Tips on travelling light?

In Southern Spain right now. It's cold and has rained in torrents every day since Saturday. Packed lightweight clothes in small case wish I had put in a few warmer heavier things! Sometimes it's impossible to get it right!

Absolutely agree with the roll things up approach. It not only fits into your suitcase more easily, it also means no creases at destination, and, if you leave then in your case you can pick out which top etc you need. I managed 3 weeks in Europe travelling around with just a carry on bag. It is easy if it's summer of corse, but even husband found it difficult limited to just a carry on bag! Felt a warm glow of pride when he said "impossible!" But we did it!

Is three large suitcases,a rucksack and a large handbag traveling light? If so, I've cracked it.

Depends who you are flying with. Now on BA in economy you can have 23 kg suitcase. Small suitcase for the cabin (the size Ryan air and easy jet allow) plus hand luggage. If you can't get everything you want in that you are taking too much. I travelled last week and you can have more than one clear bag for toiletries but each toiletry must not be more than 100ml.

In warm holiday destinations people dress very casually and others have given good guidance. Once you have a tan you won't need so much make up. Cut down on shoes. If you are coming to Portugal avoid high heels as the famous cobbled pavements are dangerous in heels and leather soled shoes.

We regularly go away for winter sun. A three week break on cabin luggage. I agree with everything said above. Minimal capsule wardrobe, decanted 'must-have' toiletries, others bought when there but most important a washing machine at our holiday home! Still manage to take stuff I don't wear but am gradually getting better. Have a good holiday!

It is liberating to travel light I think. We are all weighed down by all our possessions. It makes it so much easier to decide what to wear when you only have a couple of choices. Much easier to pack too.When our kids were little we packed for 7 in two suitcases including towels but we did go self catering and had a washing machine.

When I go to Spain to visit DS and family I fly with Ryanair. The larger cabin bag is full of stuff for them and mine is in the small extra cabin bag and my 'sod off Ryanair' jacket. The small bag is not weighed (or hasn't been) and I can get lots in the small ruc-sac from Decathlon which is the max size allowed (20 x 20 x 30 I think). The jacket has lots of pockets on the inside (put there by me) and by squashing everything into sealed bags I can get in all my underwear, a couple of t-shirts, nightie, book etc.
When DS and DiL come here with 3 x DG'S they send a box via a carrier company which is much cheaper than cases on Ryanair and as it collected and delivered is much easier too and no waiting for it to come off the carousel.

I only ever use a small suitcase, not that much bigger than a bigger carry-on, and don't have any trouble on a 2 week trip. But TBH I don't believe in the pared-right-down 'capsule' idea - it's very annoying to run out of clean things if you can't wash them yourself or get washing done quickly. Or having to buy something you've got at home. And a lot will always depend on where you're going and how hot and sweaty it will be, or not.

Having said that I had a week in Majorca with a friend and we went Ryanair, hand baggage only, VERY restricted - 10 kg including your handbag, and dimensions were strictly adhered to. It was fine, but then it wasn't over hot and we had the use of a washing machine. Thank God for the Kindle though - couldn't have done without it on that trip since I go mad with nothing to read and can go through a book in a day.
One thing I find that helps with summer hols, I mostly stick to blue, white and yellow for summer things, so they do generally all go together. And it's separates - I don't do dresses as a rule.