Chronic overpacked. Help!!!

[StereotypicalBarbie]

We’re off on a 7 night all inclusive break this week to Spain: me, DH, 2 DCs.

My whole life I’ve been an overpacker. I can remember going on first holiday alone as a teen and dragging case which I couldn’t lift as so heavy.

We’re never over weight with cases, in fact, we’re usually using about half luggage allowance but it’s the fact that lots of clothes don’t get worn and we normally bring back a “clean clothes” case.

We went on a city break at Easter and same thing.

DH and DC1 are better than me, but DC2 is similar and wants to take loads (she
loves fashion and has a lot of clothes).

And toiletries…. Don’t get me started!

Any advice, it actually stresses me out and then my DH is stressed seeing me stressed and then the recriminations at the end of the holiday when we’re packing to come home and putting all these clean clothes away. Recriminations is a bit strong but hopefully you know what I mean.

Thank you. I’m going to start getting stuff together. I’ll report back later.

I’m currently on holiday in Italy. I brought seven pairs of shoes and have worn just three including sliders for the pool. I had forgotten that your feet can swell in the heat and can’t wear the majority of shoes I’ve brought because of this, so as another poster has already said, reduce shoes by half. I’ve also brought too many dresses and can’t wear half of these because I’d forgotten how hot and humid it gets in the evening; therefore ultra lightweight, strappy items are the only ones suitable. I am guilty of ridiculous overpacking, but am making notes so that I’m better prepared next time. What I forgot to pack; mosquito spray, detergent to rinse a few small things through and dental floss.

I'd get a smaller suitcase. Big enough for a week away but not big enough to be massively overpacked.

I usually share a suitcase with dd. So my half is:
Day:
3 x bikini
2x cover up.
2 x shorts
2 x vest
1 x day dress
Flip flop/ sandals
Hat

Night
4 dresses (2 can double up as day dress after being worn). Aim to wear 2 dresses twice, as they're only on for a couple of hours.
1 x nice shorts
1x vest
Wedges
Nice flat sandals
Basic makeup
Few bits of bling

2 books in case kindle dues
4 way plug!

As a list maker I've got a notebook going back to 2002😳 . The one before that was from 1978.
It gives details of holiday cost, spending, weather and what we wore.
It was useful when DC were little to know what they wore but, unless you go to the same place at the same time, all holidays are different.
I notice that in June 2002 when DC were 4 and 6 we had two weeks in an apartment in Zakynthos which cost £2300 including spending. It seems holidays are relatively cheaper now believe it or not.

I went round the world in my 20s for a year with 4 tshirts, 1 jumper fleece, 1 zip fleece jacket, 1 kagool, 2 pairs shorts, 1 pair walking trousers, 3 prs socks, 3 bras, 7 knickers, a swimming costume, a towel, Teva sandals and a pair of trainers. New Zealand confiscated the trainers (seeds in the bottom). Took a tent, used it once then dumped. Picked up a silky looking sarong in Fiji which was used as a sheet, skirt or dress.

Like a pp said: putting clothes in a backpack to carry streamlines your thinking!

I always pack more than I need. As long as it fits in your case why worry?

@RosemaryDill that is really impressive. Current idea, I’ll take a photo each morning and evening of what I’m wearing. Rosemary, are you a very organised person in the rest of your life? I’m really disorganised but struggling to be more organised. I spend hours watching YouTube videos on home organising and minimalism.

When we got back from our city break,
I spent quite a lot of time watching how to streamline your packing for holiday videos!

I've also recently learned the hard way that the less stuff you take the less £ you potentially are out of pocket by should one or more of your cases get lost en route on your way home. We're waiting to find out how much the airline will pay up if our case is deemed lost and even after you factor in it insurers considering any shortfall there is no way we will not be our of pocket.

At least this year compare to previous there was less stuff to be lost

@Tinysoxx bet your trip was amazing.

We saw lots of people checking in with rucksacks that they didn’t check in when we were last away. Obviously much more seasoned travellers. Maybe that’s the way forward.

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz oh sorry to hear that, sound like a PITA.
I wouldn’t have a clue what was in any particular case if I had to do what you’re doing with your insurance.

Stereo insurers don't want to know until we've exhausted going via TUI first so we've about a month to wait on that. Thankfully I never delete online shopping receipts so will be able to provide many of those.

Our flight home was delayed then cancelled literally hours before take off and I did manage to claim £350 compensation for that for the three of is (this was almost a spookily easy process) so at least that's made made the loss on case contents a bit easier to swallow.

Thankfully every man and his dog are falling over themselves to smugly inform me "that's why we AirTag our luggage" so that's always helpful to know

Ahh. I've been flying since I was 5 years old and this a a first and hopefully the last time

It’s also about the faff of washing more than needed on return, having heavier luggage to lug at airport ( I often take escalator instead of lift as quicker), and fitting lots of luggage into hire cars that are often smaller than own car. Plus there’s never much space to unpack in hotel rooms so it’s just a mess or living out of suitcase if too much.

We are travelling soon. Go car so could pack loads of clothing, but I think it’s better to pack less so we can fit Ds little
bike and beach stuff in, and not feel like donkeys loading and unloading.

I usually pack one hand luggage and one checked in case for use three. In handluggage pack basics of a change each and swim clothes incase main case gets lost. Also we often stay a night before and after main holiday on route back if long journey so can just pack hand luggage case with 24 hrs worth and leave other case in car or unpacked in hotel room

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz I hope you get it resolved soon. Sounds like a headache! And the air tag comments!! Annoying.

@Caspianberg thank you, you’ve articulated my thoughts much better than I have. It’s the unnecessary washing, lugging around, finding space in a hotel room (never enough hangers).

We also travel in UK a lot and end up with loads of stuff but we also have a dog so have to make sure she has room. But it’s so easy when travelling by car to throw stuff in. We stayed in a place last year (self catering). Very new and clean,
but no coat hooks in hallway! How difficult is it to put some hooks on the wall. We had to use the dining chairs to drape our coats over. And I imagine all year round people are taking coats/jackets for a UK holiday.

So, I’ve made a bit of progress.

I’ve gone through toiletries with my girls what we allneed. We going to share deodorant,perfume, moisturiser etc. Thats packed into two pouches, one of which double up as by the pool bag for phones, ear phones, room key. And they aren’t straining at the zip as usual.

@Octomingo thank you for your list

We just had a three week tour of England and France. We each took one pair of sandals and one pair of trainers. (And my slippers 😀)

Plan a capsule wardrobe and stick to it. We did have access to a washing machine which made it easier, and we came home with no laundry to do, which was bliss. Who cares if you wear the same outfit twice anyway?

Agree that a lack of stuff generally is helpful when your quite likely sharing much less living space and have less storage space too. I hate that cluttered feel your hotel room can get.

Thanks OP

You asked if I was very organised. Yes, very.
I wouldn’t have a clue what was in any particular case if I had to do what you’re doing with your insurance.
Don't you have packing list?* *As well as ticking everything off the list as I pack, I also note where it's packed (green case, blue case, hand luggage)
I cross pack so if a case goes missing it's not all one person's stuff. Plus there are basics in the hand luggage- spare pants, rolled up dress and a bikini.

@RosemaryDill a packing list!! No honestly I’m so far away from that. I would love to be like that. Give me some tips please!
Lockdowns gave me a lot of time to reflect and I came to the conclusion that I am a terrible procrastinator and incredibly disorganised. I really wish I wasn’t.

I’m slightly better since having DC and I’m pretty good at knowing where other peoples stuff is. But the amount of time I spend looking for bank cards, letters I need to deal with. This weekend I’ve mislaid something pretty important and have already spent a chunk of time opening cupboards, looking under beds.

So, whilst on the face of it, I’ve started a thread asking for packing advice but
actually it more than that.

Pre kids I was constantly buying stuff I didn’t need, beautiful boots and shoes that were uncomfortable, clothes I didn’t wear. I’m better now and I realise stuff doesn’t actually make you happy. I really want to live with less ‘stuff’ and go on holiday with less ‘stuff’. Does that make sense? Thank you for the comments,
they are all really helpful.

I’ve just been to Florida for 10 nights. Travelled in linen trousers, trainers, T-shirt and fleece. Took 5 little summer dresses, 2 pairs of sandals, 1 swimsuit and underwear, that was it for clothes.

I'm just about to go backpacking with three outfits, 2 pairs of trainers, a long-sleeved top, a packamac and a cardigan for three weeks. I realise that's probably a bit more minimalist than you were looking for though OP!

I'm disabled so every little bit of weight counts when I have to carry things around. It makes me much more choosy with my packing list than I would be otherwise!

I find making a list really helpful and then being really critical about anything on the list and cutting down the number of items

But if you aren't disabled and making stupid decisions to carry your luggage around multiple countries then why give a stuff! If your luggage isn't over weight and you are happy why worry?

And if you are bothered maybe try taking 1 outfit off each holiday until you feel you have reached the right number

@StereotypicalBarbie - you need packing cubes. It’s like a travel step up in organisation. Either cubes each per person , or different sized smaller cubes per items or underwear in one, T-shirts other. Buy colour coded per person. So you can arrive in hotel, and from shared suitcase know all child 1 is red cubes, child b Green, yours black etc. just open cube and into drawer or on shelf

I have a folder on computer called packing lists. You only have to do it from scratch once. Then for every subsequent holiday you copy and paste and use as a template just adjust for the time of year, destination, etc.

So my packing lists are like
1 week UK touring hotels.
3 days self catering UK October
7 days hotel Greece June
7 days Lanzarote January

Some things will be on every one, such as toiletries, toothbrushes etc. Others will be specific to holiday. I take food on a UK self catering break so the basic list of food is consistant. Adult DC sometimes come with us on UK breaks so they will bring certain things (mainly booze).

Actually it's never the clothes that fill the cases for me. Thank goodness for kindles so now I don't have to take 7 paperbacks😳