Packing for a holiday

[Singinginthesnow]

Hi all

Advice needed please! 2 adults and 4 children. Going to Spain for 2 weeks. I'm thinking we need only 4 maybe 5 outfits each. And extra pants for the younger ones in case of accidents. Dh reckons 7. But it just seems too much for the suitcase. One swim suit each too. We have a washing machine where we are staying and I'm happy to wash clothes.

Is there anything we should pack that we might not necessarily remember?

I'm packing a spare outfit in everyone's hand luggage too as I have heard bad things of suitcases going missing with the airline we are using so we at least have a change of clothes.

Why don't you just each pack what you think you need, does it many if your dh packs more?

If you have a washing machine then 4 outfits is fine. Since Easyjet et Al started charging for baggage we only take a rucksack with 3 outfits and 7 changes of underwear. I run the washing machine every other day and stuff is dry within a few hours. It also means that I don't have a mountain of laundry to do when I get back either.

I always take 2, I don't like sitting in a wet suit and as mine have padded tops they take an age to dry.

Depends on your plans

If you're like us and just hang round the pool or at the beach during the day I'd go 2 swimmers and a couple of cover ups per person

A night time outfit does us 2 nights I'd say

If you have a washing machine then you need less though

Thanks all. Well instarted off with 7 outfits each extra lasts for kids. 2 swimsuits each. And it still comes out 16 kilos each before I have packed sun cream etc. So I wanted to lighten it a bit in case we bring anything back.

We have 2 suitcases.

I will do the extra swim suits. We have a villa with a washing machine. It takes two minutes to chuck clothes in and then stick out for drying..

We probably won't be out in the evening too much. Oldest is 9 youngest is 3.

I'm packing for everyone otherwise someone will probably forget pants etc

I have an extra outfit each for everyone in their hand luggage each just incase baggage is lost we at least have a change of clothes. Plus the clothes we are wearing so I guess 6 outfits in total really...

I'm not packing shoes. We all have a light pair of trainers each. We don't seem to like sandals...

I will look at packing cubes. I have some zip lock type bags I saved. I planned to do hnderwear in one. Socks in another then pj's etc

I've also halved everything so everyone has half of their things in both suitcases in case anything gets lost! I'm very paranoid about this! So half underwear and clothes in one and then same in the other etc.

And yes to washing before leaving! I have been doing it all morning!

Won’t you need flip flops for pool?

But that's rather a lot. I wouldn't wear a new outfit every night when it's only on a few hours.

I'd go with somewhere in the middle. If you have about 7 day things, 2-3 sets of swimwear and 7 night outfits that's probably enough about right.

We don't wear flip flops. Hate the things. We have a villa so just in and out of the accomodation

We're going for 10 nights with a washing machine. I'm taking 4 outfits and plan to do washing most days, plus it saves bringing dirty laundry home. I tend to only wear a beach cover up during the day anyway so would only be wearing the outfits for a few hours each evening

Are you eating out in the evenings? Won’t you need smarter shoes?
for 2 weeks I’m taking around 8 pairs of shorts and vests/T-shirts, 4 swimming costumes, 8 dresses for the evening, trainers, sandals, wedges for the evening and flip flops. Plus beach bag, hat, toiletries, suncream…
similarish for my DDs and DH

We are just back from a week abroad. For 3 of us we took 3 suitcases and 3 items of hand luggage. We each had 3 swimsuits, 14 pairs of pants and about 12 outfits to allow for changes for the evening. I would not be prepared to do laundry on holiday.

If I'm on a beach holiday I take two bikinis, two cover ups, 3 dresses and a cardigan or something for the evening. I spend most of the day in a bikini and cover up and then wear the dresses for dinner. A quick rinse and a dry in the sun is the most I wash. I do take clean knickers for every day and a few bras.

Depending on the type of holiday I’d say 4 day outfits each and 4 evening if you plan on changing/going out. And pack to plan some overlap so you can mix and match if some get spills etc. I’d take 3 swimsuits per person as that’s what you’ll be (possibly) spending the most time in. Underwear enough for the whole holiday for adults and 7 per child. Mine can wear them two days as they are mainly in swimwear anyway! One pair of sandals/flip flops and one pair of trainers to travel in per person.

I wouldn’t want to do laundry but only you know how messy your dc are. I also hate bringing back a stack of unworn clothes. I just want to chill and be comfy and feel good on holiday. So only pack your favourite outfits.

If you don’t want to pay for an extra case, also take a cabin approved sized bag onboard. I hate squeezing stuff into a case, much better to have two with room to spare.

Do you like putting on a swim suit that's still wet from the last time you wore it? I don't. If that doesn't bother you, then fair enough.

1 swimsuit and 4 outfits for 14 days? I think you’re mad. At least 5/6 swimsuits for the DC. No doubt a couple will get filled with sand.

Are you sure that the tile (or whatever it is) around the pool won't get super hot in the sun? I've been places where that is the case and it would be very unpleasant, and even dangerous, not to have something on your feet while walking out from the villa to the pool.
Are you really never going to go out to eat or to do a little shopping? If you are, will you really want to wear trainers every time you leave the villa?

Even if you don't like flip flops you'll need something for your feet between villa and pool. Crocs? Sliders? The ground will be incredibly hot in the afternoons, far too hot for kids to walk on and surely you won't want to keep putting trainers back on all the time.

2 weeks id be taking 14 outfits each

My kids, when they were growing, wouldn't have had 14 outfits each. My eldest, one year, took 4 pairs of shorts for 14 days, and only actually wore two of them, although he did mostly live in his swimming shorts. We did a wash about 4 times.

I agree with that. My children had favorite clothes which were recycled the whole holiday.

Girls would have a couple of dresses for day or evening and a couple pairs of shorts.
4 T-shirt’s, knickers and that covered then.

Spent all day in a pool, few hours in shorts or dress so can easily go to the next day.

I specifically chose an apartment with a washing machine so I can take half as many clothes as usual. Mind you we only have 3 x 15kg baggage for 4 of us. I hate bringing back unworn clothes too

For two weeks I'd just plan one week of clothes for everyone myself, keeps it simple.

I'm packing at the mo - 10 days, no WM.
I've got 2 swimming costumes and 2 cover ups. 3 things that are more for the day, 3 for evenings, although all v casual. Hat, flip flops, toiletries, suncream, towels, books. Underwear, something to sleep in.