to think that actually, no "everyone" does NOT unpack on holiday!

[PyongyangKipperbang]

My sister and I have very different views on this!

She and I have gone away many times, always for a week.

She always spends a good hour or so unpacking, setting stuff out etc on arrival and then a couple of hours repacking before we leave. I just live out of my bag/case and dirty clothes folded into a plastic bag when I take them off to chuck back in the case at the end of the week. Repacking takes less than half an hour. The only item I unpack is my "going out" dress, of which I only take one.

She thinks I am abnormal as "everyone unpacks!" I think its probably more like a 50/50 split and when you only have a week, time is of the essence so I prefer to use the time to holiday (made up verb of the week) than fanny about putting my knickers and socks in a drawer!

YABU - I unpack!
YANBU - I live out of my case!

You’re me, your sister is my sister. It’s ok to be different

I unpack but it only takes 10 minutes.

DP and I go camping quite a lot, so living out of a bag has become a skill. However, when I go away with my sister, cottage holiday type, I love to unpack and feel at home. Also a capsule packer, so everything goes with everything.

Where do you all stay where there's enough storage to unpack all your clothes?? Another suitcase person here.

Depends on the amount of closet space, etc. I stayed somewhere last week and my room had a massive walk in wardrobe and I did unpack. Previously I’ve kept stuff in my suitcase if there’s not been a lot of closet space.

the holidays in my 20s were usually backpacking and staying a night or 2 and moving on. It wouldn’t have occurred to me to onpack and there was rarely anywhere to hang or put things!

when I first went on holiday with DH, well a weekend away, and he unpacked I watched like I was watching an anthropological film from the 70s about a strange tribe. As he unpacked for 2 nights away!

we. Have both mellowed a bit and he lives out of his suitcase a bit more and I at least hang up some clothes.

I unpack, and repack. But it sounds like your sister spends a lot longer than I would. It’s probably 10 mins max unpacking, I use packing cubes so each night used clothes go into a spare one. Packing to leave isn’t that much of a chore either.
I find living out of a case stressful because I could never find what I wanted.

It depends, if stuff needs hanging ill do that first, but for the rest i find it way easier to have jeans, t-shirts, daytime dresses, pants, face cloths ect, everything really in my suitcase, can just grab something clean easily lol. I find stuff easier that way than if I'd put it away into drawers or shelves. Shower stuff is mainly shared so gets left in the shower as soon as it's used.

I thought everyone unpacked other than my adult kids! I always like to unpack and see my clothes and have everything easily accessible than having to rummage in the suitcase.

Either way is fine I think as long as you keep the suitcase shut and tidy for the cleaning staff. My kids live out of the suitcase but there’s always stuff overflowing and strewn all over the place and I think it’s really unfair for the cleaners.

And I think you are exaggerating about how much time she takes to repack!

We’re with you op. Unpacking everything sounds a faff. Toilet bags in bathroom. Dresses & linen shirts on hangers. Shoes out on the floor, books & chargers by the bed rest in cubes in the bag. Dirty stuff in a bag in outer pocket of case. I also wash knickers and swim stuff in the shower in hot places and hang them to dry.

I'm more like you, OP.

Ive just come back from a month away. For a month I did try and unpack. But that just means I forget I have clothes in drawers.

This time I used soft packing cubes and that worked for me. Various outfits in a cube. Open a cube, outfit on then worn perhaps a second day before washing. All my clothes are in shades of blue so they all go together and it was pretty easy and organised. My mother (who I was staying with) just twitches at this and I had to keep locking my suitcase when i went out because otherwise she would come and 'help'.

DS1 has sensory issues around clothes and OCD (diagnosed) about hygiene. Other people can't touch his clothes at all. I told my mother that several times, but she still thought she was 'helping' by folding his clothes after they came out of the dryer. It got to the point I had to sneak into the laundry and ruffled them all up again to try and prevent a mega meltdown.

what happens if your knickers spill out the bag??)

Nothing?! I always unpack. But it really would not bother me if dirty knickers fell on some clean washing for a bit.

This. Why is it taking her so long to unpack and re-pack? It takes me about 10 minutes.

1 night I won’t, but for a week I have to unpack as I find rummaging through my bag for an item I know is there but has mysteriously slipped into an alternative universe the most stressful thing (a bit like trying to blind fit a plug into a socket behind a chest of drawers).
I also find it easier to pack at the end when everything is out than having to chuck it in the bed and start again. I do also love doing a wash, or several, whilst on holiday though. Nothing better than coming home with a suitcase of clean clothes that have dried instantly in the sun.

For a weeks stay i would always unpack. Living out of my suitcase feels very transient, and when on holiday i like to fool myself it will be forever (!) with as few reminders of the impending return to real life as possible. That said, it takes me 5-10 mins max, I dont fanny about for an hour unpacking!!

I unpack everything on day one, and then repack dirty clothes back in the suitcase as I go. That way, by the end, all I have to do is pack anything I've not worn and my toiletries.

I always plan to unpack but then never bother and end up living out the suitcase. And hate myself for it because it becomes a big messy pile by day 2. Then vow to unpack next time. And repeat.

Traumatized s the very least I would be in your shoes.

I am sorry you had to go through that. Were you in a big city?

I put everything in the bathroom until I do a room inspection/bed bug hunt. I also use Clorox wipes on the areas most missed by housekeeping. I am just a barrel of fun on vacation! 😩😳😇

I also think it depends what kind of holiday you're on. We do Wales every year and you could need short and t-shirt in the morning and jeans and a warm jumper 4 hours later. I find it really helpful to unpack so I can find everything. And less space for cases left out.

I also have a system where on family holidays our suitcase becomes the dirty laundry case and everyone chucks their clothes in it each day and DD's case has all clean clothes so it's easier to sort once back.

For a week I’d unpack, for a night or two I don’t bother.
Takes about 15 minutes during which time Dh will usually be having a shower to freshen up. He then unpacks while I have a shower and then we’re all fresh and ready to go out. I like having the empty case as then all the dirty clothes just go back in there.

I move my cubes to wardrobes or drawers, and hang up the next day 's clothes.

I’m with you Op.

My DH often hangs things in cupboards and wardrobes . Guess which one of us forgets and leaves stuff behind?

I never unpack I take clothes out of my suitcase as needed and have a bag for undies and anything else I won't wear again. At the end of the trip I just squish everything in the case because I know I'll wash everything regardless of whether I've worn it.
DH unpacks everything and likes to put it in drawers and hung in wardrobe. We are very different and thankfully it's worked for over three decades.

Me too, it's a very quick job packing and unpacking.