To ask how on earth people pack light?!

[NeedSomeAnswersPlease]

Travelling to the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix in ten days or so

We (stupidly) booked to travel hand luggage only and I just don't understand how it's possible! The amount of things you need, I'll be due on my period that weekend too so need to take extra bits for that as well. I know everyone's answer will be "just take less clothes" but it all seems to accumulate - shorts, t-shirts, a dress or two for if we want to go out in the evening, it's not possible!😩

@Leafcutterantsarecool definitely not like Wimbledon 😩 likelihood is you could probably go out in the team gear that night but you'll be so hot and sweaty/damp (depending on weather) as you're exposed to the elements all day

I plan what I'm going to wear and take only that. I've never understood taking several extra outfits.

@DeeDeesfabulouswardrobe my DH would disagree with me being low maintenance haha. The key is to take a hair product that does multiple things and only a wand or straightener. Hotel will have hair dryer. No way would i sacrifice suitcase space for slippers and dressing gown, who needs that?? That's space for at least 2 dresses and a pair of sandals.

I love travelling and having hand luggage means getting out of the airport super fast and no danger of anything getting lost. If you go to Gran Canaria for 2 weeks, fine, it doesn't matter. But if you're travelling to Argentina or Japan, taking flights or trains to a new place every 3-4 days, having shit you don't need will really have a negative impact on your enjoyment of the holiday.

Learning to pack light now means when you have kids, it will be easier to travel with them. Babies need so much stuff that if you're used to also freely packing clothes "just in case" for yourself, you'll end up with so much luggage it will put you off massively.

Generally pack... remove the 5 books DD1 has added in for an overnight stay... close case.... open case and remove the 5 books, plus one extra for when I finish them that DD1 has now re-added... repeat until the will to live is lost.

Airbnb? Is it an apartment, with a washing machine, and you could wash everything as you go?

I have this cabin bag and it fits a lot in using compression cubes. I've gone away for 10 days with it. If you and your travel partner each have a cabin bag, that's actually a lot of room. Agree with what's already been said, buy toiletries at the airport.

If you are away for 4 days, then 4 t-shirts/tops; 2 pairs of shorts; wear a pair of trousers/leggings on the plane; underwear; socks; a dress & cardigan; and pyjamas. Even if you are taking hair straighteners etc that would all fit comfortably.

I'm the same

I love my clothes and toiletries
I find things get sweaty

I did wash stuff out at hotel but mainly undies and swimwear

I didn't need any cardis or jumpers

BA allow 23kg per person on hand luggage!!!

I take a 40 litre backpack weighing 10kg for a months trip. Use packing cubes and roll stuff in them. Can manage 3 shorts, 4 lightweight trousers, 7 tops underwear etc along with my tablet and chargers.

You pack WHAT?
Sorry, not meaning to be rude but my flabbergasted is ghasted that you would take all that stuff.
I suspect I am low maintenance (although always insist on taking conditioner because I have crappy fluffy hair)

I'm the queen of packing light!

I worked away for many years, flying out each Monday morning and returning Thursday night. I only ever took hand luggage, and it included my laptop and (bulky) charger!

The way I did it was through very careful planning and only taking the shoes/boots I was wearing.
I took 1 spare pair of trousers and alternated them with the ones I wore on the Monday, and 3 spare shirts. Slept in the buff and used hotel toiletries along with the tiny travel items I took with me.

I'm generally very low maintenance, and see travelling light as a personal challenge 😁

Well I can do 2.5 weeks on ryanair's (paid) hand luggage - so a 10kg case and a personal bag. I think I could manage 4 days even without a capsule wardrobe.

When I was away for 2.5 weeks I took 5 dresses, 1x shorts, 1x trousers, 1x raincoat, 1x jumper, 1x leggings, 4x tops, 1x sandals, 1x converse, wore walking trainers, 1x swimming cozzie, 1x microfibre towel, 2x nighties, 14x socks and pants, plus all toiletries other than a 200ml sun cream I bought at the airport.

So for 4 nights I would take:

1x nightie, maybe 2 if I didn't have aircon
2x shorts + team shirts for the two days there,
2x dresses/evening outfits for those days, to be reworn as day outfits on 2 other days.
1x outfit to go out there, including a jumper if you want one.
Wear whatever trainers you'll want for the Grand Prix days.
Take another single pair of shoes.
Pack a single pair of trousers or some leggings to wear if it's cold.
Spare t shirt/dress for safe keeping.

Done.

That will easily fit in a small carry on suitcase.

Liquids and anything with a battery go in your personal bag so you don't have to unpack the suitcase at security.

One pair black linen trousers
Denim shorts
Dress that could be a day dress or dressed up with jewellery - I have a camel shirt dress that is good for this.

Smart trainers - wear on plane.
Sandals
Thin jacket wear on plane
Cropped trousers/ jeans wear on plane
2 t shirts one light one dark or coloured maybe one fitted and one baggy and maybe cropped plus one shirt / blouse
Some accessories to dress up outfits.
Possible a jumper or cardi.

Travel day - cropped jeans / trousers t- shirt, jacket and trainers
Evening - linen trousers, t shirt with sandals jacket and jewellery
Day - denim shorts and t shirt from night before plus trainers
Evening -cropped trousers, shirt and smart trainers plus jewellery
Day - cropped trousers and t shirt with shirt open over top
Evening - dress with Jacket and trainers or sandals
Day - dress with sandals and jacket
Evening - Linen trousers and fitted t shirt, shirt over and trainers

Then repeat some previous days. If you can fit another t shirt or vest top in even better.

Hey @NeedSomeAnswersPlease only read your posts but the BA hand luggage allowance is more than generous - 23kg plus a handbag!

Make the handbag a small rucksack and you can get a lot in there. Then wear the heaviest shoes and pack a pair of light sandals. Wear trousers or shorts twice. Take spare tops and one dress for evenings - if that's all you are using it for you can rewear it unless you are very messy (! I am!)

We recently flew with Ryanair which allows a single bag of 20x25x40 IIRC - not much bigger than the BA handbag - and I easily got in enough for three nights in an Air BnB so no hotel toiletries. Took three dresses, flipflops, underwear and tiny skincare items, a (paperback) book, an empty handbag, it was fine. Wore trainers, dress, cardigan, sunglasses. Less is more.

(I should add that I will avoid at all costs checking luggage in as an airline lost my luggage for about four days once. But that's just my stuff.)

I can't do it. used to have to do it when travelling for work drove me mad. now I pay for a checked in bag 20kg regardless of cost. is this an option ? I like a choice specific items and also like to buy when there

Or Dr. Beckmann Magic Leaves Laundry Bio Sheets, you can easily tear them to size and they're flat like paper so easy to pack. Don't need to take the whole pack, just what you might need.

I love hand luggage only. We are going away next week for 8 nights and I am taking

3x swim suits
3x daytime dresses
2x beach cover ups
1xdaytime flip flops
2xevening flip flops
5xevening outfits

We are staying in a hotel so pool towels provided and hairdryer in room. I just take make up as liquids and buy everything else either at the airport or when we get there.

4 nights is not long at all. I would do:
Travel day: trousers, t shirt and a hoody plus trainers
2 evening outfits and one pair of shoes
2 daytime dresses, 2 pairs of shorts, 4 t shirts, another cardigan. Light rain jacket if needed. One pair of flip flops. Underwear doesn’t take up much room and I’d take a small tube of travel wash in case of period problems.
A wash bag with travel toiletries and make up. A wash bag with painkillers and pads/tampons.
phone charger, battery pack, iPad and headphones.
I am not sure what else I’d need as an adult and it should easily fit in 10kg

This

Four days on the BA cabin allowance should be easy. It's not even really packing that light, I did a week's hiking and swimming holiday in Spain on the Jet2 allowance which is not quite as generous, including fresh clothes to go out in the evening and a big towelling robe because it was in November so not that warm after a sea swim.

OK reading other posts now - people take hairdryer and dressing gown on holiday?? It's another world out there

Agree with others re decanting shampoo etc into 100ml bottle - between you - will be plenty. Minimal make-up - who's gonna see you? I took too much make-up to Paris this week and it was so so hot I never wore it.

Shoes are the issue - someone says wear trainers and take xyz other shoes - I suggest literally one other pair and they need to be tiny, so wear your bigger shoes and then pack a pair of either flipflops or flattttt sandals - whchever is better for your evenings. We used to go to the seaside UK for a fortnight and I found that walking boots and flip flops covered literally every possible need apart from going for a run.

Travel clothes is a really good idea - who cares what you look like on the journey home so for sure you can wear them again.

I adopt the "I've got my passport and a credit card" approach. I can buy anything I need desperately out there. 4 sets of knickers, two pairs of socks, leggings, a dress, shorts, a vest and a t-shirt. Pajamas, my toothbrush and travel size shampoo and conditioner. A pair of practical but smart shoes. Wear trainers and a hoodie plus jeans. What else do you possibly need?

Its easy. Plan properly. Roll your clothes dont fold

It can be done. You have to be brutal in deciding what to take. Buying lightweight clothes that dry quickly when washed is essential. So no denim, a fleece rather than a sweater. Be prepared to wash out clothes before you go to bed.

I lived for 9 months with 2 pairs of trousers, 2 shirts, a fleece and a waterproof jacket, and a swimming costume. I was backpacking in Latin America in all kinds of climates.

@dizzydizzydizzy But the OP has the most generous carry on allowance on I've ever seen. She doesn't need special clothes or to spend her evenings washing everything out.

She could probably take 6-8 complete outfits, shoes, toiletries, sanitary protection, electronics and chargers and it would all go in the bags they're allowed.

I had a similar dilemma recently, 4 days abroad for a hen do, with multiple different activities booked that required different clothing, fancy dress etc.
I needed a new hand luggage case anyway, so I got this https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8672557?clickPR=plp:22:37
It was brilliant, fit everything in - it has SO much more space than my previous Tripp case. Highly recommend this!