of those micro fibre ones

What else are you trying to fit in?

I'll google hammam towels for next time @Janek.

I really don't think I've got that much. But I have got a normal towel out of the cupboard, and spare shoes plus indoor ones in case it's wet out . Oh, and an extra hoodie too.

Right, so Guide hoodie & ditch the spare?

I've decanted toiletries into travel bottles - shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel plus a dinky pot of moisturiser and one of face wash. Just need to chuck in toothbrush and toothpaste shortly.

Are you taking something like walking boots? You need to wear them on the journey or pack separately in a carrier bag.

I'd just travel in one hoodie and wear that all the time. If it's an outdoorsy country thing, there's no need to be looking smart and spotless at all times.

If it's 3 days, you only really need the clothes you're in and a spare outfit, plus socks, lounging/sleeping clothes and underwear and lighter clothes if the weather gets warmer. Plus toiletries, chargers etc. Maybe some sort of travel towel rather than a normal towel.

When flying, the liquids limit makes it harder but you just decant into travel bottles, buy travel sizes or buy in Boots after security and don't bring them back.

I'm wearing my trainers Barbara, and was going to take a pair of pumps in case they get wet. It's forecasting rain on Sunday morning & we leave at Sunday lunch time.

I have discovered the wonder of hammam towels & we’re doing towels all wrong. Far easier to launder & dry etc.

We did 10 days in Canaries with hand luggage only, it was quite freeing actually and focussed your mind as to what exactly to take.

I planned outfits, wore things more than once, wore trainers and packed sandals. All toiletries bought over there, no makeup, I just bought some tinted moisturiser in the airport and wore a few layers on the plane. As long as you plan it's definitely doable.

Simple I don't! I factor in hold luggage to the cost of my ticket that said h managed to have only 10kg of luggage when it went on the scales, I managed to fill it for the return journey to 22.5 kg (limit is 23)

Abroad it’s 100% doable as you can almost guarantee the weather. In this county you do need a selection though so depending on the activities it may or may not be doable.

I’ve done 8 nights in Portugal with hand luggage only and I didn’t even wear everything I took.

Agree it’s very freeing to decide to only wear flip flops, go make up free (I don’t wear much often anyway) and dress very casually for a week.

I can do the Canaries for a week with just hand luggage, but struggled massively when packing for Scout camp (ex scout leader)!

I wear Superga and pack sandals and flip flops. I wear a leather jacket, pack a couple of cotton cardigans. Tops are all white/ cream/ grey, bottoms (1 skirt, 2 shirts, 2 light trousers- wear skinny jeans) are all navy or grey.
Mix/ match bikinis, hamman towel, cotton cover up (doubles as dressing gown after a shower), tiny toiletries.

Yeah,just guide hoody. One is enough, you're not really there for that long and guide holiday/camp is not fashion show :)

Are you camping?

I even go “carry on” when hold luggage is included. That way l know my bag is with me (previous bad experience with hold luggage) and I don’t have to faff around the other end. I recently went to Rome with a friend. My sister and her husband were on the same flight. They waited almost 90 minutes for their bags to come up. By the time they arrived, l had showered, changed and was on my second cocktail.

A lot is the art of packing. I usually take a travel kettle with me, you can put things inside, so no significant loss of space.

To begin with, ensure your suitcase is the maximum permitted size; don’t waste space there. Roll your things. Add knickers, socks, bras and stockings/tights at the end as they can be squeezed into little nooks. Ensure a top will combine with both a skirt and a pair of trousers/jeans.

I also take a “peg-less clothes line” (available from travel shops) which will hang in any bathroom, for underwear etc, although this might not be possible gor Guide event.

Also note the bag policy. BA allow a small second bag, easyJet allow a second bag with extra legroom seats.

To travel, l ofter wear jeans and trainers.

@00100001 no, Kingswood for the weekend. It's our first one so not too far from home & fairly simple to plan :)

I wear the heavier/bigger stuff to travel. I don't take toiletries, they are available at the other end. Same with snacks. Have bodhi towel that folds extremely thin and dries very quickly. And roll not fold, and small things are pushed around the sides when everything else has been packed.

We do two weeks with carry-on only; including pool inflatables, snorkels and multiple books for each of us

I use vacuum bags, which probably halve the space the clothes take up.

oooh i am glad someone mentioned vacuum bags....how do you deal with those for the return journey?? Do you have to stalk around the hotel looking for housekeeping and ask to borrow their hoover??