Things to remember fur next years holiday..,

[WipsGlitter]

Just like the post Christmas ones this is things I need to remember before booking / going on next years holiday...

Yes, you do need to bring a big beach bag. It will come in handy for carrying crap from villa to pool. The one you looked at and then rejected 10 minutes before leaving would have been perfect!

Being a plastic cup for DS2 - if I have to listen to him clatter a glass onto a glass table top one more time. My nerves are in shreds.

Two weeks is too long in one place.

You will not use the uno cards.

You, as an adult, will not suddenly start pissing yourself halfway through the day. You do not need to take 3 pairs of pants per day!

You will not need 5 different 'dressy' outfits. Every holiday you end up sitting by the pool and don't go anywhere!

Buy full face snorkel masks from Amazon before the hol, much cheaper.

Use insulated travel mugs for keeping beer cold.

Wear newly purchased swimwear at home for a day beforehand (and swim in it). Then you'll know how bloody uncomfortable it is to sit in, and how badly it stretches when wet.

Book a holiday cottage for 6 in the school holidays well before Easter. Then you won't end up going to the only suitable and affordable place in the last week of August and returning the day before term starts.

Interesting @exLtEveDallas I've two new swimsuits from Boden with me and they are a nightmare to get on and off because they're made of such thick material!

Take pool inflatables with you as they cost about £50 each in the hotel shop in Mexico!

Bring a bikini with non padded top, so it dries quickly

Bring at least 3 bikinis

Don't take all the loyalty/membership cards etc that you only use in the UK out of your purse to make it lighter and leave them in a safe place at home, no matter where you put them it will take you a fortnight to find them when you get back.

When you decant shampoo/suncream/moisteriser etc into 100ml plastic bottles, label the bottles. Saves much sniffing and swearing.

Do NOT be persuaded to go to Spain in the summer. You know it is too hot for everyone. Bite the bullet and fork out for October half term fares.

Don't pack so many shoes.

Write or amend a packing list for next time whilst everything is fresh in your mind, ditch the things you didn't use and add on anything that you ended up needing or buying whilst away, also handy for knowing what to buy in the sales for next time!

Don't assume that 6yo and 7yo will not piss themselves on the first night of camping because they haven't done so in months. next time bring them extra pairs of dry pants!

Don't assume the Dutch campsite will provide loo roll, or free showers..... bring enough change for the latter.

Don’t fool yourself that Avon ‘skin so soft’ will dissuade foreign mosquitoes from biting you, as recommended by mumsnet!!!

Everyone uses Uno , Princess Uno for us, and Dobble! Bring bikini as lovely hold it all in swimming costume was too hot!

Only pack one washing basket load for each person. You never wear it all anyway, and mainly wear bikinis every day and when you get home you do not have more than one washing load per person.

Meesh- I wore 70%deet and slept next to room buddy wearing skinso soft, she got bitten and I didn’t

Doesn’t surprise me. We have been eaten alive!!!

Meetontheledge

I have a going away purse, leave the euros in for the next holiday and keep my e111 card in ( though that’s not much good soon)

Take over the counter remedies like Imodium and cystitis treatments.

Get a tent that doesn't leak. And. Blow up bed that doesn't leak. And waterproofs.
And mosquito spray.

Or book camping trip for the nice part of summer and not the 24hrs it pisses down

Best tip is have a currency purse and put that away with the passports etc you wont carry all your uk stuff with you and you wont loose the euro scrapnels which do actually add up!!

Ivy - knowing me I'd forget my bank cards if I did that, and probably come home and be unable to find my home purse!

You don’t need all the clothes you packed or 3 huge sun hats. You only needed one.

Boys only needed 3 pairs shorts each.....not 8. 🙄🙄

Well done for only taking 2 pairs shoes.

Take photos on your phone of addresses for postcards - so much easier than faffing with a little address book.

Don't even think of buying those postcards abroad unless the vendor will sell you stamps too.

Don't keep saying 'I'll do postcards later today' and not do them. Write and send the damn postcards on day 2.

Large writing and a big smiley face fills afore mentioned postcards quite well.

Don't take a 4 hour flight with an almost two year old, who doesn't get his own seat but is bigger than most 3 year olds 😬

Remember that your children will whinge and complain every time you suggest doing something god the day (except Disney) so take enough stuff to keep everyone entertained at a French campsite with direct sea access (or go to Disney!)

I.e take the canoes, and a dinghy, and the snorkel masks and more than one board game and a whole series of books.

Don't take as many clothes. There won't be room for them anyway with that lot!