Packing for holidays

I have this down pat now. Even DH has latched on and is now even more minimalistic than me. Easier for a man though I think.
So for anything up to a week I pack only a carry on size piece of luggage, for longer than that I use a larger case. The rules I go by are that I pack mainly clothes of two colours, with maybe a splash of alternative with a scarf or throw. I wear a pair of walking/comfy shoes and pack one or maximum 2 others which are lightweight and slim. One pair in the summer being sandals. I have lots of sample sizes of cosmetics, shampoos etc which I save up year round and then use those when I travel. If I take a jacket I either wear it on the flight or pack it, in which case it must be lightweight and crushable. At the end of the day, you can wear only one set of clothes at a time…..
I hand wash underwear whilst away, easy and takes seconds to do and dries overnight.
This works well for me, and I usually wear everything I've brought. If necessary I can buy something whilst away if I find there's something vital I've forgotten. Not happened so far, but well may do now that I've said that!
I usually pack the afternoon/evening before flying, so I can't dither too much either.

If it fits within the airline weight limit it goes with us! I have it off to a fine art and as my suitcase is wheelable it matters not how heavy it is. I don't want to be without something on hols, I like my clothes.

I am flying to Orlando Wednesday with family. Have made lists put clothes out, mixed and matched and going to pack tomorrow, BUT am still dithering. In fact am going back into spare room to try and downsize. I will let you all know if I succeed! ✈️��

Big plus for vacuum bag tho some may seem too large for suitcase. I place items inside while in the suitcase then apply the vacuum cleaner nozzle and it shrinks the bag to fit size of suitcase = magic.

I have a very lightweight trolley bag for Ryanair who now allow a second small bag so now I can ditch my 'coat of 8 pockets' including in those the two sleeves stuffed with items and secured with safety pin. Winter outerwear was always a problem when hanging about a crowded airport. A duty free plastic bag is now allowed as extra bag so a bar of bought chocolate can provide valuable extra storage space.

I also travel frequently to visit elderly relative and leave stuff there. I write myself an email list and update as I would forget what was there or what I needed to include on next trip.

Holiday gear is bit boring as mostly only suitable for foreign climates and chucked into storage crate on return. I bring handwash powder and rinse items every day or so when in hot climate, things dry so easily.

We often fly with 10kg limit. This is ok in summer or when travelling to a hot destination but can be testing when you need jumpers and thicker trousers. Shoes are always the biggest problem. I now have this down to a fine art and we are usually grams within the limit. We could never purchase anything whilst on holiday as we never have the space or weight allowance - certainly saves money! When the children were small I packed for 5 of us in one suitcase and can never understand why people take so much when they've got to carry it all. I'm with Grannyknot all the way.

Inspired by a well known store I often said that my family ' never knowingly underpacked'. But like many I am getting fed up with lugging luggage. Co-ordinating clothes before you go so that you don't end up with a pile of tops that don't match anything definitely helps and begrudgingly I have to admit that those who say it is possible to do with a few pairs of shoes are right but four pairs are the fewest I have it down to.

A tip I remember reading in a Sunday Newspaper was if you need mostly casual clothes and just a few dressy items don't forget that a simple outfit can be 'dressed up' with jewellery and perhaps a belt which don't take up too much room.

Over 3 weekends, in whatever season you are travelling, make a loose not of what you wore. This is a 6 day wardrobe so you can wear everything twice on a 12 day holiday with one outfit for travelling maybe? Depoending on what colour jewellery you wear, silver or gold, buy the same sandals for pretty time, one pair of 'walking' shoes and a pair of cheap flipflops for beach/pool. A decent large scarf/sarong incase its chilly. Job done. Recipe for a 2.5 week tour of Poland with a very upmarket cathedral christening (pure slik dress that folds to nothing) at the end with mountain hiking and evening/day extreme of temperatures and cities/churches, lakes mountains beach.

Hi just a tip. I take bla ck and white trousers and t shirts then lots of scarves to ring the changes. Also take earrings to match scarves and hey presto, a different look each evening.

Just back from a week's holiday. Luggage was two and a half days behind us - courtesy of BA!. Showed me how little you could get away with having with you!

In a month's time I am off to the States for 3 weeks, doing a tour of the National Parks and for the vast majority of the time only one night at each stop, so lots of finding stuff in the case and then repacking. Like stansgran I always do a list on the way home of the things I've packed to decide what was good/useless and what I wished I'd had. I have several 'travel' items of clothing, usually bought in the Rohan sales, that I can rinse through, drip dry and wear the next day. Before I went on a similar holiday I made a few drawstring bags, like PE bags, one for undies and socks, one for batteries and chargers and so on - this saved endless rummaging so they will be coming out again. I will also ditch a handbag and use instead a bum bag, or as they are known in the US, a fanny pack. I won't win any fashion awards, that's for sure!

Travelling on budget airlines solves the problem and you learn quickly what you don't need.

The only tip I can offer is never ever forget your medication. That is more important than all the fancy clothes we cart around and never wear.

Sorry, don't know why it's sideways

This should sum up quite a few of us - me include I have improved, not before time, and now travel light. After returning from one holiday, I laid out all the clothes I hadn't worn on the bed - it said it all really

gillybob sometimes I felt like flying away so I could have a sleep in.

A tree change is a term when people move from a city to a rural setting, like a sea change.

For the first time in my life I took hand luggage only for a week's holiday and not only kept under the weight limit but also didn't wear a number of items.
I've decided never to use hold baggage again, it was stress-free and I loved getting out of the airport ahead of everyone else.

We travel to Ireland all the time with Ryanair; believe me, this makes you a very light packer. Really good training.

I usually take 2 pairs black jeans (wearing one) several lycra T shirts (usually black) wear the flat shoes, pack the heels, and ring the changes with scarves and dangly earrings.
And, as DH says,"anything forgotten can be bought at the detination". Usually much cheaper than booking baggage onto the plane.
Smug eh?

Well you know what they say........... A Faye isn't just for Christmas !

Just wondered, what's a "tree change" ?

I am in the middle of packing and flying out on Wednesday. I came for Christmas and am still here I never expected to be away for so long, I will be glad to be home. I have bought extra clothes and shoes now I have to fit most of it in my suitcase. My GSs are coming with me too, (parents coming later). I am very excited, I never dreamt that DS and family would decide on a tree change.

Since I have been here for eight months I have taken up pottery, art classes and bought a new bike. No chance of any of that fitting in my suitcase ever, luckily DS and DIL will bring my extra things later by car.

We have a very large awning ninathenana that has to travel in the back of the van together with the awning carpet, pots, pans, bedding etc. so wouldn't dare put anything else in there for fear of overloading which can be very dangerous as well as get you into trouble.

We have considered a bike rack as three bikes do take a lot of room up and they are getting bigger every year ! I think there are only a few that you can use on the back of the car when you are towing and they seem to be very expensive.

We do have most of the things you listed permanently stored in the caravan JackyB together with several bored board games and lots and lots of colouring things and a giant (very lightweight) festival flag for finding your way back !

You are right there janerowena I have yet to spend a sunny day in the Lake District . We let the children choose where they wanted to go and they adore the South Lakes Animal Park so it had to be there !

I made a list when I came back a good few years ago of what I had taken and what I wished I had taken and what I never wore. It's been amazingly useful as I buy clothes to last. Sadly the in photos I'm always wearing the same stuff. I also have printout of what DH needs for his fishing holidays as he plans ahead three weeks.

Good idea baubles We have a roof box for the car and it might be a good idea to condense the clothes down which will leave plenty room for the toys in the boot. We have a big awning that we carry in the caravan and DH won't overload it as its too dangerous.

We do have a small vacuum cleaner in the caravan so will be ideal. Thanks.

Having bored you with my own experiences I still have something to add: Gillybob, with regard to toys etc - we used to find plenty of ways of improvising with things that we picked up along the way and would otherwise have chucked out such as yoghurt pots, or cereal packets.

Concentrate on the clothes for the cold and wet. If it's warm and you're wearing t shirts etc, you can wash and dry them and re-use them. Don't put jumpers etc in the wash - you never know if you'll need them again. (This might just be me - I can't bring myself to wear something that's been relegated to the linen basket, so it's best not to put it there.)

Give each of the children a backpack (identical except perhaps in different colours) and tell them that they can only take what fits into that.

You'll be amazed what can double up or even serve triple purposes. Let them play with saucepans and any other indestructible item in the caravan.

Small things that can provide lots of different games, provided you know the games and can teach them, such as

A pack of cards
some dice
A tennis ball
A frisbee
A skipping rope
Paper and crayons/pencils
String and blankets

Take as many things in an inflatable version as you can (Don't forget a repair kit)
For rounders, cricket or football you can find big stones or other objects for the goals, wickets or the posts.
Buy cheap beach games and throw them away or give them to another family before you leave.

I've learnt over time to streamline my packing. Though if travelling by car to somewhere in the UK the boot does have a few "just in case" items. If your taking a touring caravan can the bulky items not travel in the van, have you thought of a bike rack ?

janerowena.

I don't think the vacuum storage bags work for scooters and dolls' buggies.