V-Flyer

Have started paking for my trip next Thursday.

Well not packing exactly but getting the case out, setting aside clothes, recharging camera batteries, sorting documents etc

Mind I will probably still have the late Wednesday night panic of 'have I packed enough clean pants'

So it got me thinking when do other V-Flyers start doing their packing?

Take into account that when I was a child my mother usually started this process 6 weeks (well it seamed that long) before we travelled (and this was just in the UK!). Even now its just her and dad the packing starts with two weeks to go !

Depends on the day of travel, but often we go towards the end of the week and are working right up until then, so often pack most stuff the weekend before. I say 'we' - actually, himself prefers to pack (and you won't find me arguing that point!) but both of us still find it stupidly stressful.

That said, I do have generic lists, and I review those about a month before...

Always pack the night before, but everything is already neatly piled and prepared.

The sight of the suitcase sends my cats into panic mode, so leave it as late as poss lol.

I've just emptied out my suitcase and cabin bag to sort everything out ready for my next flight - I've found hotel bills and receipts from last year. My case should be a lot lighter now!

Luke085 wrote:Always pack the night before, but everything is already neatly piled and prepared.

The sight of the suitcase sends my cats into panic mode, so leave it as late as poss lol.

Oh god yes, used to have that situation - the cat used to see the bags and run off and hide. We did find that getting them out about a week before allowed time for the cat to panic and then get over it. Guess it won't work for all cats!

I pack the night before, however do start putting bits and bobs on one of the spare beds a week or so beforehand. I do this as my memory is shocking so when I think of something I need to take I get it out there and then so I don't forget!

Cats do seam to have issues.

When I was youger one of them just gave that look of 'all very well you lot going away but have you sorted out someone to feed me'

The next one we had was more 'at last two weeks of peace' !

I do a bot of what Neil does too - Realise I might need to take it then add it to the pile

catsilversword wrote:

Luke085 wrote:Always pack the night before, but everything is already neatly piled and prepared.

The sight of the suitcase sends my cats into panic mode, so leave it as late as poss lol.

Oh god yes, used to have that situation - the cat used to see the bags and run off and hide. We did find that getting them out about a week before allowed time for the cat to panic and then get over it. Guess it won't work for all cats!

My cat sees the suitcase - and tries (quite often successfully) to get in it. Night before if an early start - on the morning if a p.m. flight. The only check I do is passports, purse, chargers and e-tickets.

Regards
R3dV

Luke085 wrote:Always pack the night before, but everything is already neatly piled and prepared.

The sight of the suitcase sends my cats into panic mode, so leave it as late as poss lol.

My dog is not happy when he see's suitcases...He usually tries to step on them and nudge me to keep me from packing.

I usually back a day or two before, with a last item or two going in the day of. Saying that, my last two trips I've packed the day of because it was: buy ticket, pack, run to airport (and barely make the flight)!

I have frequent trips with short stays. So I usually have what I call a "World Traveler Bag" that's loaded with the basic necessities and sometimes clothes that is ready to go. I will check the bag a week before and I'll usually do a final packing a day or two before departure just to make sure I don't forget anything. Length of day and frequency of the trip to the same destination influence when and how much I pack. Fortunately, I don't have pet problems... yet...

I do the packing, the night before a trip. Always have done, always will do. What the present Mrs Treelo knows about packing could be writ large on a gnat's bum with a felt tip pen.
But then, she does do the unpacking, and this has been the status quo for the past 40 years.

I always used to pack a day or so before and consequently would end up with several large cases teetering on 30 odd kilos ): . My last three tips I've packed in the few hours before leaving the house (in the early hours :0 ) and my case(s) have been sub 20 kilos. Granted I've forgotten a few things but have been able to purchase replacements .
My personal laptop bag is always ready to go (cables, headphones, chargers, paper driving license, passport) and I keep the cards I use, ( plus plastic driving license and a float of $ bills and coins) in my purse.
Unpacking however takes me an age- I got back on Tuesday and there are two heavy bags waiting to be properly unpacked ii) .
DL

DragonLady wrote:Unpacking however takes me an age- I got back on Tuesday and there are two heavy bags waiting to be properly unpacked ii) .
DL

We couldn't be more different. From walking though the door, it is max 30mins before all 4 suitcases and 2 carry ons are empty, everything put away and washing sorted and first load in. I hate unpacking and have to get it done and out of the way as quickly as possible.

Neil wrote:

DragonLady wrote:Unpacking however takes me an age- I got back on Tuesday and there are two heavy bags waiting to be properly unpacked ii) .
DL

We couldn't be more different. From walking though the door, it is max 30mins before all 4 suitcases and 2 carry ons are empty, everything put away and washing sorted and first load in. I hate unpacking and have to get it done and out of the way as quickly as possible.

Lol we're almost the same, suitcases are empty within an hour, washing organised into relevant piles then all the normal bits put away.

The bit I struggle with is all the new stuff! I tend to just lay it all out over the living room floor and enjoy trying to figure out where to put all my lovely new things! ^) ^)

The suitcase comes out about 2 weeks before (without the dog seeing it, or she will sulk!!) my husband packs the suitcases a couple of days before, otherwise I would bring the kitchen sink!!

Sharon

downhillski1 wrote:

Luke085 wrote:Always pack the night before, but everything is already neatly piled and prepared.

The sight of the suitcase sends my cats into panic mode, so leave it as late as poss lol.

My dog is not happy when he see's suitcases...He usually tries to step on them and nudge me to keep me from packing.

I usually back a day or two before, with a last item or two going in the day of. Saying that, my last two trips I've packed the day of because it was: buy ticket, pack, run to airport (and barely make the flight)!

Lol cute dog!! I recall a few years go that I was half packed and noticed the cat sitting in the case, I soon realised the she had decided to tell me off for planning to leave and did a wee in the case! All over my fresh holiday clothes!! Thank god for washing machine and tumble dryer! :w

tontybear wrote:So it got me thinking when do other V-Flyers start doing their packing?

I have several suitcases, if it's a work trip then I take out the work case which is permanently prepacked with certain things, in which case packing happens two hours before the car comes.

Always the night before but neat piles of clothes and everything in the spare bedroom for a few days before.....it sort of works....

Usually it's just before, but it depends on the trip. In Jan I did a San Diego/Boston/Europe merry-go-round, which required a larger suitcase than carry-on size, and a bit more thought given the different climates I ended up in.

My half side of the chest of drawers is usually clear, so a few days before I will begin to collect clothes I will be needing, rather than hanging or folding them for the drawers. I have a drawer in the office room and a shoe box in a closet which contain essential stuff, docs, Sennheiser, adapters, currency and cards, etc etc, so I can pretty much grab those last minute, easily. Putting it all together would normally take a half hour.

Late summer I'll have another tricky one, though, five day work trip, followed by family wedding in Italy, followed by a couple of days in the north visiting friends and another three days work trip on the end. While I'll be saved by being able to do some laundry while at the family place, it promises to be an interesting one to pack for. I hate having to pack suits in suitcases, notwithstanding the name, and flying in a suit in late August is just no fun.

Mrs fox takes control of the packing process about 2-3 days before we go. Various piles of stuff in the spare bedroom with wash bags laid out ready. To be loaded at the last minute. I have just two jobs from she who must be obeyed get the cases down from the loft and make sure all the electronics are charged and adapters iPad, iPod camera mobile phone etc are in one small bag. Works best if I keep out of the way and just confirm that there are sufficient pants tops shorts socks and a fleece 'in case it's cold when we get back' heyho.

Treelo wrote:I do the packing, the night before a trip. Always have done, always will do. What the present Mrs Treelo knows about packing could be writ large on a gnat's bum with a felt tip pen.
But then, she does do the unpacking, and this has been the status quo for the past 40 years.

The system works!

About a week before I start collecting the clothes up and the get piled up on the spare bed. Along with all the wash bags, chargers, books, etc.

They don't get into the case till the day we go or the day before at the earliest, again don't want to stress the fur kids out with the sight of suitcases.

horburyflyer wrote:Always the night before but neat piles of clothes and everything in the spare bedroom for a few days before.....it sort of works....

+1 suitcase comes down from loft about a week before and kept in the guest room where stuff is gradually added over the course of the week until the day before when I pack it properly and leave spaces if necessary for the last things to go in just before we leave.

As the cats aren't allowed in there, they don't see the cases until they emerge fully sealed.

I do mine an hour or so before leaving for the airport ):

That said, I have a range of stuff "pre-packed" in the closet and ensure the wash bag is always ready to go. This was a trick I picked up many years back when I was called away at the last moment to help out on youth camps |:)

Infuriates Mrs Buns no end - who starts thinking about packing weeeks ahead

buns

And then of course there's the conversation 'when's the last day you want to be doing washing for stuff that's being taken away?'