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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I'm a list maker. I make a list weeks ahead of time so I can keep adding so I don't end up missing anything.

I always pack DS's favourite snacks in case we can't get something he likes. Other than that, I try to buy a small selection of toys which I can rotate every 20-30 mins to keep him occupied.

Roll clothes, have plenty of vests/short sleeve t shirts, and a cotton over shirt for layering in the evening. Skirts, shorts, extra undies and a couple of sets of swimmies and you're all set.
Bring USB charging cables for gadgets, most hotels have a USB slot on the TV so you can charge up without a bulky travel plug.
I've been away for a week at a time with no more than a small backpack as luggage.
Wear leggings, harem pants or plain PJ bottoms with a loose long-sleeved top on the plane, and pack an airport bag (I use a denim pouch just big enough for my phone, passport, watch and boarding cards). Having documents ready means I can move quickly and efficiently through airport security.

Check to see if a hairdryer is provided so you don't need to pack one and use more space in your case

Have a list saved to cover what we need for most holidays and add to it if needed.

I'm guilty of overpacking, so I try to remember that we don't all need double (or even triple) the pants to nights we're away

iPad is good for DC in the car, loaded up with stories, songs and educational games.
We try to take as little as possible when packing and buy stuff if needed.
Essentials are, calpol, anthisan and plasters.

What are your family’s packing essentials and your must haves when travelling together in the UK?

Calpol, tablet and charger, and top trumps

How do you keep your DC entertained while in the car on your journey?

Eye spy, watching videos on tablets, and top trumps

Are there any items you find you never or rarely use while away?

I always overpack clothes (the just in case ones) so that would be it.

What are your tips for ensuring you have everything you might need while travelling in the UK?

Make a list (keep it in a handy place) and add the item when you thing of an essential.

Do you have a favourite time of the day to travel and get on with your journey, why is that?

Early morning, as the traffic is quiet, the children will fall asleep in the car, and we have time to settle in at our destination.

I am terrible at organisation so force myself to write a list and tick each item off as I pack it. Rolling clothes saves space, I find. And I always pack a spare change of clothes for everyone in a separate bag that stays in the front of the car with me in case of any food/vomit/getting soaked disasters - it means that I don’t have to dig through the suitcase for spare clothes.

I make sure I pack a few small games like a pack of cards, yahtzee and we've got travel cluedo. Then if we have bad weather there's a few activities we can do whilst inside. Also beach tents are great not only for shelter from the sun but also for those random British downpours and for quick clothing changes!

Since I have to look out everyones clothes each day and that includes swimwear, changes of clothes, shoes etc I now use sandwich bags to pack up outfits together for each kiddo for day and night and write on them "kiddos name swimming day" or "boys name, evening outfit" that way ita just a case of picking out the bags for each child and I know we have everything going they need for wearing meaning no need to be up before everyone to do the outfit layouts as all are done at home beforehand, also always take the basic first aid kit with calpol added and suncream etc x

Packing cubes!

I use the large Ikea plastic bags and a sharpie to write initials of each child on. I bag up a full outfit for each child. So 6 bags = 6 days. They’re all under 6 so a set fits nicely into these bags.
I can chuck the bag at child or husband and it saves so much time.

Remember that wherever you go on holiday, you can buy spares if desperate, but do make a list, and remember you don't need five million jumpers and fifty pairs of jeans!

We happily go to Parkdeans Vauxhall Holiday park every single, year, have done since I was 6 but now I'm the one trying to remember to pack everything for 6 people (which is one of my favourite parts of going on holiday tbh!!)
But then I panic when we leave that I have forgotten something, so these days, I ask the kids to make a list with me and we all go through it together!!
I'm getting forgetful in me old age! :-)

When going to a caravan at grannies heilan hame we always use a big plastic storage tub as one of our cases, filled usually with kids toys, feeding bits etc. This then becomes a bath for the kids when we are there as they're too young to shower

I always pack large bags for life. When the kids get off the beach covered in sea water, sand and icecream, you can stand them in the bag and change them and don't have to worry about getting the car or the caravan filthy when you get home!

It's Britain so you need to be prepared for a lot of weather.

Layers are your friend and you need something waterproof.
If you've got the right clothes you can still have fun.

Soft bags are better than suitcases, you can stack them in the car and they won't take up any space in the caravan. The large Supermarket long life bags are great.

For each person, put underwear and swimwear in the bottom followed by nightwear. Then add clothes in layers; for a week I would pack 3-4 bottoms per person a top for every day and at least 2 hoodies / warm layers. I second the poster upthread who recommended Turkish towels; if it does rain they will at least dry indoors.

I used to have a one bag of toys per child rule, and would pack a new comic or activity each to do in the car and a family game to play in the evenings.

A bike rack for your car will save a fortune in bike hire and other activities and mean your children will happily go off and make friends.

My final tip is never forget decent Tea bags and wine!

Write your packing list. Focus on the things that would really be tough to go without/replace (like medication, prescription glasses, the favourite cuddly toy...). Check things in, check things out. Get small kids to check under beds to make sure everything packed makes it back again...

I keep my packing list on Google Keep, I have a standard one I make a copy of for each holiday then it lets you tick things off as you go and they get crossed through and drop down.

The main joy of Keep is that it is on the Cloud so I can add to it as things occur to me even if I am at work or in bed. If get to the holiday and I have forgotten something I can add it to the list for the next break straight away while I remember.

Pack a few spare bags for the journey home - nobody is as organised on the way back, and you might have bought new things.

Don't take carton drinks in the car for children - they could be wasted and the straws end up everywhere. Take water bottles instead. Or take a small frozen milk bottle - keeps your packed lunch cool and (depending on the journey) means your milk is ready when you get there.

I'm normal times, research service stations first. Some are good, have soft play/parks/beautiful scenery and it can really help to break up the journey. Plus you can then avoid the calls for the golden arches/whatever as you pull up!

Pack home pillows if you've got room in the car - snuggly on the drive for children and an extra home comfort at bed time for a quick bedtime routine away from home.

Give children pics of the venue to look at on the way there (good for reducing any anxieties) and then later on use them for a scrap book/write silly reviews with the children.

If you're a bit old-fashioned like me, pack stamps to send grandparents a postcard

Spreadsheets for everything.

Lists of what to pack for a weekend, another for what to pack for a week.

List of foodstuff and cleaning materials to take.

A list of jobs to do week beforehand eg cancel milk, set tv recordings, order supermarket delivery for day of return etc. I pin this one up in the kitchen and everyone knows they have to chip in to cross items off the list.

A list of all important docs and reference numbers - passport expiry dates, insurance policy, booking reference, etc.

Everyone mocks me for my lists. But they make everything so easy to organise.

What are your family’s packing essentials and your must haves when travelling together in the UK? Reachable snacks!*
How do you keep your DC entertained while in the car on your journey? Again, probably food, colouring books and sometimes a handheld game, then hope they sleep the rrst of the way*
Are there any items you find you never or rarely use while away? Usually 2/3 of the clothes we pack*
What are your tips for ensuring you have everything you might need while travelling in the UK? Lists on advance, and a last run through the morning you leave*
Do you have a favourite time of the day to travel and get on with your journey, why is that? Usually about lunch time, around the babies feeds, gives time to be there close to check in so not hanging around for ages

We have 4DC but can pack for a two week camping/ mobile home trip with just 2 cases and a hold-all. Tricks we use:

• Always start with a list!
• Each DC prepares a small rucksack for snacks, water bottle (reused for trips), books, games (cards, travel chess etc), headphones or anything else they want. This goes on their lap in the car.
• Non-iron and hang dry clothes only. Layers plus a waterproof jacket. Hoodies double as dressing gowns. Trainers on, sandals in case.
• Pack washing powder tablets to wash underwear & socks so you don’t have to take so much.
• Keep a first aid kit handy in the car.
• Take plenty of bags for rubbish, wet clothes etc. 2 toilet rolls and kitchen roll, anti bacterial spray and hand soap to use as soon as you arrive.
• Put in a bulk lot of black and white socks- my DH and I can share size 7-11 with the older 3. Slipper socks for cooler nights.
• Quick dry towels which roll up extremely small.
• Take buckets, spades etc from previous holidays if you have space save money & recycle, plus they can get on the beach quicker.
• Pegs are handy for washing, to stop things blowing away and sealing bags.
• Take essential kit for the first morning with bread, butter, spreads, cereal, tea/coffee, longlife milk and get fish and chips when you get there!
• Check what time you can check in and plan around that.
• Check what supermarkets/ shops are nearby before you go.
• Take any vouchers for attractions you have been saving up, like the ones you get on cereal boxes.

I’m sure there’s loads more, but it becomes second nature after a while!

We have a master list that can be adapted depending on where we are going, and for how long. I try not to over-pack, but DH always takes too many clothes, then ends up not wearing half of it.

I pack an oversized zipped pencil case for each of the DC, filled with new craft bits, pens, little toys, books etc, so that they have new bits to keep them occupied on a rainy day. I also try to find a couple of fun rainy day destinations before we leave, so that we don't spend an age trying to think of something to do on the day.

I used to try to fit everything in, but now I realise it's much nicer to just keep things simple. We choose a few things that we'd really like to do, or places we'd like to go to, and only add to that list if we really feel like doing so on the day. Mostly, it's much more relaxing just spending the day playing on the beach with the DC.

I write a main list then write lists for DCs so they can sort their own clothes/toys and tick off as they pack. The lists are put in the bags so that we can tick again on packing to come home so nothing is left.
Also I try to order a click and collect shop near destination (or delivery depending where we're going) for all food/drinks/toiletries, which saves packing that.
I don't stress much though as there are shops everywhere so anything forgotten is very easy to get! :)

To make sure we have everything definitely write a list but start it about a month earlier than holiday. That way you can build it up with items you may have forgotten on the first draft and also it'll highlight if there is any items you need to purchase or update before you pack. Plus I find writing the list and asking my DH what items we should take helps. I don't tell him what's on the list already so that he may say items I have forgotten, doesn't matter if he repeats something already on there, it's teamwork!