Packing for a Sunny Holiday

I try to be organised with many things in life as I find being organised saves me time. I usually keep my holiday clothes in a suitcase under the bed so that when it comes to packing everything is in the suitcase and I don't spend time searching for what to take away. I do the same with my holiday toiletry bag and always keep it full of travel sizes that I buy at car boot sales throughout the summer.

We are going for two weeks to Turkey for a lazy sunny beach holiday at Olu Deniz. We have 20kg luggage allowance on the flight and we always use Samsonite hard case suitcases which weigh quite heavy themselves. I always ponder about what to take and end up taking too much but last year when I had a week away in Mijas, Spain I found my rule of 3 items came in handy. 

I will take 3 dresses for wearing in the evening which means each one will be worn three times. I will take 3 swimsuits and 3 floaty kaftans for wearing over my swimwear. This also means each one will be worn around three times. These will be worn on the days or part days that we spend by the pool or on the beach.  I used to take sarongs but over recent years have found these kaftans more versatile so I have quite a few of these now in different colours and styles - some v neck, some round neck and some embellished with beads and sequins. 

I will take 3 linen skirts and a pair of shorts for during the day and 4 t shirts that match up with them. So I have a purple vest style t shirt to go with the patterned linen skirt. I have a navy linen round next t shirt which matches the navy patterned linen skirt. I have a loose grey t shirt and violet t shirt which both work well with the white linen skirt. In addition I will be taking some white cotton 3/4 length trousers which will go with any of the tops and can be worn underneath the kaftans if I fancy a change in the evening.

I always travel in trousers and some camel ankle grazers and black jeggings are favourites at the moment when worn with a loose crinkle blouse and with a shorty denim jacket over the top. The denim jacket can be worn over everything that I take away with me and helps keep away any unexpected chills if the temperature drops in the evening.

I  like comfortable flat sandals to wear on a beach holiday so wear cushioned soled flip flops also from Marks & Spencer called step tone. I have Birkenstock sandals that are great for wearing when sight seeing and a pair of slightly glittery Fitflops for wearing in the evenings.

Two of the maxi dresses have been bought second hand. One is a Windsmoor dress which came from a charity shop in Milnethorpe in the Lake District while the other is an Evans one which I bought on eBay. The trousers were also bought on ebay, the white ones were new complete with their labels and the camel ones were second hand. Both of the linen skirts were bought in the Marks & Spencer sale as we're all the kaftans. I rarely buy clothes at full price and only thought about this recently when I was walking through the a Trafford Centre to get a manicure and pedicure. I puzzled over people carrying bags full of their new clothes and could not really remember the last time that I had done this. I do not miss it and choose to wait until the sales or buy items on-line, at charity shops or car boot sales.

How do you organise your packing?