Overpacking...I need help!

[PollyannaMom]

When we fly, I follow the "half the clothes, twice the money" rule. But when when we drive, I over pack. Why stress if there's room in the car?

 

[kirstenb1]

Gosh, I'm very low maintenance, and I don't think you've overpacked. We drive to WDW, and I always pack a suitcase, have 2 toiletry/cosmetics bags, and 1 large pool bag with everyone's swimsuits and flipflops. I only take a couple of pairs of shoes, but would bring more if we had to dress for dinner etc.

 

[golfgal]

Since you are driving, overpacking isn't a huge deal, unless you can't fit it all in your car, but when I pack I plan to wear everything twice, that helps keep the overpacking to a minimum. It's a lot easier to pack if the weather is consistant while you are gone so you can just pack one type of clothing. I also try to remember that if I find I REALLY need it while on vacation I can just go buy it-I never do.

 

[shortbun]

I've done both. I've been on trips where I was allowed only 25lbs of luggage and I've packed three bags for just my stuff(a month away with little access to laundry). I travel with Woolite and ziplocks full of laundry detergent now. Down to one large pull behind bag for a two week trip including shoes and books. You just have to lay it all out and sort through it over and over again. My husband and I have had some really fun laundromat moments when we've travelled.
We've met really cool locals and picked up some great tips for local sights.
Also, the key is to pack your favorite clothes. When I knew I was really tight on space, I've actually taken a few things I was ready to throw out, worn them and thrown them away making room for souvenirs. I've discarded shoes at the end of a trip, once a dress I took to a thrift shop and as the Brits call them, 'smalls' to be thrown out after wearing. Students backpacking are known to do this as well, to make space for souvenirs on the way home. Another trick is to pack a real duffle for laundry so there is room in the suitcase for purchases.

 

[shortbun]

When we fly, I follow the "half the clothes, twice the money" rule. But when when we drive, I over pack. Why stress if there's room in the car?

I did this once on a road trip(overpacked) and my husband pointed out that HE was the one carrying the balance of it in and out of the car twice. He rarely complains about anything.

 

[LisaR]

When I went to Cozumel Mexico for a whole week back in 2008 we all carried on our clothes for the week, and checked one suitcase that had beach towels, our snorkel gear, and our toiletries in it and kept medication in our carry ons. We all packed 7 days worth of underwear, 2 pairs of shorts, a skirt or dress, 2 t-shirts, 2 tank tops, 2-3 bathing suits, and 2 pairs of flip flops still having plenty of room for other stuff in our bags.

When it comes to toiletries we bring 1 bottle of conditioner, 1 bottle of shampoo, 1 bottle of body wash, 1 can of shaving gel, 1 bottle of face wash, 1 hairspray can, 1 straightener, 1 hair dryer, 1 curling iron, and a small bottle of liquid laundry detergent so we can hand wash clothes throughout the trip. Everything is shared with the exception of razors.

Thanks! This makes sense to me. I guess I am questioning those that can get away with only a carry-on. What do they do about toiletries? You can't carry on a full sized bottle of shampoo anymore so how does a family of 4 or 5 get by with just a carry on each? Even if they rely on the little 3oz bottles provided in hotels, they don't provide things like hairspray, contact solution, etc.

 

[bettymae1121]

When I went to China for a week in '98, I did it all in a carry on sized suit case. I was convinced they'd lose my bag (I was connecting both there and back and had two intra-China flights during the trip. Waaaay to many oprotunites for something to get screwed up, IMO). Since it was a buisness trip I needed what amounted to buisness casual clothes for the whole week. I wore a dress on the plane and packed another dress, several pairs of slacks, several tops, several pairs of shoes, PJ's and underware, plus toiletires (pre 9/11 so no worries about the 3oz rule back then). That suit case weighed a ton, but I got it to fit! I didn't have much money back then so I didn't need to worry about room for souvies, I couldn't buy much anyway.

Travel to FL is easier, since generally I don't need much in the way of warm weather gear and it's a vacation, so no need for much in the way of nicer outfits. I wear my nicer outfit on the plane (and take care to keep it stain free so if/when I need it on the trip it's ready to go) and just pack enough shorts/tops/underwear for the trip, add in my theme park walking shoes, bathing suit, toiletries and PJ's and I'm good to go. I figure I can always do a quick load of laundry once I'm down there, if I didn't pack enough. What helps is that for shorts/pants, I'm willing to re-wear without washing. As long as I don't sit in something, or drip a Micky Bar on them, there isn't a reason not to. Tops I won't re-wear, they don't take up much space and in a hot/humid climate they don't re-wear as well as pants. The only thing I take extra of is underwear...you just never know! Since I just travel with the one carry on suit case, if I buy souvies I can carry those on in a shoping bag as my "personal item".

This trip (May 18...yay!) we are checking our bags, since we upgraded to 1st class we get to check for free. I still won't pack a whole lot, it's only a 5 night trip, but it will be nice not to have to deal with the bags at the airport.

Thanks! This makes sense to me. I guess I am questioning those that can get away with only a carry-on. What do they do about toiletries? You can't carry on a full sized bottle of shampoo anymore so how does a family of 4 or 5 get by with just a carry on each? Even if they rely on the little 3oz bottles provided in hotels, they don't provide things like hairspray, contact solution, etc.

Contact solution is easy, it's considered "medical" so it is exempt from the 3.5oz rule. As for the rest, hair spray comes in travel size, so does hair gel and deoderant. Shampoo/conditioner does too or it's easy enough to transfer into 3.5oz containers. If each person brings a quart-sized bag, they each should have enough for a week if they're careful in the amount used. And remember, men usually need less "product" than women, so the wife can put anything that doesn't fit in her quart bag into her husbands (or even the kids bags, as kids don't usually need much either). Most smaller tubes of sun screen are also 3.5oz or less, so again if each person brings a bottle, it should be enough for the week.

 

[golfgal]

Thanks! This makes sense to me. I guess I am questioning those that can get away with only a carry-on. What do they do about toiletries? You can't carry on a full sized bottle of shampoo anymore so how does a family of 4 or 5 get by with just a carry on each? Even if they rely on the little 3oz bottles provided in hotels, they don't provide things like hairspray, contact solution, etc.

We just buy them when we get there and toss them when we leave. It's cheaper than checking a bag. For shampoo and conditioner, the hotels resupply those daily and we usually ask the housekeepers if we can have an extra bottle of each or ask the desk staff. They know you can't bring them any longer and they have all been pretty good about that. Most hotels have supplies of these things for free or to buy now too.

 

[LisaR]

We just buy them when we get there and toss them when we leave. It's cheaper than checking a bag. For shampoo and conditioner, the hotels resupply those daily and we usually ask the housekeepers if we can have an extra bottle of each or ask the desk staff. They know you can't bring them any longer and they have all been pretty good about that. Most hotels have supplies of these things for free or to buy now too.

Makes sense. My kids are teens and I think they have only stayed in a true hotel probably twice in their lives. We generally stay in condos where there aren't any toiletry supplies like shampoo.

We are flying out west later this week. We will be arriving at the condo around midnight PST having left our house for the airport around 1pm EST. I know I will want to shower when we get there after such a long day but I am not heading out to buy toiletries at midnight in a strange place. We are flying on Jet Blue and we all get a free checked bag so it won't be a problem packing toiletries. I just never understood how people could manage with just a carry on but I belong to the overpackers r us group!

 

[Pakey]

Thanks! This makes sense to me. I guess I am questioning those that can get away with only a carry-on. What do they do about toiletries? You can't carry on a full sized bottle of shampoo anymore so how does a family of 4 or 5 get by with just a carry on each? Even if they rely on the little 3oz bottles provided in hotels, they don't provide things like hairspray, contact solution, etc.

I travel for business so my carryon toiletry bag remains packed. I have small 3 oz bottles for everything. Shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, facial soap, contact solution, hand sanitizer. I purchase purse size perfume. Deoderant is stick so it doesn't have to go in the toiletry bag. You can fit a lot into a quart sized baggie if you pack it right. I buy the same size empty bottles in a package at a pharmacy and they stack in the bag nicely. I have thick hair so I actually have 2 bottles of shampoo. If it's a 2 week trip, I toss in an extra tube of toothpaste also.

When the rest of the family goes, everyone has their own toiletry bag with the small sizes. We do not share.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

They say admitting the problem is the first step to fixing it, right? Well, I'm about to leave on an eight night vacation and I apparently need one giant suitcase, one carry-on bag (although this trip were driving, not flying), one toiletries/cosmetics bag, and a beach bag stuffed with shoes.

I know I'll never wear all these clothes but I just can't let go of the idea that I'll be there and wish I had brought that outfit/dress, etc. Its always too much is better than not enough.

My DH is bringing one small suitcase and a bag for two pairs of his size 12 shoes. I will probably wish he brought more clothes!

Anyone else share my problem, or have advice?

YES! I have that problem. I somehow have been able to travel without paying for luggage though. I think the best thing to do is put aside one outfit for everyday. Now depending on when you go and evening outfit. Now one dress. I then add one more outfit and then I'm done. I do pack more underwear than ANYTHING!