Micro-packing for 4 days

[TragicMuse]

I'm going away for 4 days to Budapest. Expecting it to be cold, possibly snowy.

We are flying with Ryanair and only have the teeny tiny bag, no extra booked.

So I need ideas of interchangeable wardrobe options that will fit into a small 20l day pack!

Everything needs to fit this bag inc toiletries...

Help!

All advice would be most gratefully received!

Thanks!

Pay for a larger bag? Wear a big down coat or similar. Gloves, scarf and woollen hat in the pockets. You could probably get away with wearing a few jumpers for boarding to get past the Ryan Air staff. Possibly pack a fine long sleeved thermal top. Don’t forget a swimsuit for the spas. Wear comfortable boots with good grip.

I’m doing this but with Italy for 3 days next month.

Hopefully it’s easy as I’ll be wearing my big coat, gloves in pocket and scarf to the airport. It means it’s just a couple of clean jumpers, pair of clean jeans and underwear including thermal base layer tops packed. I’ve got lots of little pots from Primark to hold my make up and toiletries. I have bought compression packing cubes from Amazon to reduce capacity in my bag. I am only taking my boots with me which will be on. We aren’t going anywhere fancy at night so no extra clothes or shoes for that. My handbag is a cross body bag that sits flat so can be packed.

I am hoping it’s easy as it’s winter so no multiple changes of clothes and getting sweaty in the heat.

Also OP, I have bought this bag from Amazon. I do have a rucksack that is the correct size but it’s got pockets etc. I just wanted a bag with maximum square empty space if that makes sense.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Airlines-40x20x25-Underseat-Foldable-Overnight/dp/B0BDFD1FXP/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3QC0ETLJ79L33&keywords=Ryanair&qid=1704869736&sprefix=ryanair%2Caps%2C414&sr=8-5&th=1

Pre kids I was really good at packing light (I once did 10 days in Morocco and brought back a full sized sitting room rug in my hand luggage).

I love this website for giving you starting points for packing lists: https://www.travelfashiongirl.com/ it always needs customisation but helps get me started.

For somewhere cold I’d want more “technical” clothing that doesn’t take up much space and dries super fast if you need to wash it - I’d definitely take some hand washing liquid. I like Acai (https://acaioutdoorwear.com/) for outdoors type clothes that don’t look too outdoorsy - their fleece lined trousers are great. And Uniqlo heattech thermals are great - they take up zero space, can be worn under pretty much anything and keep you toasty. I also like the thin Uniqlo down jackets that squish down really small, they are not pretty but are designed to go under your coat so no one sees them.

Use packing cubes to compress your clothes.

Trousers are easier than skirts when it’s cold as you don’t need to worry about tights as well and I always find tights take up much more space than you think.

I’d probably go for something along the lines of:

• 2 pairs of trousers (jeans and fleece lined - wear the bulkiest)
• 4 long sleeved tops
• 2 jumpers
• 2 thermal tops
• Add a dress or skirt if you’re going somewhere smarter.
• One pair of boots (wear on the plane)
• Big coat (again wear on the plane)
• Big blanket scarf (on plane)

If you can afford it, pay for a bigger bag, you don't want your trip spoiling by not having warm enough clothes or constantly having to handwash.

If that isn't an option, toiletries is an easy one to save space on - decant, decant, decant! Just enough for 4 days + a day in case of delays etc., all in tiny pots. Since liquids have to go in a clear sealed plastic bag anyway, you could skip the toiletry bag too and just use that.

Using compression packing cubes might help too if you have them or can borrow some.

There was another recent thread where someone had the same issue - their snag was they needed a handbag for their trip and that wouldn't fit (posters reporting that Ryanair can sometimes be very strict about not having a handbag as well as the under seat bag) so they were thinking crossover soft bag hidden under their jumper! https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4979682-has-anyone-flown-with-ryanair-recently-what-is-the-baggage-like

contact lens cases with separate tiny joined pots for L and R lens are leakproof and can hold enough of something like serum for a few days. Most lens wearers dispose of this kind of pot every time they start a new bottle of cleaning solution.

Take toothpaste in pill form: just take some out of the pot they come in. Take shampoo in bar form: use it first, to reduce weight.

I did this last year to Prague so same sort of cold. I wore nice jeans; tshirt, cashmere jumper; trainers, long down coat; hat gloves etc.

I packed

1 other pair of jeans
1 other sweater
3 light t shirts
underwear.
moisturizer, serum, tinted moisturizer and mascara.
toothbrush.

I only brought my trainers to wear - we walked a lot. No one gets dressed up so every tourist looked like us - when we went to dinner everyone had trainers. They were my ‘best wear’ trainers.

we stayed in a hotel so I didn’t take shampoo/showergel/ etc. We bought toothpaste at the airport. You could also buy small holiday packs of moisturizer at the airport if needed. I wore that days tshirt to bed at night!!

Use a bag like a Longchamps Le Pliage so you can get the most in.

I have done 7 days with a carry on bag!

I would dress for warmth with travel so several layers good socks and walking style boots

In pack your own toothbrush and deodrant - if you want miniatures BUT everything can be bought there. Don't bother with make up or take a tiny multipurpose pack with mini mascara type of thing.

One other pair of shoes for evening/meals but remember is cold and prob wet/snowy. one bottoms and three tops, pants and socks for each day and 1 spare bra. PJs. rewear jumpers/outer tops and at a push wear t shirts for PJ tops that could also be worn for day wear underneath. Hair brush.

Take a good but relatively small cross body back that can squish in the top of the day pack or attach to it if necessary but you can usually get away with a small handbag and that will be good for travel docs, tissues and any snack bar etc

ps my sister just did a month in India with only hand luggage slightly larger than you are allowed so its all doable

Oh and packing cube that is shrinkable once packed - usually by second zip on outside are a godsend

If it's going to be cold you could get away with only taking changes of underclothes (socks, knickers, base top layer) swimsuit, toiletries.

This is all great, thank you so much! Normally I'm fine but for some reason I have been having a total blank on it!

I really can't pay for more baggage, it's not my booking! It's a present from a family member.

for 4 days/one bag I would take:

Outfit I am wearing- trousers, top, jumper, warm jacket, comfy boots. Hat & gloves in pocket

3 knickers/socks
1 change of trousers
2/3 change tops
thermal vest
maybe another jumper if possible space wise.

will hotel supply toiletries?

If not:
enough shampoo/conditioner for one hair wash.
tiny pots of cleansers, moisturiser.
BB cream, lippy, lip balm.
small hairbrush

Put kindle ap on phone for any reading.

Charger
water bottle
umbrella
tissues

Assuming you're not planning any big nights out, I think 4 days is fairly easy to pack with a single bag you need:

2 pairs of jeans/trousers - aim for smarter options that can easily be worn for dinner etc.
2 warm jumpers - I'm a fan of cashmere in this context for being lightweight but still warm.
Vests/t-shirts/thermal shirts x 4 to wear under the jumpers.
One "nice" top/blouse/shirt with cardigan or light jacket (light jacket has added advantage of being wearable over the core jumpers too).
Underwear
1 warm scarf, neutral colour that goes with everything. If you want to pack a thin silk scarf for evening, sure.
I personally would pack thermal leggings - probably just two pairs - because I get cold.
Gloves, socks, underwear etc.
Nice comfortable boots that can re worn for walking but aren't "walking" boots as such, again, so that if you are out for dinner etc they're okay.
Warm coat.

for toiletries, buy travel sizes or decant into travel sized containers. A lot of brand sample sizes also work well in this context. Also, for 4 days, you don't necessarily need your full skin care routine. I'd usually take cleanser, day cream, night cream and then possibly my all-in-1 serum for morning and a hylaronic acid for night time.

Obviously, some of that you'd be wearing on the plane so not all would go into your bag.

Oh, and one other tip - if you have a large handbag, take that and put a smaller travel handbag inside. In my "travel" handbag, I usually carry the obvious things like phone, wallet, make up, passport etc. But it's also where I put my kindle, phone charger, iPad (if I'm taking it), headphones, a notebook and pen, a small box with jewellery (usually just a change of ear rings or an extra ring or two), any snacks I might need (admittedly, this is more when I travel with the DC), a small water bottle etc. Then I have a smaller, lightweight, cross body handbag that I use for walking around when I get there.

Have you seen the hack where people take out the stuffing from the neck pillows you can take on planes, and full it with their own clothes instead?
You could get several M&S / Uniqlo long sleeve base layers in there, plus leggings, maybe underwear - zip it up, put it around your neck and sail through security leaving room in your bag for an extra cashmere jumper (go to TKMaxx).
Good luck!

We did 3 weeks in Morocco with hand luggage. We were renting a car and travelling round so couldn't face loads of packing and unpacking so it's totally doable! I gave it a great deal of thought and had a few practise packs leading up-to the holiday. Footwear was the hardest - really comfy trainers and then a pair of smart shoes. Then bought a pair of sliders out there, which we left behind. We took lots of shorts and t shirts with us and pants as they could just be rolled up and really tightly packed in.

You can add more luggage, if you have your booking number you can go and buy it, is your family member planning to check you in as well?

I’d wear
Thermal leggings
Thermal top
Jeans
Jumper
Coat
Boots
hat/scarf/gloves
And underwear and socks obviously

I’d pack
1 pair thermal leggings
3 x thermal tops
1 jumper
1 pair jeans (only really in case the others get wet or muddy, I have no issue wearing the same jeans for 4 days especially over thermals!)
Underwear and socks for 4 days
Swimwear
makeup (I have a small palate for travel that has base, blush, shadow x 2 in then would take mini mascara and lip balm ), toothbrush, hairbrush

Maybe something to wear in the evenings…I have a jersey dress that rolls up small and can be worn over my thermals and with my boots so probably that.

Four days in Sweden last week. I packed -

1 pair jeans
1 pair thin leggings (in case extra layer needed)
3 thin long sleeve tops
1 pair pyjamas
3 pants / socks
Leg warmers!
Woolly hat
1 clear plastic bag with all bits of cosmetics/hair stuff
Toothbrush

And I wore -

Long down coat
Jeans, vest top and long sleeve top with fleece (just wore the fleece every day)
DM boots
Scarf, with gloves in pocket

I still had plenty of room in my bag so could have taken more, but glad I didn't as I filled the space with little souvenirs and an entire loaf of bread for the journey home 😀

Get toiletries at the airport. Or, if you're in a hotel, use theirs!

I do the trick of taking clothes that are one step away from the bin, wear them and chuck them to make room for souvenirs. Things that don’t show like socks, pants, pjs, tshirts, we all have them.
Light but warm (cashmere or fleece) gloves, scarf and hat will add layers and fold up small.
I always include a couple of mini tissue packs, aspirin, chap stick and Imodium just in case!
See if you can share chargers.

Solid toiletries as much as possible. Bar of soap, shampoo bar, solid deodorant etc cuts down the weight and take up next to no space and don’t have to be separated into a plastic bag.

OMG, that's inspired!!