Holiday clothes: Not packing the Kitchen Sink v Running Out of Clothes by Day 4 ?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

So.................

Packing Tips?

10 days in Turkey.
Main aim is to lie about, eat loads, odd day out, go to evening entertainment.
How hard can that be?

What do I pack and more importantly, what do I leave?

(Not including suncare and toiletries in this )

I'm 52 and not in the least bit trendy .

We went to Turkey last July and it was boiling hot. I took three bikinis and two cover ups to wear in the day, all of which could be hand washed and line dried very quickly. I also took a pair of denim shorts and two strappy cami tops to wear in the day if we went out for a walk or sightseeing.

For evenings I usually assume that I'll wear each dress/outfit twice. We were only there for a week so I took 4 dresses with me.

For shoes I travelled in Birkenstocks, then took a pair of flip flops for around the pool and a pair of wedge sandals for evenings.

I travelled there wearing jeans and was planning on wearing those to travel home but it was so hot I travelled home in the denim shorts, a cami top and then a hoodie over the top on the plane.

We're hopefully going to go to Turkey again next month and having had a couple of hand-luggage only flights in the past year and loving not having to get luggage from the carousel I'm hoping to pack for us all in hand luggage only.

I think the hotter it is somewhere then the less you actually need to take, provided you can wash things of course.

I went to Gran Canaria last month and brought up 3/4 of my stuff unworn so I'm watching this for tips.

Chicago How did you get away with only two vest tops? I need one per day at least. Also I need to take trainers or something comfy for walking or quad biking type trips.

I normally end up trying everything on at home, then packing what fits me, plus other stuff that's a size too big so I have something to wear when I've put 10Lb of holiday weight on due to eating too many nice things.

I pack a similar amount to Chicago. I hate having to do a mountain of laundry when we get back, so I pack lightly for myself and a bit more for the children.

We spend most of our days by the pool or sea, so we don't need much by way of day time clothes.

In terms of shoes, I take a pair of trainers or comfy shoes which I wear to travel in, flip flops for the pool and 1-2 pair of sandals.

thenightsky I mostly wore pool coverups in the day, and just occasionally put the shorts and tops on if we went for a walk. The cami tops were also a really easy drying fabric (I think they get called woven camis on ASOS) and so I hand washed them and hung them on a hanger to dry.

Also if you need to take trainers I'd suggest wearing them to travel in as sandals etc are usually more lightweight in your luggage.

Ten days I take
5 bikinis
3 beach play suits plus a beach dress
5 shorts
4 dresses
6 tops
Birkenstock
Fit flops
Pair of sandals
Plenty of knickers and 5 bras 2 of which will be multi way ones
Gym wear

For 10 days I'm going to take

3 bikinis
2 cover ups
2 Denim shorts
2 thin shorts
4 tshirts (white, to avoid burnt shoulders)
2 -3 vests
3-4 dresses
3 pairs of sandals and will travel in converse.
and a cardigan ( Canary Islands, gets windy?)
3 bras and a million pairs of knickers.
2 shortie pjs. I forgot these once... not so good with kids around!

2 hats

I won't take my gym kit as no one likes me disappearing off. I'll do water aerobics instead.

Packing tomorrow for ten days in Greece. Aiming to be more sensible than normal!

3 swimsuits and cover ups
Gym gear x 2
4 dresses for evenings
White crop jeans or white linen trousers and two tops for evenings
3 pairs of shorts
3 tshirts
Underwear
Pjs x 3
Hat
Trainers
Flip flops
Sparkly flats for evenings
Small evening clutch bag/purse

Will travel in navy linen trousers and a top which I will also travel back in. Will take a cardigan or hoodie for evening we get back.

Toiletries obv.

Basically the same as Chicago

For one week beach holiday

2 x bikini
2 x bandeau style short dresses
3 x dress (for evening)
1 x shorts
2 x tshirts
1 x flipflops
1 x sandals (pretty ones)

I alternate bikini and bandeau dress each day. Alternate the dress in the evening. Shorts and t-shirt are in the event we go sightseeing, if not they'll be worn one evening.

Dresses in the evening don't get worn for long (dinner 7.30ish, bed 11ish - I have a toddler) so unless I spill something on them they're fine to reuse.

Bandeau dresses are only really worn to and from beach/pool and for breakfast /lunch so again don't tend to get too wiffy.

I wear t-shirt, trainers, leggings and t-shirt on flight and aim to wear them back again (maybe change t-shirt).

Shamelessly placemarking as I always have been known to exceed my luggage allowance and desperately need tips!!

@pinkvici22 the secret is to reuse clothes. I'm also not too fussed about dressing up much in the evenings. I put make up and jewellery on but I don't feel the need to have a different outfit and shoes each night.

Before I had dd I packed a lot more as I'd spend a lot of a week long holiday sightseeing and hiking. In a hot climate I'd need a new outfit every day plus walking sandals/boots. Now, despite having a 3 yo we manage to pack less than holidays before her, mostly because we don't do much(!)

I take 4 light weight jumpsuits - they don't crease and then I just dress them up or down with accessories (shoes, jewellery, make up)

I always try to bring things that work with each other to maximise outfits. And a denim jacket for evenings.

For 10 days I'd take:
1 x bikini (maybe 2 but I always end up wearing my favourite one!)
1 x denim shorts
2 x light weight shorts
4 x t-shirts/strappy tops
3 x cotton dresses
1 x playsuit
1 x flip flops
1 x schuh type comfy sandals for sightseeing
2 x nude bras and knicker sets with extra knickers
1 x black underwear set
1 x blue underwear set
Travel in harem trousers, t-shirt, nice silver sandals and bag (suitable for evenings) and a cotton cardigan.
All clothes are black, grey, white, navy.
I don't bother with PJs.

Place marking 😄

So apparently I really really need to cut down! I’m definitely taking at least 3x bikinis for 10 days (they’re small anyway?!), but in the night I do like to dress up.

Trying to take the tips...you’re all obviously very good at this.

What do you all wear to travel in?

Seems I am not alone

I'm going to put everything I want to take on the bed , then make sure that every bottom half will go with at least 3 tops.
Then I can whittle it down

I have 3 swimsuits and 2 sarongs. Might take a bikini for serious sunbathing .

I'll wear espadrils to travel (with trousers+top that I can rewear)

2-3 TShirt dresses for day time , put on for lunch

Underwear

Couple of lightweight dresses

Pair of sandles (not sure if I should take navy or pink, Ill check) flipflops for pool and some sparkly flipflips for night .

I have a little zipbag

Lightweight cover to throw on before /after shower

Travel wash
Hair wrap to save the towels

What do you all wear to travel in? depends on the destination but usually my heaviest bits. So if going somewhere hot some form of black trouser with pockets (need pockets for the airport) a top that also goes with something else, denim jacket & scarf (i get cold on planes) Would wear trainers or plimsoles. If checking luggage I always pack swimwear, a pair of shorts & some flip flops in my hand luggage in case of lost/delayed luggage.

70isaLimitNotaTarget That’s the best way, get it all out & try it on, make sure you can mix & match & then see if there’s something you need to buy.

I travel in a loose cotton maxi dress. I start out with leggings underneath and a jumper on top if it's winter here, and take them off on the plane. That way I'm warm in the airport and cool when I arrive. It also means I have nice loose clothes with nothing digging in on the plane.

My rule is don't take anything white except knickers. Yes it looks nice and summery, but you can't wear it more than once so it's a waste of space.