To really hate packing the wrong stuff for a holiday

[Echobelly]

I think I get a bit obsessive before a holiday checking that I'm packing the right stuff for me and the kids for the expected weather I hate the thought of being too cold or too hot because I packed the wrong stuff, but I also hate overpacking, so I'm not going to pack massive cases of things 'just in case'.

UK holiday starting Friday, relatively easy forecast to pack for - everywhere's pretty unanimous it'll be 19-21C some chance of showers, ie bog-standard British 'summer' weather, aka trousers and t-shirts to my mind.

What I can't stand is when you have really ambigous forecasts where you might get boiling hot/dreadful weather, or maybe it'll just be mild, or the weather's predicted to turn at some point during the holiday.

Am I a lone obsessive and everyone else just packs everything/shrugs if they get it wrong?

Thin layers and multi-purpose items surely. I quite enjoy minimalist packing, but I do 20-24 hour shifts (with a 6 hour sleep window overnight) at work and take weird satisfaction in having the smallest but most versatile set of clothing for that, to allow for taking the residents on outings of various types on both days in any weather, and for getting dirty and having to change etc - and packing the smallest possible rucksack.

Yeah, layers and multi-purpose is what I go with generally. I pride myself on not being the person who turns up dragging a massive case for a long weekend, or can get a whole family's stuff in one case. DH does his own packing and it's pretty easy, if a bit odd - for a week he'll often bring one pair of jeans, about a dozen t-shirts for some reason and somehow about 4 pairs of shoes (I usually bring 2).

God, yes. I'm in the same position, same holiday dates, same hatred of packing.

Want to compare notes?

Always, always always take a decent jumper and windproof layer.
I've never been so cold as I was in Hong Kong.

Does anyone else have a mental 'temperature-to-clothes' scale?

It's like 23C+ - shorts, t-shirts, short dresses, skirts, sun hats, sandals
18-22C - trousers, cropped trousers, t-shirts, maybe long dresses, light raincoats in case of rain, trainers
12-17 - trousers, long sleeve tops, medium weight coats
Under 12C - jumpers, layers under jumpers, winter coats, gloves and warm hats if under about 8C

I get what you mean, now add that I'm travelling by motorbike with only room for a modest carry on (think Ryan air free bag size!) I kind of need to know what the weather is going to be like. As I'm not going until September I'm assuming autumnal in the highlands

Echobelly that wouldn't work whete I live - its mostly over 25 degrees in summer but assoon as we go over about 30 for a couple of consecutive days we get storms - torrential downpour, thunder, lightning... So over 30 means increased chance of rain. Summer days in the mid twenties or below are more likely to stay dry.

Our weather forecasts are more reliable though (at least the short term ones) because we're not on an island.

Very glad we're borrowing neighbours' roof box for upcoming trip - we've never been able to quite fit all equipment needed for comfortable camping into our car, especially if rain is a possibility, but we should be able to this time. I am making checklists for car packing!

Yes, I have that scale. What I find impossible is the rain forecasts which can be anything from an hour or drizzle to 10 minutes of downpour and still called 'showers 50%'.

In three weeks we are going to Spain just two of us, for ten days, we have 23kgs checked in plus a large cabin allowance, I reckon I will hit it no problem.

I have bikinis and cut off shorts for the daytime. (Loads of)

Tshirts and cut off shorts for the evening.(Loads of)

Do I need three summer dresses, no, will I wear them, I will in all honesty wear one, I am incapable of travelling light.

I already have one large bag full of books and beach towels.

We are retired, my DH is not getting any younger, I need to learn to travel light.

I completely know what you mean 😁

Are you going on a UK beach hol? If so you may find your kids wear their swim stuff, wetsuits and towel ponchos more than anything else! We've just had a week in the SW and it was broadly nice weather with a bit of drizzle - I wore shorts and t-shirts most days with the odd jumper, and occasional waterproof. Sandals most of the time. I took too many jumpers for the kids and too many pairs of trousers - they were either in beach stuff or shorts. I think you only need 2-3 pairs trousers max (including leggings or something for lounging about in or hiking in), 2 pairs of shorts and maybe a dress or skirt. Then 4-5 tops and 2 jumpers/cardies. You'll never pack perfectly though - it's just not possible!!

For far too many years our packing list was ‘wetsuit, swimsuit, waterproof, woolly hat, tracksuit/pyjamas’. Often accessorised with a fetching midge net for the evenings.

I quite fancy this mythical place called ‘abroad’ these days.

I have the same internal pressure on myself. However on the last trip I realised that it was only because whenever I packed a bag as a teenager someone would say “crikey how long are you going for” and I would feel embarrassed. Now I figure that as long as I can transport it then I can take it.

I’d rather take a big bag and be covered for eventualities than miss out because I was worried someone may judge the size of my bag

I hate packing for UK holidays. When I go overseas for a summer holiday, it’s basically a few sundresses, sandals and a bikini. Two big suitcases between four of us.

By contrast, I’m going away week after next in the UK and will be packing T-shirts, jeggings, two just in case cardigans, a pair of shorts in case it does clear up, sandals, trainers and a pair of wellies because we will be quite rural. And a waterproof jacket. The car will be heaving.

Wide words from @Poppyloppyloo!!

The weather forecasts have been rubbish this "summer" defaulting to 18-21⁰C, overcast with chance of sunny spells/ showers, which translates in reality to anything from 15⁰C with torrential rain to 24⁰C in blazing sunshine, and not being able to plan clothing/ activities appropriately.

We often camp in the UK and it's annoying on those weeks where you find yourself wearing the same jumper/ sun dress umpteen times because you couldn't cover the full range of extremes either way.
Staying with laundry facilities accessible helps.

I'm afraid I'm an over packer as I like to cover every eventuality -and not just clothes either. We've just returned from 5 days camping at a festival. The car was rammed. But I have to have shorts, cropped trousers, jeans/trousers (not a skirt person). Tops range from vest tops, t-shirts plus a couple of long sleeved ones for layering, then fleeces/hoodies and at least 2 coats (in case ons gets soaked). Footwear - multiple - sandals, walking boots for hiking, wellies, trainers. I just cannot do packing lite!

I never go on holiday anywhere abroad where there there is a risk of bad weather (Turkey in July for example, Caribbean in Feb) or at least a very very low risk. I sling in a few cardigans but that’s it.

And in the UK I only holiday south east coast in summer
So it’s always going to be mild
But almost certainly rainy
So summer clothes with some long sleeved and a hoody for morning beach walk
And of course… rain coat

@Poppyloppyloo

I have the same internal pressure on myself. However on the last trip I realised that it was only because whenever I packed a bag as a teenager someone would say “crikey how long are you going for” and I would feel embarrassed. Now I figure that as long as I can transport it then I can take it.

I’d rather take a big bag and be covered for eventualities than miss out because I was worried someone may judge the size of my bag

I suspect we were separated at birth.

I always take too much these days. I think back with nostalgia to foreign holidays- usually city breaks - on hand luggage only, but a fortnight in the UK and overpacking is the norm!

Ahhh hand luggage city breaks, @starfishmummy!...😍

I once went to Budapest for three nights with nothing but a largeish handbag - those were the childfree, toiletries in the cabin days 😁

I took three maxi dresses camping last week thinking I would waft around in festival chic.

Nope. Wore wellies, jeans and a waterproof for most of it!

*Whenever I packed a bag as a teenager someone would say “crikey how long are you going for?”

The woman on the check in desk at the airport said that to me last time I went abroad.

I’d paid extra for hold luggage and I like to get my money’s worth.

I don't carry my luggage, they go in the car or in the plane, so I don't see the point of "travelling light". I don't over-pack, but I got enough stuff, some that might not be used depending on the weather.

I have the biggest hand luggage I can get away with to travel with my kids when they are young, made delays and any unforeseen problems so much easier to deal with.