jules sorry but im the same as you
i take as much as i can possible cram in my
cases, you just never know what you will need
i always go over my weight allowence
we had to buy a extra case last year at the airport
drives my partner nuts so get packing girl

love fizz xx

ps have a lovely holiday

I know the feeling Jules,
We are normally like pack horses we take a case each 2 adults and 2 children, but this year I will be taking another case for my wedding Attire, so all together 5 cases.
So you are not the only person
I know what you are saying , when you see other families with just a bag or two (how do they do it)

gail.............

sorry fizz did'nt see your post.

I often have the same problem. I am a size 12/14 so I am not exactly 'skinny' either. What I do is take 7 tops, 7 bottoms (3 skirts, 3 shorts 1 pair of peddle pushers) 6 bikinis and 1 all in one and 7 evening suits, wear everything twice and rinse everything through I do snorkeling and have my gear in my luggage, since I've done this, I've not had a problem. I was a size 18 this time last year, but the size of my clothes hasn't had all that much impact on how much room they take up.
I also use thos compression bags, that you roll up and the air goes out.

We are just 2 adults and we are only just within weight everytime we go. We also take advantage of the 12lbs hand luggage allowance. However this year I said to my hubby that I am going to try to scale it down. It's always a little bit embarassing when one of my many requests when I e-mail the hotel is 20 extra hangers! I have been called Mariah Carey because of this!

So my plan is to only take seven (ish) skirts and 14 tops for evening - I usually take some dresses and more skirts and trousers. Some of the outfits I never wear and some I can only wear at the beginning of my holiday when my stomach is flat!

I usually take 20 evening t-shirts for hubby and 7 days shirts. I'm going to get him to wear the evening shirts in the day after he's worn them in the evening is that makes sense!

We usually hire towels which saves space, but this year the hotel doesn't offer that service so I'm going to see how I go with the packing and I'll take one oldish set with me, sling them when they're ready for washing and buy a new set whilst we're there.

This packing lark is very technical!

After years of taking too many clothes have now cut right back, take lots of tops to alternate, one pair of black trousers, one pair of cut off jeans and 3 skirts, did buy a black dress that you can wear over trousers or on it's own, little wrap round sarong skirts for daytime, they don't take up much room. My fettish is bikinis, I have eight, but I am resisting and only taking four on holiday I usually find it shoes that take most of the room up so this year bought lots of flat sandals and one pair of wedges and bought a smaller case, but I just know I will have to buy a holdall when I go to turkey next week for all the shopping I won't be able to resist.

It's always a problem isn't it?!?!
Last year we went for just a week in June and had far too much stuff. When we went again for a week in August I decided to 'double-up' on pants/skirts for evening wear, so we only had 3-4 pairs of pants/crop pants/skirts to wear 2-3 times and then a clean top to wear each evening, which could be worn again during the next day. This saved a lot of space (and weight) so we'll be doing it again this year when we go for 2 weeks. I'll probably pack about 4-5 pairs of pants/skirts for evening wear and 7-8 tops (again 'recycling' them as daywear). There is a laundry room at the hotel so at the end of the first week I'll do some washing for the second week. If there wasn't a laundry room I'd probably pack about 10-12 tops and rinse a couple of them through after the first few days.
Swimwear - 3-4 bikinis/shorts etc each and rinse them through every evening to get the chlorine out, then hang over the shower rail in the bathroom to dry.
Towels are a problem, you can never have too many and they do get a bit pongy after a couple of days round the pool. I'll take a few and buy a few more there. There will be less weight in the case coming home anyway because all the suncreams and toiletries will have been used and discarded. Whatever towels I buy over there are used as nice big bath towels back at home.
Shoes - one pair of trainers each for travelling (which we'll be wearing on the plane anyway), one pair of flip flops for round the pool/beach, and one pair of nice strappy sandals for evening. One year I took about 6 pairs of shoes to Tenerife and ended up wearing the same pair every night!

Starting four years ago my wife made a packing list for two reasons, 1 - We didn't forget anything, 2 - For insurance purposes in case the luggage goes missing.

Anyway the point of my post is that each year when returning from holiday she deletes off any items we didn't use and aren't deemed necessary as a backup, the following year when the list is printed it's a lot shorter and less stuff to pack, we now easily take below 60KG for the four of us.

Dave

Shoes - a problem???????

One year my friend and I took 14 pairs between us - and we have the same size so we can borrow each others.

Sad, isn't it.

This year I have cut down, only taking 5 pairs.

Cic

Shoes are my greatist problem too, I never know which ones to take so I end up using half of our weight allowance with sandals/flip flops/ trainers

This year I have got ready for packing--2 pairs of shorts, 2 short skirts and 2 sarongs. a top for every night and 3 skirts and 3 pairs of trousers, 3 bikinis and 8 t shirts, 1 pair of trainers, 2 pairs of sandals and 1 pair of strappy for the evening

My other half is very minimalistic, cant understand why my daugter and I need so many clothes, but last year when we went for a week i seemed to spend all my time washing t-shirts and shorts through, not my idea of fun on holiday! so taking more clothes this time instead of shoes

only 9 days to go

Off to Cuba in 8 days and here is my packing list

3 swimsuits
4 Shorts
2 sarongs
7 'day' strappy tops
4 pairs cropped trousers for evening
10 assorted mix and match tops for evening (really only need 7 but may have an accident and spill dinner over a clean one)
1 normal t shirt to fly home in

1 pair of day sandals
1 pair of evening sandals

That's it apart from usual undies etc.

My case is full of books. For a two week beach holiday i have to take 10 books as my hubby is such a fast reader!

I always take too many clothes, but when they are laid out on my bed being sorted out, I end up not being able to choose what to take and what not (just in case is my motto). We have two huge suitcases and I fill 1 ½ and the other half goes on my husbands clothes and the toiletries!!! I too have a problem with shoes, some things go with some clothes and not with others don/t they! I am trying to cut down this year though. I have been planning my packing since January (we are flying in July) I hope to have it sorted by then, as long as I stay away from the shops between now and then.

Pre kids I ALWAYS took more stuff than I could possibly wear and most of it came back unworn!

As a 'larger' lady myself I know where you're coming from and I'm more ruthless now.

Last year I had about 8 strappy tops, 6 pairs of crop trousers, 8 sleeveless tops/shirts, 4 pairs of shorts, 2 vest tops, 2 cozzies, 3 sarongs, 4 bras, 14 pairs of knickers and 3 pairs of sandals lined up for the case - with the kids stuff in as well I could barely lift either case. I knew I couldn't really scrimp with the kids stuff so attacked mine instead and ended up taking:

4 strappy tops, 4 pairs of crop trousers (wore one pair on the flight), 5 sleeveless tops/shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 vest tops, 2 cozzies, 2 sarongs, 2 bras, 7 pairs of knickers and 2 pairs of sandals

So by being ruthless I managed to rid the case of 22 items and managed perfectly fine for our 2 week holiday!

Dh survived with 4 pairs of shorts, 4 vest tops, 4 T-shirts, 2 pairs of swim shorts, 5 pairs of Boxers pair of sandals, pair of trainers

We just washed our smalls and tops out by hand and hung them to dry on balcony.

What we've done for this year is to put 5 piles on the bed (1 for each of us) and I write a list of what each pile has and work from that altho' I'm still whipping stuff out of the suitcase the morning we fly thinking "I don't need that"!

Thanks for all the replies - Well some have made me feel better (I am not the only one who takes too much ) and some have made me feel worse (Have I packed enough shoes :rofl)
I have even been into town this morning and bought a bit more to squeeze in! - Yep - another pair of shoes more potions and lotions and a warm top for the cold plane!! I just get worse!
Gailhell - if I were getting married abroad I'd never be able to cope with the packing Good luck with the wedding-where are you getting married?
Books - yep another problem -take loads for both of us and now theres books and toys for 5 year old!
I like the idea of crossing off a list what you didnt use this year-will do that and leave in suitcase for next time (If there is one!)
I definately think that being BIG does not help - a sort of insecurity thingI think and I do like cotton clothes for all of us so they weigh more!!
Be no good me working in customs - I'd be searching all the people with small cases just to see how they managed to pack so little
Anyway thanks for the insights
Jules

Hi jules,
Getting married in Cyprus on the 15th june, This years packing is extremely stressful.

gail..................

gailhel.... good luck with the wedding.
Packing is a nightmare, with my husband saying far too much stuff, but he and my son would be happy with one pair of shorts and a couple of t shirts.........maybe that's all I'll pack for them, and there will be more room for me and my daughters.

Thanks welshoney,

gail................

I think it makes a difference too, it you're going half board or self-catering. If HB, you'll be eating in the hotel every night, and I like to take a much variety as poss, (everybody seems to like to get a bit smart on holiday....well the ladies do......makes a change from cooking!) but if you're going to a different restaurant every night, it doesn't matter if you wear the same things a lot! (spillages excepted )

We always make notes of what we need more/less of, especially helpful if you think you'll go back to the same place another year!

Have fun!

Cor blimey! lol

I just had to chuckle at some of the posts here...lol on our trip to the Dom Rep back in Feb there was my 4 year old and me, but we only got 15kg baggage allowance for our 2 weeks..... 20kg for a week in greece had been tight, so this 15kg was an absolute nightmare. When I came to pack and realised there was no way I would get it under this I even tried to purchase additional allowance but had left it too late.

We had also purchased lots of things to take to the children over there and for the school we were visiting on our trip out. I packed and repacked no less than 7 times and still couldnt get the baggage to be less than 9kg over! lol Thankfully the staff at Gatwick didnt even bat an eyelid. But while my little boy was fine for clothes I had to do bits of washing each day, but it worked out fine.

We were still 4kgs over coming home, although we were minus lots of unused toiletries, suncream and even some clothes, although our Maid was very appreciative she had lots of things for her children and lots of toiletries for herself! But thankfully we werent charged even tho they are very hot on excess baggage.

packing...such a nightmare lol

Karen x

im going to tenerife in two weeks and have a luggage allowance of 15kg as we are got economy tickets last year only took 12kg to malta but seem to have a lot in drawer this year and still got more to buy, thoresby market next sunday yay! i also would like to bring stuff back with me presents for everyone and some clothes so what will happen if i am slightly over or alot over either way especially considering the economy weight?