I never take a suitcase now. I use my hand lugge allowance. I've got the sub zero g cabin size suitcase and get all my stuff in this for a week and indeed 10 days and also bring presents back. I hear your deep intake of breath - my husband and family were all the same - nobody could believe it!! Now I pack for all of them!! And no I don't take just 2 or 3 change of clothes and I have plenty of underwear too!!

Last trip was 11 weeks ago - 12 tops 2 swimming costumes 3 shorts 4 trousers 2 multi tops underwear 2 pairs sandals toiletries medication towel book sunlotion etc AND we brought presents back

So yes yummy mummy it can be done!! Ok so I didn't take straighteners and an iron but will you need the iron? Most hotels have them. And your straighteners are not that heavy????

When you pack roll your clothes up - it does save on creases too. My sandals match everything I have and I find I stick to one pair for most of the time - but we like to match don't we girls.

I only take the makeup I know I will wear - not my big make up bag. I take the small bottles allowed in hand luggage for my gel hirspray, sun oil, shampoo etc.

It's all about planning and using every spare bit of space in the case. The sub G's are great because the handle is at the outer side of the case not the middle so you have more room and they really are so light. They are worth investing in as you can use them every hol as hand luggage even if you have a case in the hold. Easy to manoever around the airport too.

There's a great utube video about packing cabin luggage - she packs loads!! My family made me record what came out of my suitcase just because they didn't believe what I managed!!!

Plan ahead and enjoy!!! Have a great time!

I don't know which airline you are travelling with YM but some will make you pack your airport duty free purchases into your handluggage so you will need to leave space in your bag.

wow..awesome. We have never been abroad like that but have had plenty of weekends away where we have just had stuff in a holdall for both of us.
We would never manage on a proper holiday though becuase of all the dive gear.

Thanks for all your help

DragonBev - could you come and pack for me as i'm useless with packing

I even dreamt last night that I had bought one of those sub zero cabin cases!

Even though we don't go for another 5 weeks and 6 days, I got out my little cabin case from the loft and made a list of things that i will need to take.

Boots sell travel size toothpaste for just over 1pound, so will be taking that because it will be under 100mls.
Primark have littles bottles that i can decant things into, but im not sure of the measurements, so will i be better just buying travel size shampoo and shower gel?

Judith - you are correct, everytime i have been on holiday there were signs all around in the airport saying only one peice of hand luggage per person. I got away with it last time as I was travelling with my son who didn't have any hand luggage.

Hi yummymummy

Just remember to roll things up tightly - it really does work. Stuff underwear into sandals - you'd be surprised how much of a gap there is!!

Have a look in your local 'poundstore' they sell plastic bottles and they are usally less than 100ml. I have a set of four which came in a plastic case. I also use some from Boots - I like the spray ones for my hair gel spray and also my sun oil. I put them all in a plastic 'pencil case' I got from Wilkinson's for about 90p - they all fit in and are within the allowance.

We go again next Saturday for 10 days so I'll be doing it all again and we'll have room to bring stuff back.

To combat the no handbag situation with just having one piece of hand luggage I have two waistcoat/gilets with loads of pockets - and no I don't look like a fly fisherman weighted down but they have loads of pockets for my purse, mobile, nintendo, camera and some sweets for the flight. I match the waistcoat to the season I travel in and of course the colour combination!! I have been known to have several items of beads and bangles in the pockets on my return but my theory is - if there's a space fill it!!! My friends laugh as they have seen the stuff I bring back and how 'deep the pockets are'. Several of them have now bought the same waistcoats and use them everytime they fly.

Our tickets etc go in the front pocket of the case. We fly from Bristol and usually use the 'economy airlines' which are really strict with size and weight but they state on the airport website that you can take one bag of duty free bought at the airport so take a look at your airports website to see if they have this printed. I've even taken a printout of the statement with me in the event they challenge me - which has never happenend - yet. I buy our drinks magazines and maybe some snacks to take on board. If your airport has the same guidelines then you could purchase your toiletries in duty free.

On reading this back I now realise I have become a true 'geek' when it comes to packing etc but all this is a result of years of travelling and bringing back more unworn clothes than I care to remember. I also have saved a fortune on baggage costs - two years ago 7 of us (family) went to a villa in Lanzarote and this time we checked in 4 suitcases as we had an 11 month old with us. We took lots of baby food and nappies etc definately came back with much less stuff and much lighter suitcases however we were stopped at check in and charged not only for the 2 suitcases which were 0.5kg over but for the 4 cases as we were one bookng - total cost 195euros. I spent 50 mins arguing but then was pulled away by my family with my hubby just paying the money as they thought we'd miss the flight. What really annoyed me is that there were so many of us on the flight being charged. The staff were meeting the queues with scales and also credit card terminals in hand!!! Never again!!

And of course the biggest bonus is - plane lands - you grab your case from locker - straight out to transfers!! No waiting for the carousel wondering what state your case is in - and indeed if it will even come off the carousel!!!!

So plan well and travel light - honestly it's easy - enjoy enjoy enjoy !

Dragon Bev - have you got a link to that item on youtube, because I'd love to see it.

Hi Helen T

I'm useless at posting links but if you go on to the site where all the videos are uploaded on I'm sure YOU know the TUBE I mean and type in
How To Pack A Carry On Suitcase: Women's Version
you'll see it by SheilaScarborough

It's great for ideas and as I said my family made me record myself unpacking our suitcases from the last trip. Next week they want me to record how I pack it - they just can't believe how I do it - which is strange as some of them have been away with me!!!! HMMMMM strange how they always bring it up around the times of their holidays!!!!

Hope this helps - sorry for being useless at posting links

Hope you get some tips

Thanks I'll have a look

I've just watched that video and I agree she's managed to pack loads into the cabin case by rolling it all up. I'm quite a good packer and fill in all the little spaces e.g. underwear in shoes etc and I roll linens but after seeing that video I'm going to roll all hubby and my clothes this summer to see how I get on

I really didn't think I could use such little space as I do but honestly it really does work and summer stuff is so thin it weighs practically nothing. For Autumn I just add a few cardis and swop cropped trousers for long length. Roll up as tight as you can and they crease less. I tend to fold trousers in half and roll the waistbands first - it gives a tighter roll. I also noticed that the rolls will bend nicely around shoes etc. The only item I never roll is my towel. I lay this falt on top as a cover and if I've swum on the last day I just put it in a carrier bag (usually one from my purchases) and again lay it flat over the clothes. Towels are too bulky to roll - and indeed one pair of hubby's jeans are a bit too bulky to roll and serve better as a liner on the bottom of the case.

The plastic pots I mentioned hold 100ml which is enough for a week or 10 days and you can take up tp a maximim of 1000ml in a plastic bag - shampoo shower gel, hair gel spray, sun oil, aftersun - which I use as moisturiser.

I would also think about the amount of clothes you take - I never wear everything - and I like to spend when I'm out there so I always try and leave room for my buys!!

I think it's because I'm still slightly in disbelief how much I can pack and indeed how proud I am of not having to heave around heavy suitcases that I rattle on and on about how good it is to travel light!

I alays roll my linens too, but nothing else. I'll be trying to roll everything for my 2 weeks summer holiday, and we'll see how I get on.

Oh and don't forget that some airlines have a 5kg limit for cabin baggage. I'm assuming your probably travelling with Ryanair or easyJet??? In which case it will be 10kg but (and correct me if I'm wrong fellow HT members) if you are on a Thomson charter flight for example, then the limit is 5KG.

Off to find the You vid.

We don't even have suitcases...we backpack and always roll clothes and fasten loosely each end with elastic bands. Not only is creasing down to a minimum but you can find things easier in a backpack without unloading everything ie..swimmers rolled up in sarong etc.

Long weekends (up to 4 days) we only take hand luggage - and wear anything heavy I've discovered Lush shampoo and conditioner 'bars' which we'll take in future and Waitrose glycerin soap is just as good as shower gel..and no need to put these into those plastic bags either!

DragonBev...what make are your gillets?

I will be rolling up my clothes in my hold suitcase to see if I can get away with a smaller one. There's no way I could fit a fortnight's stuff (or even a week's) in hand luggage even by packing like the video demonstrated.

Hi Betty Boop

I bought one of them in Salou about 2 years ago to replace and older version but it's not a branded name - it is similar to the mens you see with loads of pockets but it is a bit longer and looks a lot better than a fishing one!

My other old faithful is a denim longer waistcoat with 14 pockets!!! it holds loads and doesn't go out of fashion as I always wear jeans with it. Again sorry no brand. I know you can get specialised travel waistcoats but to be honest my pockets weigh me down and I think if I used a specialised one I might not be able to stand upright!!

I'm not a small person by any measure!! My friends have bought theirs from Millets the outdoor place and also off a market stall. I know one of them uses amazon quite a bit and I think she had one from there. I wear a lot of body warmers in the winter so for me it's what I'm used to and in the summer when I'm in tops I miss the pockets!

I know there is a new one coming on the market called rufus roo but it looks a bit big for me - not size fitting wise - just too big on the pocket size. There is a website by the same too. Hope this helps

Shirley h - I only tend to go for 7 days because of work 10 has been the most! (I'm dreaming of when I can do 14 nights) Mind you I am a sunlounger /deckchair potato and just chill most of the time so most days are swimsuit with wrap - cuts down on all daytime clothes and then nights are usually a wander after dinner then up to the room with a book!!! I've worked for years (still do) in the leisure / hol trade so my break consists of boring chill out a massive relax