AIBU to ask what to pack for a hot all-inclusive holiday?

[ToffeePennie]

To ask you all what type of clothing and things you take on AI holidays?
Due to circumstances beyond our control, our usual summer holiday has been cancelled so now we are looking at an all inclusive to somewhere hot.
It’s been a while since I did Spain as a child and Im no longer a svelte 16 year old, doing karaoke and spending all day lounging by the pool, topping up my tan.
I know what I’m doing for DC, lots of swimming shorts and T-shirts, a couple of nice shirts and short sets for evening meals.
Im not very confident in my body and I prefer full swimsuits with shorts, rather than the tiny bikinis I would have had 20 years ago. I’m a lot fatter now and I know I don’t have the confidence to sit on a sun lounger in just a swimming costume, I will also do some beach trips and maybe a day with my family outside the resort.
Do I get cycling shorts? (Chub rub is real, but please don’t suggest snag - they actually drive me nuts) or proper denim shorts or linen ones??
I also don’t really know what to wear for evenings, are sarongs still a thing? Is it still ok to wear a kaftan and a floppy straw hat? Where do you buy these things now?

Help!

You might be better posting in style and beauty.

Pack the same as you would for any holiday really, swimwear, shorts, vest tops, light dresses or cover up for daytime, some dressier things for the evening, dresses or linen trousers and tops.

I'm not sure about sarongs or kaftans, how old are you? I would go for a light dress to throw over a swimsuit instead, but that might be personal preference.

I like the swim dresses - I find them perfect to wear by the pool. I also have a few costumes without straps so I can tan.

During the day to cover up I tend to use sarongs, loose cotton shorts, vest top with an open short sleeved shirt, cotton dresses - anything I can throw on to go for lunch, a little walk etc.

In the evening we tend to freshen up and wear nice outfits for dinner - I mainly wear dresses. I do tend to wear those short pants things under them to avoid chubby rub

Typically we go on a Butlins holiday. So it’s usually leggings, T-shirts and jumpers, maybe a dress but that’s about it. I never holiday anywhere hot at all.
im 37 if that’s any help?

Ok your similar age to me.

Stick to basics, a few pieces of swim wear, a few pairs or shorts, linen or denim, vest tops, a light dress. I find a white shirt is great to throw over swimsuit. Flip flops or crocs and big beach bag.

Evening some nice dresses, or linen wide leg trousers, little cross body bag, sandals.

Co-ord sets are quite easy too.

Look at Next 'the set' range as they're great for basics that are easy to mix and match.

I’m 44, size 16 and 5ft8 during the day I’m usually in a swimsuit that gives decent bum coverage and some kind of cover up. I prefer a loose oversized shirt style or a sheer pool dress kaftan thing to go to the bar, walk back to hotel room the only time I’m not covered is lying on the sunbed. Over the years though I’ve realised no one gives a toss what look like except me.
if I’m out during the day I wear either light weight denim shorts or light floaty cotton shorts and a vet top. I don’t love dresses but for night I usually take a couple of loose style midi dresses usually tea dress style or linen wide leg trousers and a vest top. I hate tight, clingy clothes especially in the sun. But I also hate oversized stuff as it makes me look bigger than I am.
I bloody love a straw hat and i actually suit them but i usually just take a cap style because they’re easier to pack.
for “chub rub” I really rate Asda liquid talc from the baby section or a stick deodorant over cycling shorts.

Similar to others. You don’t need much.

A couple of nice swimsuits with a cover up for pool or beach. Lightweight shorts and vest tops/tshirts for day time activities. Loose midi dresses for evenings.

Flip flops, sandals and trainers if you’ll be doing any walking or activities.

I have a straw hat I mostly wear in resort but take a cap as well. Nice beach bag for day and crossbody bag for evening.

Have a great holiday

Some lightweight shorts + shirt co- ord sets are handy as you can smarten them up with jewellery and sandals for the evening meal, then wear them over your cossie the following day.

I go to far and over pack 🤣

I prefer tankinis/swim dresses/swim shorts cos I feel more comfortable. I usually take maybe 7 for a 10 day holiday & end up rotating 🤣

shorts and vest tops/t shirts for during the day, usually a shirt a day and 4/5 pairs of shorts - I do tend to wear these though I could rotate!

I then take evening dresses - again usually around 7 & sticking to the theme end up wearing a rotation of 3

a lot of this is because I pick bright colours/things I wouldn’t usually wear & don’t always feel confident to pull it off or I find I really like the first few 🤣

I do only buy cheap & cheerful stuff no labels. My holiday clothes shopping is probably my guilty pleasure

Iv went back to bikinis! I'm not 16 anymore either, but a swimsuit is murder to take on and off, toilet etc. Proper supportive top, and full briefs, you can change easier under a sarong, put dry ones on to be comfortable after a swim. Linen full sleeve beach cover up, and light dresses for night, if it's really hot, no denim or man made materials

I love a tankini as same coverage as a swimsuit but easier for the toilet!! I take a couple and a couple of kaftan coverups. For day trips and evenings I usually have a selection of dresses that are loose and floaty. I think I took 4 last time.
For beach days tankini under floaty jersey shorts and either shirt or t shirt.
And a hat!

Wear whatever you like, you’ll never see those people again 😁

In my experience of holidays over the last couple of years, long beach coverups seem very in vogue. Accessorize do some lovely ones. Wear your swim wear and one of those to mill about during the day. And some floaty dresses in natural fabrics for meal times, and a couple of causal ones that are easy to take off and put on for beach trips. There’s usually a loose dress code for the restaurants but in reality unless you’re going somewhere amazingly swanky, no one really seems to care.

For a day out some cotton shorts and a vest top or t shirt is fine. Denim can feel horrible when it’s hot, and they’re never the most comfortable. Just in general wear whatever you’re comfortable in, and makes you feel good.

FWIW when I was on an AI holiday a couple of years ago there was a VERY curvy American woman strutting along the beach wearing a hot pink bikini and a long crocheted cover up, and she looked fabulous. She truly owned that beach 😂. It’s not your size, it’s your mindset that matters.

Check out the women’s swimwear at Decathlon. They have a lot of mix and match separates, and I like the women’s swim shorts.

This is great for chub rub - it's not an exaggeration when I say that it was life changing for me when I discovered it!

www.amazon.co.uk/Body-balm-42g-Irritation-Protection/dp/B0BS3S9PWW/ref=asc_df_B0BS3SVX2Z?mcid=cdb34e399edf3824a4d92a3466fde48a&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697261239304&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12450797598309225325&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045367&hvtargid=pla-2224014601844&psc=1&hvocijid=12450797598309225325-B0BS3SVX2Z-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1&th=1