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Original poster

How soon do you start packing before a holiday?

95 replies

sleaf · 18/03/2022 15:18

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.

OP posts:

Echobelly · 18/03/2022 17:54

2-3 days usually, just so stuff we need to take doesn't get in the laundry.

Except DH, who is keeping me awake throwing stuff in a bag at midnight before we leave, even though we have to wake up at 5am.

iklboo · 18/03/2022 18:13

@Etinoxaurus - yes we did, thanks! Huge culture shock at the time but nana loved all the food, waiter service, sunbathing etc ☺️.

Tulipomania · 18/03/2022 18:14

Jeez. I pack the night before if we have an early morning departure.

Otherwise I pack on the day.

Mol1628 · 18/03/2022 18:18

Couple of hours. Or the night before if leaving early.

I do work from a list though so it’s pretty stress free.

Qwill · 18/03/2022 18:21

On the day. I have a capsule wardrobe (as in I only like about three of the ridiculous amount of outfits I have), and I hate half packing stuff as I forget things. I need to use deodorant, hairbrush, moisturiser etc. in the morning after I shower, so I just get myself ready then pack. It takes no time at all!

EileenGC · 18/03/2022 18:27

2 hours before leaving max. Night before if leaving earlier than 7am. I travel abroad 25-30 times a year, plus domestic trips.

Hundreds of business trips over the years have given me the ability to pack very fast, and almost list-less. I take the bare minimum and have travel versions of everything essential such as a toiletry or make up bag, docs are kept in a separate folder, etc. I have home work suits and going-away work suits (niche industry with very specific requirements).

I don’t own many clothes and I’m often home for just 24/36 hours between trips, so stuff is usually drying out until right before I pack it.

Fairyarmpits · 18/03/2022 18:30

Well done, that sounds very organised!

I normally pack the night before but hate myself for it as I am usually simultaneously washing things.

I dream that one day I will have a clothes and put my selected clothes on there several weeks before so I can plan my outfits.

Fairyarmpits · 18/03/2022 18:31

clothes rail

sueelleker · 18/03/2022 18:34

@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.

That's how I do it-start laying stuff out a couple of weeks before, then whittle it down. Pack about a week before.

maddy68 · 18/03/2022 18:41

About 30 mins before I leave for the airport honestly I never understand how much effort it seems to take some people. Just bung clothes in a case ;)

PiesNotGuys · 18/03/2022 18:42

An hour before I leave the house. I couldn’t do it two days before, I might need the things? It takes around ten minutes get the suitcase down, fold some clothes, put some undies in a side pocket and top it with a charger, and toothbrush etc.

It takes longer to check the DCs have packed sensible things and not ten books but no pants.

Lovinglife45 · 18/03/2022 18:47

I can be rather anal.

I make a list and start packing two weeks before. I cross off each item once it has been packed in my suitcase.

MissAmbrosia · 18/03/2022 18:49

I probably have a sort through during the week before and see if anything needs washing. But don't pack until the night before. UNLESS going on a self-catering trip with the car where I have various reusable shopping bags on the go for at least a week that get gradually filled....guide books, citronella candles, teabags, badminton rackets...etc. Drives DH mad. He throws stuff in case about 5 mins before we leave.

starfishmummy · 18/03/2022 18:49

Night before or the day we go. However I will have started a pile of things from about a week before. And a list..

We have a dc with medical needs so their supplies are organised well ahead. They also take up a lot of the car space so basically we ha e to wait and see how much space is spare for clothes

Refrosty · 18/03/2022 18:49

Mentally, I start packing once I've booked . But with two kids, I start sorting clothes from around 5 days out and just chuck stuff into the bag during those days. Usually only have to pack my toothbrush once travel day arrives. I love packing, so it's an exciting and important part of my holidays!

Of course, it means that when I travel long haul (heck even short haul) with family (who pack last minute) I'm probably the only one who gets decent sleep the night before travelling.

11stonesomething · 18/03/2022 18:59

This reply has been deleted

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Sunnysal · 18/03/2022 19:16

We are retired, Iive in Spain and travel a lot, mainly cruises. We more or less permanently have open cases on the spare bed. We have quite a lot of holiday stuff we wash and repack after every holiday. A lot depends on if the holiday has multiple destinations, St Lucia straight to Iceland was a challenge. If we fly we go light , if we cruise I take everything!

Gwenhwyfar · 18/03/2022 19:19

@EventuallyDelighted

The day before, we don't have space for full bags and cases to be sitting around for any longer than that.

How does a full suitcase take so much more space than an empty one? I did used to have to use my suitcases to store clothes all year around so when I was on holiday that stuff just got put on the floor or something.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/03/2022 19:21

@Tulipomania

Jeez. I pack the night before if we have an early morning departure.

Otherwise I pack on the day.

Yes, this is me too even though I have special travel toiletry bags with small sizes of things, there are always things to pack that I need in daily life.

whoruntheworldgirls · 18/03/2022 19:22

I pack a week before

Changeychangey · 18/03/2022 19:30

Depends where we're going.

Holiday in the sun - probably mentally about a week before but in practice a couple of days (all the laundry etc).

If we're going to our holiday house I chuck it all in at the last minute whether it's clean or dirty and sort it out when we get there!

Coming home I try to have most things washed and dried so I don't get back to too much laundry. But now the dc are adults and responsible for their own laundry they can sort themselves out.

EventuallyDelighted · 18/03/2022 19:46

@Gwenhwyfar they are in the loft when we're not using them. Not going to get them down, pack them and put them up there again when we can do it all the night before going away and leave them in the living room ready to go.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/03/2022 19:51

I'm a packing ninja and travelled the world, lived in a few countries.

Day before and day of.

My top tip for not forgetting anything is to run through your day (get up, brush teeth, comb hair etc.) and run down your body (hat, scarf, bra etc.)

I don't forget stuff!

Pinchofnom · 18/03/2022 19:52

Probably a week

aghhinlaws · 18/03/2022 19:58

I start around 2 days before so I know what's missing and can get some stuff needed the day before. I leave the suitcase open until we are about to leave for the airport.

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