Packing - why do I always do this?

[gotmychocolateimgood]

Every year when I pack my case and the kids' for our holiday I think we need more clothes than we do. It doesn't all get worn. I think we are going to spend most of our time in swim wear but I've still counted out 14 tops and 7 shorts for each of us plus a couple of cropped trousers and hoodies for the evening. 4 swimsuits each. Toiletries etc.

I've achieved my objective and the cases are neat, sufficient and under the baggage allowance. Why am I panicking we won't have enough stuff??

2 week holiday, hotel, in a complex with a pool and near beaches. Relaxed dress code. No washing machine.

I'm an inconsistent packed. It totally depends Where we are going. If we are off to my parents house in Spain I know exactly what to expect. Completely casual, 10 vest tops, 3 pairs of shorts for me. A couple of beach cover ups as the beach destroys my stuff and about 9 dresses for evenings. That would last about 3 weeks but I do have a washing machine and could wash if need be. If I'm going to an unknown hotel however it's?a different story. I don't know what to expect. I've been to somewhere I've been supremely under dressed and otherwise I'm massively overdressed so I account for ALL eventualities for everyone!! Hats about 4 smart shorts, 2 casual, 10 vests, 16 dresses from smart to a bit casual, beach/ looked at ranging from ultra plain to bling as hell, 2/3 cardigans and 2 pashminas, bras in volours to match all vests and strappy dresses, tight day dresses, 3 bikinis and about 20+ knickers in case to mood takes me/ matching outfit etc.pyjamas, jewellery, at least 4 sandals, havianas, 2 pairs of shoes the list goes on.
Not known for travelling light. On a 3 week trip to Brazil with my dance group when I was 26 I took 22 pairs of shoes!!- you just never know

Winter trips are more complicated. But my summer sun clothing packing list for one.

To travel in, jeans, top, cardigan jacket, trainers. Spare knickers in jacket pocket. Then, making sure everything mixes and matches.

• small clothes line and clothes pegs

• 2/3 summer dresses

• 6 tops

• 2 skirts

• 1 pair of shorts

• 1 pair thin white trousers

• “posh” sandals

• flipflops

• 5 bras

-10 pairs of knickers

• 2 bikini bottoms

• bikini top.

5 weeks ago I was on holiday in a very hot Greece...I had packed 4 cardigans and 4 pairs of trousers , plus some long sleeve dresses in case it got chilly at night
I never learn

I was lying awake at night thinking about this. 🙄 I'm removing some of the tops from my case as 14 is too many.

Was also excited about going on holiday! 😁

We've just got back from Spain. We took three suitcases of clothes and came back with 2 of them packed with clean unworn stuff. I do it EVERY BLOODY TIME.

Not helpful I know

I'm a 'just in case' packer too - we went to Turkey for a week in May and I took far too many clothes / pants / swimsuits. I also take random things like lots of costume jewellery, big earrings etc which I never end up wearing.
Also take every medicine / creams / bandages etc, just in case. Helps with my anxiety!

I tend to over pack. I dont really see the issue, as long as I fold it carefully there isnt rla need to wash it on return if it hasn't been worn. I like to dress up in the evenings and have quite a clear distinction between day and evening stuff. Would take me more time to work out what not to pack than ro just pack it!

Do people who take everything but the kitchen sink have a porter to carry it for them????

I go carry on and I take a small kettle too.

Last time I put a bag inthe hold it went to a completely different country. When it’s over my head I know exactly where it is.

I know I overpack but I also only take what fits into both cases.

Larger case:
Pool towels
Clothes
Swimwear
Suncream
Kettle, bamboo travel mug and coffee sachets.
Waterproofs
Shoes

Smaller case (cabin baggage size but I check in)
1 set clothes each

1 set swimwear
Highest factor suncream
Toiletries
Micro fibre towels

I do this because if 1 case goes missing I know I have enough for a few days and to wear etc.

But although I always bring home clean clothes I also don't take large or multiple bags per person iyswim? I only over pack what will fit in my case already

I didn't want to pay for lots of extra checked bags (Easy jet). I didn't want to need a bigger hire car to have to haul bags around in (we had a lot of trouble parking an oversize car on holiday few yrs ago). I wanted few enough bags we could lug the bags ourselves 1km in the streets (we had to do this few days ago). I didn't want extra stuff to keep track of and extra space that we needed to store it at the lodgings. I didn't want to have to wait extra time at the luggage carousel at airports for bags to turn up, or have more chance that bags could go missing.

I managed on a 7 day holiday once with 1 pr of pants (by accident forgot any others); we were in the sea all the time, anyway, so pants still got washed daily & dried while I swam.

I hate hand washing in the holiday, time consuming, things come out creased and i hate creased tops.

I do DD’s knickers if necessary, but that’s a different issue, not predictable.

I always have more knickers than days with me, I change into a fresh one when I shower in the evening and i also find i am doomed to have my period on holiday.

But, we don’t spend the time only at the beach, so there is a need for proper clothes when going sightseeing.

@StarlightLady its only a suitcase!?

I've literally halved my clothes now. The case is shutting easily and I feel much better than when loads of crap was shoved in!

ONE pair of pants for a whole holiday? 😱

I tend to panic pack.

We had a UK weekend away last year, 2 days 1 night all in a small backpack.no probs...then for some unknown reason, panicked & stuffed in full 500ml bottles of shampoo, conditioner & shower gel!

DP took the piss, but god it was heavy as we were doing a massive walk on the last day. The irony was we were in a really nice hotel - it was all provided!

13.9 kg is the lowest I can go! Much better than 20kg last time

I only take 7 dresses, 3 bikinis, 7 pants, toiletries for a casual week away. Flip flops and sandals and a cardigan.
Job done

We just got back from holiday, we took one 20kg suitcase between two of us for two weeks.
Included nice long skirt for dinners and for visiting temples, and stuff for all weathers and temperatures from 14 to 39C.
At the end of the holiday the unworn clothes fit in the mesh in the case lid (a couple of pairs of pants each and a t-shirt, plus souvenirs).
Got all the holiday washing done within 18 hours of getting home.

I write out a detailed packing list for the children and me ( my husband can fend for hinself) As we prefer self catering I add the condiments/ sharp knives/ liquitabs etc to the list too. At the end of the holiday I update it with things we forgot, things we didn't need and asterisk things we used a lot. I then put it in a safe place and base my next year's packing list on it. ( If we had a working printer I would do it online).

I've just done 2 weeks in the UK, me and 2 kids.
We took:
5 tops each
2 shorts each (1 shorts, 1 skirt for me)
1 pair jeans each
7 pairs underpants each (+ 2 bras for me)
5 pairs socks each
1 set pjs/nightie each
1 hoodie/cardigan each
1 rain jacket each
1 pair trainers, 1 pair sandals each (I also had ballet flats)

All fitted into 1 large holdall bag. I did 1 wash after a week.
Plus 1 bag of toiletries/cosmetics.
Kids had a small rucksack each for own crap/toys/books etc.
I had a small rucksack with docs, money, chargers etc.

I am absolutely delighted - I'm so fed up of taking stuff with me that never gets worn, it's completely pointless. This was so much easier to keep track of too, and I didn't end up with mountains of washing when we got back.