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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

How much is 20 kg??

54 replies

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:12

I was trying to save money when booking holiday to Spain which was achieved in 2 ways : not paying extra for holiday company to provide 'bath towels' (usually just enough to hide one's modesty!!) and only buying two 20kg cases between 4 of us (me, DH, two DSs aged 16 and 13). I freely admit to being the guilty party when it comes to overpacking and every year take stuff I don't wear!

But I definitely need to pack at least 4 beach towels (I normally take 5 or 6) and 4 bath towels. I have already bought toiletries etc as the one time I planned to buy them in the airport I found that stressful and expensive.

Should have said , we are going for 11 nights.

Does anyone know more or less exactly what equates to 20kg in fairly lightweight cases? I'm sort of trying to decide whether I need to bite the bullet and order a few towels. This would be annoying as we are only doing the camping bit for 4 of the 11 nights!

I did nearly get stung for extra charges a couple of years ago but the airline actually let me off a few extra kilos and let me check in some hand luggage that definitely was not hand luggage. Don't think I'll be that lucky again!

I do have luggage scales so can weigh ; I just wanted an idea before I pack if anyone can offer their insight!

it was so much less stressful last year when DH let me book a package holiday with flights and baggage allowance included sigh

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badbadhusky · 02/08/2017 08:14

I do have luggage scales so can weigh ; I just wanted an idea before I pack if anyone can offer their insight!

Just pack all your stuff, weigh it & thin it out if it's over 20kg...

jacketej · 02/08/2017 08:21

We flew for a week for four us, myself Hubbie 14year old and 2 year old. We had one case for us all, max 20kg. This was enough for new tshirts everyday for 14year old, 4 pairs of shorts and swim shorts.
The small one had change of clothes every day, nappies, swim
Nappies etc.
Myself and DH had fresh tops for everyday, then 4/5 skirts shorts etc for me and shorts for DH.
We had shower things, smellies, toys..
we did it in one case you can deffo do it in two!!!!

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:23

I know I can do that! I was trying to save a bit of faff by seeking some input from the collective wisdom of MN. I may well end up doing a dummy run - usually do.

There are always people about though who seem to know more or less exactly what 20kg of luggage looks like so I thought I would seek wisdom before I resort to multiple packing attempts!

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relaxitllbeok · 02/08/2017 08:23

Our standard ish full size cases (the kind that are in the biggest half but not the biggest quarter of what you see on the baggage collection strip) tend to go to 22kg or so if we stuff them full, so are under 20kg if we stop when the case is just about full enough not to rattle.

OTOH, ordinary towels are probably less dense than most of what I pack! Have you considered the camping towels that are light, pack small, dry fast? If you have this situation often, might be worth getting some.

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:24

I am also extremely attached to my two sand resistant beach towels. They are amazing so they definitely need to come!

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DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 02/08/2017 08:24

What do your lads wear on their feet on holiday, trainers weigh a ton.

smu06set · 02/08/2017 08:26

Have recently packed - I had 3 large towels in my case, along with my clothes (I am by no means overdone on the clothes front, and had no heavy shoes either!), and our bottles of suncream aftersun shampoo talc etc. That was 19.5kg in a lightweight case!

Twoevils · 02/08/2017 08:29

We only ever get one 20kg hold bag between 4 of us. The kids stuff mostly goes in their hand luggage - usually get 10kg each i.e. one of those wheely flight cases. My wheely case gets all the awkward odds and sods plus some bits for the flight. DP carries all the tech in his. So the hold bag is for mine and DPs clothes, towels and toiletries. We use a squashy canvas holdall so as not to loose weight to the bag and do weigh it carefully!

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:31

The boys will wear their trainers on the flight and otherwise crocs will be packed. Shoes do tend to be the problem. Big feet take up a lot of luggage space!!

3 large towels, the suncream and my clothes sounds about right for one case.

I can ram a couple of towels in hand luggage I think.

Life was undeniable easier when you could take liquids in hand luggage but hey ho.

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Twoevils · 02/08/2017 08:31

Good point about the heavy shoes, I make sure everyone wears their heaviest pairs, and wears/carries a jacket if possible (even if just through check in)

Millipedewithherfeetup · 02/08/2017 08:32

Take a trip to a supermarket when you get there. Buy cheap towels and throw them away before you come home. Easy and simple!

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:33

I was trying to cut down on the wheely hand luggage. Normally I love those cases as they are better than rucksacks for one's back and sanity. We are hiring a car and it's not very big . The hand luggage needs to be squashable. We nearly had to do two airport runs one year because we couldn't get the luggage in the car!!

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Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:36

Haha millipede you really don't know my DH if you think he will want to buy 'cheap ' towels when we have towels at home!!

To be fair, if I do that , I might as well hire the ones from the camping people so this may be the way forward.

I shall discipline my self re shoes but I do have separate beach shoes and walking about shoes. My flipflops are lighter than the male shoes though and take up less room.

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Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:38

twoevils - you get ALL your children's clothes in hand luggage??

Wow!

Are they very little??

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TestTubeTeen · 02/08/2017 08:40

You don't need 4 beach towels, they are the devil's work: bulky, heavy, dry out slowly, accumulate salt and suntan lotion and become manky!

Pack a small thin towel for each person for drying off, but use lengths of cotton cloth, cotton sarongs, for lying on, maybe on a cheap straw beach mat.

2x 20Kg plus hand luggage is plenty.

Everyone wears trainers and bulky clothes (evening hoodie etc) on plane.
You do not need full sized toiletries. I just washed and conditioned my hair every day for 2 weeks from the miniature travel bottles and came home with spare.

Limit shoes!

Minimum shorts / trousers / skirts. Add variety with tops.

Beach clothes get mucky / sticky, doesn't matter, you don't need clean every day. Wear clean tops a few times in the eve then 'graduate' them to beach wear.

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:41

As a side note, the airline I used to fly to Iceland allowed you to have one bit of small hand luggage (eg small rucksack) and a 10 kg hand luggage (the fees for suitcases were huge). This being short break land everyone did this. It was carnage on the plane with all those rucksacks and duty free and wheely hand luggage! We were boarded last in the front row so all our stuff had to go in overhead lockers. It ended up at the back of the plane!!

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MrsWooster · 02/08/2017 08:42

Hammam towels are excellent. We use them for swimming and it means the whole family swimming kit fits in a hold all. They dry really fast and are big enough for a relatively flattering sarong!

Biggreygoose · 02/08/2017 08:45

Your DS should be able to fit majority of clothes for an 11 day summer holiday in carry on.

I would bank on:

11x underwear and socks (could reduce the socks as well)
2 x sandals
6 x t shirts
2 x smarter shirts
1x pair jeans
3 x shorts
2 x swim wear
2x sandals/flip flop
1x smart shoe
1x small toiletries bag (tooth brush, travel toothpaste, deodorant, small bar soap)

Dress in t shirt, jeans and trainers for flying. Also wear/carry a jumper/hoodie.

Jobs a goodun and less an issue if luggage goes walk about.

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:45

Thanks testtube but we do need/want the towels. They are definitely going ! Two of them are sand resistant and they do work, honest...

I have the small shampoos etc. It's the suncream that is bulky. I may try to limit my hair products . Inward silent weeping.

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Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:47

goose that sounds a lot!

We never take jeans so they can be excluded!

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Cocklodger · 02/08/2017 08:47

I managed to fit all of my clothes, DDs (only a young baby at the time!) clothes and some soft toys, keepsakes etc in one 23kg suitcase and hand luggage. The only thing I sent via post was some cosmetics and a photo album because the photo album was quite heavy and bulky and the cosmetics I sent because I didn't think I'd be allowed to take them (didn't realise I could've but hey, don't ask Etihad any questions like that because they'll tell you the wrong thing...)
We were emigrating. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:48

I am not packing my wedges this year which is very noble of me

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Original poster

Piggywaspushed · 02/08/2017 08:50

I might look for these lightweight towels when shopping today and the claim we have always had them...

DH insists on a towel to lie on and a towel to dry with...

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Cocklodger · 02/08/2017 08:52

By the way all of my clothes were considerably slimmed down but I took
1 pair of trainers (converse/dap types)
1 pair of boots,
1 pair of slippers,
3 pairs of jeans, 10 pairs of leggings, 5 hoodies, 10 t shirts. 11 dresses (thin, short leightweight cotton) 4 skirts, 6 pairs of shorts, 2 jackets, 2 smart trouser suits, my favourite blanket then 5 matching pairs of underwear and a multipack of socks. Oh and a bathing suit.
My clothes were in a vac bag as were DDs (didn't have an inventory as such for that as it was very small stuff!) everything else we had fit around it then in my hand luggage I had entertainment stuff portable chargers, books and another blanket.
I also took my handbag (free on Etihad flights) which contained my laptop and a few small bits like snacks etc.
my only regret was I wore my very heavy killer heels for the 32 hour journey (29hr flight then 2hrs from airport door to temp rental accomodation).
Honestly you'll be fine.

Cocklodger · 02/08/2017 08:53

By the way when we got weighed at check in my bag was 23kg on the dot

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