To unpack or not unpack...

[AnnaB]

I have had discussions with friends, family and co-workers lately and the question about travelling and unpacking has been on the table several times.

I personally do not unpack with the exception of certain dresses or clothing that would wrinkle, and I also put my toiletry bag and make up in the bathroom. But besides that I kind of live in a suitcase.

Most of the people I know unpack completely though. Fill drawers, wardrobes and cabinets even if they are merely staying for two days.

How do you do it? Unpack or dont unpack? How long are your stays if you do? I dont even unpack for a week, and I have been away for over 3 weeks and still lived in a suitcase (but I think that was of lack of storage more than anything).

 

[snabbu]

Traveling alone, never unpack no matter the duration.
Traveling with family, better half unpacks completely.

Either way I personally never unpack

 

[maia200]

Depends on how long the stay. If more than a week I tend to unpack most items. If shorter than that I hang up a few things that may crease - if they don't they stay in the case. I always take my pajamas out and put them on the bed. I always unpack my basic toiletries though - there is a certain routine with those - but not my makeup it stays in the bag as do my shoes.

 

[RooFlyer]

I unpack clothes if staying for about 4 nights or more (no fixed rule) and shirts/trousers needed for next few days if < 4 days. Beyond that, things get taken out as needed.

 

[Seriously?]

Complete unpack if more than one night. Maybe I'm messy, but if I don't unpack the suitcase becomes such a rats nest that it needs emptying to repack anyway

 

[harvyk]

I'll hang up a jacket or shirts, but other than that I won't unpack.
The longest I've spent in a single hotel room has been 10 days, and even then I didn't bother unpacking.

 

[JohnK]

Never unpack. Everything stays in luggage including toiletries.

 

[RooFlyer]

Never unpack. Everything stays in luggage including toiletries.

Doesn't that make taking luggage a bit pointless? But as you say, we are all different ...

 

[Buzzard]

I always hang shirts and place toiletries in the bathroom. Shoes also get unpacked.
Everything else stays in the case unless +1 and I are sharing luggage in which case I will unpack everything.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I use cells....so packing and unpacking is very quick. Plus as each cell is themed I always know where everything is without having to search.

Having said that how much I unpack depends on the room I am in, its furniture etc.

I like rooms that have somewhere where I can put my bag at a good height to access and if provided I will tend to not unpack as much.

Always place toiletries in bathroom though. Why would you leave in your bag and then have to run back and forth?

 

[Major]

I hang up a jacket and toiletries straight to the bathroom. The remainder stays in the suitcase.

Used gear goes into the laundry bag and is the last thing packed before check out.

2 week cruises are different. Totally unpack and suitcase under the bed.

 

[JohnK]

Doesn't that make taking luggage a bit pointless? But as you say, we are all different ...

Why would taking luggage be pointless? Clean shirts in one laundry bag. Dirty shirts in another laundry bag. Socks, underwear and anything else in their own laundry bag.

In the morning take out the clothes needed for day of golf and put back any dirty clothes or take them to laundry.

I don't have/need this great desire to feel like I am at home. In fact sometimes I don't unpack when I come back to Brisbane on Sunday night. Clean clothes in one luggage to be used as needed, dirty clothes in the other luggage.

Yes we are all different and in this case definitely no right or wrong.

 

[RooFlyer]

Why would taking luggage be pointless?
<snip>

Sorry, when you said that you never unpack, I just thought, .. well ... Never mind ....

 

[JohnK]

Sorry, when you said that you never unpack, I just thought, .. well ... Never mind ....

Ok. Got it now. :mrgreen:

 

[Shamrock55]

Is anyone else so rubbish at folding shirts that they always have to iron all business shirts when they arrive? Its always how i seem to spend my first night in a hotel on business Should be at the bar!

Everyone else stays in the case unless its a long trip.

 

[BAM1748]

Never unpack.......and toiletries go back in the suitcase during the day when I'm out.

 

[JohnK]

Is anyone else so rubbish at folding shirts that they always have to iron all business shirts when they arrive? Its always how i seem to spend my first night in a hotel on business Should be at the bar!

Some of us cannot fold shirts nor iron shirts.

Change hotels a lot in a single trip. Best to leave shirts folded inside luggage.

 

[Mattg]

Sometimes I won't even unpack between trips after returning home... when there isn't much time between trips, I don't see the point. So I definitely don't bother unpacking when I get to my destination.

 

[Major]

Is anyone else so rubbish at folding shirts that they always have to iron all business shirts when they arrive? Its always how i seem to spend my first night in a hotel on business Should be at the bar!

Everyone else stays in the case unless its a long trip.

I had a boss who used to hang his shirts in the bathroom, turn on the shower hot tap and close the door. The steam seemed to sort out his shirt wrinkles

 

[MickC32]

I always unpack....my wife hates it, laughs at me every time.

Short work trips and I still unpack even the stuff that doesn't need hanging/ironing.

Longer holidays, I generally use packing cells (great invention!) and will empty out my case at each stop....usually as Mrs Mick is bagging me out!

On longer trips I tend to use a hard shell suitcase which need to be fully opened on flat surface to get stuff in and out of easily so that could be why I've developed the habit of unpacking.