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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for your most unhinged packing lists?

418 replies

badhabitsleadtolate · 05/08/2026 15:17

Trying to cover all bases.

I’m not talking the “oh yeah I whack a teabag in my baggage”, i’m talking the type of stuff most people would never dream of taking.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
GoldMoon · 05/08/2026 20:14

saveforthat · 05/08/2026 18:21

Why would you change it daily?

If in a hotel so that the room staff that come in daily don't see it or if they change the bed linen don't lose them or take away .

Q2C4 · 05/08/2026 20:08

ZippyPeer · 05/08/2026 17:06

I know someone who takes an extension lead. They hate not being able to charge their phone by the bed

That is such a good idea!

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 05/08/2026 20:02

dementedpixie · 05/08/2026 19:56

I think they mean it was a big long pillow shared between 2 people

This would not go well for my husband …

BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 20:02

PinkElephants356 · 05/08/2026 19:27

clothes pegs to keep the curtains closed so light doesn’t get in
white noise machine
dettol wipes to wipe everything in the room
air conditioner filter sheets to place over any vents
tea tree oil to put under my nose on the plane to stop me catching germs
Mattress topper (no joke - takes up a lot of space in the suitcase)
Blanket and pillow in a vacuum sealed bag (I ask to borrow a vacuum cleaner to pack up before the return trip)
pharmaceutical products for any eventuality (this includes a finger splint and wart remover!)
Emergency dental kit

I think if I required this level of paraphernalia to go on holiday, I would simply not go on holiday.

EllaAtLarge · 05/08/2026 19:58

I take a big pack of dried apricots because for some reason ds and I often get constipated on holiday, and it’s our favourite form of fibre.

I’m don’t think that’s unhinged but it’s probably not totally normal

kateandsam · 05/08/2026 19:57

Always take my pillow & will sacrifice clothes to get it in the case

dementedpixie · 05/08/2026 19:56

Shinyandnew1 · 05/08/2026 19:54

Shared pillow? As opposed to every new guest being allocated a newly-purchased one?

I think they mean it was a big long pillow shared between 2 people

dementedpixie · 05/08/2026 19:55

BitterTits · 05/08/2026 19:25

I always take my Nutribullet on UK holidays. Can I get away with packing a hand blender in my hold luggage this year? (We're flying to France). Also, can I pack stuff like spices for cooking? I plan to buy new and sealed but would prefer not to chuck the unused stuff.

We took a travel smoothie maker this year. We wrapped it in bubble wrap and packed it in the middle of beach towels. Spices, marinades are fine to take too

Shinyandnew1 · 05/08/2026 19:54

didgeridid · 05/08/2026 19:31

We just came back from somewhere with a SHARED pillow. It was horrible and actually makes me think maybe I should bring my pillow in future 🤣

Shared pillow? As opposed to every new guest being allocated a newly-purchased one?

merryhouse · 05/08/2026 19:48

saveforthat · 05/08/2026 18:21

Why would you change it daily?

more to the point, a question nobody else has asked:

do you think that people don't do laundry?

Sprinklesandsprinkles · 05/08/2026 19:48

A nice big mug, I hate having really small cups of tea

Wish4rain · 05/08/2026 19:44

Comdoms.

Namechangewegovyjune26 · 05/08/2026 19:43

BMW58 · 05/08/2026 16:07

Even £20 is cheap to save your life.........🙄

But if you can spend 4.99 rather than 20 like the poster mentioned, why not ask?!

🙄🙄 back atcha

BauhausOfEliott · 05/08/2026 19:33

Pollyanna87 · 05/08/2026 17:13

She can just get long cables, no? That’s what I have for by the bed!

Yes, exactly - you can buy 2m and 3m cables for next to nothing on Amazon. I always take one one a hotel room.

didgeridid · 05/08/2026 19:31

We just came back from somewhere with a SHARED pillow. It was horrible and actually makes me think maybe I should bring my pillow in future 🤣

PinkElephants356 · 05/08/2026 19:27

clothes pegs to keep the curtains closed so light doesn’t get in
white noise machine
dettol wipes to wipe everything in the room
air conditioner filter sheets to place over any vents
tea tree oil to put under my nose on the plane to stop me catching germs
Mattress topper (no joke - takes up a lot of space in the suitcase)
Blanket and pillow in a vacuum sealed bag (I ask to borrow a vacuum cleaner to pack up before the return trip)
pharmaceutical products for any eventuality (this includes a finger splint and wart remover!)
Emergency dental kit

Partingofthewaves · 05/08/2026 19:27

Superscientist · 05/08/2026 19:08

My partner and I wobble along the line of preppers, his parents too and as we holiday with them we end up taking quite a lot but we drive rather than fly as it's only 1h between where the in-laws are and the Euro tunnel

Toilet roll, kitchen roll, washing powder. dishwasher tablets, bin bags, coffee, tea bags, olive oil, tin foil, cling film, tupperware/lunchbox, reusable coffee cups and water bottle.
My daughter has a lot of food allergies so we also bring oat milk, oat yoghurt, vegan mayo, margarine, baking block and stock cubes. We had a birthday whilst a way so we also brought a cake tin this year as well as vanilla essence - flour & sugar etc we bought here

Medical stuff- 3 first aid kits 1 in each car plus one in a rucksack. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and antihistamines, treatment for diarrhoea, glucose and oral dehydration tablets, insect repellents and bite treatments.

Car stuff - spare bulbs, fuses. oil, washer fluid and water, decent jack and socket set, hi Vis jackets.

Portable cupboard light in case of poorly positioned light switches in bedrooms, baby monitors in case we are further from bedrooms than at home.

Bluetooth speaker for my daughter to have audiobooks in the evening.

Edited

Portable cupboard light is genius. So often there is no bedside light or inadequate lighting.

BitterTits · 05/08/2026 19:25

I always take my Nutribullet on UK holidays. Can I get away with packing a hand blender in my hold luggage this year? (We're flying to France). Also, can I pack stuff like spices for cooking? I plan to buy new and sealed but would prefer not to chuck the unused stuff.

Simonjt · 05/08/2026 19:21

I take a little pack of stickers to put on TV power lights etc in the bedroom.

BaileysHotChocolateByThePool · 05/08/2026 19:19

Pop up laundry hamper stick it in the corner everyone can strip into it. Changed my life on holidays with kids.

Also take 2 extension leads.

We bought a Solar Buddie last yr for Florida. Absolutely love it. It applies and rubs in the sun cream so your hands don't get sticky. So helpful when you can't easily wash your hands after applying it to yourself/kids.

Stopped using fancy/pretty toiletry bags. All liquids/powders go in a Ikea food bag that has a double seal and then that bag goes in a bigger Ikea food bag. Double bagged to hopefully catch any leaks or spills.

Buggy lock with a long retractable chain/wire like LittleLife. Use it to attach floaties to sun lounger while we hit the buffet. To stop them blowing away (windy Portugal holiday) and/or stolen.

ElectricSnail · 05/08/2026 19:18

Mooselooseinmyhoose · 05/08/2026 15:28

I dont consider mine unhinged but...

I always take a carbon monoxide detector! 4.99 on amazon. One of the biggest causes of deaths abroad.

Everyone I tell laughs and then quietly buys their own. Im saving the world one detector at a time!

I am simultaneously grateful for this knowledge and deeply resentful as now I have to take one!

Simonjt · 05/08/2026 19:15

heforgotme · 05/08/2026 17:55

If we are going to be staying in a hotel, I make sure I pack a big sheet of brown paper, and a small roll of Sellotape. I have had several unpleasant hotel experiences, where there is only glass between the bathroom and the bedroom. Who wants to see their husband on the loo? Not me.

Yeah, quite a good idea. On our first ever weekend away/night together the hotel had a glass walled bathroom and there wasn’t even a door. I had an extremely upset stomach 🤣 it was like being in one of those 4D experience cinemas

LemonSnail · 05/08/2026 19:15

Special glasses to watch the solar eclipse.

Travsmam · 05/08/2026 19:14

MarilynMerlot · 05/08/2026 19:02

Ok this one is amazing and I’m desperate to know your reasoning.

I have no idea????? I think I thought we’d save some money by eating in one evening but we ate then went out on the lash and spent a fortune 😂😂😂😂

Sasha07 · 05/08/2026 19:14

Oh, pp just reminded me, also for UK holidays I always take my Tassimo coffee machine and the Ninja Air Fryer. And cleaning supplies actually... I've had a few years being a cleaner and although I know they will have a cleaner (obviously,) I enjoy cleaning and like to give it a good clean before we go so hopefully it makes the cleaners day a little better 😅 sometimes even leave a bar of chocolate/cold can of Coke if I won't have time to give it a good clean 😅