How soon do you start packing before a holiday?

[sleaf]

Just curious and feeling a little smug that I've done 90% of my packing a week before going away

Got a case out of the loft a couple of weeks ago and have been doing a slow pack since. It seems to have worked better than the usual pack 2 days before going away.

I plan the week before. Think of anything needs washing. Get a few piles together. Pack the night before. I don't like any last minute panics.

I ask Ds's and DH to have any clothes they want to take in the wash basket two days before. Then get everything washed and dried and pack the day before. DH and DS all do their own packing. Don't have enough spare clothes to do it ages before 😂

@iklboo

When my parents first told my nana they'd booked for us all to go to Spain (1978) she packed the next day. We weren't due to fly for another three months ☺️.

I can just about beat that,I go away after 2 lots of cancellations in June with my DD for mum & daughter trip which we did have every year so I have dug out my holiday dresses and laundered them all fresh for packing now I am lucky to have a spare room for my case and will pack everything over the next couple of months.Roll on June

I usually get together what I want to take (make sure it all still fits 😂)
about a week before, iron anything that needs it and pack the day I leave then nothing needs ironing when I get there

We don't have the space to get suitcases down until a day or two before we go but by then I generally have everything in packing cubes so I just have to put them in the suitcases.

I pack the day before but like a pp i would plan in my head what i am bringing, so i have them washed and ready to pack.

We're going in 3 weeks so this week I'll get stuff out and see what we have. Next week is for buying/ordering things. Week after for packing up.

Depends- trip away with my normal clothes, I pack last minute.
Trip abroad with clothes I can't wear in this weather at home - a week or two before?

I’m off on holiday tomorrow (blatent boast) and I’ve been fully packed for a fortnight.

I do my ironing on a Monday, so that's when clothes get put away, so packing gets started the Monday before we go away.
Everything gets put into the spare room for me to pack for myself & dd and for DH to pack for himself

About 2 days before.

I start as soon as things are booked! I make print outs so I can easily see what I've done and yet need to do. I get passports out. I pack light so I also check my travel size toiletries and leave all of these things out as I go along. I'm very specific about my toiletries so I'm not happy to just pick up whatever's missing at local shops. I got a new book as a gift and that went on the pile. About a week before I'll do laundry and ironing, my clothes are all cotton so this is a bit of a process but I love it. The night before I get the suitcase and chosen handbag out and fill them rather mindlessly as I've already thought about anything that needs thinking about.

The day before.

I would start a few months in advance 🙈 I take out all of the summer clothes and go through them (wash dry and iron)
I set every into outfits and see what's missing, too old or not fitting! Then I'll pick up bits as I go along and pack it up in outfits per day/activity etc (zip lock bagged and labelled!) it's sooooo much easier that way.

Ah yes that's a good point about local holidays. If I'm not flying or leaving the country then I can be a little more last minute as I don't have to be so selective.

I'm surprised how many people rewash their holiday clothes before packing. I must be a very lazy mare. I would dream of doing that.

Depends where I'm going! I properly pack the day before but start thinking a few days before in terms of anything that needs washing or buying.

I start ironing everything about 2 weeks before and get wash bags ready. It all goes in the cases the day before we travel. I don't like rushing around before we go, I like to be relaxed.

I think it's different if you are going for a hot sunny holiday, ours are usually UK so it's a case of taking normal clothes that are already in use so wouldn't need to get them out specially and check them etc.

About a week before, check clothes still fit/like them. Decide if need to buy anything new. Have rough idea in head of outfits/occasions/days.

2-4 days before, get everything sorted, washed if needed and dried. Start making piles. Check shoes, bags, jewellery etc. and make list of anything special to remember.

Actual packing into case, usually day before for most of it, certainly all clothes. Morning for last minute toiletries, chargers etc.

I don't really understand packing as such big landmark task. I don't think I've ever spent more than 30 mins on it the night before, or even the morning of departure depending on the flight time.

I don't understand special holiday shopping either.

As soon as I confirm the booking!

It's all part of the excitement for me. I make paper lists for everyone and tick off as I put stuff in the cases. I'll then check the case multiple times, then panic that although I bought a new tube of toothpaste, I can remember putting it in the case and ticking it off the list that it's somehow not there so I'll check again. It might sound stressful but you can guarantee I'm still packing bits and pieces as we're leaving for the airport

DH, about a month.
Me, the day before.

I moved abroad for 9m, packed day before, lol

About a week before a long haul I will start to put things aside or work out what needs washed and when to be ready to pack. Packing is done night before.

Glad I didn't start to pack til I'd done the pre-flight Covid test before our holiday this week, I would have had to unpack as well as cancel the trip 😭