Are you a PANIC PACKER???

I have just returned from my holiday in Tenerife, I don’t know about you but I HATE PACKING and always leave it until the last minute – quite literally! In fact this time I started packing at midnight and finished 10 minutes before we left for the airport

I often call my clients 2 or 3 weeks before they go away to wish Bon Voyage and check that they have everything they need – I always ask if they are packed and 90% are either all packed up and ready to go or have everything laid out and neatly ironed in the spare room ready to be placed in their cases

I do always mean to get ready early but this time I booked my car parking just before midnight, checked in for my flights just after midnight and then had the gruelling task of packing for the 3 of us, to be honest I did cheat – as we were not cruising this time I just neatly packed our things and my trusty travel iron with a plan to iron as needed when we arrived

Whether you are super organised down to the last sock and perfectly coordinated outfits or like me and throw everything in at the last minute here are a few handy packing tips –

Lists are good! Especially if you are packing for other family members, at least then if you are packing early you won’t forget the things that you might still need like toiletries and your toothbrush!

It is best to split your his and hers clothes into 2 cases so if  the nightmare of lost luggage happens to you and 1 of your cases doesn’t make it your destination you are will not be in that awful situation of having nothing to wear and forced to shop on a ship where there is limited choices and only logo t shirts size XXL (or XXSmall)

To save space, roll your clothes rather than fold them and use tissue paper to avoid wrinkles

If you are staying in a hotel or touring before your cruise, pack your cruise clothes underneath so they don’t get creased before you get on board

We all like to pack 101 outfits  and 45 pairs of shoes Just in case we need them but be realistic – you probably won’t need a sweater in the Caribbean or swim suits in the Baltic – be merciless and get all of the things that you would like to take and cut it down by half – just don’t take what you will not need – you will only end up having to re launder it all when you get home

If you really need to take an item and are already up to you baggage allowance don’t panic! Just take some of his stuff out of the case so you can fit yours in  the chances are he won’t even notice …

Most important of all don’t forget your passport!!!