Packing list for beach holiday

[Thisismynewname123]

It's my first package holiday to a sunny destination for 25 years so I have no idea what to pack! Last time I did a similar holiday I was in my early 20s with friends, not late 40s with DH and teenage daughters. Can people share their packing lists please (for myself, and for DDs). Not underwear/toiletries, but what clothes and shoes do I need for a week of sitting around a pool, occasional day or afternoon trip somewhere, and evenings in the hotel?

I’m a massive loser and my method is as follows:

1. draw a 3x9 table, days of the week in the left column noting travel days and adding an extra row of there will be travel and actual holiday time on any day.


2. the two other columns are for day and evening wear


3. decide how many nights you think you’ll dress up and plan to wear each of those outfits at least twice and fill them in on the table in the evening section, include shoes!


4. work out four day outfits (assume you’ll repeat some and make sure two are day trip appropriate) and fill in the day column with shoes. Things like shorts, skirts or trousers can be repeated


5. add 2 x swim wear and 2x beach coverups


6. key step: review outfits for for how many shoes and/or bags you need and iterate the list to reduce these things as they are the heaviest and bulkiest. I.e. try not to take an outfit that has a pair of shoes that can’t be matched to other outfits.


7. add undies and jewellery that are appropriate for the above.

So you won’t live by this list on holiday at all, in practice you’ll throw on a day outfit for breakfast before changing into swimwear but you will end up with a cohesive list without overpacking.

Try and travel in your bulkiest shoes and travel in layers as planes are cold.

Try and pack one set of swimwear and your smallest day and evening outfit as hand luggage in case your luggage is delayed

I’m going to do what @Chocolatecoatedkettlebell has suggested, thank you!

my own packing tip in return is to pack half of your things in your travel companion’s case and vice versa. If one case goes missing, you’ll both still have clothes to see you through.