Holiday packing !

I never learn. Just back from 2 weeks on Rhodes & brought back loads of stuff I never wore. We always pay for extra luggage allowance & have megalight cases but still struggle to keep it below 20kg.
I brought back at least 8 strappy tops, 2 pairs of shorts, 4 dresses & one skirt I never wore. Every year I am determined not to take so much & every year I fail.

I take items I'm ready to part with and bin them after wear. I only ever take hand luggage. Reckon I can buy anything I've forgotten and need desperately. Hasn't ever happened yet. Always tuck my passport and some euro notes in my bra. I often take up the slack with bubble wrap which weighs nothing and can be disposed of and replaced with any new purchases. Happy travelling to us all!

Before you go halve your clothes and double your money. Splendid advice.

As little as possible and you can impulse buy the pretty and cheap clothes for sale there!

Excuse any non-sequiturs above. Every so often posts post themselves, when I am still writing them. No idea why.

Lilypops I do not do sun, sea and sand holidays, so never have to worry about that, but as I have 3 or 4 swim suits and a sufficient light cotton tops and trousers to see me through the current heatwave that should be sufficient for any hot weather destination and has worked when we went t

I did buy extra clothes, mainly thermal underwear when we went cruising up the Norwegian coast and into the Arctic Circle in February.

I had mild holiday clothing angst when we went to northern Spain earlier this year, it was the cusp of spring/summer and I checked temperatures in Santander every day for a week trying to decide whether winter or summer clothes were more appropriate., but I still made the decision on which way to go on the day previous to going away and then packed a suitcase.

I took my teenage daughter away on holiday and let her do her own packing for a week. She took 52 tops and no shorts, trousers or skirts!! Luckily mine and her sister's fitted so we managed.

I am amazed at how many of you still wear bikinis. Although I am tall and slim I have bulges round the middle and since my 60's I have been wearing one pieces which hold me in!! Would love to dare to wear a bikini again.

If the villa has a washing machine then you're sorted!

Monica, what you have in your wardrobe for this country and what you would need in a hot/beach /poolside holiday is entirely different, that's why we don't just throw things in , it needs a little planning which is part of the holiday, We aren't making a fuss , just making sure we have suitable and enough of clothes, Certainly not to impress other holiday makers , I am old enough not too care what others think of me, Just saying ,

Does nobody take any knickers?!

We’ve just done two weeks in Greece with hand luggage only. We took things which could be ‘sappled through’ ( washed by hand for non Scots speakers!), and didn’t mind wearing the same things a few times.
I really like not having to check in cases, or having to wait at the baggage reclaim.

If you are always impeccably dressed there should be no problem just packing a suitcase on the day and going, because you will automatically know what is in your wardrobe and what you will want on holiday without giving it more than a few extra thoughts and should be able to assemble and pack it without any fuss.

I don't take care over all the clothes I take on holiday to impress the other guests - I do it because I love clothes and love wearing nice things.

What a fuss a lot of people make over packing. Nobody on holiday will know you or care what you are wearing. Just throw some clothes into a suitcase the day before you go and stop worrying.

For 10 days in Europe, we’d only take hand luggage too. Anything over 14 days, or where the weather’s more changeable, we’d take a bigger case.

We only travel with hand luggage these days - even for a fortnight abroad - and it makes life sooooo much easier. The less you take, the less hassle...

We went to Majorca recently with just hand luggage (small wheelie case each). We were in a hotel (not posh) and I took 2 prs shorts, about 7 t-shirts, 2 bikinis, 3 lightweight dresses, 1pr sandals, 2prs flip flops and enough undies for the week. I rolled everything and managed just fine. Glad I took some travel wash though as I spilt sangria on my cream shorts! Had to persuade DH that he would not need a jumper, or a jacket, though we both took lightweight waterproof jackets, which needless to say were not needed. We bought beach towels there, also shower gel, sun cream etc. We will definitely do it again now we have proved to ourselves it is possible.

Well you will be in the Med so I wouldn't bother with trousers at all. I would take pretty floaty dresses with summer skirts and blouses, plus shorts and tee shirts, and of course several cossies.

You have already had good advice about small containers of toiletries, suncream etc.

I guess with our wonderful weather here, packing is the same for holidays in this country!

Hi Lilypops
My daughters are just the same!

As far as clothes go, I just take a roll of cotton/linen dresses. Unroll, hang straight up. No faffing with what goes with what and they can be dressed up or down. A couple of cossies, sarong, cardie, pashmina, hat, three pairs of sandals, plenty of undies and sun cream, bag o’ bling, sunglasses, cross body bag and the usual toiletries. Books, phone, documents and I’m good to go.

Have booked our first holiday together,we have been together 15 years,we go next year for 3 weeks...all or nothing for us ...am dreading the packing already,get stressed enough with an overnight stay anywhere,I remember packing for holidays in a previous life, I was just as bad then.

My husband takes far more than I do, my friend's husband does the same.

I agree with working out colour schemes, what goes with what, so you get lots of outfits, instead of just chucking it all in like I have in the past. It's a bit more time consuming now, but worth it. Very envious, enjoy.

Hi Danni, You mention sarongs, one year I was packing to go to Majorca, my lovely daughters came upstairs where my case was on the bed, they pulled out of my case. 6 sarongs,,"Mum why do you need so many, " I took only one and managed quite well, I think it's so we have a choice on the day what to wear, but really, 6 ! We did laugh about it , now every year we go away my daughters ring up and say how many are you taking Mum ,,