To unpack or not unpack...

[straitman]

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.

I have been known to go looking for clothes at home and have found things in a case from a previous trip.

That said my unpacking on the road varies dramatically. Over night in a hotel I don't have much so don't unpack much. Twenty days on a cruise ship and I unpack everything because I am going to use everything as I really try not to take things that are not going to be used. (I don't always get it right though)

 

[JohnK]

Hotels like most things in life you get what you pay for. I have never ever had anything stolen from hotel room and I leave stuff laying around everywhere every time - but I don't stay in cough hotels either - sorry for being way OT but the cr*p that some go on with hotel security is over the top.

You are right. I choose to stay in cheap hotels because I get a thrill out of staying in a clean place close to golf bar, close to beach where we go for a walk at night and listen to music, very nice breakfast and all for less than AUD50/night.

I don't feel threatened in any way. Security is quite good. But I still don't trust housekeepers. I have experienced it first hand. Mostly my fault but theft still occurred. And I have heard other stories.

So I will keep my possessions locked up while on holidays but I should say I do unpack quite often to repack the mess that is my luggage.

 

[boomy]

If hotel room doesn't have safe you should not be staying there. Honesty of staff in major international hotel chains checked / monitored on daily basis - they constantly 'test' staff - so many bulls**t stories about items stolen from rooms.

Hotels like most things in life you get what you pay for. I have never ever had anything stolen from hotel room and I leave stuff laying around everywhere every time - but I don't stay in cough hotels either - sorry for being way OT but the cr*p that some go on with hotel security is over the top.

Agree about in-room safe, very important.
Regarding honesty of staff, I also don't stay in cough hotels nor other people that I personally know and many of us had items stolen from our rooms over the years. If it never happened to you it means you've been lucky so far but it doesn't mean it can't happen to others. Sadly it can and it does happen, dishonesty can be found anywhere, even at the Four Seasons...

 

[Bolthead]

Mid February this year we stayed at the Renaissance Chengdu Hotel for 3 nights. We put all our wallets, purses, wives jewellery etc... in the room safe. We always carry our passports on us especially in China, (don't know why, just do). Hence for the first time in my life we didn't check the safe when we checked out and when we arrived in Harbin we received an email from the hotel in Chengdu saying we had left a lot of personal items in the safe. They arranged to have all the items sent with a secure courier to our sons office in Shanghai at their cost. We were very thankful for the honesty of the house keeping. Every hotel after that the safe was always tripled checked...

 

[sinophile888]

My husband once left our passports in the room safe when had an overnight stop at the Crowne Plaza at Changi Airport. Luckily, there was time for him to return to the hotel desk, explain the situation, and retrieve our documents. Could have been difficult if we hadn't stayed at the airport.

 

[boomy]

My husband once left our passports in the room safe when had an overnight stop at the Crowne Plaza at Changi Airport. Luckily, there was time for him to return to the hotel desk, explain the situation, and retrieve our documents. Could have been difficult if we hadn't stayed at the airport.

Reminds my once forgot passports and cash in the safe at MBS SIN. Found out about it half way to the airport, lucky it's small island and also was early morning with not much traffic so managed to get back and still catch the flight.

This is definitely one of my biggest fears when traveling, since then I always make sure to double check the in-room safe before leaving and if it's an early morning departure then take everything out the night before.

 

[JohnK]

This is definitely one of my biggest fears when traveling, since then I always make sure to double check the in-room safe before leaving and if it's an early morning departure then take everything out the night before.

I know it sounds silly but everytime you checkout of hotel say the following out loud (sometimes more than once) and also check the part of the body used to store the item.

"Wallet, passport, phone(s), GPS/camera....". Surprising how nothing gets left behind.

 

[Aeolus]

Why do people place toiletries back in the bag?

I never used to until I watched that silly video on the web on what they could do with your toothbrush! :mrgreen:

 

[Bindibuys]

1-3 nights will live out of the case, and only hang up good items like coat / jackets. Toiletries bag always stays in the bathroom for duration.
Most clothes stay in my Eagle Creek "pack-its", just love them. Power cords in own bag next to outlet.
My only beef is that I make a section of table for all my little items (wallet, room key, camera, rings/ear-rings etc) hubby tends to have his scattered from one end of the bench to the other.

 

[harvyk]

Sigh, the kids are right now reminding me of option number three, don't nicely unpack, but rather piles clothes out of suitcase all over floor and then scattered right around room.

 

[Walter_Plinge]

Sort of related to this - and this is for the guys mainly - do you iron shirts or jeans if you wash/rinse them in the basin or bath? I used to but found they didn't look too bad after wearing for a morning. Of course if you're wearing a pullover or similar on top, why bother? Mrs Plinge would be horrified so I haven't canvassed her opinion (I know the answer without asking).

 

[Franky]

1-3 nights will live out of the case, and only hang up good items like coat / jackets. Toiletries bag always stays in the bathroom for duration.
Most clothes stay in my Eagle Creek "pack-its", just love them. Power cords in own bag next to outlet.
My only beef is that I make a section of table for all my little items (wallet, room key, camera, rings/ear-rings etc) hubby tends to have his scattered from one end of the bench to the other.

I always thought it was a gender thing, but it's the reverse in my house..

 

[marki]

I am just messy sometimes in some times out

 

[harvyk]

Sort of related to this - and this is for the guys mainly - do you iron shirts or jeans if you wash/rinse them in the basin or bath? I used to but found they didn't look too bad after wearing for a morning. Of course if you're wearing a pullover or similar on top, why bother? Mrs Plinge would be horrified so I haven't canvassed her opinion (I know the answer without asking).

I've ironed my shirt exactly 1 time whilst on the road. However I am likely to iron my shirt again this weekend.

 

[get me outta here]

Well if you only have the 1 shirt, I guess you don't have time to iron it between wearings.

I've ironed my shirt exactly 1 time whilst on the road. However I am likely to iron my shirt again this weekend.

I don't iron anything. I find that whether at home or on the road, I pull everything gently into shape and it looks absolutely fine. I especially don't iron linen. I really don't like the cardboard look that as soon as you sit down or you walk in it, or bend your arm it's all seriously creased up. Plus, it makes it go all hard feeling. Au naturelle for me - but pulled into shape.

 

[RB]

Usually we stay at apartments rather than hotels. Mrs RB tends to unpack, my stuff usually stays in the bag. Our last trip was our 1st with packing cubes but the cubes stayed i my bag-it was just much easier to know which cube to go hunting in.
I remember our 1st trip OS we actually took a specially purchased travel iron-was very heavy for its size & would probably rank as our most useless purchase for travel. All our clothes now are iron free materials

 

[pkeatingaus]

I tend to keep everything packed if I'm away for just a couple of nights but if it goes over three nights, I'll unpack and put stuff away in the cupboards and drawers. My wife on the other hand is an avid un-packer and tends to unpack everything no matter the length of stay.

 

[hm520]

While travelling (for fun) I'll generally use AirBnB for my accomodation. I find with that I get 1) Better value 2) More space and 3) More facilities. As a result there is usually far more room for placing things, so i'll often put my bag in a place where it's out of the way (and out of sight) and open it fully. Shirts etc. are hung, usually in an airy location so I can minimise washing.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Depends on how many cases we have. There's usually only one luggage rack per room so sometimes it's just easier to unpack (but not for just 1 night).

My case often sit proudly on a lounge chair at home because I can't see the point of putting it away each time home and it just makes it easier to keep things needed, ready to go again.

On a slightly different note.........how many of you have a "travel outfit" that gets worn every time? I try to change my travel wear each trip so as not to be too boring, but I do notice a lot of FFers that are wearing the exact same clothes each trip. One guy I knew was even seriously thinking of designing a travel ensemble that he planned to market. I haven't run into him for a long while now, so I've no idea if the idea grew legs (complete with an assortment of pockets, of course)!

 

[Walter_Plinge]

On a slightly different note.........how many of you have a "travel outfit" that gets worn every time? I try to change my travel wear each trip so as not to be too boring, but I do notice a lot of FFers that are wearing the exact same clothes each trip.

That's me, allowing for wear/replacement. Clothes to suit the weather where I'm heading, selected from everyday clothes in the wardrobe. Same jeans, shoes every day. No special travel clothes. I do have 'travel' shoes, however - walking shoes or ankle boots, because I do a lot of walking. I'm a solo traveller of, uh, mature years, so I have given myself permission to be as boring as like.