Throw everything out and half everything.

You really can manage with 7 pairs of knickers instead of 14

sanji x

You mean turn them inside out like my brother does!
lol sanji! I think I'll take your advice and half everything in the case! My sister in law told me to take 7 of each, but I think that has snuck up to 14!

pack some handwash and half the things you take! Just think of all the ironing you will save on your return!

Thanks Fiona. I've got some travel laundry wash stuff! I'll take that.

The ironing isn't my problem... my mum deals with that!

Have a look here for some packing tips.
I hope you appreciate your mum!

Packing is the biggest nightmare. I don't know how some people do it (you know the type, a different bikini every day, different outfit every night)! I've to pack for myself and my two daughters. It was bad enough when they were younger - 7 pairs of knickers x 3 = 21, a couple of beach towels each etc. Now they are older it is "but mum, I really need my hair straighteners", "I really need 5 different types of conditioner" etc. By the time it comes to me, its a question of squashing what I can in the sides of the suitcase!

I really think I might consider a nudist colony next year!

Never bother packing beach towels anymore. With five of us it used to take up a large amount of packing space. We usually go to Tenerife and we now buy our beach towels in the local shops for around euro 3 each. Also I tend to buy things like nail varnish remover wipes rather than a bottle, same with make up remover, they all weigh less than bottles of the stuff. Instead of taking your whole make up bag (if it is anything like mine with all the lotions and potions it will weigh 20kg alone) just take the basics that you need. I never tend to wear much makeup when away, just mascara and a nice lippy in the evening - no need for blusher etc when you have a nice tan. I know you think you will not manage without everything on your list, I used to be the same. If we were going for two week I used to take 14 of everything, at christmas we went for threee weeks but there was no way I could have taken 21 of everything so I halved it. Took 10 of everything for all of us and it worked out fine.

Good luck

Jackie

when we started traveling a couple of years ago we used a coffin suitcase and could easily fit 50kg in it first problem allowance was 20kg each then came the one case each rules not exceeding 22kg so we got a case each,
my case weight 17kg the OH 25 kg so we started the do you really need routine, and after several trips coming back with used clothes she is now down to around 16 kg and i am a little less, BE ruthless and only take what you need not what you think you need

wizard

If you are going to a warm country then there really is no problem with drying your washing. Underwear especially dries in no time at all so take some travel wash. If put out on balcony at night very often they will be dry by morning.

Also decant your shampoos etc. into smaller bottles - if there is not much left when you come home just throw them out. It does tend to be the toiletries that weigh a bit.

Try an co-ordinate your evening wardrobe. A black skirt/trousers can look very different with a selection of easy to pack tops.

Our cases tend to weigh about 17 - 18 kg each when packed - always mix your packing in the event that one should get lost. I am not known for 'packing light' and this last time I did actually come home with some things unworn.

Also have you checked the weight of your unpacked case - some weigh a lot before you put anything in them. Perhaps time for a new lightweight case.

One important thing to remember is that no individual piece of luggage should weigh more than 32 kg.

Pippa

I take half-empty bottles of shampoo, shower gel etc and throw away what's left before I come home - the toiletries really add up the weight! You could even just take the tiny sample bottles of stuff (Superdrug do a good range) to do you the first day or so and then buy cheap stuff from the supermarkets when you get there.
Suncreams weigh a lot - work out how much you really need - one bottle of high SPF for the first few days and a couple of lower SPF for the rest of the holiday, bearing in mind it's easy enough to buy more from the supermarkets when you get there - it might be a little more expensive there but it works out cheaper than having to pay for excess baggage
Some hotels let you hire towels for the pool, so you don't need to take any of your own - even if your hotel doesn't hire towels, you don't need loads of them - one to lie on and one to wrap up in, they dry on the balcony overnight and if they get smelly after the first week there's usually a laundrette somewhere
One pair of pants or a dark skirt will go with several different tops for evening wear, and the tops you wear in the evening can be 'dirtied-out' the following day, to save on taking a selection of daytime tops. For a 2-week holiday I take 4-5 pairs of evening pants or skirts which can all be worn several times with 14-15 lightweight tops which can be worn first during the evening and then again during the day. I take 5-6 bikinis (they don't weigh much, can be washed out and dried quickly) and 3-4 pairs of shorts and/or beach skirts... and that's it!! Now, go and get minimalistic girl - think 'less is more' and you'll even have weight allowance left over for shopping coming home!

7 outfits for the evening if your going for a fortnight, then double up the next week. 2 pair of sandals. 2 bras, 7 pair of knickers.
3 skirts for the day and 7 tops, mix and match all fortnight.
3 bikinis and sarongs. flip flops
You can take the essential toiletries then buy the rest when you get there.
Electric items in hand luggage.
I do this and I've just weighed my case ( going to Beni tomorrow) and it came out at exactly 20kgs, sons 14kgs and hubby hasn't packed a thing yet

Hey everyone:

Thanks for the replies. I have taken everyone's advice, and my case is now..... 29.8kg!

BUT!!!

My mum, the cheeky (*Insert mild naughty word here*), didn't have a single bottle of shampoo/foam bath/sunscreen in hers (fair enough her hair isn't as long/thick as mine, she doesn't need multiple types of shampoo/conditioner and her idea of sun protection is to slap on some olive oil onto her dark olive skin that tans so easy, and watch me (with blonde/ginger colouring) sit there with a full bottle of spf 60 the whole way through the holiday!) But... her case was only 12kg! And she considered it finished! I had put 1/2 of hers in mine, so I put 1/2 of mine in hers, plus 1 bottle of shampoo and 2 bottles of sunscreen, 2 pairs of my shoes.... her case is now 23kg! She just needs to put in the iron, toweling robe and some pringles!

Have a smashing trip everyone else! Still 14 more sleeps for me now! But I can sleep knowing my case is packed, locked and the next time I see my pretty dior bikini and all it's little bikini friends is when I am in the Dominican Republic!

Thanks for the advice

My problem is I love holiday toiletries, lotions, potions , body butters etc , and of course they weigh a ton.
This gives me the perfect excuse to buy clinique products just to get the 'bonus time' and Lancome for 'le gift' as all the goodies are in perfect travel sizes, only problem is by the time the holidays come round I have to make the decisions of which to take as I always have far too many, anyway enjoy your hol Dramaqueen.

Unfortunately weight limits have to be imposed. Someone has to pick up your suitcase at the departure airport, and again at your arrival airport. Its a question of health and safety. Many people forget this. But laws are in force which state that baggage handlers are only permitted to lift a certain weight. Thats why one individual suitcase should not exceed 30kgs.

Its always worth baring in mind that the heavier your suitcase is the more likely it is to get damaged in transit.

get it right the weight restriction is becaus the modern worker is a woosy i am getting on have a prolapesd disc and a bad sholder i can still carry 1 1/2 cwt (76.4 kg) without problems

The individual weight restrictions are more about weight distribution in the hold.

I find the toiletries are the heaviest things so I've cut down over the years. Been brutal over which stuff I actually do use. And this year my make up bag will be minimal, I wear the same stuff every night anyway. Shoes are also bad for space and weight but I know I've always ended up using one pair flip flops for day, and having a favourite pair of sandals/flip flops for evening then a pair of trainers/pumps for just in case you need something more substantial. My heaviest stuff is now my books of which I take about 6 but the more 'mature' I get the less I'm fussed over getting dressed up at night than I ever was so I mix and match a lot.

And having done two turkish gulet hols and another this year once you've done the holiday that involves not even drying your hair or wearing shoes or make up it spoils you for having to make the effort on other holidays!

Wizard HT Mod wrote:

get it right the weight restriction is becaus the modern worker is a woosy I am getting on have a prolapesd disc and a bad sholder I can still carry 1 1/2 cwt (76.4 kg) without problems

Why oh why oh why have Thomas Cook been sooooo evil..

15kg = hell. I've used that up with two bikinis, two pairs of flip flops and a towel. Bah. I

'm just going to try and do the fake innocence "but I didn't know that it was only 15kg" trick at the airport- I saw it on the Airline repeats on Sky Travel, so I'm sure it must work some times, right?
Evil Thomas Cook. EVIL. EVIL!

(P.S. I am very jealous of the sound of a dior bikini, mine come from the dizzy heights of Peacocks and Tesco...)

For more discussion, please check out our existing "LUGGAGE, EXCESS BAGGAGE, WHAT TO PACK WHERE .. Q&As" topic, or the relevant airline topic in our "FLIGHT ONLY, AIRLINES & AIRPORTS" forum.

I will close this thread now to prevent further duplication.

David