How Many Days Ahead Of Your Trip Do You Start Packing?

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

SF VIP
Location
New Jersey
I used to start a couple of days before the trip but would wind up not finishing until the night before, due to adding items I forgot to put on the packing lists. I'd be lost without my lists. I've gotten more efficient over the last year and completed the most tedious and time-consuming things already... packing up food and beverage items ( last week) and replenishing my cosmetic case (done after my last trip).

I'll be leaving on October 7th. My son will take my items to our timeshare when he goes on Oct 4th. He'll be heading down directly from his job, so my suitcase has to be ready by 3:30 that morning when he leaves for work.

I started packing my lingerie today. Now I just have to figure out what outfits I'm taking and start packing them by day after tomorrow.

When do you start packing? Are you good at it?
 

Last edited:
I pack like I'm playing Tetris, usually the night before, all in one tote bag.

Michelle needs a couple days and a fairly large suitcase. And she's always sure she forgot something until we get where we're going and she takes inventory while she unpacks.

And when we go up to the cabin we have to get supplies. Michelle insists we go get them either a day before she starts packing, or on the way there. I guess so she can focus on her suitcase.
 
The art of overpacking.
The master of overpacking, that's me. For a weekend festival, I manage to stuff my bags with enough clothes to survive a year-long expedition to Antarctica. But wait, there’s more! As if my regular suitcase wasn’t enough, I take two extra “emergency” bags just in case. For my love of Latin & Ballroom dancing, obviously I needed a dedicated dance wardrobe!

Tech-savvy, I am not. A tablet, a smartwatch, and a camera, I leave to others, but I do take a cell phone. Now picture this, there I am, desperately searching through my bags, tearing apart hotel rooms, and asking the lady for help. What am I looking for, you might ask? The elusive phantom charger, that's what, a device that vanishes into thin air, leaving me powerless, phoneless and frustrated.

Have you ever heard that a lady cannot have too many shoes? I have the wrong genes, my dilemma is which pairs of shoes to pack for the festival? Spectators for the pose, patent leather for fancy dinners, Correspondences for the ballroom dance floor, and, and, and… well, just in case! That's why I ended up with a suitcase that was 100% shoes. You don't believe me?
shoe collection 1.jpg
The fun continues............................after I have had lunch.
 
I'm an over planner so would start pre packing decisions a week in advance, pre packing simply means creating a pile of what I may take. As I've gotten older I've realized the earlier I start packing the more useless stuff I take, now when I travel I pack the night before and call it good.
 
I used to travel on business during my career, so I always have toiletries already packed. I put clothes aside a couple of weeks prior and pack them a few days prior so I know I have everything. I make a list of last-minute items I might need like sunglasses, electric toothbrush, etc. to make sure I don't forget them. I don't think it's as much preparation as it is anticipation.

I forgot navy tennis shoes during our last trip to the Med last month. I bought a pair of loafers in Athens that were fairly inexpensive and now I call them my "Greece shoes" when I wear them at home.
 
I start planning early making lists. After over packing for so long, I've been working at becoming a minimalist. I take into account how many days we will be there, the weather & our activities. My makeup bag is a duplicate of what I use everyday like brushes, combs, etc. so I only need to add soaps, makeup & like items. I usually start laying out clothes a week ahead so I only have to add a few things at the last minute. It's taken time, but I'm getting better at it.

After loosing our luggage while going to Germany many years ago & having it finally showing up after 4 days, I learned a lot. The first thing my husband does is check on what the airlines are responsible for to you when they loose your luggage & everyone one of them is different. My goal is to get everything in carry-ons for the next flight so we don't have to worry about checked bags.

I'm more than willing to take time out & do laundry whether domestic or over seas. I take detergent pods with us when we drive & I will look into laundry detergent sheets that I've seen at stores if we would be flying. I just want to try them to see which ones work the best first.
 
I start out with a suitcase on the bed in the guestroom at least a week before.

Into that I heap, I swear, every thing I own. I might need it, y'know.

Then I proceed to start removing items. Do I really need three black tops? Take out two. Put one of them back in. Take it out again.

Rinse and repeat.

Get frustrated. Swear I'm not going. Maybe sob a little.

Eventually, I get it done but I just wasn't born with the packing gene. It doesn't come easy.
 
For me it is according to how long the vacation is going to be. If it is a short weekend vacation, I may not plan or pack until a day or two before we leave. If it is a longer vacation and especially one that requires using a airplane to reach the destination then I have to plan much farther in advance. Packing a suitcase for an airplane is so difficult for me.

I am the type of person that wants to take a ton of outfits on vacation with me which includes many pairs of shoes. When travelling by plane however, I don't want to be checking several bags and having to lug several bags around the airport as well. So I only check one regulation size bag and have one smaller carry one bag with me for the things I might need on the plane. So I have to prepare that check in bag usual at least 7 to 10 days before we leave for vacation. This drives me husband crazy because he just throws stuff into his suitcase usually the night before we leave and he is good to go.
 
We usually plan mentally once booked. I make a list based on the day's activities. We dump stuff into the luggage as we go and end up packing 2 days before the trip. Sometimes the night before
 
Trips to Europe, I pack one backpack.
I am my suitcase.
Wear most comfy shoes for walking, a pair of favorite comfy jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt and a flannel shirt for the flight.
The backpack holds my meds, one hairbrush, small bag of makeup, 4 pairs of panties and socks.
Depending on the weather, a crushable jacket, in a nylon zip bag I can use as a pillow.
If I need anything else, I buy while on my trip.
Mail everything I buy home.
Return trip in same outfit, unless I find one I like better while on trip.
 

Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top