Any tips for travelling light? Only 10kg of hand luggage

[NewDog]

Just found out that the 10kg allowance for a flight to Spain on the weekend is hand luggage only and that the plan for some of us to share an extra case might not happen.

Any tips for keeping weight down to a bare minimum please? Looks like I won't be taking more than one pair of shoes at this rate :(

Also any smart ideas on toiletries?

My two small bottles of contact lens solution are going to nearly fill the little clear bag they allow you. (Add to that stress re asthma inhalers - looks like I'll need a letter from the dr to carry them in hand luggage FFS, how am I going to get that by the weekend?)

Some of our party have booked extra luggage but I think they need to pay again coming back which makes it best part of £100 - and if it's only extra hand luggage, the toiletries are still an issue.

A travelo for your perfume. Small plastic containers for your moisturiser and cleanser (purchase in Boots etc). Buy mini deodrant, mini hairbrush or comb, mini hairspray if you need. They usually have body cream and shampoo etc in the hotel if you are pushed for space and can't fit minis in. Or share with a friend. (you take shampoo, she takes body cream) A friend of mine collects free samples from makeup brands like guinot and then always has a load of samples of cleanser, eyecream etc to take which is normally enough for single usage. You could always stealthily ask at your makeup counters too. Any products that double up would be good too. Always good to have 2 pairs of trousers/jeans (even if you wear one on the plane) in case of spillage - make one a dark pair to glam up if you go out at night. If you need accessories, wear them on the plane. Only take one jacket which you will carry with you on the plane to save space in the luggage. Roll your clothes when packing. Stuff sock into shoes etc.

Wear your heavy stuff in layers (especially heavy shoes) and take off the layers once on the plane.

I'm a dress kind of person and they are very light if they are your thing.

Ooooh that's a good idea re the samples! Will have to do that Thursday, thank you. That's the thing - all lipsticks and foundations need to fit in that bag too and I can't be buying absolutely everything at the airport :(

Was thinking of wearing jeans for the trip and boots and then you're right mirpuppet, probably just take dresses as they are light.

I'm most worried about the toiletries situation. Won't be able to take suncream at this rate - and I've already got it at home, but will have to either buy it airside or at the resort.

You're allowed more than one bag for toiletries I think, you just need to make sure that everything does go in a bag and that none of it is over 50ml. But I would check that out. I'm sure I saw people with more than one c

10kg is actually quite a lot.

Use rucksacks not suitcases, they are a lot lighter, or those very light holdalls.

Wear a lot of clothes, with pockets.

You get a lot of options out of a light dress and a pair of really nice sandals. If you pack 2 dresses plus 3 pairs of pants and a bra, and then wear 2 t shirts under a light jumper, a waterproof and linen trousers plus a pair of more closed shoes, how much else do you actually need...?

I hate taking hand luggage only for this reason! You can get those small pouches of suncream, I took the Boots Once stuff that is really thick but you don't need to reapply so often. Also don't know whereabout in Spain you are going but jeans and boots sound too hot for southern Spain st this time of year!

It's definitely max 100ml, no more than 1000ml in total, and needs to fit in a 20cmx20cm freezer bag. Will see if I can get the travel suncream - just worried I won't fit it all in.

Has anybody ever needed a drs note for inhalers in hand luggage? I never have before, but can't risk them being confiscated as I wouldn't be able to go.

We're coming back really late on Monday so need jeans as I'll freeze on the plane :)

Ah I see about the jeans! You can do it, you just have to be ruthless about what makeup to take and sharing as others have advised is good. Sorry, can't help about inhalers. Doctor may give you a note but you might have to pay?

I've got to wait until August for an appointment with the nurse so think it'll be unlikely I'll get a note by Friday :(

I've not had a problem before, will ring the airline tomorrow though.

You're right, I have to be ruthless :) I've remembered I've got some tiny lipstick samples and . Luckily there are 14 of us going, can see there being a lot of sharing of stuff!

Think about what you can buy at the airport- toiletries , nail scissors, all sorts that you can't pack can be bought without limit then.

They do have shops in foreign places too lol

5 of us are going to Spain hand luggage only for 2 weeks in the summer - we have all got kindles too.

Contact lens solution you can even buy in boots and not have to worry about if they stock it. Otherwise watch the bottles are not more than 100ml each or they'll be confiscated ( you can't fir instance take a 150ml bottle evn if it is only half full)

I know we'll be able to buy stuff, but would rather not if I don't have to :) Would make it a bit expensive.

Hand luggage only for two weeks!!! I'm struggling for three nights :)

Have ordered a small bottle of contact lens solution, just hoping I won't be allergic to it as I use peroxide, but haven't been able to find a small bottle of that to buy.

Spent 2 nights in Italy in February and travelled hand luggage only.
I used a clear toiletry bag i bought in john Lewis and took mini sizes.
Clothes wise, managed to fit in pair of jeans, sweater, dress, underwear, nightie, spare shoes, straighteners, adapter etc... More than you might think.
As others said, take one jacket and wear it and wear all accessories.

I've never ever had a problem with my inhalers. A call to the airport won't harm, but it shouldn't be an issue. I always keep them in my hand luggage so that they don't go missing if my suitcase doesn't make it.

Have a good trip.

Buy toilettries and suncream at the airport. Airports have boots and they always have the travel sized stuff. You are passed security then so you have no issues with what you buy. They always have shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste etc. You can also get facial wipes and eye make up wipes there too.

Your liquid limit can therefore be your contact lens stuff.

As for clothes the way you pack will help a lot. Get a light weight back pack. Some of these trolley cases weigh loads so a good rucksack would be ideal.

Wear a pair of shoes that you would wear on holiday and pack one other. Undies you only really need 1-2 sets of as you can rinse things through. Swimmers again 1 set as it can be washed through and dried over night.

Clothes roll them rather than fold. Saves lots of space.

Don't use a suitcase - a lightweight backpack (think thin nylon) is much better. Use travel size cosmetics, you can get containers from Muji if you must have some of your favorite products.

I travel a lot and always manage just with hand luggage. 10 kg is plenty.

It's HOOOOOT in Southern Europe now so don't bring a jacket. Wear a blazer on the plane if you must. Check the weather. I'm wearing flipflops/espadrilles, underwear and a sundress most days (live in Italy). Don't bring any boots, no cardigans. It's too hot for skinny jeans too. Basically, a few light dresses or a couple of pairs of shorts, T-shirts and your bikini.

I can easily manage to take along a ton of makeup in a flight pouch (listed them somewhere on S&B a few days ago) - just take what you most typically wear, not all the possible options.

Oh, and my friend took the trusty jeans + boots combo to Washington DC in April. She nearly died of heatstroke in them - it was very hot, 25-30C and she had no other shoes with her. The rest of us were cool and happy in ballerinas and flipflops.

Lipsticks are never considered a part of the liquid limit as they are solid/waxy; neither are powders, blushers, stick deos etc. I would very coolly just pack two plastic pouches and tell them that you will die without your inhalers.

Which airline are you flying with? My friends and I went on a girlie trip to Spain last year and Ryan air were a night mare - any duty free or stuff brought airside MUST fit in your hand luggage bag - you are not allowed to take it on as extra. We sriously thought there were going to stop one of our party from boarding the plane on the way home.

Although haveing said that with reagrds to the little plastic bags for liquids at security - some of us had 3 or 4 bags full and they didn't question it. It's only for what they put through the scanner and they can't tell what belongs to who then anyway - just all put your bags in together and it will be fine.

Remeber your not allowed anything like nail scissors too as they can be classed as a weapon.

Are you not able to just phone your doctor and get them to leave a doctor's note at reception rather than wait for an appointment? I asked them to do this with my permission to fly letter and they were happy to.

Thanks everyone :)

I'm not stressing so much now as we've booked another case to share that will go in the hold - so toiletries and contact lens stuff will be fine in there :)

Inhalers I'm just going to take new boxed ones in my hand luggage so they'll have my name on, I think that will do - I really can't see them being taken off me and I've not had a problem before but Monarch's website is contradictory about medicines needing a note.

Sweetheart that was exactly what I was worried about - it's Monarch and I've heard they are a nightmare re not taking a handbag (it must fit in the hand luggage case) and also some people say they make you pack your duty free and other purchases in the hand luggage.

Now I've just got to decide what clothes I'm going to take :)