Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

When/how do you pack?

35 replies

WeeClype · 05/06/2014 11:12

How far in advance do you pack? .....I'm away next Friday so trying to hold off until Wednesday but I'm soo excited. I keep writing to do lists instead.

Do you give everyone they're own suitcase or mix and match? I have 2 adults/4 DC's to pack for so undecided what's best.

OP posts:
SooticaTheWitchesCat · 05/06/2014 11:35

I sort everything out from about a week before and then pack the day before we go. I mix things into each suitcase in case one was to go missing.

OnGoldenPond · 06/06/2014 23:19

At midnight just before a 9am flight usually.

I am hopelessly disorganised and always mean to get sorted earlier but somehow never get round to it .

I don't recommend it, very stressful. Hmm

Tinkerball · 07/06/2014 08:45

Last minute normally and then get surprised why I'm so stressed! Saying that last year our flight was 9 am to California, normally we drive to France and have a washing machine so America was more of a chore, deciding for me and our 2 boys, DH did his own. I did it the evening before we went in the end!

yummymumtobe · 07/06/2014 09:08

I start thinking about a week ahead and make sure all our washing is done and we don't wear anything we might want to pack. Then packing is quite quick as everything is to hand and clean. I never pack for DH but make sure anything he might want to take is clean. DH is the only one who packs the right amount of stuff and isn't sitting on his case to close it so perhaps he should pack for all of us, thinking about it!

skinmysunshine · 07/06/2014 09:15

I'm also a list person and have a holiday spreadsheet that I revise for each trip. I tend to pack the afternoon of the day before as we normally leave early am.

violetbunny · 07/06/2014 09:17

I make sure I'm up to date on laundry and pack the day before. I have a packing list which makes things a lot easier. I find it easier to pack my own suitcase otherwise I end up rummaging around looking for things at the other end.

JaneParker · 07/06/2014 12:01

Try to think about what we might need to buy new in advance. Then I tend to give each child (teenagers) their empty case into their room about 3 days before so they can start to think about what they want to take and sort out my holiday books. Then tend to do my packing 2 days before so if we are missing anything we have a day in hand to buy it. Also help the 3 youngest children 1 - 2 days before with reminding them about what they might need. We don't take much and usually the cases are well under the weight limit as no one is bothered about clothes or how we look.

AgentProvocateur · 07/06/2014 12:05

Frantically, the night before. Then I always end up at the shops on day 1 of my holiday buying things I've forgotten. I can't tell you how many foreign hairbrushes I've got!

Original poster
WeeClype · 07/06/2014 12:15

Oh that's a good idea about the empty suitcases, I'm going to give them the 2 older DC's theirs just now and they can fill it as they please.

I did pack for the 2 young DC's yesterday so they are all sorted Smile

Only 5 sleeps now until we are away Smile

OP posts:
Tinkerball · 07/06/2014 13:12

And make sure there are no liquids in your hand luggage...I thought I had, until DH put a toilet bag in at the last minute containing all our sun cream, which needless to say got confiscated at the airport, and we had to buy it all again in Boots after security!

ChickenFajitasAndNachos · 07/06/2014 19:39

I usually pack DC's cases first about 2 to 3 days before we go. For me I have a look through my clothes about 3 weeks before departure date and see if I need anything new. I then plan outfits a week before, do any sewing, washing that is needed and hamming holiday clothes together in my wardrobe and then oak the day before I go.

Artandco · 07/06/2014 20:00

Just Day before x2 adults and x2 children. Depending on location we usually take 1-2 cases between us all. Usually 1 case in hot country, 2 if skiing.

We travel every month though so I don't want to spend the whole of each month thinking about packing.

We have just returned from 6 weeks in Oman with x2 toddlers with work. Only took x2 cases and x2 hand luggage to last the 6 weeks. Had plenty and that covered work wear, and leisure

JaneParker · 08/06/2014 07:41

Glad the empty case idea might work for others. A good few of my older children as teenagers over the years have liked stupid ideas like packing seconds before we leave or staying up all night the night before (more fool them) so at least putting an empty case in their rooms might make them think of things a bit in advance and it's exciting. We are mostly pretty good but one year my older son forgot his ski trousers and we had to buy a new pair (very expensive) in the ski resort. That is probably the worst forgetting./

Someone above suggested spreading clothes out in case a case is lost. That might be a good idea but I suspect we could not be bothered at the other end to sort it all out. Sometimes when I've had lots of family things in my case I spread them out eg foreign electric converters and sometimes my books or tins of tuna fish if I think food might be awful where we're going.

It is worth packing at least a day ahead so you hvae time to weigh suitcases . Also we have always both worked full time so given your last day at work is usually frantic and you get back very late if you know the packing has already been finished at least the night before it is not such a panic.

OwlCapone · 08/06/2014 07:45

I pack the day before we go alright I will have been gathering stuff that only gets used for holidays before then - we don't seem to have engh clothes to pack them earlier.

I mix everyone's stuff between cases in case one goes missing. Each case contains a selection of the clothes we'll need so it wouldn't be a disaster.

I make the older two get together the clothes they want to take but I do the actual packing so I can ensure it's evenly spread between cases.

OwlCapone · 08/06/2014 07:45

Although. Not alright

I've been having major autocorrect issues recently!

beatingwings · 08/06/2014 07:49

I found ideas here really helpful:

silver-fish.hubpages.com/hub/what-to-pack-for-a-family-beach-holiday

OwlCapone · 08/06/2014 07:49

Someone above suggested spreading clothes out in case a case is lost. That might be a good idea but I suspect we could not be bothered at the other end to sort it all out.

It's easy - I unpack everything onto the bed in my room and the children come and fetch their clothes and dump them all in one drawer sort them neatly into their own room's storage facilities.

My parents had a case stolen once which is why I do this. For me, any inconvenience is outweighed by knowing we could survive without a missing case.

beatingwings · 08/06/2014 07:59

owl- we do the same.

Unpacking and settling into a new place on holiday is something that I enjoy, as does DD. We firstly put on some "unpacking music" and have fun finding places for stuff. DD usually claims the best storage area- she likes arranging her shampoo and hair things around.

The boys OH and DS usually take that time to check out the layout of the hotel, find out where and when meals are served, get maps and brochures from reception etc.
All part of the fun.

JaneParker · 08/06/2014 08:02

Our lot would rather tolerate the loss of a case (teenagers). They would say I packed hardly anything - my case is light I will not allow others' things in it or I don't want XYZ's smelly stuff near my things or what I pack is a private thing and no one is goign to look in my case. All perfectly good ideas. We did once lose two cases on arrival at Panama. Thankfully it was not the one daughter's who would have been very very upset by it and likes her things to be just so - just the youngest two boys' cases. We had to buy a cheap pair of trunks for them each and the luggage arrived 3 days later.

I certainly think the spreading things between cases idea is very good, though. I just have nascent lawyers as children who talk about their human rights, privacy rights, fairness etc. Lots of banter... At least they are not boring children.

beatingwings · 08/06/2014 08:04

Really Jane? My teenage children (16 and14) completely understand the practicalities of spreading the items.

JaneParker · 08/06/2014 08:08

You have much easier children than I do I suspect... .laughing as I type. My daughter's case would be full to bursting and she would often try to negotiate items into her 3 brothers' almost empty cases. Mine would usually be the biggest with a load of family stuff in there plus (to be fair) my books. My sons would take what I asked if I pressed it. I certainly thing spreading around in case of suitcase loss sounds like a very good idea.

beatingwings · 08/06/2014 08:13

Makes me wish I was going on holiday this summer. I can't though as selling and buying a new home.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 08/06/2014 08:27

I'm a list person too. Most of our holidays are UK based and camping or self catering so there's far more to think about than for a holiday abroad, the lists make a huge difference to how easy it is. We don't have the potential list cases situation though. I detest packing, it is by far the worst thing about holidays. I usually start making sure we've got everything we need a week or so ahead then pack the day before - we pile all the bags and boxes into the dining room and DH packs the car in the morning. If camping the roof box goes on the night before and car checked over for petrol, wiper fluid, tyres etc.

Artandco · 08/06/2014 08:51

If we take two cases I tend to just put all kids in one, dh and mine in the other. We don't mix. However we all have a change of clothes and swim suit in handluggage. So can wash clothes wearing and wear spare if lost luggage a day or two

OwlCapone · 08/06/2014 09:15

At least they are not boring children.

You have much easier children than I do I suspect

Hmm