4 days in Marbella in July... handluggage only...what to pack?

[AuntieMaggie]

I'm off on a girls 'weekend' to Marbella in July but only have hand luggage allowance. I'm getting nervous cos I always pack too much so what do I need and what don't I need?

I'm particularly worried about the liquid allowance - how am I going to get all my toiletries in that? or should I just buy them at the airport?

Keep it simple.
Four nights
So - four light weight dresses for evening
Bikini or two
A cover up thingy or two
Evening shoes
Day shoes
Underwear
One pair or shorts
Couple of tops
Wear a jacket or something on the flight so you don't have to pack it.

I'm assuming you'll be floating around the pool/beach during the day and drinks in the evening.
Take make up and mini toiletries from home. Buy shampoo/conditioner/shower gel between you (are you sharing rooms) because 100ml isn't enough and you'll only have to bin it.

Re liquids, decanting or buying travel sizes should be fine. If only four days you should have no problem at all really! As for clothes, remember that you'll have your travel outfit as well as what you're packing. What will you be doing while you're there? Can you share taking things like straighteners etc in the group if a few of you are going? Just focus on what you'll actually wear/use. Honestly four days in summer is v easy to do hand luggage only.

I know it is not what you're asking but I would pay the extra for hold luggage. You'll then be able to take your own beach towel, toiletries and make up galore AND you'll have space to pack anything you buy abroad.

Whenever I have gone to Spain with friends there has always been at least one trip to the shops (Zara, Matissumi Dutti always cheaper).

Take solid bar soap. Basic makeup, you will be on beach most days anyway.

4 days, one is travelling there so clothes already on.

• 3 night out dresses
• 3 casual dresses
• flip flops
• bikini

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I'm tempted to just buy the minstrel toiletries at the airport. I think I need:

shampoo
conditioner
face wash
moisturiser
sun cream
deodorant
toothpaste
mascara
lip gloss
after sun

I'm assuming it's going to be sunbathing and drinking - I'm not going to be shopping and we've all only got hand luggage so doubt the others will either.

Skip conditioner ( just use shampoo for those 4 days)
Skip after sun ( can just use the moisturiser if needed)
Skip face wash ( water and small bar soap for those 4 days)

You can take anything under 100ml each, but it also needs to fit in one small clear plastic bag so you can't have loads of 100ml bottles. Only about 4 100ml bottles will fit in the clear security bag with lipgloss/ mascara

Here from gov website:

''If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:

containers must hold no more than 100ml
containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm
contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
you’re limited to 1 plastic bag per person
you must show the bag at the airport security point''

you don't need a different outfit every night!!

get down to Wilkinson or Superdrug and buy the travel sizes at less than the airport cost. EXCEPT suncream, you're going to need more than 100ml even in the shade so buy that after security.

I took the family on hol with only hand luggage. It was difficult but I got quite good at it by the end. Make sure th bag you take is the maximum size allowed for carry-on. Lightweight fabric is key with items that can go from beach to bar (as they say). Also, I got everyone a GoDryYourself travel towel from Amazon which was fab and fits in a zip pocket of a rucksack.
I honestly think travelling light is the only way to go now and saves so much time at the other end.

Also get some of those vacuum pack bags that squash your clothes down! OK they will come out a bit creased but they mean you can pack a lot more in the same space. Or packing cubes do the same job.

If you can take a lip stick or balm-type stick instead of a liquid gloss it won't need to go in your liquids bag. Agree you don't need after-sun (although you may want to take a body lotion).

Those sample sets that come free with magazines are perfect for this, eg 10ml face wash, 7 ml moisturiser etc. The sample sachets you get in magazines are great too.

This is my standard liquids bag when I fly for trips up to 7 days:
Face wash 40ml
Moisturiser 40ml
Tinted moisturiser/BB cream - sachet or 30ml
Deodorant - standard roll-on size
Body lotion 60ml
Toothpaste 15ml
Mascara - standard size
Perfume (decanted into a travel spray or 5ml vial)
Shampoo 100ml
Conditioner 100ml
Nail polish

The actual approved dimensions for cabin baggage aren't that bad, esp if you won't need bulky winter clothes. You can get loads more in than you think.

Thanks ladies good ideas... I've actually got some sample stuff so will see what I have.

I've also got daily disposable lenses...

I like to travel light.

My most recent hand luggage only flight was last Sept to Madrid. The weather was hot. Five days duration.

I took two dresses, a skirt, couple of vest tops, a pair of sandals. I wore jeans, vest top and a light cardigan to travel in with supergas on my feet.

Toiletries : I use bar soap to wash face and body. I have some small bottles into which I decant shampoo, conditioner (if hair is dyed and needs conditioning). Sun cream - buy Ultrasun 100 mls size - that size lasts for ages as it's once a day only. I share a roll-on antiperspirant and toothpaste with DH.

I took a bikini - just in case - and a Hammam towel.

You don't need a different outfit for each occasion. It's quite refreshing actually to not have to worry about choosing which outfit to pick

I keep make up to a minimum too - just a mascara, lipsalve, lipstick and eyeliner.

I dont take perfume - just go to the shops prior to dinner and try some out.

I have just come back from five days in Barcelona. I only had hand luggage and fitted two outfits in for every day. Roll rather than fold your clothes you get so much more in

remember that the rules are for liquids, gels and pastes, (so that includes lip balm) and that your contact lenses (in liquid) also need to be in the plastic bag.

I often travel for a week with work so pack suits and heels which are bulky - all doable with hand luggage. Are you in a hotel? If so toiletries may be provided. I rarely take shampoo or soap as its there. Same for hair dryer etc. I do take deodorant, contacts, small toothpaste and perfume in my plastic bag. Also check if you have towels etc provided

What airline are you with! If possible pay a supplement for speedy boarding/leg room etc as sometimes you get a handbag plus carry on. I take a big tote with book/phone/toiletries etc which leaves more room for clothes - if you're BA that should be included

Enjoy!

Lip balm is not classed as a liquid. A lipgloss would be as it's a liquid, but anything in stick form that holds its shape is not.

Sorry, just going by the gov.UK site here.

Great tips here! I'm away to the sun soon and watching with interest... Any recommendations for nice light dresses?

Thinking about it special, I think of lip balms as bullets, which definitely are fine, but I expect lip balm in a pot or tub (eg Vaseline) would need to be in the liquids bag. I don't use them so don't think of them as lip balm!

I take a soap shampoo and soap sun protection from Lush (yes I know, sounds daft but works) - they dont have to go in the clear bag so leaves more room for other stuff.

So if you had to take one colour of lip balm/lip stick what would it be?

And what sort of dress does one wear on an evening when they aren't on holiday with kids?

I bought two gorgeous playsuits to wear in evenings and day for the 4 days I have in Marrakech in June.

Happy to share links if people are interested.

Oh yes please. I started another thread about summer holiday clothes but it's only had one post