Am I making a terrible mistake? Holiday Packing

[HemanOrSheRa]

We are off on holiday in 3 weeks for a 10 night break so I am getting my holiday clothes sorted out. In previous years I have taken far too many clothes. So this year I decided to streamline my packing. But I have been gripped with panic that it won't be enough .

Could you S&B experts cast your eyes over my list and see if it looks ok?

4 or 5 dresses for evening
1 pair of harem style trousers
1 tunic to go with harems
4 loose fitting sundresses (use as beach/pool cover ups too)
2 (possibly 3) bikinis
Underwear
Flip flops
My ancient and trusty Oxygen berkie-style sandals
Tan sandals
Black sandals
Navy/pink/turquoise sandals
I'll be wearing my Toms when travelling
A selection of accessories
A selection of random shite that I thrown in 'just in case' .

It will be very much a pool/beach type holiday. Maybe a couple of day trips. There is a laundry facility at the hotel we are staying at so I'm thinking along the lines of taking fewer things that I really like and wearing them a couple of times. Rather than a case full of crap that I won't wear.

[Doobigetta]

Some people have weird ideas about knickers! How is it "disgusting" to have a laundry bag sitting in your room for a week? What are the dirty knickers going to do, escape and straddle your face in the middle of the night? When you're at home, do you wash your pants the second you take them off so you can't catch DIRTY from them? Tbh, I think it's more gross to be relying on sweaty underwear being cleaned effectively by a quick rinse under a warm tap several times on the trot rather than washing them properly.
I take one pair per day for evenings, as will be in swimming things all day on a beach holiday (ok, I realise this is exactly what I just called gross, but it's not quite the same if you're in and out of the sea all day). Plus a couple of spares for days away from the beach and in case of dark pant/light dress miscalculations. And in case the plane crashes on the way home, in which case my predicament will be hugely improved by having minty fresh pants to change into.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I never take heels. The last thing I want to do in the heat is wear heels, especially on cobblestones etc.

My 5 day city break plan is currently this (just carry on) -
to travel - column maxi dress, Nike Roshe, cropped cotton cardigan, thin scarf (socks to put on when on the plane!) -whip the cardigan and scarf off on arrival

To pack -
black cotton sleeveless dress
bright cotton sleeveless dress
print cotton sleeveless dress
1 skirt and 2 plain camisole tops
one pair sandals
cami to sleep in (too hot for a nightie!)
sunglasses

[georgiatraher]

way too many shoes.

[Rexy]

I have cotton but after sitting down for 4 hrs won't it all be creased?

[Artandco]

Depends what material your dresses are? Polyester will be sweaty and crease. 100% cotton folded right will be fine

[Rexy]

Thank you ArtandCo thought dresses may crease more than city shorts and tops

[TinySalmon]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this but evening strappy heels or wedges. Unless you think your sandals will look good with your evening dresses?

I always seem to forget evening shoes and end up looking like a fool is beautiful glitzy dress and flat shoes.

[YesterdayTomorrowToday]

Tiny contribution from me op.

It's pretty hot in London at the mo and has been really pleasant for ages. Your feet are unlikely to be cold getting to the airport even in the middle of the night.

Having said that, I love flying in Toms, soooo comfy.

[UhtredRagnorsson]

Seems like LOADS to me. Way too much.

[Artandco]

Rexy - pack for what your planning on doing. With car between places I assume you want comfy flats to drive in. So just take one pair of sandals or flip flops for around lakes/ beaches. Pack summer dresses rather than tips and bottoms. One piece instead of two. Many dresses can worn on beach with flip flops in the day, with flat comfy shoes and floppy hat to walk around town, and can add cardigan/ light jacket and necklace at night for eating out. So basically try and pack items that have more than one use

[Aimtomisbehave]

But sandals/ flipflops take so little space that it's OK to take right? I though that was the rule!

[Rexy]

I'm going on a 9 day city rally, what can I pack? Going to Lyon, Lake Como amongst other places I think I need more city than beach wear. I'm a serial over packer and space in the car is limited.

Some advise would be gratefully receive !

[specialsubject]

Person going on the boat - unless it is the queen Mary you need about a quarter of that. Everything gets salty and sweaty and there's very little storage.

[Huldra]

You're taking the same number of shoes as me but I'm going for 6 weeks my 6 pairs include hiking boots, kayak booties and flipflops.

[HemanOrSheRa]

Well, the shopping trip went really well . It was hot. DS was tired and back chatting me. I shouted. DP forgot to tell me that DS had football training tonight. So the gentle mooch around the shops and dinner plans went out the window. Two pairs of trainers bought for DS and NO SHORTS! Gah! I hate shopping.

I do think I need a pair of decent shorts though. I'm the one who gets roped into the most ridiculous things. Like going on the worlds oldest ferris wheel a couple of weeks ago in the Isle Of Wight. I'm scared of heights .

I asked the question about my packing and I will definitely ditch 2 pairs of shoes after all your advice, I know you are right! I think the thing that has thrown me is this year we are going on our first AI hotel holiday. We usually go for villa/apartment holidays or our place in Cornwall where I can fling things in the car. Plus I need to be ready for a separate, very much unplanned, holiday in Italy soon after we get back.

We've had the most hideous year so far - we need this holiday! And I want to streamline packing so we aren't left with a HUGE mountain of clothes to wash when we get home, kind of takes the edge off the holiday.

9 or 10 pairs of pants is what I had in mind .

[Artandco]

Shirk - just always get kids to travel in heavier stuff ie in the trousers, with main shoes on feet, etc. Then as long as you have swim stuff, some tops and a smarter top or two for evenings your pretty much covered

I used to pack loads. Like full 23kg per person. Then we started travelling travelling and found the more you carry you hate lugging around and hardly miss anything.

Then we went hand luggage only backpacking with two children under 2 years for 2 months in Asia. Literally a regular size backpack each for Dh and I, and baby each in sling. It was a revelation and so freeing. Made us consider how much we actually needed at home also, and has prevented us buying so much crap over the years

[shirkingworking]

Following with interest! You'd have thought I had it sussed by now... Me plus 3 kids. Mauritius in August for two weeks (hooray!) so beachy and warm but need a jumper in the evenings. Not keen on using the hotel washing service as it's extortionate - could buy replacement clothes for the same price...!

I'm going for a few more/nicer bikinis and swimsuits as will live in those plus shorts and vest tops and they're very scrunchable. Fewer shoes than normal though! Definitely... And I'll try to stick to a colour scheme, mostly...

[rookiemere]

Artandco - you're so right about them drying quickly. Due to only having one white pair I often needed them to dry in a couple of hours and thankfully they did.
I wouldn't bring 21 pairs - you're right that would be a bit much, but I'd like to have about 3 days supply with me, so 9 pairs for a week seems about right.
Can't believe we're having this conversation .

Lambfab I used to be like you until last year when we did a touring holiday round Canada. not only was it a complete pain having to lug a huge case everywhere we went, but I hadn't brought the right stuff so had to buy more as didn't bring my walking gear. This year I resolved to pack correctly - oh and that and being too tight to pay for more than one case.

[Artandco]

Rookie - in a hot country pants dry very quickly. So if I packed three and wore a pair, then that's 4 pairs. Wear a pair in evening, back and rinse in shower before bed. Clean pair on. By morning there's still 3 pairs clean. Rinse overnight pair before bikini on. By the time back from pool all four are clean and dry still.

i just think if your changing pants 3 times a day, and for 7 days. That's 21 pairs of dirty worn pants your carrying home, and that are sitting in hotel room all week. That's super gross. For the sake of 2 mins washing in evening I would rather not.

Also, if your dirty pants are in hand luggage, wouldn't it be horrid if security search it and are rummaging through??!

[lambfam]

I am in awe of you organised lot. I chuck everything I think I need on my bed the day before and then take far too much and bring half of it back unused. Think I have a fear of packing and get nervous if I try and do it more than a day in advance. Is this a recognised syndrome?!!! What can you do about a fear of packing!

[rookiemere]

Amazed at the 3 knickers poster.

I was going through 3 pairs per day on hols due to showers/clothing changes after pool and there's nothing skankier than having to put on a pair of already worn sweaty briefs, and whilst I don't mind a bit of hand washing I wouldn't fancy doing it each night.

I treat holidays as an opportunity to buy a new pack of undies. Make sure if you have light coloured clothing that you have the right colours as well. I have white shorts and a dress for hols but only had one pair of white knickers.

Re the shorts, if you aren't a shorts person then don't buy them specially because we said so ! Harem pants would be fine, you could check that they are cotton or linen as much better in the heat than man made material.

[minipie]

Yep on shoes you need: one pair dressy sandals for evening, one pair comfy flip flops for every day, and one pair practical sandals or trainers for wearing on journey or on day trips.

Just noticed the harem trousers. Those would do instead of shorts I think, if they are not too hot.

Loads of knickers - I hate putting worn pants back on after swimming or bathing in the evening.

[crayfish]

Shoes is always my downfall, for my 16 day honeymoon I took 8 pairs! In the end I wore my white Birkenstocks almost every day and night (it wasn't a dressy holiday) and my running trainers about four times. I wore a flat smart pair of tan sandals about twice.

For my next holiday I am just taking those three pairs.

I like to plan outfits around what we are doing but find that jersey maxi dresses are a god send. They do as beach cover ups for day but can be dressed up for evening, and you don't have to worry about tops. I'm tall and slim so maxi dresses suit me but any versatile day-to-night dress in a light fabric would work.

[WellTidy]

I am shortly doing a nearly two week beach/villa with pool holiday. We do this type of holiday every year. I have my packing down to a fine art, and I am the sort of person who would normally pack the kitchen sink when I travel.

This is what I am taking:

3 swimsuits
4 cover up dresses for the beach
5 cotton dresses for evenings
1 cardi
Beach shoes
Nice sandals for evenings
Sandals I can walk in
3 pairs summer PJs
Undies
Hat
Sunglasses

For the DSs (each):
2 swimsuits
5 pairs shorts
5 t shirts
Crocs
Sandals they can walk in
Beach cover up
Hat
Sunglasses
5 pairs pants
3 pairs pyjamas

[Hippychickster]

Just in case, not just I case