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Original poster

When do you start packing for a family holiday abroad?

77 replies

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 26/07/2019 07:36

I’m just in recovery for anxiety and this is one of my pinch points, I over prepare and get obsessed with checking. I just want to do it once, tick things off my list as they go in. There’s five of us, kids and husband are helpful and will gather but I would rather be the one that sees it go in the case.

When would you get the cases out and start putting things in? I’m working right up until we go which is a bit of a nightmare. I’d have preferred the day before off.

I’m going for cool, calm and collected this year instead of anxious, stressed and snappy. Help me be!

OP posts:

Passthecake30 · 26/07/2019 07:41

3 weeks to go and I have started assembling the toiletries, picking things up in the supermarkets.

I'll make sure everything is washed about 3 days before we leave and take the kids tshirts/shorts away leaving them with items they aren't wearing. Then for everything else, I'm planning on packing the day before. We're leaving around midday on a Sunday which works really well, so I'm sure they'll be plenty of last minute bits to add. I'll do a list of everything that I want to add but haven't yet for the Sunday otherwise I'll end up unpacking the lot to check

cherryblossomgin · 26/07/2019 07:49

I usually get out what we are taking a few weeks before and give it a wash/iron. We have a bag of holiday clothes and I buy a few new outfits. I also put a boots order in for toiletries and collect that.

Proper packing is the week before. I do my handbag/carry on a couple of days before.

ExpletiveDelighted · 26/07/2019 07:53

We start gathering bits and bobs a week or two in advance, check what's needed in the way of suncream etc and buy, wash clothes a couple of days ahead of time but don't get bags out of the loft and start packing until the day before as there is very little space for them anywhere and we would be tripping over them.

avalanching · 26/07/2019 07:58

The day before, or the day of if we are leaving late enough. Will have a list written up a few days before to have time to buy what we need, but I leave packing as once you have the list it takes no time at all and you usually need something from the suitcase!

azulmariposa · 26/07/2019 07:58

Well, I start sorting stuff out two weeks before, so I can make sure everything is clean. Also allows for enough time to buy anything new. I pack properly a week beforehand, usually with shoes going in the night before I go, and any last minute stuff I've bought.

munemema · 26/07/2019 08:03

I absolutely hate packing (we're going this afternoon) find it very stressful and we're almost certain to have a row in the process.

Rationally though, I know it doesn't actually take very long, especially if you're flying there's only so much you can take anyway. So, I've learned to leave it til the last minute, so at least the agony is over quickly. It really is one of those jobs that expands to fill the time available.

We're driving and self catering so I have quite a bit to do. We aim to leave by midday. I'll start when I finish my coffee!

I know really, DH should do more but I'm afraid my inner control freak would find that really stressful, although he has learned to keep his mouth shut and do lots of fetching and carrying during the process

ooooohbetty · 26/07/2019 08:04

I used to do it the night before we went. Can't see the point of doing it any earlier.

munemema · 26/07/2019 08:05

Oh yes, lists. I have one I print out every year, you basically take the same stuff and can add/delete as needed but having a ready made basic list is genius, even if I do say so myself

Asta19 · 26/07/2019 08:05

I'm usually on top of my washing anyway so I don't need to sort clothes in advance. I do the same as avalanching and make a list, then pack the day before. The thing to keep in mind is that as long as you have passports and money, anything else can be picked up when you're there if it really comes to it. It's not the end of the world if you forget a toothbrush or whatever.

Original poster

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 26/07/2019 08:07

Ok so I’m not too far out with my prep so far. We have three weeks to go and have to leave in the middle of Wednesday night. I’m thinking of getting all the cases packed the weekend before with final bits getting washed and added on the Mon/Tues/Wed.

Most of the shopping is done. Money is changed, EHICs and passports in order. Think that’s everything...

Oh I just need to sort DS’s prescription out. Is that advised to carry in handluggage? It’s not needed for the journey but probably couldn’t replace it if we lost our cases.

OP posts:

GrassIsntGreener · 26/07/2019 08:07

I have to do the actual packing just before, otherwise I don't trust myself and think I've missed things out. I'll doubt my memory and have to keep checking/repacking. So it's much easier to do it right before then I know for sure. List making and buying things I'll do a week prior.

Swishyswash · 26/07/2019 08:07

We're going away in 2 weeks. Haven't even thought about what we're taking yet.

I'll make sure clothes are clean the weekend before we go and pack the night before we leave.

Groovee · 26/07/2019 08:08

If I buy new stuff for a holiday then it goes in a suitcase right away then I top up the weekend before we go and finish packing then throw the last few things in just before we go. I have constant lists.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 26/07/2019 08:08

Wow, you are all a lot more organised than me!
I do a couple of big wash loads a few days before.
Write a list 2 days before.
Pack bags the night before, working off the list.
If I catch myself getting stressed I ask myself "what's the worst thing that could happen if I forget something?"
Usually he answer is "I would have to go to a shop and buy a replacement"
Bearing in mind, they do have shops abroad, the only real essentials are tickets, money and passports. So I do a quick double check of these before leaving the house.

chipsandpeas · 26/07/2019 08:08

Keep meds in hand luggage

abitoflight · 26/07/2019 08:09

Wash stuff that's not clean 2 days before holiday
Pack day before
I did however buy through the year small toys/pens/activity books to keep them entertained on plane

RainOrSun · 26/07/2019 08:09

You cant close the suitcases til after the last toothbrush. So not too far in advance, otherwise I cant keep track of what is packed and what needs to go in.
List written a few days before (basic - clothes, swimming stuff, bathroom stuff, chargers, adapter, money, passports type level), packed on day of travel if going in the evening, day before, and add toothbrushes in the morning if going early.

Iamblossom · 26/07/2019 08:17

After years of taking far too much and stressing about heavy suitcases I am going bare minimum this year and will probably buy stuff for the kids out there to wear like spare swimmers etc. All suncream and most toiletries will be bought either airside at the airport or out there.

I used to buy all toiletries and first aid stuff etc in supermarket weeks before and it all weighs an absolute tonne.

troppibambini · 26/07/2019 08:30

I start about a four days before I pack for six people though.

Abhann · 26/07/2019 08:37

The night before. Actual day unless we’re leaving very early.

notacooldad · 26/07/2019 08:37

I pack a few hours before I go.
If it is a morning flight I pack before I go to bed and if it is an afternoon flight I pack in the morning.
I just write a quick list and tick it off as I go. It usually takes 15 mins.

ZillaPilla · 26/07/2019 08:41

While the car or taxi is running outside easy to go. I am SO shit at packing.

Heshimiracle · 26/07/2019 08:47

We need an organised persons list on here I think!

stucknoue · 26/07/2019 09:05

I check the inventory for self catering about a month out in case I need to buy anything and then start to assemble the non food stuff 2-3 weeks out, and the clothes a week or so (mostly so they don't wear them) thankfully not a task I need to do anymore except for me as they are adults

BarbaraofSeville · 26/07/2019 09:08

If we are travelling in the afternoon, we'll pack in the morning, but if we're leaving before about 10 am, we'll pack the day before.

Lists are the crux of it, but not writing new each time, I have lists on my laptop that have been refined over the years, so a few days before I'll print out the relevant list or review the different lists and amend to make an appropriate one if none are directly relevant to the type of holiday and then use that while packing.

As well as a 'what to take' list it also has tasks that need to be done on the run up to the holiday including getting the money to pay the cat sitter, checking that the spending money is in the Starling account, that sort of thing.

I had a minor panic a few weeks ago because we usually go abroad and all the lists are for hot weather holidays but this time we were going to Scotland and I just couldn't get my head round packing for a cooler and potentially wet holiday.

I like to take everything we need because I don't want to be shopping on holiday to buy things that we have at home.

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