To be getting so stressed about holiday packing?

[cattypussclaw]

Prob not really an AIBU but posting for traffic as I'm about to burst into tears...

I get really stressed before a holiday. Worrying about leaving the pets, clearing out the fridge, leaving the house fairly clean and tidy... but most of all with packing.

We are leaving on Saturday and will be away for a month in Spain. Ferry to Bilbao, one night in a v posh hotel, three weeks at a Eurocamp in a mobile home, one night in the posh hotel on the way back then home.

Last year we went to the same place for two weeks. Love it there, spent the entire time reading, laying on the beach or by the pool, the odd bike ride or day out, eating out a lot. But took way too many "nice" clothes. Loved in swimming costumes and sarongs mostly.

Please please, someone tell me what I need to pack. I'm a terrible "just in case" packer and always take way more than I need. I'd be really grateful for any tips!

I've done this type of holiday, and I think shorts are your friend.
Shorts x 2 pairs.( I like linen)
Tops Vest/Cami- x3
Top (dressy) x1
Dresses suitable for day or evening x2

Jewellery to dress things up
Gold sandals-perfect to dress things up, but good for day time too

Swimsuits/bikinis, something to sling over these.
Havianas

Done!

I had a couple of these on holiday, very light and easy to wear.
I also had this, super comfy!

Had this.
Sandals.

I am the same as you.

Love it when I get there but stressed to the max before.

I worry about my babies. I mean, cats...

I always end up taking high wedges. I have never ever worn them.

I take ( for 2 weeks)

7 dresses
4 bikinis
3 sarongs
3 beach dresses
A few camisloes
3 flip flops

I just bought a fab beach dress from the market. It is so comfortable and was £15.

Your posh hotel days are at either end of the holiday - so either wear the same "nice" outfit for both or bring 1 and pick up something new while in Eurocamp.

Travel wash or a couple of washing powder tablets for launderette. There's usually some kind of clothes horse for swimming gear and wet things.

the 2 weeks in Eurocamp:
A couple of swim suits (3 if you have them)
A couple of sarongs
2/3 pairs of shorts
4/5 tee shirts
1 long trousers and a jumper/hoodie/cardigan, and maybe a long sleeved top - for evenings, any cool days and possibly on ferry etc
Flip flops or Birkenstocks for everyday, runners or easy casual shoes good for walking/cycling, maybe 1 pair more dressy to match hotel outfit (but not necessarily high heels - dressy sandals?)
Washbag, hairbrush, (NoBlowDry crème instead of a hairdryer?)
PJs and underwear and socks etc

Box of favourite tea bags
travel sized bottle of washup liquid
Box of matches for gas hob
2 toilet rolls
Salt and pepper
Squash
(The rest you will probably get in a supermarket easily)

We ended up buying sheets last time as well so they might be handy to bring if you have room, I think we brought a couple of travel towels and bought a few more in the local decathlon (we love travel towels for Scouts and sailing purposes!).

The other thing, again if you have room in the car and like cooking etc, is any few tools etc that make your life much easier and they may not have - a decent sharp knife, a proper wooden spoon, small chopping board, corkscrew, veg peeler, whisk, oven gloves, etc. I remember buying a sharp knife and veg peeler in Le Clerc last year (again!) (and a decent sized mug!) - but we had flown not driven.

1 outfit for posh hotel, or same trousers/skirt and 2 tops.

Shorts x 4
Sundress x 2
Tshirt /vests x 8
Flip flops, sandals, trainers x 1 each.

Well you have an advantage because you've been there before, so you know what you need and what you don't!

Personally I wouldn't stress too much about leaving the house clean and tidy or the fridge cleaned out. But if they really bother you, then rope the family in to help as well

Do you have clothes washing facilities? That also makes life much easier.

Having said that, you don't want to be spending all your time washing clothes, so a balance is needed here - but at least it wouldn't mean you have to have clothes for every day.

I also find that if you're spending most of the day round the pool, the clothes you wear in the evening will last for a couple of days (apart from underwear of course!)

This year I have really stocked up on beach tops as that's what I wore almost all holiday last year. No jeans this year, didn't wear them once and with the weather forecast in Spain, definitely won't be wearing them this year either!

Brilliant tips there, thank you all so much x

I don't do shorts in any way, shape or form. I have large white legs and pudgy knees. They simply do not suit me. I tend to wear loose shift dresses (pref. mid-calf length) and flip-flops most of the time. Or swimmers and sarong.

It's not so much what I take but how bloody much! So some idea of how many of each item to take is very helpful, thanks.

Yes, there's a launderette on site (helpfully, within easy walking distance of the bar!) and I usually do a bit of washing while I'm there (towels get grubby and full of sand!).

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm going to get everything out that I want to take and then put half of it back

I have this dress, which I will probably wear to death...

Gardenpicnic, I took two pairs of jeans last year and two pairs of linen trousers. Wore none of them!

Never been camping so sorry cannot help there, but for posh hotel black trousers are always a good fallback.

couple decent tops that you can accessorise with either jewellery or scarfs, I live in a hot country and love scarfs wear then all the time and can be so versatile as wraps for an evening or around the pool.

But put all the clothes on the bed your thinking about taking, then half it!

And when Im packing, (just finished off for a long weekend) I always start with the fiddly bits like toiletries, sun stuff hair stuff, first aid kit, food etc. Then move onto clothes, underwear first then shoes.

If you have the large packing bags, like large freezer bags they are great for keeping say your underwear, bras, socks together for each person so you can just lift them out (dont mean packing cubes) and larger again for tops, no searching about for others clothing.

Also write a list this is my usual

Check all doors/windows locked
Plugs out (except any timer lights!)
Water off at main
Clear clean fridge, wedge door
Empty kitchen bin
Toilet cleaner down
Clear dishwasher/ throw out dishcloth
Last water of plants
Lights out
Heating/boiler off
Valuables away safe

I also have a list for hand luggage

Passport (plus photocopy separate)
Tickets
Hotel/travel info info
Phone
All adaptors, phone etc
General adaptors
PC/Ipad
Headphones
Books
Glasses (many pairs)
Sunglasses
Lenses (plus spare)
Wet wipes
Pen/notebook

Some of that may help!

I'm currently stressed out my head too

If going away stresses you so much maybe you should stay at home! Is there anything that doesn't stress people on MN??

Do people really take photocopies of their passport?

I have a photo of mine but that’s because I was sick of finding it when doing early check in.

Op I used to over pack too. Now I love the freedom of travelling light. Honestly it’s such a relief.

Love that dress OP

I usually overpack too. If you don't do shorts I would take:
1-2 pairs of palazzo pants
1-2 skirts if you wear them
4-5 tshirt/strappy tops
3-4 dresses
3x swimwear
Comfy shoes you can walk distances in
Flip flops
Posher sandals

I'd wear that dress you posted with the posher sandals in the posh hotel.

Then you have the other stuff like beach towels, adapters, medications, sun glasses etcetc

Also - I use packing cubes - not for everyone, but I love them!

Great list Todamhottoday.

Don't stress op. If you get it wrong they have shops over there. In fact it's a good excuse to go shopping to buy things you can't get in the UK.

My suitcase went missing once at the airport. It was a pain but I managed to buy enough to keep me going.

Only this year, the day before we went on holiday, we had a family emergency and I was distracted. I forgot to pack a few bits. I now have some lovely replacements. I'm quite glad I wasn't as organised as usual.

Don't take as much. The worst that can happen is you have to do an extra trip to the laundrette or a quick trip to the shops.

Would you mind sharing the camp site please

Single mum twoyoujg children and this sounds brilliant

Never been camping so sorry cannot help there, but for posh hotel black trousers are always a good fallback

Oh please don’t. Holidays are time to get out the skirts and dresses and colours and be a bit more risqué. Black trousers are for the UK at a work do in February!

Doppler I do try and take photocopies of my passport now. Never used to but after seeing stories of what a pain it was if the passport was lost, I started to. Just seems a simple thing to do.

My DD18 is going to Amsterdam at the end of Aug so will keep one of hers at home just in case there's an issue.

I wear separates, and take colour co-ordinated pieces eg shades of blue/white aqua, or peach/cream green. I don't suit shorts, so I wear wide culottes (think divided skirt)Palazzo pants and a couple of dressy tops for the evenings.