How much do you pack for your holiday.

[ilovemykindle]

I'm going to canaries in October for 12 nights and usually take everything but the kitchen sink.
Talking to my friend last night who is going away next week to the same resort for the same time.
She is taking the bare minimum.
3 dresses, 6 shorts and 8 tops. This is for day and evening.
Am I taking too much or she's not taking enough.
We are both casual dressers.

Having just been to the Canaries (August so warm, no cold weather clothes needed) I overpacked horrendously.

To be fair it was our first family holiday abroad and we were within our baggage allowance etc but I just didn't realise how little we'd wear.

Evening wise I was fine, I packed us approx 6 outfits and we wore them all twice but daytime wear I went way overboard. I expected the youngest to burn through shorts and tops but she lived in her swimmers. I'd taken like 10 shorts and 10 tops and she wore a fraction of that amount (and we did beach days / trips etc). All of us came back with clean stuff.

I also overpacked shoes. I took a pair too many for each of us.

We are away again next summer so at least I can hone my packing skills. Although I suspect next year I'll over pack too 😄

I'm way too used to packing for UK holidays, where you have to pack for every season.

Personally as long as you are happy and able to carry it and it isn't costing extra then I'd say take whatever you want. Much better to have extra than be left rinsing a dress in the bathroom sink.

Of course if you have a washing machine then you can definitely pack on the lesser side. We had 14 nights and no washing machine!!

I do find competitive packing seems to be a thing. The less you need to pack seems to be some weird status symbol?

Are you happy with your choices? Is she? That's all that matters.

The only situation when it would be more relevant is if you were traveling together and should be aligned in questions like whether you are waiting for luggage at airport or going hand luggage only, can fit all luggage in one car, and are you ok to walk longer with all your stuff (whatever is applicable).

I wouldn't consider 3 dresses, 8 tops and 6 shorts the bare minimum thought. Who needs 6 pairs of shorts?

The problem is catering for all eventualities. I don't wear all of what I pack, but I prefer being prepared to bring to buy something in not going to like but have to out of simplicity. If your friends feels certain, then she's preaching a great suitcase, but I've been to warm destinations that turned unexpectedly cold, and vice versa.

I always take a couple of day dresses if we go into local
town for example- 10 nights I’d take 7/8 evening outfits
around hotel i wear costume and a cover up- I’d take four or five plus four shorts and 7/8 t shirts
plus costumes

A packing list is an essential tool and then after your holiday cross out what you didn't wear/make any notes and keep for next holiday pack using that. Not a perfect science but I have found it helps. Obviously only if it's a similar holiday I.e beach and beach

I don’t think it matters what anyone else packs so long as you’re happy with your packing. I’ve been on trips when I was much younger where we travelled with just hand luggage for a fortnight, but now we’re older, I pack completely differently. There’s no way Im prepared to do any washing when I’m on holiday so I pack enough underwear for every day, a shirt/top for every day plus a couple of spares, three pairs of shorts, a dress/evening top for every night, and three pairs of jeans, plus a couple of pairs of linen trousers . With shoes, I try to keep to a pair of trainers to travel in, a couple of pairs of flat sandals for the day, and one pair of heels for the evening. I use a larger handbag for the journey and try to limit myself to one extra bag in my luggage.

Id say your friend is underpacking tops (I need a clean top everyday, so unless washing is done...) and over packing bottoms.

For 12 nights? 12 tops, 3/4 bottoms. Couple of smarter outfits for evening. Couple of warmer cardis/jumpers.

Hit post to soon: you over pack if more than 1 outfit comes back unworn. If you use it all, its the right amount.

I pack a dress/ outfit for each evening, sometimes re wearing the same skirt but with a different top. About 3/4 swim suits/ bikinis, enough underwear then a few cover ups and some shorts for during the day. One pair of flip flop, pair of wedges and a pair of trainers.