Packing question?

[SingingMom]

I would appreciate any advice for packing efficiently when staying in four different hotels for our Germany tour this July.

The only thing about our London / Paris trip last May I did not care for was staying at three hotels for such few days each. I like to unpack when I arrive and be "settled". I did not feel " settled " at all and am a little worried about one more hotel for this trip.

Do you unpack each time or live out of your suitcase? Suggestions, tips, words of wisdom, please. ;-)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[tufbuf]

I would suggest getting space bags or something similar and group your clothes accordingly. I plan my outfits per hotel stop and take out the ones I need for that particular hotel.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

We invested in a good quality large size toiletry bag that has a hanger, so that you can hang it from a hook in the bathroom. This way, we always knew where we could find hairbrushes, sun lotion, shower stuff, first aid, etc.

It seriously was the best purchase for our trip, and we bought it since we would be constantly moving hotels!

I like Tufbuf's idea too...that is something I plan to do for my next trip.

 

[sayhello]

Personally, unless I'm only staying in a hotel for one night, I always unpack everything. I think feeling settled is something you do yourself, and I like feeling settled. Yes, it takes me a bit more time to pack the night before we move, but I feel like I can re-arrange what I put where, what's on top, what's in which bag, as needed. But that's just me. I've never been good at choosing ahead of time what I'm going to wear what day, so I like to have full choice of everything I've brought with me. Some day I may try those packing cubes, but I haven't yet.

I really *hate* living out of a suitcase. It's the only thing I don't like about staying at somebody's house, as they rarely have space for me to unpack, so I end up living out of my suitcase...

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[SingingMom]

As wonderful as the "bag an outfit a day "sounds, I am one of those people who decides at the moment what to wear. (Options, as Rachel Zoe would say. Lol)

The big toiletries bag didn't work for us, we are better to have 3 individual ones and I have a communal one for medications, clothing wipes, etc.

I just hate unpacking to pack again two nights later, four times. Lol. We have to figure a more efficient way to do this, with three adults in the room. Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[kristilew]

There are 3 of us as well. Rather than pack a suitcase per person, I pack one for each third of the trip. That way I'm also not putting dirty clothes in with clean ones.

 

[sayhello]

There are 3 of us as well. Rather than pack a suitcase per person, I pack one for each third of the trip. That way I'm also not putting dirty clothes in with clean ones.

That also helps if one of the bags goes missing! Everybody has at least some clothes.

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[SingingMom]

I used to pack for each of us in each bag, but found last year's ABD to London/Paris worked easier with one bag per person. I tried not to think of lost baggage. Lol

The idea of splitting days of the trip across three bags sounds interesting. But it goes back to "what if I want to wear something different."

We are SO "high-maintenance" LOLOLOL

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[sayhello]

I used to pack for each of us in each bag, but found last year's ABD to London/Paris worked easier with one bag per person. I tried not to think of lost baggage. Lol

The idea of splitting days of the trip across three bags sounds interesting. But it goes back to "what if I want to wear something different."

We are SO "high-maintenance" LOLOLOL

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I freely admit that I am!

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[richflour]

I have not used them yet but I will try this when we go to germany in June
http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packing-solutions.html

 

[Disneyaddictz]

Just got back from our one week trip, for my DD9 ad DD3 I tried out the outfits in a Baggie!! It was awesome, easy to unpack and easy for them/us to get going in the morning! Outfits were already matched and had undies and socks too, even the bow! It jus took some thought while packing but totally worth it when the trip began. Obviously for my hubby I just matched some outfits together to make it easy, no baggies... And me, we'll I like decide that minute what I will wear. But at least I only needed to worry about what I would wear baggies rock and I will do it every trip!

 

[familygoboston]

Singing mom- I think you will find it challenging to completely unpack and re pack on an ABD. As you know the pace is very fast, rarely more than 2 nights in a place. So everytime you move to a new hotel you have to spend so much time re packing.

BAGGING IT: I know its hard to "live" out of a suitcase, but you could try as Tuf Buf suggest packing in smaller, item specific bags so that you only have to pack the bags or packing cubes back up rather than packing individual items. For instance I pack my underware and socks in one bag, tees in another, laundry in another etc, that way I can move the bags out of the suitcase (unpack) or if I chose to live out of the bag, I don't have to upend everything to get to the stuff at the bottom. I just remove a bag or two and can reach everything. Like you I pack toiletires in puches by function, that way first aid and meds don't need to live in a small bath, and I can leave the "bag" with shower stuff in the shower. I keep all the gels in one so I can show it off at the airport.

MIX AND MATCH: I have lots of travel clothing that is all in the same color family. This way I can do as you like to Singing mom and "decide" on my outfit on the fly. I have 2-3 pants, 4-5 shirts and a couple of sweaters/jackets. These all match the same shoe. That way I can put it together based on the day, but I know it will mostly go together. I have a collection of easy care, lightweight stuff now, and I bag it!

Now I have a completely different recommendation for packing for young children-
If you are doing an ABD with little kids it is far, far easier to pack by outfit. They usually get so grubby you cant repeat much anyway (maybe wear shorts 2 days,) Look at the itinerary, and put together an outfit that works for that day in a large plastic bag, label the day and whats in it it (yellow shirt, cargo shorts, put the underware and socks in there too!) so if you do laundry you can put it back in the bag afterwards. This is great because you will have many early mornings and all one needs to do is hand your child their bag and they dress (or for the littlest kids, hand the bag to a big or co parent and you don't have to micromanage everyone getting ready) The dirty stuff goes right back in the bag at the end of the day, so the kids don't have piles of dirty laundry everywhere to pack on moving day. It simplifies things soooo much!

BTW Richflower- the 2 1/2 gallon zip lock bags really do the same job for a lot less $$

 

[SingingMom]

Lots of good suggestions! I must admit, I loved that website from richflour! Ziplock baggies work, but how pretty the ones on the website were! Lol. (And $$$ more lol)

I do have a few pieces that I use to pack undies. That definitely keeps things more organized. It's just that annoying "I rather wear this top with those pants..." and have to start digging. As I pick clothes to bring I do set up matches in my brain. Lol. I think I am over thinking this. Heehee. I might try to pack all tops in one zippered pouch, all shorts in another, so that they are easier to remove & replace in the suitcase. Lol.

( and, stop worrying about being a fashion plate and not bring so many "options" ..... ;-). )

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[familygoboston]

Lots of good suggestions! I must admit, I loved that website from richflour! Ziplock baggies work, but how pretty the ones on the website were! Lol. (And $$$ more lol)

I do have a few pieces that I use to pack undies. That definitely keeps things more organized. It's just that annoying "I rather wear this top with those pants..." and have to start digging. As I pick clothes to bring I do set up matches in my brain. Lol. I think I am over thinking this. Heehee. I might try to pack all tops in one zippered pouch, all shorts in another, so that they are easier to remove & replace in the suitcase. Lol.

( and, stop worrying about being a fashion plate and not bring so many "options" ..... ;-). )
"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I do believe you are onto something here Especially when it comes to shoes, comfortable and functional rule the day on an ABD!!

 

[SingingMom]

I do believe you are onto something here Especially when it comes to shoes, comfortable and functional rule the day on an ABD!!

Oh, but think of all those PHOTOS!!! LOLOLOL I want to look GOOD! Teehee.....

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[sayhello]

Oh, but think of all those PHOTOS!!! LOLOLOL I want to look GOOD! Teehee.....

"SingingMom"

I know!!! Especially since mine end up all over facebook & the DISBoards! I'm totally high maintenance!

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