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 started using those packing cubes last summer and it makes a lot of difference to how I pack. Especially if we go on a trip where we have a night layover - i pack a cube with one outfit so I don't need to search through the whole suitcase for clothes.

Always take a knife, tin opener and plenty of tea towels as they are never good enough in the accommodation. A blanket for snuggling.

New colouring and activity books for the children to keep them occupied when in the accommodation. Will download some kids programmes onto the iPad in advance in case the WiFi isn’t that great and DVDs if there is a DVD player.

Noodles for the kids in the swimming pool.

I love lists and ,are them before I go for each member of the family and another planning meals if we are self catering.

A full set of clothes each for each day. (Plus pjs)
Each person has their own bag.
Hair straighteners for me.
Bag of toiletries, not many though, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel and deodorant.

Do you know, that’s it, that’s all I take in the first instance as we always schedule a shopping day in the town wherever we go so pick up luxury or treat items then, it’s part of our holiday is a shopping day.

From a food perspective, we google the nearest Aldi and hit that when we get there, stock up fresh then.

I’m a zero faff, zero fuss kinda gal. If they each want to take anything, it’s up to them to pack it themselves.

Car journey - tablets all the way! We just bring plenty of chargers etc. Ours don't go on them loads at other times so this is a treat for them and makes the car journey far more tolerable for us.

We always bring board games and jigsaws and colouring books so we can have a chilled out day if it is raining, and can enjoy some evenings together. We also always research good places to go before we leave as we have been caught out before when phone signal is bad!

My children have allergies so the main other thing we pack is some of their favourite safe foods as these often aren't available at small shops.

We always like to set off early, depending how far were travelling obviously but the earlier the better, as we like to stop regularly for drinks/snacks/toilet breaks, we are 2 adults 2 young children and 2 dogs, the journey we usually play spotting games- animals,towers,lorries etc.
Must have are a pack of cards, colouring books and colours, family games like connect 4,snakes and Ladders and books, balls (some for the dogs and some for us) I'd also like to take bikes or scooters but never have room for them in the car.
We always seem to wear much less clothing than we actually take so I really should cut down on them but struggle to know what to leave behind,I make lists and then redo the lists and then check it off before loading the car! We love holidays in the uk, we haven't been abroad for years theres so many fantastic places here and lots of hidden gems and the weather doesn't really bother us as we walk the dogs in all weathers anyway so we dont worry about that.

I get the kids to do this too - write a checklist of everything that gets packed - check it all in and use it as a checklist when packing to come home so you don't leave anything behind. Turkish towels which take up less space and dry quickly. Plenty of bags, use for wet things, washing etc.

We always get a supermarket delivery direct to the caravan to save space in the car. I also raid the charity shops before we go and take a bag of ‘new’ books and toys for the children. Audiobooks for the car are also a winner for us.

Write lists: list of food to take, list of food to buy when we go food shopping, list of things to go in hand luggage if flying, list of things to pack in suitcases, list of documents/confirmations to go in my handbag.

Since a holiday to Scotland where I only packed one pair of jeans and many pairs of shorts, I now make sure I have clothes for every type of weather if holidaying in the UK, and try not to let the type of weather that it is where I am and when I am packing influence me too much, as it will not doubt change many times.
We need all the series of Cabin Pressure to listen to in the car. The kids judge distance by how many episodes we get through. "That was a six episode journey - Addis Ababa to Fitton."

Obviously all the clothes. Then also salt, pepper, tea bags, kitchen spray, loo roll, ketchup.

Don't pack a suitcase with the cat in the room. You'll end up with a cat on holiday.

This is worse if you don't own a cat.

Always take a spare loo roll. Guaranteed the one in the caravan will run out before you've been shopping.

Generally in a caravan, even when self catering, there are never enough baking trays to cater for the max number of occupants. But wrapping the oven shelf in foil gives you plenty of space for cooking and less washing up.

Don't be afraid to ask reception for help when things go wrong. We had a broken table and a door which kept jamming, luckily when the children were not in their room. We were also short on glasses and cutlery. By the time we came back from the clubhouse on our first night, most things had been sorted.

Always have talcum powder and a towel in the car for impromptu trips to the beach - wash feet off, dry and powder. Gets rid of all the grit. Have been doing this since I was a child and do it now for my children. We also keep a couple of blankets in the car for accidents and all sorts. Nothing worse than a child who ends up being sick and either having to stay in sicky clothes or having next to nothing on.

Our favourite thing to do is leave early and get breakfast on the way, make the journey part of the holiday rather than cramming everything in the car and travelling down just in time to check in. We go to Cornwall most years, which is a days drive for us so we have a well planned route for toilet and refreshment breaks.

Lists! For everything. Main bag of clothes and general holiday stuff including towels And shoes. Kids bag of toys/devices. My bag of all the other tech kit, plugs, chargers, sun cream and essential items, big bag of swim stuff on the top so you can grab and get to the pool/beach.

Laundry basket for bits and peices, small and light. then put laundry in for way back

Adjust travel checklist as they get older and adjust after holidays as you find what works or was missing last time.

Everyone on here is so clever and organised so I'm enjoying all the tips. We generally just go on uk holidays and taking the car with roofbox makes it very tempting to completely overpack. I have resorted to using our cabin luggage so we dont go overboard.

Always have a list on your laptop to print off or on your phone to check at the drop of a hat. You can also add to it when you think of something

In fact I have 3 lists.... holiday abroad, camping UK and self-catering UK.

One thing we always take as we self-cater is a sharp knife as these are always lacking.

A great big lovey mug for tea! Caravans and holiday homes universally seem to have tiny mugs

Pack you favourite cooking utensils from
Home, a good knife, spatula, peeler and corkscrew take up virtually no room and really make like more comfortable and easy.

Definitely take your own pillows and if you have young kids and are camping take paper plates and cups that can be easily thrown away and make washing up non existent this is a holiday after all!

I only take what we'll definitely wear. I write a list, adding things as I think of them. I roll my clothes up, they seem to get less creased that way. Stuff the corners with socks and underwear. If we're driving somewhere on holiday I take my own pillows. I always take antiseptic, painkillers, plasters, something for diarrhoea. I always pack antibacterial wipes, so I can clean the bathroom.

Do it at least a week in advance. Spread it out on the bed, look at it. Ask yourself if you really need that and if you can carry it. I'm dreadful for taking everything including the kitchen sink and doing this really helps me reduce what I take to something like reasonable proportions.

Ticket money passport if you have them 3 your sorted.

Waterproofs and comfortable footwear are a must due to the good old British weather.

We take snacks with us and some ready meals for lazy days. Also take charity shop books you can leave behind when they've been read.