Lettie Goes Travelling

Please say it’s not just me… I can’t be the only one.

Packing for a week on a beach in June? Easy.

Packing for a long weekend in March? Not so much ☺️

I’m off to Gibraltar for a few days of relaxation and walking, with plans to explore the nature reserve that is The Rock.

Which means I’ll be outdoors most of the day, climbing the 1,400 steps. Evenings will be chilly, the clocks haven’t changed yet, so the days are still a bit short… and don’t even get me started on checking the weather.

One app is saying pack for monsoons and high winds.

Another is promising sunshine and a gentle breeze.

And a third might as well just shrug its shoulders 🤷🏻‍♀️

So what do I do?

Even in the summer months, I get everything out that I think I’ll need and lay it all out in the spare room… and then I walk away.

A couple of days later, I go back to it — and I’m ruthless.

And it works.

I bring far less back that never got worn, and I’m rarely ‘without’ anything while I’m away.

For me, spring and autumn are all about layering. It’s better to have two lighter layers than one big jumper. And I’m a scarf wearer, so two or three always make the cut — they can dress up a plain top for the evening or just add a bit of warmth during the day.

I also use packing cubes now — I love them.

Not the air compression ones… just the double-zipped ones. No faffing around on the return journey trying to get your sucky thing to work. They keep everything organised too — one for tops, one for dresses… you get the picture.

Works brilliantly.

Until it doesn’t.

I went to Sicily for a long weekend with two dear friends a couple of years ago. I was all very organised… obviously…

…until I realised, while unpacking, that the cube with my underwear was still sat in the spare bedroom.

We had such a hoot going knicker shopping that it was almost worth it.

I was not about to spend €150 on a pair in the only lingerie shop we could find, so we ended up at a market buying what I can only describe as granny pants from a very enthusiastic Italian man who insisted on helping me find my size.

Let’s just say… he was a few sizes off. And not in a good way.

Lesson learned: always check you’ve packed everything you need.

And if your bag feels a bit light… you’ve definitely forgotten something.

Finally, the one thing that is becoming a bit of a bugbear for me — liquids.

Especially as this trip is cabin baggage only.

Leaving Gatwick, liquids can stay in your case, no limit on numbers, no need for one clear bag…

Coming back? Completely different story.

And I really don’t want to be that person at the airport trying to decant toiletries into tiny plastic bags while holding up the queue.

So now I treat Gatwick like the return airport.

Everything fits into one clear bag before I leave.

I’ll often pick up a couple of spare bags at whatever airport I’m flying back from, ready for next time.

For me, it’s just about removing as many potential hassles as possible in advance.

So when I throw the suitcase in the car and lock up the house, I know I’ve covered all the packing bases… as much as anyone ever can.