Help me pack for 5 days

[fortifiedwithtea]

This will be the first proper holiday we have had as a couple in 28 years. No kids!

We are going to Tenerife in March. Its only 5 days and I want to avoid airport faff. Is it possible for 2 middle aged people just to have a cabin bag each?

Towels are provided at the hotel for bathroom and swimming pool. I don’t wear make up and past the need to carry sanitary protection.

So actually DH will have more toiletries than me! He needs to pack one smart pair of trousers for evening if we want to eat at the hotel. We have decided to book B&B as reviews have said there is an abundance of places to eat locally.

We are on a Jet2 flight but have not booked through them.

what are your hints and tips please?

Wear your bulkiest clothes and your trainers/walking shoes, likely you'd do this anyway as will be colder here in March! You don't need a different outfit for each evening, just take 2-3 dresses and one jacket. Probably easier to buy toiletries when you get there, once you've seen what is provided at the hotel.

It’s do-able.

You can obviously buy a shared bottle of shampoo/shower gel and your own deodorants after you’ve cleared security and pop it in the bag that will go under your seat.

If you’ll be mostly swimming/lazing around, then I’d travel in a pair of light shoes you can wear in the evening, and a very flat pair of flip flops for daytime. Temperature especially evenings can be quite cool and breezy in Tenerife so I’d travel in a cardigan and jacket and trousers that would work for evening out. I would also take a sarong or wide cotton scarf which can double up for use at the poolside or again in the evenings as an extra later.

1. Check the weather forecast a few days or a week before you go.
2. Pack uncrushable clothes as much as possible.
3. A couple of plain colour light summery dresses and alternate belts, and or scarves in contrasting colours. Add statement jewellery.
4. A few t shirts, one swimsuit/bikini. Can be washed and dried overnight.
5. A light cover up or large chiffony wrap scarf for by the pool
6. Sunglasses.
7. A couple of very light flowy trousers, and a couple of nice tops for evening
8. Cardigan
9. Wear trainers and jacket going, bring light pair of sandals that you can walk in!
10. Buy toiletries there, and cheap flip flops and a hat (if you need them), the Chinese shops are great for bits and bobs like that. If they don't fit in the bag coming back, leave them behind.
11. If stuck for space returning, buy something very small in the duty free, and make sure you get a bag from the shop, decant extras in there. It is not counted as part of your underseat allowance.

I use just an underseat bag for a week away all the time so you should be absolutely fine for your few days away. Check the dimensions for your airline. If I think of anything else I'll get back. Other replies will probably have a lot more tips too!

Have a lovely time, I can see you are as excited as a kitten!

Yep easy with just a cabin bag, liquids buy the little bottles and fill primary have them for a £1 or so. The little tiny circle ones are ideal for moisturiser, antiseptic cream etc. wear your heavy clothes, jeans, t shirt, sweater, coat etc. use packing cubes to compress the items you need to pack. It’s makes travel so easy, when you get off the plane, no hanging around the carousel. Have a great holiday.

Oops, when you say "Cabin Bag" do you mean the wheelie case that goes in the overhead bins? If so, you will have tons of space to bring what you need for a few days.

My post above was just in reference to the Underseat only bag, which I use. Then I never have to worry about there being enough space up above!

Yes Jet2 allowance is very generous:

You may carry on board one piece of hand luggage free of charge, as long as it weighs no more than 10kg and is no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, including any wheels and handles. If your hand luggage weighs more or is larger than this, it will need to be checked into the aircraft hold, and you may have to pay an additional charge.
You can also bring a small, personal item on board (such as a handbag, laptop bag or airport purchase), as long as it is placed underneath the seat in front of you. Please note that you cannot drink any alcohol purchased at the airport (or beforehand) during the flight.
You could also buy your sunscreen and shower gel at the airport so you can bring on an extra duty free bag.

I also buy some clothes hand wash at the airport.

You don't need as many clothes as you think. A 10kg case is plenty for a few days, in fact, we enjoy reducing what we take to fit in the small case. If you eat out every night, you won't need to pack smart trousers, just wear them on the journey. Shoes and toiletries are the heavy stuff. We have a large bum bag for paperwork, small tablets, phones and books. We are doing 2 weeks in June, and are wondering if we can manage with just on board luggage to save fannying about at the airport.

@Quizine yes wheelie cases that go in the overhead locker. Yes very excited to go on holiday with just my husband. Youngest has SN and is going to Disneyland Paris with her adult special needs social club. Giving us 5 days for our own holiday

If you are low maintenance type person like me who is not bothered about having lots of different outfits, then I would take 2 or 3 T-shirts/tops and 2 or 3 shorts/skirts for daytime and probably one dress or trousers for evenings. Take flip flops and wear trainers and cardigan or jumper on the plane.

(You’ll obviously need to pack enough pants on the basis that you will crap yourself at least 3 times a day …or is that just me?! 🤣)

My top tip is to wear clothes for traveling that you may be able to use abroad as well. So rather than Jeans, linen or cotton trousers, a light jumper for evenings and trainers not boots.

@MagpiePi always pack spare knickers.

I may even use the strange gift I got this Christmas. Its a stuff your own neck pillow with your clothes to save space in the suitcase.

The design flaw that I noticed was that is fine and dandy for the outward journey but means potentially you are wearing your dirty underwear round your neck for the return flight 😂 🤮