Packing Light Tips

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Does anyone have any amazing packing light tips? We're going on a city break next week for 5 nights to somewhere HOT and given the luggage dramas at Heathrow (we're transiting through there) have decided on hand luggage only.

I one outfit I have to take for an event - silk dress and wedges - then need a few nice bits for evenings and shorts / loose vests for during the day.

It's been ages since I've had to limit my packing when I used to travel on business so I've forgotten all my hacks and wonder if anyone has any amazing tips they could pass on? Also considering how to keep toiletries and make-up to the bare minimum. We'll buy suncream in Heathrow after security as we'll need a bigger than 100ml bottle between us, then ditch the remains of it for the way back.

Thanks in advance

We are a family of 4 and went on a 10 day holiday with a hand luggage each, it can be done easily OP. Most of the time we don't use the clothes we take anyway ( at least that's what is the case with me )
Underwear for each day of the holiday plus 2
Light weight cotton / lien Harem trousers 3 ( girls dressed conservatively as it is Muslim country )
But you could get away with shorts if it is in Europe.
Two linen / cotton dress.
Trainers which goes with the dress when you board
A pair of sandals each.
You get small packs of containers in Amazon where you can decant your cosmetics / cream etc ., which the flights will allow to check in.
Packing cubes for each of us.
We have light weight turkey Hamam towels, took one each
Take some washing powder if you want to wash underwear by hand in emergency, but hotels will have laundry service.
Roll your clothes when you pack
We are planning to go with just the hand luggage for our summer holidays as well. Good luck , it can be done

Like this .. we had one each

Roll clothes rather than fold. Put underwear in shoes. Bring the minimum of make up as it will slide of your face in the heat anyway. Buy heavy stuff there, i.e. soap, hairspray, shampoo, etc. Wear your wedges on the journey and for nights out, wear a pair of very comfortable sandals for daytime. You only need those two really, but can pick up flip flops locally if necessary. Use a backpack within the size rules along with your wheelie. You can fit loads in there, such as electronics, a book/kindle/medications/tissues etc., and stash it under the seat in front.

Obviously if you need to use certain toiletries, do the usual by decanting into smaller bottle/sprays.

Bring a neutral coloured light floaty scarf. Great if evenings get a bit cool and takes up no room at all.

Where are you going? We all love to know these important details lol! Enjoy.

Thank you both! Forgot to say I need to travel in converse as we're doing an activity that requires covered shoes, wedges will be in my case.

We're going to Rome

I'm quite looking forward to the challenge of creating a hopefully half-stylish yet capsule wardrobe!

Good idea (I returned via Heathrow yesterday and baggage claim had mounds of ‘unclaimed/lost luggage everywhere.
Tips from depending on location and preferences:
cut back on nightwear if you wear it, couple of t-shirts rather than full pjs
limit footwear - for a fortnight I took 1 pair sandals (pretty ones but also walkable) 1 pair flip flops and 1 trainers (converse)
Re keeping toiletries to a minimum - yes to buying the little travel bottles - lower your standards/ be less picky with brands where practical - share a shampoo with family unless there’s a good reason not to. If you use spray deodorant one to share buy at airport or buy a compressed one. Be brutal with what you really want/need. E.g. I might leave eyeshadow and blusher at home but I’d definitely take primer and mascara.
a couple of nice necklaces could ‘pretty up’ a plain top and takes little room.
if you’re in a city and debating whether you need to pack something that you should or could get easily in the hotel e.g. towel - don’t. Buy it there if you really need it.
if hotel has a laundry or launderette nearby if itinerary permits you could use that ( I did for a 16 night trip probably wouldn’t for 5)

I'm not sure about travelling light in summer heat. I did 10 days hand luggage in April to a place that was warm but not hot, I took 3 dresses 2 trousers and 4 tops, 2 pairs of shoes, i was able to get a second wear out of some items.

I decant toiletries into contact lense cases and write on them what's inside.

I did a 5 day trip recently and did this for foundation, face cream, tooth paste, deodorant (I use the solid in a tin type), as well as contact lense solution.

Saves lots of room and lots of money buying full bottles at the airport

Spray clothes with perfume before you go so you don’t have to take it with you. I’ve just come back from Rome - definitely pack a sun hat and some factor 50 as it is ROASTING there. (Like the rest of Europe, I guess!)

I have to go for 10 days with only hand luggage! 5 days would be fine.
I'm going to wash my clothes either in a machine or by hand during my holiday.

Decant & take any samples you have. I always add a few plasters & couple of blister plasters.

Linen culottes & plain things that can be work day or evening. 1 cardigan, sandals & vest tops. As long as you have sunglasses, you'll be grand. Put wee stuff in your sunglasses case

If you have to wash things out in the bathroom sink (as I have done, often!), a quick way to get most of the water out,is to place washed item in a towel and twist the towel again and again until you have the ends of the towel in both your hands. open it up and Voila, item is quicker to dry!

One USB plug with multiple openings means you can charge a few things from the one plug. Amazon is your friend for that one.

Don't bother with make up bags, or toilet bags, just use ziplock bags and squeeze the air out of them. Bring a couple of spares too. All those holder bags are big and heavy. You don't need much make up or toiletries at all.

Bring a hand held fan (like the Spanish type). these are life savers in hot sticky airport Qs etc.

I use a neck purse that holds passport, copy of ticket, phone, emergency meds and debit/credit cards. I use it cross body and is discreet and out of sight. No fumbling in a big bag/backpack at the gate.

Hope you have a great time.

I have a hard shell case and use half of it for clothes (compression packing cubes can help!) then the other half for shoes, straighteners and all the other bits and bobs you need. I've got wedge saddles and trainers in there before.

I always buy deodorant, hairspray and sun cream after security and decant other toiletries into small bottles, I've collected lots of samples over the years and often save empty tiny containers to reuse (Kiehls midnight recovery sample bottles are excellent for decanting The Ordinary into). I also save those sachets of shampoo and conditioner you get given from some places and take them, take up almost no room. Alternatively solid shampoo doesn't need to go in your fluids bag. I also got solid cleanser bars (Drunk Elephant) for my recent trip to Italy.

Have a brilliant time!

Excellent tips. Thank you! You've reminded me that I used to save all the shampoo / conditioner / lotion sachets from glossy magazines for business trips; should start doing that again for future adventures.

Ready to start decanting and rolling. Luckily DH typical travels with 2 spare T-shirts and a deodorant, so might squeeze my straighteners into his bag

If you're planning to visit any churches/ Vatican City while you're there, be mindful that bare shoulders and knees aren't allowed so a scarf to drape will be needed.

Definitely packing cubes and Marie Kondo fold your clothes if you don't roll them.

You can borrow a scarf in the larger churches.

Oliver Bonas do a travel tin with four bars in. Shampoo, conditioner, body scrub and body soap. Looks useful and compact.

Already sorted; I never step onto a plane without a scarf / pashmina in my hand luggage. Works for cold planes, churches, emergency beach mat/towel, pillow...