Are you an over packer or an under packer?

[1415isgreat]

Hello Travel Enthusiasts!
I have a question on your packing habits and would love to know, if you have a child too, how you manage your packing.

I am flying long haul and have allowance for me, myself and DS. I want to use all 3 allowances in case we shop a lot whilst out there, whilst DH wants to stick to as least as possible. So I am wondering, what is the norm for the rest of you? Would you all 3 suitcases just for the sake of having the allowance? Or cap it at 1 or 2 and travel a bit light?

Looking forward to reading responses!

would you use*

One suitcase inside another on the way out. Or buy another case out there.

I would keep it as easy as possible with as few bags as possible! If you need to surely you can buy another bag out there is your doing that much shopping?

I agree. We did this on a recent trip to Japan and certainly had a haul to bring back

I pack fairly carefully so rarely over or under pack.

In your scenario of shopping at your destination I pack an extra soft bag. Takes minimal room and gives flexibility for the return.

Travel as light as possible when flying. Not
interested in shopping really or I’ve never flown anywhere where I’ve wished I could have brought loads of stuff back with me!

I’m a total over packer and pack far too much, this year I have vowed to pack lighter however I would still take a suitcase for each person in case we buy things while away, meaning we have space to bring them back.

im a reformed overpacked, but if travelling long haul then i would make sure i had enough space if shopping was on the cards

If you're planning on buying stuff then you may as well use all luggage allowances. The main benefit of travelling light would be to only take hand luggage, but if you have to wait for 1 checked bag you may as well wait for 3? Or as others have suggested put one inside another if you've got one that will fit.

I take the bare minimum. With a toddler we look for a place with a washing machine so take few clothes. We buy all toiletries out there if going for a week or longer (apart from make up, toothbrush and paste as I’m fussy with paste). Hate having lots of bags, especially when chasing a 2yr old! Buy a cheap bag or bring a lightweight soft bag if you want to bring back things.

If going for more than a few days we usually max out the baggage allowance on short/mid haul but don’t take any more when flying long haul where allowance is usually more generous.

We never really shop while we’re on holiday so I would not consider taking an extra bag. We travel light, generally we take a cabin sized roller case each for up to a week and a slightly bigger one for longer stays. The only time we have ever taken our full long haul baggage allowance was when we camped in the US and had a tent, sleeping bags etc.
I always find it hard to imagine what people have in the huge suitcases I see.

even for short haul holidays i overpack 😂 2 big suit cases and a 10kg plus a pull along for DS and he's 4 so not like we need nappies/formula or anything now. I like to have options. Always better to have too much than too little. I am very organised tho, packing things into seperate little bags etc but just like to take a lot I suppose 🙈

I always overpack, but I won’t do big shopping, i take everything with me. I usually have a lot of non clothes stuff : skin care, make up straightener, tea bags, phones, kindle, medicines, spare glasses etc etc
Light travel for me means only with hand luggage, I agree with @RandomUsernameHere if you are waiting for one bag. you can happily wait for 2.

I've changed over the years. For a long time I refused to have hold luggage and if it didn't fit in carry on it wasn't coming. Then I discovered the joy of airports with only a handbag and had a small hold bag. Then for my holiday over christmas my suitcase weighed 21.9KG, I've sworn next time I fly it will be a bit more minamilst.

I'm a chronic overpacker, but I'm trying to reform! I remember reading once that you should get everything out that you want to take and then divide it in halves and put half back in your drawers. That's probably about right tbh.

We've never put one suitcase inside another, but we have bought an extra bag when we were away for all the stuff we'd bought while we were away. Our kids used to have one bag between them, so we were able to fly out with three bags and back with four.

Underpack
Take only what in need and no more

Overpack and always say I won't next time. But I put stuff in 'just incase'. Annoyingly I always fail to bring something I actually need.

I always use bang on my suitcase allowance but I am a super under packer for the actual flight. Just a small handbag with phone, passport, allowed plastic bag with a few toiletries, a magazine and water.

I under pack and don't use all my allowance going out but take an extra squishy/ foldable case within a case for the return journey. I'm also a massive fan of packing cubes as these help keeps things orderly and together.

I'm a light packer but then I don't buy things I'd have to carry either. My motto is Katherine Whitehorn's old column - take half the clothes, twice the money. I think minimising the allowance use and packing an extra soft bag in case you do shop is the best idea.

I have been trying for > 15 yrs to never buy stuff so why would i plan to buy stuff on holiday. And I still have too much stuff.

Lugging stuff is a total pain. Storing it, sorting it, dusting it... a total pain.

I do a lot on holiday, like several types of activity, that requires special equipment. So I end up packing a load but most of it gets used.

My idiot dp decreed that we didn’t need to take three suitcases on our long haul trip - he ended up having to buy another case when we were out there!

DH is a nightmare for overpacking. He will get the maximum luggage allowance and pack everything he can, every time. Even for a night at my parents' house (so no need to bring towels or anything) he'll fill a medium-sized suitcase.

He'd say I'm an under-packer, but I disagree!

I only travel with hand luggage - 1 for me and 1 for my child.

Cba with checking in a bag and lugging stuff everywhere. Much less stressful to take a small amount of items. Makes public transport much more accessible too.

We spent a month in Mexico last year with just hand luggage. It was fine!