Our cases come out of the loft the day before we go, and packed that night.

Because we always mix each others clothes in the cases (if one case goes
missing nobody will be left with no clothes ) the job of packing usually falls to me
with the help of my hubby.

I don't mind though to be honest.
At least that way, I know it's done properly
(And I get the chance to take any stuff out that I don't want the others to take! )

10weeks 3 days to go and i bought a new case yesterday, a lovley bright pink 1, OH's over the moon he gets them off the carousel!!

ive got bikinis, flipflops and toiletries in it and a few skirts.... i generally just add things as i go along, and usually done and dusted with a few days to spare

we go in just over 3 weeks and just got cases out the shed today, just filled 1 with stuff that ive bought new so the kids and hubby wont wear it then a couple of days before we go ill take everything out, iron it then pack it, then there will be last minute things like straighteners n bits n pieces the night before as we leave the house at silly o clock in the morning

we are not going to marmaris until october, and already the case is almost full... i always pack away the clothes i buy for the kids, otherwise there would be nothing left to pack if they got their grubby hands on them!

i normally pack my own stuff a couple of days befor flying out!

I lay all my holiday clothes and spending money out on the bed.......................then pack half the clothes and twice as much money

Depends where I'm going for me, and whether or not I've blagged any extra luggage allowance for equipment! If I'm taking the diving equipment, that goes in first to ensure it's safe and then the clothes around it to provide padding. I normally do this the weekend before I go away because I hate being on the last minute. I once left it to a couple of days before but it was too rushed that way, so always the weekend before now. I like to know everything is all organised well in advance so I can just pick the case up and go. You always get the feeling you've forgot something though don't you. Even though you know you haven't, you still think you have!

Darren

Dazbo5 wrote:

You always get the feeling you've forgot something though don't you. Even though you know you haven't, you still think you have!

Despite having a detailed packing list for every holiday, and a detailed list of "things to do" before we go, I'm still in a flap for most of the final 24 hours before leaving Usually the last 10 minutes before the taxi arrives, I'll be running around the house, checking taps, lights, plugs etc and chanting "tickets, money, passports" to myself... I'll still be doing the chant in the taxi all the way to the airport. When we went to Tenerife at Easter I spent the first few days of the holiday convinced I hadn't closed the freezer properly and dreading coming home to a soggy smelly kitchen! Of course, I had closed it properly and everything was fine
We're off to Crete in 3½ weeks, so I'm planning on filling up the toiletries/suncreams bag in the next few days, and either this weekend or early next week I'm hoping to look through my clothes, choose what I'm taking and put it all together in one part of the wardrobe so it's easy to grab it all a few days before we go. Doesn't look like there'll be much chance to wear any of it over here this summer...
We fly on a Tuesday this time, so I'll probably do most of my packing during the weekend just before.
Son (18) is easy, I just tell him to choose 14 t-shirts, 14 pairs of socks/undies, 3-4 pairs of short jeans and some swim stuff, and he brings it all downstairs 15 minutes later. He sorts out his own hand luggage (camera, iPod, PSP etc)
Daughter (15) should be just as easy, but she refuses to "double-up" and wear evening tops during the day, she shudders at the idea of being seen in anything more than once, and she always wants to wear nice holiday clothes to go out with her friends the last couple of days before the holiday and then expects me to have them washed, ironed and in the suitcase overnight We always end up arguing, especially when she wants to take her entire shoe collection... Nowadays I just humour her when she's choosing stuff and then when she's not looking just pack the minimum I think she'll need. She rarely notices things are "missing" when we get there and if she does notice I just tell her "I must have forgotten to put it in, what with all the messing about I had to do getting your stuff washed and everything..." I'll have to make her a packing list for her hand luggage this time, last time she forgot her phone charger and spent two weeks not being able to text her friends after her phone died the day after arriving.
I often think it would be so much less stressful if we just stayed at home, but once I'm in that sunshine with cool drink in my hand, it kind of makes it all worthwhile

Hi Cyberspacekadette,
You'll probably be in Crete the same time as us. We fly out for a fortnight on the 3rd of August. What part are you going to?

Cases are half full 24/7. Always leave left over toiletries in, ie suncream,shower gel and anything else unused from last holiday, so the day before just put in holiday clothes. What I call my holiday handbag (quite a large one) is ready to put in last minute things, as that is on standby all year round.As I have to take medication with me I always panic half way to the airport and have to check everything is inside even though Ive checked it loads of times before leaving the house.

shirley h wrote:

Hi Cyberspacekadette,
You'll probably be in Crete the same time as us. We fly out for a fortnight on the 3rd of August. What part are you going to?

We are going to the Hotel Petra Mare in Ierapetra. Sorted out the beach towels and my bikinis today.

I usually start my packing 2 or 3 weeks before , I always pack the toiletries first then do the clothes bit by bit, but this time I have had a dilemma as to whether to cancel our hol due to my Mum's health.

Anyway , we have decided to go ahead and this leaves me with just today to do absolutely everything as I am working all day Mon / Tues so I really better get started soon.

I usually pack the day before, although TBH one of the cases is always packed full of the hubby's "holiday" clothes, and he just has to sort out which of the T-shirts, shorts and ¾ trousers he's taking.....depending on the time of year of the holiday, he tends to use more in the summer months with sweating more and a couple of jumpers are required in Spain after October, but, he has a really bad habit of producing a pair of shoes that he wants to take after I've packed....arrggggh

I used to start packing days before we went and I found it just drags on and on....it makes it into an ordeal adding or removing clothes, so now I throw what I think we need in the cases the day before, and then if I've forgotten anything, it's just tough luck.

When the boys were younger/babies, it was a nightmare trying to remember everything because 30 years ago, you had very little chance of buying stuff in the resorts if you'd forgotten anything.

By the time I'd packed their stuff in the cases, there was very little room for our clothes and it's surprising what you can manage to wear, when you have too....these days I take as little as possible, but I can remember filling the case up with enough terry towelling nappies to last a few days because disposable ones had only just come onto the market, and if you think they are expensive today, well 30 years ago in comparison to the wages people were getting...they were extortionate prices in the Uk and some parts of Spain had never heard of them.

Not forgetting that you brought these nappies back and had to hand wash them during the holiday.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I've just finished packing for next Friday [wont have time in the week] got in all i need 8 shirts 2 ties [don't wear t-shirts], loads of socks & skiddies, 3 pr trousers [don't ware cut downs or shorts], spare shoes,electrical bits and pieces and my jacket for the evening meals, all in 14 kg.... surprise packed Mrs wizards as well still only 14 kg... plenty of room to bring a few things back

wizard

Just about finished our packing, we go tomorrow.

I was about 4kg under weight so put in a few more dresses my boyfs suitcase is only about 16kg too, i'm quite impressed with how well we've done this year.

Couldn't of done it any earlier, I just think the longer stuff is in the suitcase the more time its got to get creased. Plus I'd be packing and unpacking all the time

That's me too Laura. (Great minds and all that... )

Have a lovely holiday!

I'm going on holiday next month and just wondered when you guys start packing? I usually start weekend or 2 before

things i have bought just for holidays go straight in the case out of the way , toiletries and s/creams are in ready and waiting , i usually fully pack one or two nights before we go

I get all my clothes and wash them 4 weeks before, I go, and put them back in the case, and weigh the case.

With one week to go, give them a second wash, but this time with conditioner, let the clothes dry, and iron them, leave all the clothes on top of the sideboard

The night before, iron clothes for a second time, and place in case, close my case and relax

Before going to bed, lay out what I am going to wear, pack my ruck sack, camera, mp3 player, and cables,

Passport, tickets, money, all left on table

pink-kissess wrote:

10weeks 3 days to go and i bought a new case yesterday, a lovley bright pink 1, OH's over the moon he gets them off the carousel!!

Not buy a new case my self, but going to get some spray paint, and paint my case, but dont know what colour as of yet, might go for a bright red/yellow/ green colour