To just take carry on for a 10 day holiday - it's too bloody expensive for suitcase!

[Glitteryarse]

Over Xmas. Myself, dd and dp. We normally take two suitcases and carry on.

It's so bloody expensive for suitcases - £40 each way per suitcase!

How do I squeeze that in to a 10 kg hold all each ??

Any suggestions please

[SuperFlyHigh]

if it's a short holiday or even longer I tend to get stuff in supermarkets (then again I know them a bit so what they sell) - Intermarche is my supermarche of choice.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'd just buy cheap toiletries at the airport and use up or leave the dregs behind.

[RandomFriend]

On the way back, I add an extra checked bag if we need to (if we have bought lots of things). The person whose cabin bag it was uses a hold-all that had been folded into one of the bags.

[RandomFriend]

I usually pay for one hold bag between the family. Everyone takes their own cabin luggage and the family suitcase fits all my extra, over-packed junk extra footwear for everyone and any large toiletries, such as contact lens water, that we need.

[2rebecca]

Those buying stuff at the airport so it doesn't count as luggage what do you do on the way back when it will? It sounds more expensive than paying for a case.

[2rebecca]

We usually take at least 1 suitcase in the hold between us. We tend to do activity holidays rather than swimsuit and shorts only holidays though. The cost of the case is just factored in as part of the flight cost when comparing flights and holidays. If we couldn't afford to take a case we probably wouldn't take that particular flight and holiday if going for 10 days.
I'd rather have 1 holiday where I take the luggage I want and spend the rest of the time at home than several don't take much luggage holidays, or drive somewhere on holiday in the UK.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Maryz oh really? can't remember who we flew with... stupid Ryan air

[TheNewStatesman]

Take a few light bits of jewelry and a couple of scarves--makes it possible to minimize clothing items while not feeling that you are wearing the same two outfits all week...

[toots111]

The Cabin Max bags that Janek links to above are great because they are very light so you don't lose half your allowance with the weight of a suitcase.

We got the train to the south of france this year but managed with just one suitcase between three of us, so reckon we could have got it all in three cabin bags if we were flying.

[specialsubject]

lugging things around by air costs money in fuel.

the cheap flight model is designed to give low headline prices, charging by weight for extras.

your choice. Pay more or take less.

[TheseventeenthSixteen]

I did 10 days but was staying with rellies. But I bought toiletries when I arrived and decanted the liquids I did need into small containers. My bag is one of those ultra light ones ( got it from matalan). It worked fine.

[Janek]

We have three of these rucksacks, and have twice gone away for Christmas, with enough for two adults and two children, including santa gifts.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Remus if you were also buying Boots toiletries couldn't you in fairness get swimming costumes/bikinis/wraps at Accessorize and mens/womens wear at Fat Face and mens/womens stuff at Zara? etc (am thinking Gatwick here!).

one of the last times I flew abroad with family I got my brother a Fat Face t-shirt and me some shorts pyjamas and when I was with friend to Barcelona got a swimming costume and some bits in Zara. Zara also had a sale on. tax free.

[Glitteryarse]

Thanks maryz three of those would be cheaper than than the hold cost!

[raviolidreams]

We could manage with just hand luggage for a beach holiday - I tend to wear the same stuff over and over, regardless of how much I've packed! - and have done up to a week for a city break.

When we've only taken hand luggage we just puchase the bulk of our toiletries when we arrive.

[muminhants1]

I've just posted this on the other carry on baggage thread: airlines are bringing in stricter rules on carry-on baggage now, so you might find you can only take a smaller case/bag than you were planning to.

The airlines make me laugh - they introduce hand-luggage only fares and then wonder why people bring on as large bags as they can get away with. Sigh.

I hate waiting for the carousel as well, but I also dislike the rush to get on the plane because everyone has huge cases and is worried they won't get a space in the overhead lockers. The answer I think is to make the luggage reclaim more efficient. Some airports are very fast so it must be possible.

[Glitteryarse]

What a nob

[gatorgolf]

When my brother came over from new Zealand it actually worked out cheaper to bring as much as possible as hand luggage\ wear and then rather than pay for baggage he bought cheapish clothes here

[Theas18]

Don't forget your 2nd bag then too. I bought dS a special slightly naff but just the right size bag on Amazon to max his allowance when he went away - this isn't weighed to put heavy stuff there for boarding at least.