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!😩

I don't find it hard. Wear one pair of trousers that will go with any top you are wearing and pack one other pair or a skirt that does the same, one dress, one pair of PJs and some lightweight lounge wear that can double as PJs, underwear and socks. Silky dressing gown, not big bathrobe one. Wear a light knit sweater and coat or long jacket that works with every outfit including a dress. I usually pack just a good 2-in-1 shampoo /conditioner in a scent I love, that I also use as shower gel, and a 5ml sample scent for perfume. Wear your chunkier shoes (trainers or shoes you can walk in) and pack one other pair for going out, and flipflops that double as slippers, sandals and beach/spa footwear if needed. Minimal makeup, not the whole bag - just one lipstick, mascara, eye palette, travel sized cleanser and toner. All that easily fits into even the meanest Ryanair size hand luggage.

I find it easy but you just have to forget about feeling special in different outfits all the time. You can look good but you’ll just be wearing the same thing all the time which can be hard if you’re used to wearing different styles every day. I’m not really bothered about that but I understand it’s important to some people.

Evening clothes don’t get dirty so just take 1 dress and wear it every night. Take 4 tops, 1 pr shorts, 1 pr linen trousers and travel in jeans. Wear trainers. Pack sandals that you can wear day and night. Simple!

I have never taken a dressing gown on holiday. I just put my pjs on if I need to but generally I have a shower and get dressed straight away.

Like many others, for 4 days I am struggling to see what the problem is. But we're all different.

On your test weekend, what did you take? What didn't you use and what did you wish you'd had?

If it helps at all, for your 4 day weekend I would take:

Pair of jeans (worn)
Hoody or cardigan (worn)
Waterproof Jacket (worn)
Pair of trainers (worn)
Extra pair of jeans or a pair of shorts
4 t-shirts
8 pairs of knickers (1 worn!)
8 pairs of socks (1 worn) possibly ready lace a couple of pairs with tights
A jersey dress you can roll up
A pair of dressy shoes
Possibly a t shirt for sleeping and a silk dressing gown.
A pair of dressy shoes.
Shampoo, gel, conditioner in travel containers, one mascara, one lipstick, foundation, small eye shadow pallet. All In a see through toiletries bag.
Small jewelry box with a couple of pairs of earrings and a necklace.
A box of tampons (normally wear period pants, but not if traveling).

I pack, then I take half of it out. I find I never wear or use most of the stuff I take.

I prefer a robe but if there isn’t one and the towels are skimpy or being naked is a problem I just dry and dress. You don’t have to sit around after a shower!

It depends on the type of trip

We just did hand luggage for a 10 day trip to Turkey. 4 of us so 4 hand luggage suitcases

Being a swim holiday We were mainly in swim suits and packed 3 evening outfits. Also packed washing sheets and on day 3 and day 7 hand washed clothes in the sink and dried on the balcony overnight.

You can't do that if you have nowhere to dry anything but for us they wanted 80 euro a bag for checked luggage so we decided to go save ourselves €320 as happy to pack light and rewear stuff and being a hot holiday it was possible to dry stuff.

"I'm wondering what everyone who's aghast at the thought of a dressing gown does post shower, getting ready etc, just sit wrapped in a towel? Some hotel towels can be pretty skimpy."

I just.... get dressed? Why would I be sitting around?

And if I feel the need to do so the only other person in the room is DP, so skimpiness of towel isn't an issue!

I wish I knew. I am incapable of it, always have to check a suitcase. Inevitably never even wear half of it but I just cannot stop myself from overpacking!

Cancel the two 10kg cases & rebook a 23 kg case.

I always raise a wry smile when people don't seem to realise that they have shops abroad, too, AND that you can wash clothes whilst away!

PS I went to Europe for 4 weeks with hand luggage only. I simply washed my clothes whilst away. Either in the bathroom or some hotels had a laundry service, charging a small fee per item.

I was a terrible over packer and couldn't travel light at all and I'm pretty low maintenance. Two things have changed this for me....

This bag is great for being able to fit a lot in, including a laptop

Cabin Max Manhattan Travel Bag |... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BNNVFVQQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And in tandem with packing cubes which really organise and reduce the size of everything.. I've got these from Mountain warehouse. I bought them twice though as the smallest size in the item is really useful and having two lots of those is handy. I put underwear,.pjs, other bits and bons in the small one and proper clothes in the medium sized one.

I then have a clear toiletries bag for that stuff but separate out non liquid make up and whatnot into another bag.

www.mountainwarehouse.com/es/travel-organiser-set-of-3-p16289.aspx/Gris%20Intenso/?srsltid=AfmBOoquyxuPrkX3ijX-vnM3DL0wIgMxkYXHDMtELqjHg0WnVm1ts1b3S-U

Oh and i have the uniqlo bag for my passport and phone for whilst I'm away.

www.uniqlo.com/eu/en/product/round-mini-shoulder-bag-corduroy-472049.html?dwvar_472049_size=SIZ999&cgid=IDw-accessories-shoes

Depends on how long you're staying, but even so, you can usually find a laundromat.

Assuming a week at most and weather neither very hot nor very cold:

You need to narrow down colours.

Black /white /neutral T-shirts, maybe one long or 3/4 sleeved - 3 max if you're spending a week, fewer if it's a shorter trip.
One pair of jeans, which you will wear on the plane.
Or one light, loose trousers, depending on what you like to wear and also the predicted weather.
One T-shirt and jacket (see westher) in a neutral colour, black, or white, or denim, to wear on the plane.
One dress, especially one you could wear out and about daily and then add belt, necklace, bracelet, or whatever, for evening.
One pair of shorts - denim, white, neutral.
Underwear to last a week, plus one.
Socks for a week.
Sandals or flats for packing; wear heavier footwear that you're planning to wear every day on the plane (trainers, etc).

And one nightie or pajamas.

Buy tampons when you get there, also basic toiletries like deodorant. Pack.minimum make up, your own moisturiser.

How much stuff do you need? Do you have travel pots? Can you share things like shower gel, toothpaste and deodorant, maybe buy just one of each to share while you're there? Or use some solid products?

I usually have shampoo, conditioner, face wash, deodorant, moisturiser, hair spray and mousse, toothpaste, nail treatment (I have crap nails so use a daily keratin while I work on breaking a decades long biting habit) and a small suncream if it's only a few days and not a beach holiday and it all goes in the plastic bag (just).

If there's space in your travelling companions liquid bag you can put some of your stuff in there.

Lots of good advice on here, and without sounding like a dick or an obsessive I did 6 weeks in Souh East Asia with hand-baggage only aged 57 (so not a backpacker so to speak) The main problems are shoes and tech, and then your desire (or otherwise) to wash things - I recycled the same 3 knickers and socks for 6 weeks, shower and deoderant before clothes, no-one (other than you) cares if you are in the same clothes. The joy of just lifting your little backpack and walking out of multiple airports whilst others are waiting in the baggage reclaim is brilliant. It takes discipline but can be done. Strangely, I think it is harder to go for 4 nights than 6 weeks. You know when you have 6 weeks you have to do it. "stuff" is available nearly everywhere. Most airports have a "boots" type place. Good luck xx

I wouldn't class myself as low maintenance but I am a minimal packer as I hate waiting for hold luggage on the carousel. I'm going away to Italy next week for 7 nights on underseat luggage only (easyJet) and my pickling list is:

Airplane outfit - leggings, t shirt, hoody, trainers
3 pairs of shorts - 2 chino, 1 denim
10 tops - 8 basic vests, 2 short kimonos
1 dress
2 bikinis, 1 swimsuit
2 pairs pjs
3 bras, 7 knickers
1 haman beach towel and 1 hair wrap towel
1 handbag (Uniqlo crossbody)
2 pairs of sandals - salt waters and flip flops
1 book
Straighteners
Then iPad, phone, chargers, minimal make up (tinted moisturiser, eyebrow pencil and lippy - I have lash extensions so no need for mascara), deodorant stick, travel skincare etc.

Lightweight clothing, rolled into compression cubes and it all fits easily. I also buy shampoo, shower gel etc when out there.

Compression cubes must be magic to get all that into an underseat bag.

It's not something I've ever considered before - I do have packing cubes/bags and recently managed a 3 day city break with just a rucksack and all my clothes were zipped into a packing cube then I had sandals, kindle, mini toiletries, water bottle, chargers etc in my bag too, but that's next level. Must investigate. Did you also have one of the 'special' bags that's exactly the right size to maximise packing space @fiddleleaffig ?

Yes, anything more than two weeks and you'll need to wash your clothes and maybe even buy more toiletries so really you only need 7 outfits (realistically even less)

I'm the queen of light packing. I'm going on holiday today for a week and taking a small rucksack. Take a dress (a whole outfit in one), a pair of shorts and a t shirt, a vest and some leggings. Then hand wash mid way though the trip if needed. Wear all of this except the shorts on the plane. One pair of shoes and some flip flops if hot. Swimming costume. No towel. Tiny shampoo and toothpaste.

This is a Sporting event, not a fashion week. You will have to get there early (crowds), you will struggle to leave in the evening (crowds). Unless you are in the paddock club (which I assume you’re not, because then you wouldn’t be traveling g lowcoster with no luggage), just don’t bother. I did Silverstone with a weekender bag/holdall, it is completely possible.

But many people don't want to spend time on holiday doing laundry or shopping for things they already have at home, especially if they end up with something that is not their preferred brand, expensive for what it is or they can't bring home with them so is likely wasted.