Holiday packing

The weather was lovely in Italy apart from the first day (19th May) when it bucketed about 25 degrees every day after that and one day got even hotter. We were at Lake Garda. We went up to the Dolomites where it was much colder and snowing up where the ski slopes are.

P S I took lots of clothes as there was no laundry service at our hotel and I don't like washing things out in the room.

I too like to check in my bags when I get to the airport so DH and I always pay for hold luggage then I just take my 'holiday' handbag with me. It's big enough to get a book & magazine, sun cream, purse & phone but not too big to be a burden. I pack less & less as the years go by and I've just booked a week in Greece and leave a week today. As I'm holding a big family party this weekend and will have to get all work related issues sorted before then I won't have much time to worry about packing.
3 or 4 changes of underwear as I wash panties through while away. I tend to put on my swimming costume when I get up with a sundress or cut offs and a t shirt over it, then regardless of what we do I'm always ready for the sea or a pool (which is why I take 2 or 3 ExaltedWombat). Then cut offs and loose tops for evening, nights can get very hot in Greece, with a small bag for going out for dinner. Flip flops for the beach/pool & shoes/sandals for evening or trips. I too decant shampoo etc into small bottles and buy small toothpaste, shaving foam (for DH obv)
I stopped taking mosquito stuff to Europe years ago but then 2 years ago in Greece got eaten alive so I think I'll make sure I have some this time.
In my mid 60s, overweight, veins on my legs - hardly a beach body, but I don't care and can't wait for a week relaxing in the sun, eating, drinking and a few good books - bliss

Gaggi13 that made me laugh. No underpants to India sounds like a plan !

First time I "allowed" DH to pack his own case ( he was going to India with DD) he took no underpants at all. He now does a list.

We normally stay in the UK and travel by car.

How much do we take --- when the car is full, we stop packing.

Man here. I just stopped at "three swimming costumes". Women own three swimming costume? Why?

The current weather would make it difficult to pack though- what was the weather like in Italy Teetime. Cold and bucketing it down in central Europe now!

For 11 days I can manage with 4 sets of unifies ( wash n wear) 2 dresses, 2 skirts, 4 tops and 2 trousers one trouser and top I will travel in pyjamas, cardigan, sandals and trainers which I will be wearing, 2 socks, fold up raincoat, hair curler all to fit in my 10 kg hand luggage which I have paid extra for on Wizz Air that is a slightly larger hand luggage. Anything desperate for washing I will have done at the hotel. Oh yes and and a dress for evening

Oh and a hat,1 small rafia bag for evening and one across body leather bag for shopping etc- and then I bought another one!

I have just come back from 10 days in Italy nonnie and used everything in my case
2 nighties
Clean bra and knickers (matching for each day plus 3 spares
3 maxi dresses
3 pairs linen trousers (one cut offs)
2 tunic tops
2 cardigans (light)
1 wrap
4 day dresses
2 swimming costumes
I large floaty scarf
2 pairs summer jeans
4 t shirts
3 shell type blouses
1 Joules anorak thingy (it poured once or twice)

My best tip is re toiletries - I don't buy travel things as they are not the ones I want I save my nearly finished shampoo etc etc to take with me enough for 10 days and then throw the lot away on the day I come home- makes more room for shopping/souvenirs.

Have a lovely holiday

Never ever put all your knickers in your hold luggage as experience has told me that it is a clean pair that is most needed when the luggage fails to keep up with you.
One pair in the carry-on bag is necessary !

Nonnie1, the description of the battle with your partners' underpants, priceless!

I have just about finished my packing but am sure I will not have packed the right things. I have no rhyme or reason when I pack, just toss random items into the case and hope for the best!

Delighted to hear we have free laundry facilities, Galen. That will be a big plus.

I only have one case weighing 20kgs plus a hand luggage 10kgs and have to fit it all in that as I'm too much of a cheapskate to pay for an extra case.

That reminds me, I need to go and root out a clutch bag or two tor evenings.

I will not be packing any pearls as the only set I have belonged to my grandmother and are sorely in need of a good clean. Sorry to be letting the side down, Galen

LOL, in which case (no pun intended) ... why take so much then?

Have a fab time of course.

This cruise gives us free laundry and dry cleaning

I have yet to go on holiday anywhere where it isn't possible to handwash underwear and other items of clothing and dry them overnight. Often I have had access to washing machines.

At least 2 days before you go away get everything you want to take on holiday and lay it on a bed. The following day put half of it away. The day before repeat the process. Pack what is left.

Ooh, I forgot footwear. Sandals × 2 pairs and one pair dressy shoes/sandals. When do we go ? ??

For one week away I take enough knickers for a change daily plus a couple spare. Two bras ( sometimes go without if I can get away with it). Four tee shirts, four pairs trousers, night wear, anything else dressy but only one of those, a warm wooly or two and that's about it. I don't see the need to take the entire wardrobe.

Packed, apart from jewellery and medicines.
I have a baggage allowance of 2x23 kgs and I've paid for an extra. The luggie in its case goes free as disabled equipment
My flight is the 08.30 from Heathrow on Saturday. Hoping that the French traffic controllers don't mess it up!

I have to practically prise my partner's underpants off him to wash them.... if I remember I remove them from the bedroom floor if he has taken them off........ I swear he will make a pair last a week and I have been known to bin them instead of washing the bloody things...

So why, does he want seven pairs when we go away

* laughing as I type this *

I've just packed for a week away. Just before going to bed at 2300h - with alarm set for 0330h - I remarked to DH that it had been dead easy with an allowance of just one case but weighing up to 40kg. He then broke it to me that the allowance was 40lb. Cue much wailing, gnashing of teeth and frantic ditching of toiletries, shoes, books that I didn't really need. I always pack to the weight limit. For a week, DH makes do with a small backpack.

granjura, that is what I want to avoid... the carry ons onto the plane. I want to get everything in one case and then just me and my handbag on the plane.

I've never managed it yet !

Oh wow Galen- why oh why? I take one case, not full, and bring back most of it unworn- often.

Don't take suntan stuff, and buy there as it is cheaper most of the time anyhow and only small bottle of shampoo and conditioner- which I refill, otherwise it's so heavy.

When we fly, with Easy most of the time (cheapstakes) we take one case in hold and 2 small carry-on- mine for shoes and sandals and any heavy stuff. Done.

For 2weeks I have 3 cases, a luggie in its case a handbag and hand luggage!
I'm travelling light for me as I'm flying.

I don't do one week normally so I will half what I normally take. 14 pairs of knickers + a spare pair in handbag, 5 bras, 3 swimming costumes. I stick to one or two colours so that tops will go with all skirts and trousers. Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are decanted into small bottles ( like those in hotel bathrooms )as they are used up the bottles get thrown away. I buy small tubes of toothpaste, it is surprising how long they last. Hand and body cream is usually sample sachets that I save up over the winter. I could probably manage with just cabin luggage, DD travels the world with just a carry on bag.