EasyJet cabin bag for 5 day trip - possible?

[HereWeGoAgainPart2]

I’m going on a short break with my boyfriend in a couple of weeks to Portugal, arriving middayish on Friday, leaving midday Tuesday. As we don’t have much time as it is he’s suggested we just take a carry on bag (46x36x20cm average backpack size) each.

I’ve been with him for less than a year and due to lockdown it will be the first time I’ve spent more than a couple of days with him. He seems to think I’m pretty low maintenance and I haven’t done anything to suggest otherwise. But having looked at a bag that size it will hardly fit my makeup and straighteners, let alone any clothes .

Could you do it? I think if I wear leggings, trainers, jumper, jacket on the plane then in my bag I’ll just need underwear, sandals, bikini, couple of dresses, shorts and a couple of tops. It would involve very little makeup though. Straighteners are non-negotiable as I have a fringe which is determined to stick straight up.

Any tips?

Although actually - half my makeup is creams and liquids. Will I even be allowed to put them in my carry on bag? And I’m a redhead so I need factor 3,000 which I’ll also need to pack somewhere somehow. Ffs.

I always take just a cabin bag for a 5 day trip to Portugal. My tip would be to buy your suncream, shampoo, shower gels etc from the airport after you go through security as usually you are allowed to take a bag of airport shopping on as well as your cabin bag.

I could, yes, but I’m a ‘wash your knickers and dry them overnight’ kind of person.

But more importantly, I just wanted to say it’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen a thread like this and gosh, I hadn’t realised that I missed it! Just the thought of a baggage dilemma for a long weekend away is such a delightful novelty! 😂

@SimonedeBeauvoirscat

I could, yes, but I’m a ‘wash your knickers and dry them overnight’ kind of person.

But more importantly, I just wanted to say it’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen a thread like this and gosh, I hadn’t realised that I missed it! Just the thought of a baggage dilemma for a long weekend away is such a delightful novelty! 😂

I agree I’d be thrilled to just pretend pack a suitcase right now, especially knowing all I need is a few sun dresses and some sandals!

@SnarkyBag

I always take just a cabin bag for a 5 day trip to Portugal. My tip would be to buy your suncream, shampoo, shower gels etc from the airport after you go through security as usually you are allowed to take a bag of airport shopping on as well as your cabin bag.

This - make sure the stuff you'll want to keep is

@SnarkyBag it’s so refreshing, isn’t it! I’m now thinking about things I haven’t even considered for SO long. Check in queues. Baggage screening lines. Overhead cabin bins. These things still exist! It makes my mind boggle a little bit tbh.

Yes it’s a nice change! I bought myself I nice passport and document holder the other week that I spotted whilst shopping. Don’t even have anything booked for this year but it’s sat there as a beacon of hope!
Might even splash on a bit of fake tan this week just for the hell of it!

You don't need all that make up on holiday. Buy shower gel etc at the airport.

You have to lift your straighteners out at security so put them on top with your liquids.

It’s only small local airport so nowhere to buy stuff once I’m through check in and I’d still need to squeeze it into my bag to be allowed to take it on.

I’m dead excited! We thought we’d got an absolute bargain with the flights and the hotel but then when you add on the PCR tests it’s not quite so cheap!

deverregina I definitely do need the makeup unfortunately. I have a very freckly face and I need makeup about an inch thick to cover it up. I also turn bright red the moment it’s above 15 degrees. I wish I had the confidence to go without makeup but I simply don’t. I swim in the sea everyday of the year and still wear full makeup to do it

I regularly used to do work trips of 5 days on hand luggage... A beach holiday would be easier.
I have small bottles for toiletries and buy sunscreen at airport. Make up wise its hot so at most id take tinted moisturiser, lipstick and then a very small bronzer & eye shadow. I'd dye my eyelashes so no mascara.
Wear comfy sandals on plane and just take one pair of other shoes. Underwear, 2 bikinis, 2 shorts, 1 trousers, 1 short dress, couple of tops, one floaty cover top for beach.....

Sundresses rolled up as small as possible, Can easy fit 5 dresses, a bikini, flip flops and underwear.
Leggings, top and a long cardi with trainers would be my airport outfit of choice.
For toiletries try and use as many solid products as possible, cleansing sticks are great (easyJet sell the Frances Prescott tribalm stick so you could buy that en route) foundation sticks, eye crayons, solid cream blushers etc
The only liquids I take are mascara and hair products, I buy deodorant and sunscreen after security.

I do this when I visit my mum. You just need two of everything - one to wash and one to wear! And you are wearing one set on the flight ( you can add a few layers!) They sell everything you may need in Portugal. Make up you can stuff in pockets. And you can stuff extra in a carrier bag and pretend it’s duty free or whatever it is in these post brexit days. So yup, easy. And think how cool you’ll look with the smallest luggage ever. He’ll fall head over heels at how travel savvy you are 😀

Can you upgrade to the bigger cabin bag size by booking the Upfront seats?

(I went looking on the website as I was sure the cabin luggage used to be a lot more than that... Flew with easyJet slot when living abroad)

I travel with Ryanair and their baggage is tiny!! Use the carry on for clothes. Order your suntan lotion and some cheap cosmetics to collect from the boots in the airport after security as you can take one duty free bag on as well as your hand luggage.

If there's a Boots airside, you can do a click and collect for suncream and things like shower gel, toothpaste. Then you can be certain you'll have what you want, and not have to worry about liquids.

But that bag is HUGE for 5 days in warm weather!

With your makeup routine (and BTW what's wrong with freckles?) I'd think it'll be too difficult. Just book the luggage. But didn't I hear that some of the lower cost airlines were going to charge for carry ons?

We used to do family holidays for a fortnight with just carry on... it was a bit nuts though I am still in love with the backpacking dream of travelling light. So yes you can, but only if you want to!

I’m going on a 7 day UK break soon, and was planning to take a full size suitcase .... maybe I should hop over to a different thread!

I wash my undies using shower gel - it rinses out much easier - go to pound type shop & see if they have a travel line with clips so you have something to hang washing on disclaimer dd did this. or use their hangers!

@HereWeGoAgainPart2

deverregina I definitely do need the makeup unfortunately. I have a very freckly face and I need makeup about an inch thick to cover it up. I also turn bright red the moment it’s above 15 degrees. I wish I had the confidence to go without makeup but I simply don’t. I swim in the sea everyday of the year and still wear full makeup to do it

Freckles are so in at the moment that people are drawing them on! Sad some people think of them as a flaw, they're ace!

Take enough undies, they weigh nothing. But do be prepared to wash other clothes so you can rewear them

..... or just pay for hold luggage?

I’m going to go against the grain here. If I felt I needed slightly more stuff than a bloke for a five day holiday then I would bring a slightly larger suitcase. Not huge but not carry on. That way I would feel happy that I have what I need. So what if you have to wait 20 mins at the carousel for your case? It’s not a race. And just because he wants to travel super light doesn’t mean you have to or should.

Could you swap your make up out for solids rather than liquids - eg a cream or stick instead of liquid foundation? Soap instead of shower gel, Pencil eyeliner instead of liquid, powder blush, and even lip pencil instead of gloss? If the only liquid thing you’ll need is shampoo and suntan lotion you can get that at the other end.

With some careful folding/rolling you can easily get your clothes and straighteners into a small case, especially if you wear your chunkiest items Joey style