Holiday wardrobe - how many items?

[idontknowdoi]

Going on holiday for one week and expecting it will be HOT.

It's 4 years since my last holiday and I remember coming home with lots of my clothes unworn.

20 years ago, it was a bikini for every day, numerous shorts and tops for daytime, and a different outfit every night. Possibly even 10 years ago.

Cannot be arsed with that anymore.

So, please tell me how much you take and help me plan, as I need to start deciding what I need to buy.

I won’t help you because I take what you listed as your “20 years ago”
an outfit for every evening with various shoe options
for a 1 week holiday, at least 5 bikinis / swimsuits
daytime choices for various eventualities; trips, beach cover ups, walks, shopping etc

I'd probably take

Jeans x1
A couple of nice tops
Leggings x1
A couple of t-shirts/vests
Bikini x1
Swimming costume x1
A couple of beach/day dresses
A couple of walking around an old town/market etc dresses
A cardigan/wrap for the evenings
A couple of going out dresses for the evenings

Flip flips x1
Walking shoes x1
Sandals x1
Evening shoes x1 if the sandals can't be worn

Enough underwear
A beach towel

I think 3 x swimwear will do.

I should be able to limit my daytime things too. A few light tops that I can rinse through, maybe. Will mostly be pool/beach days anyway.

Nights will difficult! But I cannot justify, or even be bothered, buying something for every night. I don't know how I managed previous fortnight holidays! Aside from being young, slim, and having no financial responsibility

I remember going to Ayia Napa for 2 weeks with a different outfit for each day and night plus extras. Ridiculous when I think about it now 😂

I’m on holiday right now! Baby sleeping in back of hire car, I’m parked up so she can carry on sleeping while DH and DD go have dinner at the buffet. First holiday for several years and we took waaaay too much! Could have left at least half of it.

Happy to share some of the ‘essential kit’ if that is useful and when I get home am going to write a family holiday pack list to prevent same thing occurring next time!

Do you have children?
Are you self catering or going to hotel/ resort?

You must be younger than me @DolphinaPD

I don't think Ayia Napa was so popular when I was 19/20.

I hope you're having a lovely time, but God, I cannot even begin to imagine the horror of having to pack/organise for a full family! 🙈 Only ever one DC and I.

No dc this year and staying in an all inclusive resort

I do a 'clothes schedule' so Day 1: white shorts/pink t-shirt, Night 1: linen trousers, green top etc. I find it handy to have already decided what goes with what so no faffing about trying to decide on an outfit, I just look at the 'schedule'!

No one but you will care what you are wearing, they are too busy looking at themselves!
Anything goes during the day at the pool/beach so 2 or 3 bikinis 2 light cover ups, flip flops.
2 light sundresses that do NOT need any maintenance, wash and go.... for the days out. Wear one, wash one. Walking sandals the fuglier the better, comfort and room for your feet to swell in the heat is key.
A couple of pairs of shorts and tops for a change.
2 nice flowy dresses in neutral colours for evening. Mix and match colourful accessories. No one will care that you've worn them before. Comfortable dressy wedges.
Beach bag that folds up, anything will do. Sunhat, sunglasses, and the usual underwear stuff, and you are good to go.
I take great pleasure in just bringing the essentials. I can always pick up a dress or sandals, bag whatever in the local market, which is part of the enjoyment.

The bare minimum is what I take. I figure I can wash it out and wear again. Especially somewhere hot so it'll dry overnight.
Two swimwear
Two shorts
3 tshirts
1 beach wrap
2 going out outfits. But I really dont much like going out so I'd skip it or take one dress that could double for going out
1 pair trainers good ones that can be walked a lot
1 pair sandals
3 days of underwear.

I figure generally speaking you dont meet the same people all week so they wont know you've brought one dress to wear to all events. And even if they did know, so what.

I often wonder if I remember or care what someone else is wearing, or if I have seen it before, or if they appear to only have 2 outfits, and the answer is NO I don't, and neither does anyone else care about us and our clothes either!

For a fortnight I take maybe four evening outfits (floaty tops and lightweight trousers) on the basis I won't be going to the same restaurant more than a couple of times.

For somewhere hot the last thing I'd take is jeans!

If you happen to be carrying any extra weight, don't do day dresses. You need trousers/shorts. Chub rub in the heat is painful

I’ve just been on a beach holiday for 11 days

one pair leggings, T shirt, pashmina, denim jacket and sneakers for the plane there and back

one pair v lightweight cropped trousers black
one day sun dress black
two black linen dresses for the evening

three swimming costumes
chambray shirt
singlet
beach top/floaty cover up
another floaty top for the evening (worn once probably wouldn’t bother)
flip flops
sparkly flat sandals
underwear for about 5 days

hand washed underwear, singlet, beach top in shampoo while there

What I would take for a weekend away but with more underwear and t-shirts

This is what I'm planning for my holiday this year
3 swimwear, 1 big sarong, 3 shorts, 3 vest tops, 3 dresses for evenings, sandles, trainers, a cardigan just in case, flip flops, leggings, top and hoodie for travelling. I might put in another couple of dresses. I'm so sick of overpacking though! I'll take some travel wash

8 pairs of pants, 3 bras, 7 tops, 3 dresses, 3 shorts, 2 skirts, 2 bikinis, trainers, flip flops and sandals plus a sarong and sun hat. And I always bring back a few unworn items.

@idontknowdoi apologies in advance for hijacking your thread 😂
@Mumtumtastic I'm due to go to Spain on Monday and I'm stumped. I have a 9 and 6 year old and an 11 month old baby. Tips please 🤣

We are going all inclusive, just me and the kids, DH is staying behind.

Haha I hear you OP! Gosh it was stressful trying to get us sorted and packed to get here. Ah, all by yourself all inclusive sounds v relaxing (can I swap? Lol!) I would take clothes and swim wear you are comfortable in, ditto shoes/ sandals and a couple of evening outfits. Comfy jammies. Sunscreen, basic make up with a nice eye shadow & lip balm, hair clip if you don’t want to get your hair wet swimming, a euro for the airport luggage trolley and something to read.

Hi Mishmased, so the areas I totally overpacked we’re my clothes and the childrens clothes. I think I suffer from ‘packers doubt’ and go, hmmm better stuff in a couple more baby vests just in case, a couple more sleep suits, a couple more leggings and cardigans for DD, a few more knickers, more tops etc etc until the suitcase is bursting! So just less of everything clothe wise. For baby I would totally recommend an inflatable baby bath you can pop in the shower cubicle, it’s worked brilliantly. Baby rompers have been great. A catchy bib for feeding ( we’ve wiped it with Milton wipes and re used when out & about). Re search the sea and/ or pool temperatures, (both were) freezing here so we bought childrens wetsuits which have been an excellent buy as has kept them warm in the water - would recommend Two Bare feet for baby, and C-skin for older children. Silicone feeding mat for baby so you can stick it down at cafes and restaurants and pop food on it for baby. Baby float ring was good. A new toy, or game, colouring book for the flight worked well for baby and older DD - these were great:

CARRVAS Colorful LCD Writing... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09151V73H?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

beetoy Sensory Buckle Pillow Toys... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DYZ41XS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

These towels were excellent, generous sized, fold down compact, sand doesn’t stick to them and dries quick :
Dock & Bay Beach Towel - Quick... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081CGMZ1H?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

For a week I take:
3x swimming costume
3xcover up
3xday outfit
3xsomething for evening
Underwear
Flip flops. Usually travel in trainers. Always take something else, never wear them.

snap, I write it all down first and assume I’ll use certain things like skirts and evening outfits more than once. Also allows you to plan the right undies and shoes and refine your packing choices on paper to minimise what you are taking.
I don’t live by the schedule day to day but do stick to the outfit combos. Minimum two sets of swimwear so one can dry.

I'd pack (or wear):

A outfit for travel (loose trousers, vest top, cardigan, birkies, tote bag)

3 beach dresses/cover ups
3 bikinis

4 dresses for evening
Flat sandals

One pair shorts and vest incase sightseeing is not practical in a dress

Hat
Sunglasses
Shoulder bag

In reality I would add an extra 16 outfits just incase plus associated accessories as I don't follow my own advice.

I think as follows:

• 3 bikinis- 1 on, 1 drying, 1 spare


• Fresh outfit for each day out and about, but you can stretch a beach dress to two days because you’ll only have it on for a couple of hours


• Evening outfits should do 2-3 nights unless you’re in sweaty nightclubs


• Something to keep warm in for European evenings- I take a denim jacket. I’ve been places in the Caribbean where I’ve needed that as well because it was windy


• Fresh outfit to travel home


• 1 set of bad weather clothes if you’re in Europe. No need if tropical as it’ll still be hot even in pissing rain


• 1 pair of sandals comfortable enough to walk in all day


• 1 pair of beach flip-flop


• 1 pair of evening shoes


• Big bag for daytime


• Little bag for evening