How much do you pack for holiday?

[Sweetheart]

I am a terrible over packer! Every year I try to restrict myself and every year I fail.

This year, altough we are going away for 2 weeks our 1st week is in a villa with a washing machine and being that I'd like to buy some stuff there I really need to pack only for 1 week.

According to Pintrest all I need is 5 tops, 4 bottoms and 3 dresses........ that seems impossible to me!

I have been trying each year to pack less. I always pack too much stuff for the mornings, when in reality I don’t need to wear anything more than my bikini with a cover up dress for breakfast. We don’t go out, and stay at the hotel, so don’t need much! Husband always needs twice as much as me as the hotel we go to has a collar dress code for dinner for men, so he needs t-shirts and evening shirts

Better over pack than under pack I say!!!

5 tops 4 bottoms and 3 dresses will be fine, for 1 week, 3 dresses will do for evening wear maybe, and your tops and bottoms will do for day wear. i always take one or two cardis or a denim jacket as well for evenings if its cooler.

7 day dresses.

7 evening dresses.

Done

I always over pack! I'm going to seriously try and restrict myself this year! I spend most of the time in my bikini anyway so I don't need 7 day outfits!

I've overpacked my whole life !!! .. (I'm 52) . Off to Cornwall week after next .. back for a week then going to Spain .. determined to change this year . Went to Thailand in Feb .. wore about a quarter of whAt I took ... this time .. shorts and vests, 4 sundresses, flat sandals , flip flops .. a hoodie and joggers for Cornwall .. and minimal products and make up !!

Pair of shorts
Skirt
A beach cover up if it's that type of holiday
T shirts for everyday
3/4 evening outfits
Flip flops
Sturdier sandals for sightseeing
Trainers if more heavy duty activity
Swimming costume
Bikini
Beach towel
Pants/ socks/ bras/ nightwear
Cardigan
Waterproof
Warmer jumper/cardi/ fleece if potential for dodgy weather

Years of backpacking holidays tends to hone the packing skills! 5 tops, 4 bottoms and 3 dresses sounds like plenty for a week. Maybe a cardi or something depending on the weather?

Far. Too. Much.

I’m getting better though. It helps if you go somewhere reliably warm, so you can wash and dry stuff within a quick turnaround time (and of course you need fewer layers).

I’ve realised that I only ever wear the thin-strapped tops as if I’m in the sun, I don’t like getting whacking great tan lines. I also rarely bother wearing the nice maxi dress and dressy dress that I’ve taken for a evening out/restaurant.

It’s much easier if you’re going somewhere you’ve been before, or if you know reliably what the weather will be like.

I’m a really smart packer. I always take hand luggage only on the plane (a wheelie suitcase that goes into the hold). That wound last me for 10 days.

I take:
2 pairs of sandals (I travel in one pair)
Pair of flip flops
3 pairs of shorts
3 vest tops
Bikini
2 dresses
2 skirts
2 evening tops
2 bras (I wear one)
Pair of pants for everyday
2 pieces of jewellery to dress tops / dresses up in the evening
A beach style bag
1 one evening bag
Travel size the toiletries
A cardigan (which I travel in)

You don’t need much in warm weather so even I over pack. Be ruthless!

Oh and a beach cover up dress

I hate overpacking. Hate having huge bag. Hate having my stuff all over hotel room. I dont overpack. Decide what youre doing to determine what shoes you need. Will you need dressy shoes, will you need walking shoes. Plan outfits from there in a capsule way. 2 bottoms 3 at a push. 3-5 tops. A go over everything dress or 2, or a dressier dress. The only multiple of something i insist on is swimwear as i hate tugging on a damp cossie. So 2 of those.
I see people with huge bags on holiday and feel sorry for them.

I love overpacking Nice to have options! For a week I’d take five day dresses abs seven for evening, plus beach cover ups and swimwear

I like to take dresses that can be worn in the evening once or twice, and then be a day dress later in the holiday.

Dresses are much easier than separates.

For a week's beach holiday, I'd want:
2 bikinis
2 beach dresses/cover ups
2 pairs of shorts and 4 tops
3 or 4 dresses which can be worn day or evening
1 cardigan
Flip flops / walking sandals / pretty flat sandals

I'm determined to go more minimal each year. This year 2 weeks in villa ( does have a washing machine but would rather not do chores) so..clothes and shoes wise...
2 bikinis with cover ups
1 skirt with 2 vest tops
3 linen dresses
3 jersey dresses
Flip flops, smart sandals, walking sandals
Plus
Vests to sleep in and pj bottoms for am
Hoodie in case chilly in eve in villa ( better not be)
Jacket -and linen trousers to travel in / in case chilly in eve whilst out - see above
Plus loadsa toiletries

I’d take 6 day outfits like shorts/t-shirts or casual dresses, 7 evening outfits. A warmer outfit to wear for the plane home. Flip-flops for the beach, smarter sandals, maybe trainers in case of walking. 1 or 2 cardigans for the evening (usually travel in 1). 2 sets of swimwear to be worn alternately, I hand wash in the evening. 14 pairs of knickers so clean for each morning and evening, 7 bras. Nightwear. One evening bag, one beach bag.

I can’t rewear stuff, especially not in a hot climate.

"2 pairs of sandals (I travel in one pair)"

So you have 3 pairs of sandals? What for? I only own one pair at a time!

Seems that everyone goes for a beach holiday. It's more complicated if you're going on a city break in the summer in northern Europe where it could be anything between 20 and 30 degrees. I have to take cool and hot clothes with me.

"I see people with huge bags on holiday and feel sorry for them."

Well, unless the cases are really huge, I don't think it makes much difference to have a suitcase that needs to be wheeled around whether it's small or average. Once you have anything over a handbag there's the issue of where to put it on your last day, etc.

I’m pondering this very thing at the moment

I’ve decided to pack the travel wash this year and only take favourite things

For both DC and me

Two weeks, guaranteed Med sunshine I’m thinking

Two swim costumes, 1 bikini
4 beach dresses
2 beach or evening dresses
4 skirts
7 tops
2 pairs sandals
A few necklaces & earrings

Plus travel in a pair of trousers and a cardi

Too much. & I find it stressful.

This year I went to the Caribbean and purposely brought a smaller case with me. It was so liberating not dragging a huge heavy overstuffed case. & I still didn't wear all the clothes Id brought.

We just don't need to take a huge case & loads of clothes/stuff on holiday. Unless it's essential medication, so what if you forget something? & wearing a top or skirt twice is no big deal.

My thing was thinking I had to take several outfits, oh I may want to change in evening, different outfit for each day etc. All so
unnecessary. I will never travel 'heavy' again

I am currently packing for a 2 week cruise so need a complete mixture of clothes with no laundry facilities unless I pay an arm and a leg. I have packed:

3 shorts
5 tops
7 dresses
1 skirt
1 pair cropped trousers
2 swimsuits and coverups
A waterproof jacket
An evening bag and shoes
A beach bag
A cardigan and a wrap
Underwear
Toiletries

I'll be wearing my sandals and another skirt and top to travel in.

I've managed to get everything for DH, DS and I into 1 large and 1 medium sized suitcase plus a suit carrier for our posh stuff.

Next week I will sort out my clothes (10 days in Turkey) , not decided exactly what yet , but I'm aiming that each item of clothes (unless its a dress) must go with at least 2 other things.
That should help me whittle it down.

No jacket , but I have a nice drapey scarf for evening.

DD will be try to take her entire wardrobe she doesn't do travel light , but she doesn't wear everything she takes. I'll make her leave space though because she'll want to buy stuff.

I've just got back from Spain and packed;

6 dresses for the evening
2 bikinis
1 pair of shorts and 2 vest tops
2 pairs of flip flops and 1 pair of sandals
2 beach dresses/kaftans

(We spend most of our days by the pool, so we mainly need evening clothes).

Our main motivation for packing lightly is to limit the mountain of laundry we have to do when we get back.

I make do with
Bikini
Sarong (doubles as beach towel and for changing under)
8 dresses
Light cardigan
Harem Trousers and 2 tops to travel in
Sandals
Hat
I'm not into dressing up for the evenings though

I don't do dressing up, specially on holiday, and I hate dragging loads of stuff, plus I'm small, so carrying a large weight is impossible. I only ever take a rucksack that counts as hand luggage for flights, containing something like:

Small towel
Spare trousers (I'll wear one other pair)
Two or three t-shirts (wearing one)
Hairbrush and hair bands
Penknife if not flying
Three spare pairs of knickers
Three spare pairs of socks
Swimming costume if I have one (currently don't)
Fleece or jacket, usually wearing it to travel
No spare shoes, I'll use the ones I'm already wearing.
Small first aid kit
Er, that's it!

But then I'm a skanker who goes on very basic holidays and I don't care what I look like, I care about having a good and interesting time.