How much to pack on holiday? Help!

[woodstocky]

We're going away to Greece for a week at the end of the summer hols, with DH and 8yo DD. It's the first holiday abroad I've had for years and I have no idea what I need to pack! I don't want to take too much but also don't want to not pack enough and have limited options. It's an all-inclusive resort type situation and we will be spending the week lazing around (I can't wait!).

I'm early 30s, size 14 and not very confident in how I look at the minute due to gaining weight recently, so I'm trying to make sure I take clothes I feel good in whilst also trying not to care as I don't know anyone there!

I've got a couple of 'nice' dresses for evenings, two cossies and cover-ups. Two pairs of nice cool palazzo trousers with plain t-shirts to go with. A couple of pairs of sandals. I've been out shopping today but nothing really caught my eye. I probably have a couple of bits in my wardrobe I can take but not sure what.

What exactly would you pack for 7 nights on this type of holiday? Including shows and accessories!

[manlyago]

Bikinis, a few different pool cover ups. Shorts and t if you’re actually going to be doing anything. Rash vest if you’re doing any watersports.

The evenings- 4 different dresses. I love a dress on holiday. So easy when you’re hot and a bit tired!

[mamaduckbone]

So, having been and done almost the exact holiday that you're going on, what I actually wore was:

• Bikini / swimming costume (wish I had more than one bikini since as pp said everyone was in a bikini no matter what age, shape or size. Mine was a last minute buy that I wasn't very happy with, but wore it more than anything else.)
• a couple of pool / beach cover ups (loose jersey dresses and a long length thin shirt for me - I'm not a sarong/kaftan person)
• one pair of shorts and a couple of t-shirt / vest tops
• We did get changed into nicer clothes in the evening, so I wore 3 dresses and a pair of light trousers with a vest top.
• flip flops in the day, flat sandals in the evening (took 2 pairs, could have got away with one)

Didn't wear a cardigan the whole week and travelled in denim culottes, a t-shirt and trainers, which stayed in the wardrobe to travel back in. I did wear a sweatshirt on the plane as the air con was chilly.

[Roxie99]

@Deathraystare haha about the make up and who we think we are going to run shoulders with! Each year (for many many years pre kids post kids) always packed eyeliner and fancy eyeshadows it slowly whittled down to a tinted lip balm as that's all I wore! I have learnt over the years to pack less but me being me is always like last minute oh I can put that on the top of the suitcase etc it's ridiculous. Also I've decided this year I'm going to have to wear clothes I actually am comfortable with at home so my old linen green shorts are being packed! I always spend too much before the holiday too it's silly when I have the clothes at home but I have recently done a massive cull on the just in case clothes and they can be for the next holiday etc but they never get used. I hope I will be able to pack light for next week!

[minipie]

I’ve just come back from that holiday!

I reckon I actually needed:

• a couple of casual outfits for breakfast (can be reworn day to day as only worn for <1hr)
• a few dresses/outfits for dinner (again, can be reworn).
• Daytimes mostly spent in bikini with cover up. Including lunch. Had three bikinis. Wish I’d had more than one cover up.
• One or two cool casual outfits for day trips/boat trips. Ideally easy to get on/off to allow changing into swimwear. These could be breakfast outfits, reused.

I took 4 cardigans. I used one of them, once, on a breezy evening. Rest were untouched.

Didn’t bother with my fancy sandals. Did wear a bit of jewellery in the eves tho.

Took a warmer outfit for the journeys there and back but actually changed out of it on the way back to something cooler - the airport was really warm. So reckon you don’t really need that.

[Deathraystare]

I am in the middle of typing up a holiday packing list!

Could have done with it before I went on holiday!

I also should try on stuff before I go. One of my maxi dresses was a tad too long. One new bra no way fitted me. Another temporarily did not fit (I balloon up in the heat. So for 5 + days had two of those Primark pull on bras which I washed. I always take more than one jar of moisturiser (why?) and left shampoo at home (did not wash hair anyway!).

Also wonder why I take so much make up when I tend to stick to the same look on holiday! It is not as if I am hob nobbing with Slebs in Cannes or Monte Carlo!!!

[OutDamnedSpot]

I’m on a similar trip at the moment.

I wish I had brought more swimming costumes. Specifically, I wish I’d brought bikinis. I’ve got three one pieces with me, but everyone is wearing bikinis. Don’t worry about shape or size; everyone is in a bikini.

I’ve also worn shorts / vest / sandals combo a lot, and midi dress / converse combo a lot. I’m glad I have a sort of sarong dress with me (good for chucking on to wander to a bar) but one would be enough.

I’ve not worn: running gear (who was I kidding?!), heels, long dresses, jewellery, sweater. I could also have saved space by not bringing beach blanket (I’ve just sunbathed at hotel)

have a wonderful time

[mamaduckbone]

This is really useful! I'm packing for a week in Greece today and seem to have ALL the clothes out at the moment...I'm going to have a look on Pinterest and do a serious cull😂
I also am the queen of overpacking and I haven't been on a holiday that doesn't require a cagoule and jeans for a very long time so not sure where to start.

[RomainingCalm]

I am the queen of overpacking 'just in case' but did better this year (although lots of people would have halved my list).

I find that I need to make a list of every day of the week and then allocate clothes to each day. And then make sure that I don't add a tonne of contingency clothing.

So for a week I took:

• 4x bikinis (2 each day alternating them)
• 4x floaty or jersey dresses that go over swimwear for breakfast/lunch
• 5x dresses for the evening (only wore 4 of them, could have managed with 3)
• 2x flip flops, 1x slightly nicer flat sandals, heeled sandals (didn't wear)
• 1x shorts and 2x tops
• Travelled both ways in light wide-legged trousers, t-shirt, hoodie, pumps

Optimistically took gym kit (didn't use), took far too much underwear, could have done with an extra pair of pjs.

[Namechanged12344]

Struggling with this too so thanks also for the pin link. I was thinking for 10 days
4 bikinis/swimsuit
7 tops (4 day time , 3 night time)
4 bottoms (palazzo, shorts, long skirts)
5 dresses (3 maxis, 2 short)
PJ's
Cover ups /sarongs x 2
1 trainers to go with, 1 flip flops, 1 sturdier sandal (which I still need to buy!)

[procrastinationstations]

I take a different outfit for every day and night and at least 6 pairs of shoes and a different piece of swimwear for every other day.

I figure that I only wear these things on holiday so should take the lot (and end up crying because I can't fit everything in)

[woodstocky]

Thanks so much! I am definitely on the verge of packing too much from what I've been planning!!

Thank you for the Pinterest link, that is fab. I was going to order a couple more dresses but I don't think I need them at all now!

[Zinnia]

This is the kind of situation where Pinterest comes into its own - there are hundreds of suggested packing lists on there, eg the below (https://pin.it/UQnuDUV), the user who created this list specialises in this kind of content and has a good blog.

Otherwise I like the 5-4-3-2-1 rule: 5 tops/ 4 bottoms/ 3 dresses or jumpsuits & 3 shoes/ 2 swimming costumes & 2 bags/ 1 jacket. This is ample for a week and would get you through a fortnight really.

The other best advice is to pack outfits not items and try to stick to a colour palette to maximise your mix-and-match possibilities.

I love planning a travel wardrobe! It's half the fun of the holiday...

[chipsandpeas]

im going away for 7 nights and this is my list

shorts
maxi dress
2 playsuits for beach/pool
2 bikins
2 tops for at night
2 vest tops
2 tshirts incase i get sunburned
jammies
linen trousers
boob tube
2 bras - black and nude
pants for every day
trainers, flip flops and birkenstocks

will travel in a tshirt and leggings and a hoodie for the plane

[Musmerian]

I’ve just come back from two weeks in Greece- took hand luggage and still didn’t wear most of my clothes. I’ve worn: two bikinis, two,pairs of shorts and a couple of tops. One pair of flip flops. 5 books. All the other stuff has been superfluous. Two dresses, 5 extra tops, 3 pairs of sandals.