What are your packing tips when on UK holiday - Share with Parkdean Resorts

[YanaMumsnet]

Packing days in advance or running on long to-do lists - we parents have our tricks to get everything we need when organising the family trip. From ensuring you pack waterproofs so you can get outside no matter the weather, to getting food and games to keep everyone happy and entertained throughout the journey, packing for a holiday in the UK could be an exhausting task.

That’s why Parkdean Resorts want to hear about your tips and tricks when packing for your family getaway in the UK.

Here’s what they have to say: “We are the UK’s largest Holiday Park operator with 67 locations in some of the most stunning coastal, countryside and lakeside locations, from the impressive Scottish Highlands to the sunny South Coast.

After over three months of lockdown, we are so excited to re-open our holiday parks this summer and show just how much the UK has to over for a family staycation, allowing you to enjoy these wide open spaces and time with your family.

Choose from a huge range of caravans and lodges, including extra wide accommodation, perfect for families and packed with everything for a stress-free holiday. Dog friendly options mean you can bring the whole family too! For a touch of adventure, you’ll find a variety of pitches whether you’re camping in a tent, or pitching up a touring caravan or motorhome.

For your peace of mind, we have made commitments to protecting our holidaymakers, people and local communities for a safe stay, whilst also introducing a booking guarantee, giving you the confidence to book a much deserved holiday.“

What are your family’s packing essentials and your must haves when travelling together in the UK? How do you keep your DC entertained while in the car on your journey? Are there any items you find you never or rarely use while away? What are your tips for ensuring you have everything you might need while travelling in the UK? Do you have a favourite time of the day to travel and get on with your journey, why is that?

Whatever the things that you pack when on family holiday in the UK, share on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
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We love the Parkdean sites. Whitley Bay is our favourite. We always bring bin bags as they have multiple uses! Dirty washing, towels and swimming stuff. Put down on the floor at the entrance to the caravan to stop mud trailing in. Ideal for putting muddy wellies in too, before chucking in the boot

I always make a list about a week before we go, and pack most things 2 or 3 days before leaving, with the final few things packed on the day of travel. If travelling by car we try to travel just after lunch, so the youngest DC will have a snooze and we can have some peace. We also take some old favourite story CDs and nursery rhymes etc to avoid the whingeing.

Write a list - Then add 2 days worth of "just Incases". Always better to be over prepared. Pack the essentials If self catering then do a click and collect at the nearest supermarket to your destination.

I'm a planner so make a list of things we need well in advance.
As well as clothes & toiletries we make sure we take things for 'just in case' moments like plasters & paracetamol.
We tend to travel early if we can to make sure we have some fun time when we arrive.
We always unpack first though!

Holdalls and even carriers fit better than cases for this
Agreed! For holidays by car, I prefer soft holdalls or even big blue Ikea bags to pack clothes and towels etc, especially if space is limited where you're staying. If you're in a caravan or chalet for the week, it's much easier to store or use a bag rather than a bulky case

I have a large bag that I call "the self catering bag" It has all the things that are necessary to us as a family that we won't find in our caravan.
Things like oven gloves, pizza trays, cleaning wipes, detergent, clothes pegs, tea towels etc etc, in fact anything that makes our lives easier when we are away.
The bag gets replenished when we get home ready to take next year.

We have to ensure we have snacks and magazines for the car journey otherwise its a painful experience. Having 3 kids mean we have limited space in the car so I tend to pack the bare minimal and last year I was concentrating so much on the kids I forgot to bring a jacket for myself.

I decide what clothes to take by creating outfits for each night i.e. matching top, skirt/trousers, bra & undies and shoes. Several extra daytime sets of shorts and tops with flip flops. Swimwear, toiletries, jewellery, handbag. All get rolled. One towel on bottom and one on top to cushion everything. If going to a villa/self catering I pack tea bags, ice cube bags and reusable bags for grocery shopping. Medicine and other ad hoc stuff go in last or in carry on. Don't usually forget anything as we've done it so many times. My parents went on their 1st cruise and my mum forgot ALL of her, newly purchased, dresses!!

Whilst I try and be organised it's also not worth worrying too much as you can generally always buy the stuff you forget - we've forgotten sun cream in the past. Travelling in the UK also means we take things like the scooters for the children as they pack down flat which they always enjoy

I have a list which I use and start to put a few things ready from about 6 weeks before we go. Such as buying an extra cleaning spray, rubber gloves etc if we are self-catering. I get a good book for me and the kids, a bag of some things to do in the car and a bit of a survival kit including change of clothes! I have a note book which I’m currently adding to as I think of things. Hi yes annoying having to go out and buy a pack of dishwasher tablets for example so I take enough of things like that. We have a bag of raincoats, waterproof trousers ready for the good English weather and a bag of swimsuits. I try to group things together so I have the least chance of forgetting something. Holidays are treats and so I bring along the travel miniatures of shampoo etc which I save throughout the year when we get them as free gifts.

Packing tips!
Take your own towels and pillows *makes a huge difference. Also pack loo paper. We usually call at the supermarket as we approach our destination so we have supplied of food. I make sure I pack lots of snacks, drinks, sandwiches in the cool box and a small medical box if needed and puzzles for the kids plastic bags incase they are travel sick and wipes - oh and polos!!! I cant forget the mints as I also get travel sick so they help me too. I so cannot wait to go for a holiday in the U.K again.

Packing cubes are great, cheap to buy and much easier to unpack, use a different colour for each family member.

Pack snacks & drinks for the journey, as motorway services are always busy & expensive.

Swimwear packed at the top of each case, so you can go swimming while you wait for your accommodation.

Always write a list, tick off as you go.

Pack a basic first aid kit & extra prescription meds incase of emergency.

Order click & collect or delivery to your accommodation.

Wash your clothes on site, a roll of black bin bags are handy, as a temporary laundry bin, and to keep your holiday home clean & rubbish free.

Make sure precious teddy & chargers are packed too.

If we are self-catering in the UK I have a list of all of the useful kitchen stuff that we might need.

There are lots of things that we often need that aren't always supplied or are expensive/a pain to buy when away. Things like a sharp knife, cling film, foil, washing up stuff, salt, pepper, brown sauce, bin bags, kitchen roll, antibacterial wipes, cooking oil, chilli sauce...

Write a list for each person and use packing cubes for each type of item for each person eg child's socks, my tops.

One first aid/meds bag.
Pack the weekend before going away and have cupboard shelf devoted to going away things, including hairdryer with continental plug. Electricity bar with continental plug, rather than adaptors. Mini fan and diffuser. Tube of laundry hand wash.

No in car entertainment other than audiobooks/music and map to see where we are going!

Make a list 2 weeks before packing, so all your essentials are in there - for me it's a first aid kit, nail clippers and underwear - the first three on the list. Make sure your suitcase is big enough and is not damaged from it's previous outing.

Always put in more towels than you think you'll need. You never have enough! Also pack a swimming bag and put it on top so you can go for a swim as soon as you've checked in - such a lovely thing to do after a long car journey.

And if your children are little pack a dress up costume for them as they might have a dress up night as part of the children's entertainment, especially at Halloween.

Pack something for dinner and breakfast the next day so you don't need to go shopping straight away and see if you can get a tesco/Asda delivery - order in advance and then no shopping on holiday.

I hang up a canvas clothes holder in my wardrobe at home ( you know the thing you can pack jumpers etc into that Velcro’s around the wardrobe pole) I then pack all holiday clothes into it - rolling up dresses etc. I then undo it from the pole and place into a suitcase as it is. When you get to the hotel take out from suitcase hang up on wardrobe pike and you’re unpacked in 2 mins. Try it it’s a lifesaver

fill shoes with socks and smalls, roll rather than fold - you'll fit more in - and it won't crease as bad.

I have a grab bag with all the essentials for the car - chargers, snacks, vomit box . We get a few audiobooks for the journey (less likely to make them travel sick than a film in the car..)

Then with 4 little ones I find kondo folding the only way to get everything in! I get the kids to choose a few toys each, for those classic British holiday rainy days.

Use a list of stuff, drawn from scouts/woodcraft style lists) and go through each person one at a time. Give everyone a bag, even small people, according to their strength. Leave room for devices for the inevitable crummy weather and having to huddle in hotel room/tent (with wifi around hopefully). Keep those in a bag carried by an adult. We have to take public transport and losing them would be a horror.

well obviously you take the kitchen sink ....I once packed so much all I had to wear for the plane to Spain was a thermal vest (true) ..... dont forget the kids fav sleep toys but make sure you have ordered another one just the same (to keep at home) - as they will be folded into the bedding to be shipped off to the laundry, never to be seen again (again true) - I remember with open mouthed wonder the woman who had TEsco deliver to Cornish Cottage next door to ours when I was struggling along the cobble streets with a million bags - so dont take much food in the UK - make sure you leave some room in your bag for local buys they are always on style (I am thinking about the kaftans of IBiza that I love) - cut off oldtrack suit bottoms for your kids - no one will care when they are trashed - a couple of nice outfits for night will do - they will find them scratchy and want the cut offs.....one thing we always take is a pad of postcards of plain watercolour paper - and a small metal tin of watercolour paints - I get my 10 year old twins to paint a picture of where we are and send them back to friends and family - its a real winner - happy holidays hey? bring em on!!!!

My best tip is to explain to your other half in a menacing fashion that if he changes your packing system to his packing system you won't be held responsible.

An example would be removing the spoons and bibs from the feeding section of the case and stuffing them into his own shoes in the interest of space saving. This means when you go to feed your child you tear the case apart, stress, replay the packing, kick yourself and wonder how you could have forgotten, improvise, struggle only to have them casually produced when putting on their good shoes on day five of a holiday. How I didn't swing for him.

Plan an online shop to arrive the evening you arrive. Saves space in the car and saves looking for a supermarket on the first day. Use the saved space for your own pillows

I keep a list that I dust down each year, and that my DDs (now teenagers) use to prompt them to remember what to pack.
I try very hard not to over-pack and bring versatile outfits that I can wear multiple times as I hate lugging large bags of stuff that doesn't get used.
Do pack small games, books, magazines - holidays are a lovely time to spend time together.
Do pack a first aid kit as, that way, you won't need it :)
Take magic towels instead of conventional ones - take up a fraction of the space, dry quickly and don't get sand stuck on them.
And mostly don't worry! Holidaying in the UK means you know you can always get anything that you might have forgotten but really want!

Definitely make a list of everything you need, and tick off as you've packed. Don't overpack, and for things like sun lotion and nappies, find out if you can buy them at your destination, they only fill up and weigh down, and from previous experience don't cost that much more at your destination - you are on holiday after all - it should not be massive haul to get there.