Hi it’s Alfred here – For many years I often bragged to friends that it takes a lazy Dad like me, less than 15 minutes packing for ANY holidays!

I know there are many people (like my wife) who packs weeks before hand because it gets her excited leading up to the holidays (check her very detailed tips here)…Then there are those like me who just want to get on the plane with minimum fuss.

How do I do it?

 

Step #1: Pack one week before holidays

Most Dads forget or overpack items because they do it right before leaving. I do my packing one week prior. My stuff would then sit at the bottom of the luggage, and later my boys’ excess stuff will occupy the rest of the luggage.

 

Step #2 Go through packing order below and calculate how many of each item you need to bring

(if you get an odd number you can round the number up)

 

For example, using the above guide, in our recent 15 days trip to Croatia & Slovenia I brought:

  • 5 tops (3 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts)
  • 5 pants (4 long pants, 1 short pant)

  • 7 undies
  • 7 socks
  • 4 sleeping tops
  • 4 short sleeping pants
  • Bits: 1 belt, pieces: 1 spare glasses
  • 1 bag of toiletries,
  • Gadgets: SLR camera, GoPro, my son’s pocket camera
  • Winter wear: 2 thermals, 1 sweater, 2 jackets,
  • 1 spare walking shoes – AND THAT’S IT!

15 minutes packing – DONE. Boom!

 

Even with my extra gear, I end up using just half of the luggage space, allowing the remaining space for my boy’s excess stuff to be put in. Tara loves to pack using packing cells, it helps her sort and organise the luggage into sections. I don’t!

Notes:

Just because I’m lazy at packing doesn’t mean that I’m not going to look good.

I choose colour neutral clothes so that all my tops matches all my bottoms. I bring wrinkle free clothing and clothing that looks fine even when wrinkled. You can even tell from the photos above that the shirts aren’t ironed! And I don’t wear my favourite football team’s jersey for holidays.

  1. Tops: bring a combination of T-shirts, long sleeves and shirts
  2. Pants: bring a combination of long and short pants. Chinos are usually versatile
  3. Undies: make sure they’re the clean batch
  4. Socks: select a few cotton, sports socks or thermal socks for winter
  5. Sleeping tops: simple T-shirts usually does the job
  6. Sleeping pants: unless it’s cold and the accommodation has no heating – I prefer to bring short pants.
  7. Bits and pieces: for me it’s usually one belt and spare glasses – in case the one I’m wearing get smashed!
  8. Toiletries: I have the same toiletries setup for travelling and at home!

I always keep my toiletries in a bag and leave it that way. The standard things to pack include a toothbrush, toothpaste, hair comb and nail clipper. Other add-ons like moisturiser, cleanser, eye cream and hair cream can be included. Yes even a lazy Dad like me have a daily beauty regime!

  • Gadgets: for me it’s my SLR camera, tripod, GoPro and my son’s pocket camera – plus the extra bits like spare batteries, chargers etc.
  • For winter: choose quality clothing material. Good quality thermal is usually the secret to not freezing to death. Don’t over layer – you will end up looking like a tourist!
  • For summer: one extra board short for swimming is usually enough for me
  • Bring (just) ONE extra pair of shoes if you’re going to hike or going to a nice restaurant

Booking.com

For a typical two weeks holidays that we like to go on, I (no – actually it’s Tara) do the laundry once in the second half of the trip. She would wash a few essentials to make sure that we have enough clothes until the end of the trip.

This same lazy Dad packing formula can be used for travels up to about one month. For longer holidays you will eventually run out of luggage room. For such trips, do more washing or find a good laundry service.

 

Step #3 The day before holidays: pack your hand carry

I prefer to use a backpack and it is usually taken over by more of the boy’s “while on the plane” stuff.

My quick hand carry checklist:

  • Everyone’s passports
  • Hard copy of important documents
  • And phone charger

 

Step #4 In case of emergency

Last but not least, in case you forget to pack something:

  • Don’t let your wife know, buy it quietly during the trip.
  • Or in case she does find out: shower here with compliments to allay any arguments. “I’ve never seen you and the kids this happy before”, “Isn’t this holiday just perfect like we always wanted” etc.
  • Don’t tell anyone know you followed my packing tips