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Do you overdo it?

(63 Posts)
H1954 Wed 11-Sep-19 13:10:24

Packing for a holiday and I've done the usual, select what I THINK I will take, then pack, unpack, repack, unpack, repack, weigh the case, decide I've packed too much, unpack................. decide to check the weather forecast, pack an item "just in case" re-select items, check what matches, eliminate certain odd items, find room in OH case and fill his up too!

How do you do yours?

sue01 Thu 12-Sep-19 11:00:55

Blinko you and I pack exactly the same.

I'm off to Bahrain next ... and since there are World Heritage sites to be seen, I spent yesterday afternoon looking for a couple of full length flowing dresses so the sight of my aged bod doesn't send anyone mad with lust

Found a couple of corkers.Hurrah !

I'll be able to wear when I return. I'm nothing if not frugal !!

pinkadink59 Thu 12-Sep-19 11:02:04

Think a lot of people have a case each, but I've found it helpful to split my and my husbands clothes between two cases, so that if one case were to go missing, the remaining case still has stuff for us both. Hope this helps. Have a good day, all.

Noname Thu 12-Sep-19 11:02:17

Currently on holiday and my case came in at 19kgs for 2 weeks but I’m sure there will still be items unworn! ( Hopefully my Pacamac) ?

Scottiebear Thu 12-Sep-19 11:05:04

Our upcoming holiday is an escorted tour staying in 3 different places, 3 days, 2 days, 2 days. So i plan to try to pack one suitcase for 3 days and the other for 4 days to save me constantly repacking. Will have to open both as stuff like hair straightners, toiletries etc. will be needed for whole holiday. For daytime I tend to pack a selection of good leggings with tunic tops and cropped trousers and t shirts. They don't take a lot of space and don't crease much.

fizzers Thu 12-Sep-19 11:06:21

An outfit per day, several knickers, toiletries, meds that's me done

goldengirl Thu 12-Sep-19 11:15:18

I make a list - and try and stick to it, ha ha!

Willow500 Thu 12-Sep-19 11:19:44

Don't go on holiday - the last time was long haul 4 years ago but like some others I plan for each day, lay the clothes out on the bed and use packing cubes which are brilliant.

Matelda Thu 12-Sep-19 11:30:33

I’m leaving today on my first trip ever to St Petersburg and Russia. I’m ready packed for the fabulous sights and the ballet, but locals are also taking me on that best-loved local experience, mushrooming in the forest. ... not like a European forest ... a cross between a bog and a swamp ... Even with wellies borrowed when I arrive, packing a medium sized suitcase for this trip is troublesome!

Jan51 Thu 12-Sep-19 11:40:41

I've got quite good at travelling light. If I'm going away for 7 nights I start by laying out 3 pairs of trousers/jeans (depending on season), I then lay 2 tops on each pair. That covers the six days I'm there and then I travel home in what I wore to travel there. If i need to change for the evening I'll add a pair of black linen trousers and 3 dressy tops. Sorted.

nanasam Thu 12-Sep-19 11:48:15

I take 3 of everything - shorts, crops, suntops, t-shirts, smart tops, dresses. Several knickers & bras. I do washing whilst I'm away so it gives me plenty of room in my case for souvenirs and brandy! DH and I had a 2 week holiday chez his brother in Cyprus and just took hand luggage, it worked out really well. Only problem with that is, you can't take large bottles of toiletries.

One thing I'm sure helps is rolling the clothes to pack, not folding, I swear you can get more clothes in. I also leave the clothes rolled when we arrive on holiday so I don't have to hang everything up and packing to come home is a doddle.

JackyB Thu 12-Sep-19 11:56:07

I pack the used clothes neatly in the case when I take them off so when it's time to go, half the packing is already done. And used clothes should be folded or rolled just as unused ones. Takes up less space.

Do those packing cubes really save space? I can't see how.

Coconut Thu 12-Sep-19 12:23:25

I lay out jeans, trousers etc on the bed then put a couple of tops with them to mix and match a bit, for day and evening wear. Always roll things up and I do have some bits that are meant to be crinkly. I did forget my underwear a few years ago when my daughter lived in Greece ! She is only a tiny size 10, so I had to go out and buy some knickers !

LondonMzFitz Thu 12-Sep-19 12:30:51

DoraMarr - that's a lovely list you have there!
I have a spreadsheet which I've been updating since 2012 which I tweak according to weather where I'm going and length of stay. After the holiday I usually add a few notes as to what worked and what didn't and plan accordingly for the next trip. I was distraught when the server at work went kaboom and I lost the spreadsheet ....
As an example, I took a favourite skirt to Rome for Boxing Day - lovely weather but a little windy and my skirt was a little too light, hoping there aren't photos of me flashing my bits at the Vatican ...
I do love a packing list - almost as much as the holiday!

GuestCorrectly Thu 12-Sep-19 12:44:04

I confess to being a complete nerd - 10 sheet Excel workbook for our last 6 week trip to New Zealand, with items packed in net inner bags labelled according to destination and date and the Excel spreadsheets highlighting what would be washed, used again or just put into a bag to bring home marked “washing.”
Seriously whilst DH got into a complete muddle with his bags over there, my system worked like a dream!
However, if I am going somewhere for say a week or doing a UK road trip, I tend to use those net bags again and put knickers in one, trousers another, tops in one, include an empty one for dirty items etc.. and then just pop those bags into the drawers where we stay (or in case of a road trip, leave in my main bag) which avoids all the sorting or rummaging through.
Happy travels.

knspol Thu 12-Sep-19 13:44:24

Packing light for me is a matter of confidence and I just don't have enough. Always take too much, always bring back at least half a case full of unworn stuff and always resolve to take less the next time. Trouble is DH is at least as bad as I am so if he's taking 2 suitcases then I do the same. Ridiculous I know and how the heck we are going to manage when off for a 4 week holiday at the end of the year I shudder to think.

sarahanew Thu 12-Sep-19 14:08:43

Decide what I think I might like to take and then deciding which items mix n match well put half of it back in the wardrobe. Pack very last minute to avoid creasing

Aepgirl Thu 12-Sep-19 14:19:06

I always think the essentials are money, passport and a clean pair of knickers. Then just pack whatever I can get in my case!

NemoNanna Thu 12-Sep-19 14:38:51

Jan51 I love your idea of the trousers with a choice of tops. I definitely overpack and have a reputation with friends we go away with as being unable to travel light. I hate it when I’m away and think of something I didn’t pack which would be just perfect today!

4allweknow Thu 12-Sep-19 14:49:46

I do travel by plane fairly often but can wash items at other end. Often the problem is trying to cope with autumn/spring weather it can be warm, cool and wet, dry. I roll everything up. Restrict the shoes to one packed pair. One longline fine cardigan. Toiletries I decant into travel size soft silicone bottles/jars. I can usually manage a week's clothing in cabin luggage without having to do washing unless very hot weather.

grandtanteJE65 Thu 12-Sep-19 15:37:56

Not when packing. I take three pairs of pants, two blouses and a dress for evening wear. Swimsuit and toiletries. It is always possible to rinse things through and dry them for next day, or possibly to find a laundry.

I frequently overdo things when gardening- right now I am trying to recover from cutting a hedge.

Nannyxthree Thu 12-Sep-19 15:38:37

Like others have said I put aside clothes which I 'might' take and then make a final choice when packing.
I like the idea of half and half packing suitcases with OH but I think I would be accused of taking-up more than half (unfairly of course) and he likes to pack at the last minute while I don't.
Traveled light to France this year but got so hot and bothered we needed to shower and change more often than anticipated so washed out undies and shopped for more tops!

CanuckaLatte Thu 12-Sep-19 15:50:35

I haven't travelled since my last trip - when they lost our luggage for FIVE DAYS and we survived with what we had in our carryons + a very few essentials we bought).

We are heading off for two weeks golfing in a few days, and I haven't packed yet, but now that I know what I can live without (pretty much everything), I expect this packing job to be significantly sparser than my usual.

@Blinko would love to see your capsule wardrobe list for two weeks in warm climate . . .

Mumben Thu 12-Sep-19 16:21:59

We used packing cubes last year for the first time and they were brilliant, don’t ask me how but I found they saved space in our cases, and everything was easy to find. We will be using them again next week on out trip to Menorca.

Chewbacca Thu 12-Sep-19 16:52:12

I'm guilty of the opposite. I pack so minimally that I invariably arrive and find I've not brought enough! Last time I went away I discovered that I'd only got 1 pair of socks, boots and a sweater to change into and had to buy more whilst away.
I find that rolling each item into a sausage shape saves on room in the suitcase and is far less creased when you arrive.

Kim19 Thu 12-Sep-19 16:55:43

I have my very reliable spreadsheet which I adjust every time I return from a trip. I make sure everything's clean and usually do all my packing an hour before I depart. I always reassure myself with the thought that I can buy anything I've forgotten. Haven't needed to so far. Hallelujah!