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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really hate packing the wrong stuff for a holiday

71 replies

Echobelly · 17/08/2021 18:25

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 Grin 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? Blush

OP posts:
FinallyFluid · 18/08/2021 11:19

@Coogee

*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.

Triplets perchance. ???

We flew Club class to Malaga last holiday, the luggage allowance, (there were three of us), was 64kg each of hold allowance, my DH was convinced I was going to hit the target. Grin

Thirty two years ago when we first got together he bitched and moaned about all the stuff I was packing to take to Ireland, on the ferry.

I replied, I am asking you to put it in the car and drive the car to Holyhead and then take it out the other end.

I am not asking you to put it on your back and crawl to Holyhead, so stop moaning. Same applies to airports, he no longer moans he is broken man. Grin

Coogee · 18/08/2021 11:26

Triplets perchance. ???

No, just me. Blush

To add insult to injury, she put a big “Heavy” sticker on my case and asked me to take it down to the “Large items” counter.

youdoyoutoday · 18/08/2021 11:29

I have to pack today for our trip away tomorrow, no idea where to start, it was cloudy 5 minutes ago and now brilliant sunshine!! Hmm

FinallyFluid · 18/08/2021 11:30

No I meant there appear to be three of us, on this thread who bring the kitchen sink. Grin

douliket · 18/08/2021 11:43

Forget any dressy clothes as nobody dresses up on holidays, so leave the heels and fancy clothing at home.
Are you going for a week??
One light rain jacket for everyone that rolls up.
Two jumpers, long sleeve, for evening.
Three T-shirt's/light tops each
Two shorts each( or skirts)
One dress
One cropped pants

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 18/08/2021 11:53

I'm going from abroad to the UK with just hand luggage soon - Aside from underwear, socks, minimal toiletries, my microfiber towel and a pair of leggings and a t-shirt to sleep in I'm aiming to pack two pairs of linen mix trousers which roll small and don't need ironing, 3 tops, one rain jacket which also rolls small, take one jumper and wear a cardigan or denim jacket. I'll travel in either my 501s or Fjäll Raven walking trousers - both very comfortable with very importantly excellent pockets...

TrickyD · 18/08/2021 11:56

Cruises which start from the U.K. are good because you can pack whatever you like and cover all weather eventualities. No weight restriction.

starfishmummy · 18/08/2021 12:04

Exactly @Laquila. And feeling smug when we just waltzed out of the airport with no waiting for our bags!!

Caspianberg · 18/08/2021 12:05

Oh I’m the opposite, smallest possible. I find too much luggage almost clutters my brain and stresses me out.

Coogee · 18/08/2021 12:07

No I meant there appear to be three of us, on this thread who bring the kitchen sink.

If he has space, I pack the kitchen sink in my husbands bag.

Forget any dressy clothes as nobody dresses up on holidays

I do. You never know what kind of do you might get invited to.

xksismybestletter · 18/08/2021 12:09

Oh I do this in the caravan. I hate not using most things but always find something pointless on day 2. A second drying rack. And for some reason I bought 4 swimsuits and 4 dresses. I wore a swimsuit and shorts every day....

MrsMiddleMother · 18/08/2021 12:39

You're not alone! We've got a holiday to Cornwall coming up, we're a family of 5 and I dread not having enough warm/dry clothes as well as shorts/tshirts

isthisareverse · 18/08/2021 13:01

@starfishmummy

Exactly *@Laquila*. And feeling smug when we just waltzed out of the airport with no waiting for our bags!!
I find it much quicker to use my luggage allowance (or pay a few quid for one) and wait for my bag, than trying to squeeze everything in my hand luggage.

And I always reach the maximum allowance on the way home as I bring stuff back.

I need more than 2 pair of shoes!

MurielSpriggs · 18/08/2021 13:18

I'm a massive overpacker. Certainly if you're traveling by car why not?

For a weekend-in-Europe city break I take not much more than the clothes I'm standing up in. But if we're driving down to Cornwall why not fill the boot? It's quicker and less stressful than trying to guess what you'll need. It will use a little bit more petrol there and back, but in the overall cost of the holiday it's insignificant.

DelphiniumBlue · 18/08/2021 13:22

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

I'm going from abroad to the UK with just hand luggage soon - Aside from underwear, socks, minimal toiletries, my microfiber towel and a pair of leggings and a t-shirt to sleep in I'm aiming to pack two pairs of linen mix trousers which roll small and don't need ironing, 3 tops, one rain jacket which also rolls small, take one jumper and wear a cardigan or denim jacket. I'll travel in either my 501s or Fjäll Raven walking trousers - both very comfortable with very importantly excellent pockets...
Just wondering how can linen mix trousers not need ironing? I am not some ironing queen btw, would much prefer not to iron, but linen???
UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 18/08/2021 15:20

DelphiniumBlue honestly they don't. They're 45% viscose, 55 linen.

Marmitemarinaded · 18/08/2021 15:27

@douliket

Forget any dressy clothes as nobody dresses up on holidays, so leave the heels and fancy clothing at home. Are you going for a week?? One light rain jacket for everyone that rolls up. Two jumpers, long sleeve, for evening. Three T-shirt's/light tops each Two shorts each( or skirts) One dress One cropped pants
Totally depends where you’re going

I LOVE getting showered, moisturised, make yo and doing hair and then putting on something a bit dressy in the evening.

Even as a single mum, and no one to impress! I still do this. And generally where we stay… in the evenings everyone else is doing the same

Marmitemarinaded · 18/08/2021 15:34

Never ever wear heels in the evening on holiday though

Passthecake30 · 18/08/2021 15:44

I don’t understand the light packing lists like @douliket posted, only half the amount of tshirts for the days on holiday? Not a chance that 3 out of the 4 of us could wear a top more than one day Blush
I have family at the coast. Everytime we go for the weekend I have bags full, ranging from skimpy vests/shorts to jeans, hoodies and jumpers.

Anonymous48 · 18/08/2021 15:46

I think if you're driving to your holiday it's much easier to pack because you can just throw things in the car. You can even use carrier bags for shoes, and things like that. Packing when you are flying is a lot more difficult because then you do have to make choices about what to bring and what not to, so that everything fits in the suitcases without making them too heavy.

fruitbrewhaha · 18/08/2021 15:48

I have just returned from camping and its rubbish to pack for. UK weather, getting dirty and not being to wash or dry stuff is a shit combination. I refused to used the £4 a go washing machine. Just put the same clothes back on.

garlictwist · 18/08/2021 15:50

In normal times I go bike touring as my holiday so can only take what I can carry. This is actually quite refreshing as my hand is forced into not taking much. I find it quite overwhelming when I go on a normal trip in a car and can take much more.

Anonymous48 · 18/08/2021 15:51

@Passthecake30

I don’t understand the light packing lists like *@douliket* posted, only half the amount of tshirts for the days on holiday? Not a chance that 3 out of the 4 of us could wear a top more than one day Blush I have family at the coast. Everytime we go for the weekend I have bags full, ranging from skimpy vests/shorts to jeans, hoodies and jumpers.
Is she assuming there will be laundry facilities? If not then I agree, you definitely need at least one top per day.
Original poster
Echobelly · 18/08/2021 18:19

@Laquila - it's by the coast but I'm not sure we'll be doing much beachyness. As it is, I dislike beaches at the best of times (uncomfortable, boring, everything gets covered in sand) but for me 23C is minimum hanging out on a beach weather - it needs to be warm enough for a paddle to be refreshing and to be able to dry out in the sun, otherwise you paddle in the cold and feel a bit chilly and damp for ages. Kids are older (tween and teen) so not really that desperate to go to the beach. 19-20 predicted this weekend not really getting the swimsuits out. Will be bringing them JIC

While I pack light I don't think I could manage carry-on only for anything more than long weekend!

I also do packing just over half amount of clothes for time, providing there's laundry facilities - after 3 days camping we get to an airbnb, so planning to wash everything we've worn so far then. Ie, we're going Friday-Friday, so it;'s 4 trousers and 4/5 tops plus jackets/hoodies

OP posts:
xksismybestletter · 18/08/2021 18:45

We plan to wash if we are somewhere hot ( with the caravan) because we have incontinent small children. We find ourselves wearing the same clothes again and again though as there is not point putting on a clean thing to scrub around, go to the beach or go out on our bikes.