To find packing/organising for holidays stressful?

I'd rather stay at home, so packing wouldn't be an issue

I've never used them, but a packing cube seems like a very good idea. And I'd imagine it helps with storage the rest of the year!

It depends on the holiday. A city break I find more difficult. I could pack for a week of beach holiday in Spain in less than half an hour.
Also, MN will have us believe that all of Europe is full of sophisticated looking women in layered linen and that we will all stick out as hideous brits. This is nonsense in my experience.

As a few have said.... Lists & packing cubes. The cubes make splitting between 2 cases so much simpler. Also word to wise, just in case, as did happen to me... A change of clothes in your hand luggage. Plus I always pack a spare bra or 2 in the hand luggage. Did you know no one in Italy appearsis a 38F cup... I hunted everywhere!!!😂

I hate packing but I am responsible for myself and DC plus all the extra bits like plasters and suncream. I don't mind doing the clothes but hate all the extras. DH then packs for himself at the last minute which takes him around 5 minutes.

I also go into overdrive cleaning the house like we are about to receive royalty every single time, even when I say I won't.

It's not so much the packing that's I don't like it's the making sure everyone has what they need in advance, especially the kids things like flip-flops and summer stuff they don't normally wear.

And I know when we get back we'll have little time to sort school shoes so that needs sorted before we go away.

While you're all complaining about packing some lightweight summer clothes in a suitcase for your lovely foreign holiday please spare a thought for us poor sods having to pack for a UK camping trip.
Winter clothes
Summer clothes
Waterproofs
Wellies
Cool box
Kitchen equipment
Beds
Bedding
Chairs
Tables
Tents
And so on and so on.

We tend to have very outdoorsy holidays, mountain climbing, hill walking etc. I have clothes just for holidays so when we get home I repack them after washing and refill any small bottles in my wash bag. Then all I need to put in last minute is medicines, a couple of books and my phone.

DH has always done his own packing, it has always been fairly successful. When the DC were small it was more complicated but those days are long gone.

Write a list, put things in list in a bag. If it takes you any more than an hour max you’re faffing. What on Earth could be stressful about this?

My husband is like this! He has a list going for a week before we go away. The first aid kit alone is a real project. It’s great for me as I’m useless. I went away just me and DS and forgot to take any knickers. Living with DH for 20 years has deskilled me lol.

I have 4 DC. I don’t have a list as I think it would overwhelm me too, but what we do have is a specific ‘travel’ first aid kit and toiletries. These are only for travelling and are always ready to go.

I also have a kallax cube with travel
plugs and any travel related items in the airing cupboard.

The older children (9&7) pack their own clothes.

With a functional husband and a 10YO I’d have everyone pack their own carry on sized suitcase + personal bag. Grab toiletries from the airport Boots. Don’t even think about packing until the day before. Or at least that’s how my BIL/SIL with teens/tweens do it and it looks so calm and functional compared to our faff with checked baggage because our kids are tiny and can’t even carry their own snack!

I'm fine with packing. I avoid luggage as a plague so all my stuff goes into handheld and I am a minimal traveler. Partner and the kid pack their own massive suitcase and I don't bother checking what they thought between them was appropriate. They always overpack like they are going away for six months even if it is just a weekend trip. So if I start supervising theirs, it is stressful. I don't do it to them or myself.

Yes, since not having a spare room to lay out the cases and pack in advance (I have two DC).

I have a list in word that I use every time which helps, but it’s still a lot to do in a short space of time.

Packing cubes are great. I organise by day for a holiday in one location. There is no need to unpack, I just pull out a cube each day which makes things so much easier in the mornings with two DC.

Surely everyone packs for themselves, one adult checks with child job done?

Toiletries bag each, holiday specific items listed and ticked off.

I have myself, 16 & 10 year old sons they've been packing since they were 7 or so. I don't see the need for such stress, what's the worst that can happen? Make peace with it then let it go.

I hate it too op !But needs must. DH can pack his own. The more you do it the easier it is.

We haven’t been on holiday abroad for years but I do get very anxious about the packing. DH does his own & last time DD15, who was then 9, did hers but I double checked she’d put in suitable stuff! I make lists for everything anyway so always do a holiday list or 5 🤣

I hate packing, even for just a night or two away. I worry that I will forget something important even though I have a list and specific holiday only items 😂.
I do spread our clothes between the cases so that if one was lost we would still have something to wear.

Packing cubes. I have a couple which I keep all my holiday only clothes in, so I just take them out of the cupboard and put them straight in the case. One cube in each case. Fill the smaller cubes with underwear, and add a couple of dresses and shoes I might want for the evening. I usually buy any toiletries I’m taking a few weeks in advance and put them into the toiletries bag, so that’s ready to just chuck in. Beach towels and flip flops live in the suitcase all the time, so that’s it, all packed in five minutes flat.

I'm a single mum of 3.
I can't imagine it being stressful with one child and a proactive husband
That's the thing about problems though, they're all relative and unique to us all!

I hate packing with a vengeance and find it stressful. My DH is a brilliant packer so I just lay everything out on the bed and he does all the packing. He even unpacks everything when we get there! There's a reason I've kept him for 40 years!

My method is this:
We bring Suitcases downstairs the week b4 we leave so we can gradually pack

People given a list & everytime the laundry is done they they fling their clothes in the case

Everyone puts their own specific holiday clothes in eg trunks, walking boots etc

Same method for toiletries

Then dh & I do a final check before we leave & close the case.

This method works for us except for the time dh didn't bring the case downstairs the week before but left it open in our room. We packed the case as normal but on the morning of the holiday forgot to put it in the boot & left without it!

I hate it too. Between that and having to sort everything at work before going away, as well as the avalanche of emails on my return, I do sometimes wonder if it's worth it!

Interesting posts for everyone. As I
have the list which I always update post holiday, packing cubes, a kallax box in each room to chuck random items in so the house looks tidy on my return but I still
hate packing. I find the clothes the easy bit, toileteries and medicines the worst and stuff to keep the kids occupied just annoying.