One 20KG suitcase for 4 people? Is this doable?

[WhyAreHolidaysSoStressful]

I've messed up. We're flying with Ryan Air (never again and we've not even left yet!) and I've only booked one 20kg suitcase for 4 of us. We managed this last time but also took small suitcases as hand luggage. I didn't realise that Ryan air hand luggage is now literally just a small backpack.

It's now going to cost £112 for another 20kg bag (the first one was only £40 when I booked).

I'm very reluctant so spend so much on extra luggage when it was supposed to be a cheap holiday in the first place.

It's a beach holiday, only six full days there with two days travelling - is it doable if we take maybe 3 lightweight outfits each?

I agree with a pp on this - some people are just not too fussed about having loads of outfits. I'm happy with 3 x dresses, a few separates, and two pairs of Birkenstocks on rotation 😁 I'm the same at home - I'm just not overly bothered about having a ton of clothes.

Plus, we always stay in a self catering villa/house/whatever with a washing machine.

I hate having too much stuff!

Right! So miserable to be on holidays with one pair of flip flops and 3 dresses! Sorry no thanks!

Given that we’d be wearing swimsuits 90% of the time I think 3 dresses and a T shirt is loads. Different for a city break, obviously, but a beach or pool based holiday needs very little in the way of clothes.

The real problem is fitting all the books in the luggage.

We did it in Spring for 2 adults and two teen girls for a week. DH had literally two of everything and the girls had more. We had washing facilities but there was no space for a change of shoes.
Summer will be fine. Dresses and swimsuits fold down small. Your underseat bag can actually hold a lot if you roll or squeeze the air out. I’ve taken just that for 4 days in Dublin in September.

I always take loads of stuff on holiday and wear about 3 things so definitely possible, just do what I never do and identify the 3 things up front!

We are a family of 4 and we only ever take one checked case, plus 2 hand luggage backpacks (usually Easyjet size rucksacks so bigger than the Ryanair ones, but we can only bring 2 because we bring a buggy). DCs are under 7 so their clothes are smaller than a teens - but then again we usually pack a few nappies and a selection of toys/books. We always stay somewhere with access to laundry and pack about 3 changes of clothes plus PJs per person. Usually just have the shoes we wear, or possibly beach shoes for dc. My skincare toiletries decanted into tiny bottles, but we buy shower gel/shampoo there. We never bring towels , just use whatever is in the apartment.

Bar soup and shampoo bars are so much lighter than bottles of shampoo, shower gel, take up no space and can be used to rinse out swimming costumes etc.

You collect airside so you have already been through security