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.

[rookiemere]

Just thought of something you shouldn't skimp on - pants !
I just brought an m&s 5 pack and had forgotten about the many showers per day on hols I wish I'd taken at least 7 pairs oh and forgot to pack extra bra so had to wash and hope it would be dry in the morning.

[HemanOrSheRa]

Hehe! I've just ordered some of my favourite ENORMOUS and comfortable cotton bloomers from M&S rookie. I needed new ones so now seems a good time. It's so much easier to order stuff online but I may have put another day dress or 2 in my on line M&S shopping basket though. I am now stepping away from internet shopping! I just need to decide which evening type dresses and lovely shoes to leave at home and I am done!

[Artandco]

See I always take only 3 pairs of pants and rinse in sink as I take off. I wouldnt want two weeks worth of dirty underwear floating around hotel room

[jelly10]

Some of you are amazing packers - I'm making a note of the tips. I daren't confess how much I've brought for our week in Cornwall My excuse is needing to be prepared for the unpredictable British weather

[FlamingoFling]

I've just put aside clothes for ten day boat/beach holiday next week.

1 x denim shorts
1 x cream shorts
1 x print shorts
2 x printed trousers
1 x jumpsuit (black)
1 x playsuit (patterned)
5 x summer dresses (pink, white, stripe, denim, khaki)
2 x white cotton floaty tops
4 x smart vest/t shirts
4 x casual vest/tshirts
3 x swimming costume
4 x bikini
1 x Panama hat
1 x baseball cap
6 x beach cover ups
1 x beach bag
2 x clutch (1 with detachable strap)
Flip flops x 2
Flat Sandals x 1
Addidas superstars/hush harems and vest sweatshirt and scarf for travels

Underwear/pjs

I do not do capsual packing despite fact I'll likely buy a pair of fisherman trousers when we land and wear for entire holiday

[Wait4nothing]

Also look if any of your dresses are suitable for night and day - wear in the evening and then later in the holiday on a daytime.
Choose dresses and shoes depemdent on what goes with the most - all evening dresses should go with 2 pairs of shoes maximum (I once went away with a pair of orange heels and every evening dress went with them or my gold daytime flip flops)

[Whathaveilost]

WRT to Knicks and things. I tend to take old pairs that I'm about to get rid off and they have their last outing on holiday before going in the bin there.
In fact I've done that with other clothes and shoes as well.

Helps keep the bags light going home if in case I buy anything.

[snarksy]

I wash clothes on holiday so we can usually get away travelling hand luggage only. I only ever bring one swimsuit, but our holidays tend to be more activity/sightseeing based with maybe one day at a beach. We've got a 10 night trip in a couple of weeks and I'll be bringing 4 dresses, one tankini, one pair ballet flats, 1 pair cropped trousers, 3 tops, 4 pairs knickers, 1 bra, 1 sunhat, 1 scarf, 1 medium day handbag and 1 smaller evening bag. All toiletries decanted to the exact amount needed and fit into a zip lock bag.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Whathave

what if you end up in A&E in binraider knickers

My DGran's first words to my Dad (he's nearly 80 now) when he was a little boy and ended up in hospital weren't "Oh poor boy are you ok"?

It was "DS , I hope you have clean pants on"

And that, has haunted me all my life

[poocatcherchampion]

2 pairs of shoes is plenty.
I'd take one shorts and 3 tops too.

[minipie]

Haven't RTFT

Far too many shoes

You need some light cardigans/scarves/jumpers as it can cool down a lot in the eves especially if you are coastal. Also something warmish for the air con on the plane.

Shorts or trousers in case you want to do something a bit physical like go for an exploring walk or go on a moped or a boat trip. T shirt or two to go with said shorts. Some practical shoes (though maybe your Toms or birkies would do) for same purpose.

Def take the extra bikini

[HemanOrSheRa]

Gawd 70 I live in fear of something happening to me when I'm out and about at work (I work in the community) and people seeing my drawers. 'Oooh look there's whatshername. Well, you'd never guess the state of her knickers by looking at her would you?!' . I need several pairs of knickers as I get a sweaty foof. Nice. I might take a mixture of new and old though. Good excuse to get rid!

I'm wearing a cardi on the plane because I always find it freezing so I'll have that with me. I've got a oatmeal/cream coloured shrug buried somewhere that will go with everything. I shall add that to The List.

I have to endure taking DS out this afternoon for his year 6 leavers disco outfit. If my nerves can stsnd it I might look in Primarni to see if they have any shorts that suit. The ones I have are very short and get stuck up the crack of my arse. But I can't go too long as I have short, chubby thighed legs and feel ridiculous. I will probably get frog marched up a mountain or something like that. On reflection I think one pair of shorts would be good.

I'm concerned that everyone is saying too many shoes . I know you're right but what if I need them and the entire much needed holiday is ruined through lack of shoes?! .

[Whathaveilost]

what if you end up in A&E in binraider knickers

Something worse than that happened to me years ago.
I got knocked off my bike and woke up in hospital and had the slowing realisation that I got took into hospital wearing NO knockers.
I tried to pretend that I was concussed longer than I actually was so that the nurses who were on duty when I got admitted where off duty so I didn't have to look at them in the eye! So embarrassing for me!

[rollonthesummer]

We are going for the same length of time. I'm just taking birkies, wedges and havaianas. I also plan to take one pair of shorts, a denim skirt and 4 vest tops that could go with either. Also, 3 little strappy sun dresses to go over bikinis, two nice strapless dresses, one eveningy dress, 4 bikinis, plenty of knickers and 2 bras!

[BananaChew]

Seems a lot to me. Just back from a 10 day break. Travelled in converse, took one pair of sandals. That was it, footwear wise! Also took no nightwear (husband was delighted). I would lose two dresses and pack a pair of shoats and two tops instead. Also far too many cover ups. I took one.

[Hippychickster]

Crikey! That sounds like loads. I did 3 weeks in Thailand with 7kg of hand luggage! And I seemed to have plenty.

You seem to have lots of 'just I case' shoes. Could you be brave and leave some?

[Hippychickster]

Just in case, not just I case

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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??!

[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.

[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...