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.

I've always found sunscreen expensive in Spain whether in beach side shops or non touristy supermarkets that are otherwise similarly priced to cheaper UK supermarkets, eg 15 to 20 euro in places like Mercadona or Eroski.

I imagine it is available cheaper and admit that I've never looked in lidl but when we're on holiday I don't want to be trailing round looking for reasonably priced versions of things I already have at home.

I never found the sun cream expensive in Spain. The local shops ranged from 3 euros to 12 . So wouldn’t worry about that. Mine burst in my case too! Thankfully I had put it in a plastic bag

"The pool is around grass and the up and down steps so trainers will be ok."
I mean, you know your family better than we do of course. But the idea of having to put trainers on (with wet feet) every time one of you wants to go inside to grab a drink, use the loo, etc. sounds like a real pain in the neck to me.

"Why would we need something smart?"
Well if you aren't planning on going anywhere fancy then you won't. But it's a perfectly reasonable suggestion so I don't know why you are getting pissy about it. Many people like to go out to eat and maybe get slightly more dressed up in the evening than they would during the day when on holiday.

3 day outfits and 3 night outfits for 10 days? With no washing machine, and presumably somewhere warm if there's a pool. That actually sounds pretty disgusting to me.

To early for that kind of comment and you need coffee because of it
Ok 😂🙈🤪

I only came back from holiday on Friday and took one case for 4 of us (2 adults 2 kids). My main problem was weight - I had to upgrade from 20kg luggage to 32kg which was fine. We all took a backpack with heavy items e.g. shoes and towels to keep weight down in the suitcase, as carry on's up to 10kg were free. I took 2 swimsuits for me and DH, kids had 1 each. I took enough clothes for about 5 days and did a hand wash part way through the week, it was fine! As you have a washing machine where you are going you'll be grand. While a full 7 day outfits and a full 7 evening outfits is everyone's ideal it really isn't necessary.

I'm a light packer and just make sure the things I pack can go with other things rather than be fixed outfits. 4 full sets of clothes sounds plenty to me. I'd maybe take a second swimsuit incase it didn't fully dry.

Extra swimsuits. If beach holiday then the kids will spend all day in them and just need a t shirt and shorts to cover, boys could wear the swim trunks as shorts too - I'd bring five t shirts and three shorts each kid. One or two sundress each for girls.
You - twice swimsuits, sarong/coverup for going to restaurant at lunch. Kaftan type thing also works as coverup /loose dress to throw over. Three t shirts and shorts. Hubby maybe a couple polo type shirts.
One sweater/hoodie each just in case, probably not needed for the adults.
Pair sandals each maybe pair trainers if doing fair amount of walking.
Hats.

Yabu for asking on here. Most people overpack. It’s your trip, take what you want. We travel very light, so what you’re suggesting taking is reasonable to me.

@Anonymous48 I'm guessing your hygiene is pretty poor and you suffer from quite bad body odour if you aren't able to wear a dress for a few hours and then rewear it a few days later. I'd see a doctor about that if I were you.

5 outfits, 2 swimsuits.

i think 4 sounds about right, plus what you are wearing. If is hot enough to swim a lot I don’t see the need for 2 swim suits as they’ll dry quickly between wears (and it’s not the end of the world to put on a damp one). We did a bit of washing on holiday, was hot, dried quickly.

Your suitcases must weigh a frigging ton if you take 14 outfits each! For a 2 week holiday I take 7 pairs of knickers and a couple of pairs of trainer socks then hand wash them in the sink. A swimming costume and something to throw over it. 1pair of cropped white trousers and 1 pair of white dress shorts and a few smart tops for night. A dress a couple of jump suits and a couple of pairs of shorts and tees for the day. I change once during the day and that is to a night time outfit and pjs last thing at night and I'll wear the same thing 2-3 times during the holiday.

I don’t own enough clothes to pack 14 “day outfits” then “night outfits” on top lol. Definitely rewear shorts with a different T-shirt or wear a loose maxi dress more than once. I’m with you op, I’ve yet to have a total catastrophic wardrobe malfunction on holiday!

Wear one outfit, pack 2 more each, swimmers, maybe a second pair of shoes. We have always travelled with hand luggage only.

I enjoy wearing nice clothes on holiday and have fashion conscious tween and teen in tow. I would take a minimum of 7 day outfits and 7 night outfits per person (probably a couple of extras if we can’t decide), 4 or 5 swimsuits each, 3 or 4 pairs of sandals/flip flops. We don’t sit by the pool so need clothes suitable for walking about the town or to the beach and like to eat at a nice restaurant each evening so need dressier clothes for that.

Sounds about right OP, before I knew any better I would take 14 sets of clothes for day & 14 evening. Now I travel light by mixing & matching, no one notices what you’re wearing as they’re too busy loving themselves. Packing cubes are rubbish & take up more room I find.

Wow can you come pack for me @Singinginthesnow , I'm going alone for four days, two of those stuck on a coach and I have 4 x tops, 2 X leggings, 2 x dresses (one day, one eve), 1 x shorts, 1x jeans, 4 x socks, 8 x knickers, 2 X bra, 1 x cardigan, 1 x coat, 1 x pj's, sandals plus the outfit I travel in 😂😂

With six of you, washing makes perfect sense., we do when we go to Wales and I love coming back with clean clothes that have washed and tumbled themselves whilst we're out.

Depending on the outfits, I'd make sure you andd the girls have shorts / crop trousers packed in case your off on any day trips, rather than just dresses. Surely you're not holing up in the villa for two weeks without exploring?

Have to say I’m on the overpacking side myself… my son somehow gets through 2 t shirts a day (and so does my husband). For those managing on so few items I am amazed. Wish I could do the same, the pile of laundry when we get home is always a shocker!

We're just back from 2 weeks away with washing machine, the first time we've done a villa holiday instead of hotel, and we all took far too many clothes. It's hot so everything dries really quickly and unless you are meeting up with people regularly who cares if you're wearing the same things once they're clean?
4 outfits plus a spare in hand luggage is plenty. I would take more than one swimsuit though, with rash tops for DC and cover up for you. You do need pjs, and can't imagine not having sandals or crocs or something other than trainers on feet when it's hot.
Pool toys, sun cream, moisturiser, sun hats, sunglasses, pegs in case there's none at the villa.
Have fun

We're going 10 days in spain.

Kids: (teen / preteen boys)
2 x swimming costume
2 x swimming tshirt
3 x sports shorts
3 x nicer shorts
7 x tshirts
12 x pants
12 x pairs of socks
Pair sliders
Pair trainers

me:
2 x swimming costume
3 x over swimming costume dress / cover up
4 x other dresses
2 x leggings
12 x pants
2 x flip flops (one smarter pair)
1 x hiking sandals

husband:
2 x swimming costume
3 x shorts
8 x tshirts
10 x pants
5 x socks
Hiking sandals
Trainers

Plus shower gel, shampoo, 2 x large beach towels, deoderants, tooth brush, toothpaste, minimal makeup, hairbrush, medicine and 3 bottles of factor 50 suncream of the variety no one is allergic to!!

That's hardly anything at all! Jesus, you're on holiday, don't make it the same old shit as home (ie doing laundry) in the sun!

Blimey - can’t believe how much some people pack. OP we are on the costa calida / Mar menor. The weather is glorious

enjoy your holiday OP!

Are you like Prince Andrew, where you don't sweat either?

I wore a short dress in Tenerife 2021 and the temp on the one day was 40 degrees all day. There was no air con on the island at the time because of covid so yeah, I needed a change and the dress didnt smell clean or fresh a couple of days later.

Imagine that though eh?! Someone actually sweating more than you! 😱

I wash on holiday all the time. 30 seconds to put in washer, 5 mins to hand out,8. He dry clothes in 60 minutes, it’s fine. There is no way I would check in baggage this summer!