Over-packing

Grampie - packing service definitely provided so long as you take me with you.

Some great suggestions here.
I always start with a list which I whittle down during the last week before departure. I even allocate things to days in an attempt to convince myself there is enough. What you actually need is far far less than you originally think.
PS. Derek sounds like a bundle of joy? I think I met him once at the airport. His whole luggage consisted of a plastic carrier with a toothbrush, a beach towel and some swimming shorts.

Go with the list. Do a days of the week list of outfits of interchangeable items that work with each other. Use a smaller suitcase. Have fun choosing. I hope you have a great
holiday.

I bet Gok Wan never spills a glass of red down himself Blinko

Years ago we went to the US and the exchange rate was really good so I bought lots of new clothes when there. Then a couple of years later we went to Canada, so I thought that for the first time ever I wouldn't take much with me as I would purchase when on holiday. Well, it was a coach tour of the Canadian Rockies (my bucket-list since a child) BUT we were on the go from early morning to late evening with barely any shopping opportunities and any shops we did stop at had usually just tourist items (tee-shirts with bears or maple leaves on). Instead of relaxing in the evenings I had to find the laundry facilities. Apart from that the holiday was amazing. Packing for a cruise holiday freaks me out as I never know what to take for evening wear.

Is Derek your husband, lol? I suffer from two of the problems - one is the stress of actually preparing for packing, and the other is wanting to take too much.

For the first I have found it helpful to:
have a permanent list available, plus a little list for last minute additions;
choosing stuff to take gradually over a couple of weeks, as I have a spare room with a rail they can be hung on;
wash my washbag on return and repack it with travel toiletries and putting little note in for anything last minute or needing purchasing.
All this sounds time consuming, but it doesnt actually take any longer.

For the second:
While it would be nice if I was small enough to fit into skimpy clothing, and if I felt I could actually walk around in sandals and bare feet for two minutes without getting a blister, and if I could be sure I wouldn't get a lasting heat rash that causes my dresses to stay unworn, and if I only went places with completely settled weather.......then i would go just with designer hand luggage.
As it is I just pile it all in up to the weight allowance, and make DH push around my 23kg suitcase, then I can choose according to the weather when we get there.

However, I have enjoyed reading this thread, and hope the poster picks up a section of tips from all our replies

Oh I sympathise!!I am exactly the same- I get as much baggage allowance as possible & still have to take things out when I weih it before we go. I take loads on suncream too as I am a sun worshiper & all my makeup & skin care products. Far too many clothes(5 Tankinis last year),Phone, tablet , Kindle,hairdryer, straightners, shoes for all occasions (how many 'occasions' are there on the Greek Islands we go to!!).
My case always gets a HEAVY sticker on it.

I am going to Liverpool for WI AGM next month- only 2 nights. I'm already stressing about size of case I can take on coach.

Mind you DH is not much better- I remember a holiday in Corfu where he took 2 laptops, 2 tablets, Kindle & had to be banned from taking a small printer!

I used to be the same until I finally developed a "holiday wardrobe". For a week I now take 2 swimsuits, 1 pair shorts, 5 pairs 3/4 trousers, 7 casual tops 1 pair evening trousers, 3 formal tops, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair evening shoes. Plus of course the usual toiletries. Where my planning falls down is underwear - if I am going for a week I take 16 - 20 pairs of knickers!

Derek - have you not taken your medication today?

We're allowed 30kg for our next long trip!!

Even I can't manage that much

Early in any relationship/friendship my watchword is 'I never travel light'. That way I don't get grief. Always have problems with packing, too much and only half of them worn. Love the idea of a spreadsheet, only wish I knew how to work one.

I had a nanny who would sneak things out and I would sneak them back in!

Going to the Cannes Film Festival was a marathon. Clothes for casual lunches, posh lunches, same for beach and evening plus full on black tie gear, clothes for the week travelling home. And shoes to match, thankfully we drove there! Just about enough room for wine on the away back. Loved it all but wouldn't want to do it now.

I am much better now as I am constrained by budget flights, but drive my DCs mad by leaving a large bag of gear with them.

I am the same but this year it's compounded by the fact that we are having grandchildren to stay until the day before we go. Add to that the penultimate day we will all be away from the house on a long-arranged all-day into evening activity. I am panicking (although trying to get a grip as in the wider scheme of things what am I worried about?) of how to wash, iron and pack with children running around. I guess I did this perfectly well when I had my own children but the grandchildren add another dimension and I feel I need to keep them busy.

Stupid old woman or what? No answers required, please - I know the answer!i

So, OP I don't have any pearls of wisdom for you - can you help me!!

Although I recognise the shoes for all occasions syndrome
That is because I have 'difficult feet'

Yes the old get it all out, put half back routine seems to help, obviously it does depend if its just OH and I or a tour where some people seem to change 2/3 times a day, agree cruises a nightmare. I do have to remind myself that in Europe forgetting the toothpaste, or more or less anything else, is not a problem. 16/20 knickers for a week seems reasonable to me!

Nowadays I do my packing the night before. Always used to take fat too much and bring back a lot of unworn stuff, now I throw in essentials and tell myself if anything is forgotten, they have shops at my destination and it's a good excuse to go shopping for new things!

Pigeon when you return from your holiday make a list of the clothes you used and then next holiday you will know what to take. Good luck.

lulu thank you thank you thank you!! I thought I was being weird packing so many pairs, I have a friend who says you can manage with just 3 pairs, 1 being worn, 1 being washed and 1 clean!!!!!

I am learning to pack everything for a few days to a Week in a carry on small case. I take plenty of pants, bra's and x3 socks. Wear good walking shoes and my Birkenstock flip flops in case. 1 jumper, 1 cardi, 5 t,shirts and x2 trousers or cropped trousers. I small shoulder bag. X1 magazine, kindle and small craft project = crochet/sewing. Sachets of hair wash and free sample size toothpaste. X2 necklace.
I make a point of wearing for travel a jacket and light scarf. My secret is to stick with x3 colours that go well together. My choice. Is blue, purple and grey. Happy holidays

I feel your pain Pigeon. The best I can suggest is that you pack lightweight items that will roll up into smallish tubes. This way you can cram as much as possible into your case and nothing gets too creased. It sort of works for me but no matter how much I take I always wish I had taken more t shirts or more dresses. My huge problem is shoes. Each proposed outfit has to have 2 matching pairs of shoes - one that's relatively glamorous (well prettyish anyway), which obviously I can't walk far in, and another pair that I can walk in but don't look completely hideous. I've been known to take 10 pairs of shoes for a 6 day trip before and still had sore and blistered feet by day 3.

Thanks for the helpful comment Derek, have
you any more little gems up your sleeve ?
Good luck Pigeon lots of helpful advice here so I don't need to add anything. Remember other people are not inspecting your outfits even though we may think that. Enjoy your holiday ,

Some good tips here - apart from Derek's.

I'd probably book a holiday just to leave him behind.

Life is too short to stress about clothes on holiday. What is the worst that could happen? You might have too many clothes (they'll travel back with you) or you might have too little (you can buy more). Instead of spending your time worrying about clothes, why don't you do some investigation about where you are going, what you want to do when you get there and finding out about the best places to eat, shop, browse. All these worries are just thoughts, controlled by you and you can divert them into a less stressful avenue. Meanwhile, you have lots of lovely suggestions here so pick what you want to do and look forward to that fabulous holiday you are going to have.

I'm just the same, get stressed thinking about packing and on a group holiday guess who always has the heaviest case? We have just come back from a weeks holiday abroad and this time I tried to really cut back on clothes but still took too much. Shoes too are my downfall as I can't wear flimsy sandals but then like something a bit more dressy for evening. If we holiday in the UK by car I can fill it all on my own!

Whatever you choose to take, make sure it ain't Derek....

My family and friends are convinced I pack more than anyone else in the world and I guess they can't all be wrong! One friend wouldn't agree to sharing a cabin on a Nile cruise unless she knew how much luggage I would be taking. Yes, I love my spreadsheet and the holiday clothes rail but will be wary of last minute removal of clothes in future - I didn't have a spare bra on my last holiday! I also confess it's a year round obsession but it gives me lots of pleasure on a wet day to look at my clothes rail and imagine wearing clothes which will rarely see the light of day in the UK. I'm indecisive on a normal day, so it's no wonder holiday packing is excessive.
Shoes are my real headache.

Clever idea