UnPacking and using packing cubes?

[Andrea J.]

Some of us once arriving in Aruba cannot wait to throw on some beachwear and head on to the beach or pool and totally immerse in Aruba's "State of Valium"

Some of us immediately get to the chore of unpacking before a Balashi passes over our lips.

Then there is me.............
We usually stop at the grocery store then we do have stuff that we HAVE to put away immediately.
I usually get most of my stuff sufficiently put away. Paul is on his own with his stuff. The luggage gets stored in a closet or under the bed.

I open my large rolling duffel and reach in and grab and then drop into drawers or closet shelves.........
my packing cubes
1) with shorts and capris
2) with tees and tanks. folded at home using Sheldon's shirt folder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOaKFLxywqw3) with nicer tops for evening
4) underwear and nightgowns and sox.
5) bathing suits and cover ups
6) toiletry packing cube

Our last 3 cruises and last Aruba trip, the only thing that came out of the packing cubes and hung were my dressier tops for night.

Believe me, with packing cubes things are so much easier and well organized.

Any of you have unpacking routines?

[frzummo87]

We too use packing cubes but unpack everything as soon as we get into our unit. Then into swimsuit and cover up for a snack and beverage. Sometimes we hit the grocery store on Saturday afternoon and sometimes we wait until Sunday. Always, always, always get a guava donut from Dunkin on our first morning in Aruba. Our local Dunkin at home does not carry guava donuts. It is a treat.

And the first sunset in Aruba never gets old.

[Colette M]

I HATE packing and always bring too much!!! I don’t have packing cubes but heard they are great.

[cpjones]

No packing tubes here... but have become expert at packing linen shirts! All shirts are on individual hangers with the sleves clipped together in the back of each. The entire bundle of shirts on hangers are placed into a plastic bag from the dry cleaners and folded as a group into the suitcase......then I cram everything else around it! To unpack... I just take the bundle, hang it up and seperate the shirts. Never a problem with linen or cotton! No more ironing needed!

[robin]

I don't use packing cubes. Everything gets rolled-sometimes several tops layered together and rolled if we are going be somewhere for several days. I unpack as soon as I can. If we are on a road trip, things are rolled individually, so I can grab it out the night before. If it is wrinkled, I hang it up and put it in the bathroom and when I shower, with the door closed, the steam takes out the wrinkles. Sometimes, a day's outfit is packed/rolled together, but not very often. For Aruba, we unload, get lunch and then unpack.

[Colette M]

My husband rolls al lot of his clothes too. Whatever works right! I end up ironing some things each evening before we go out.

I don't use packing cubes. Everything gets rolled-sometimes several tops layered together and rolled if we are going be somewhere for several days. I unpack as soon as I can. If we are on a road trip, things are rolled individually, so I can grab it out the night before. If it is wrinkled, I hang it up and put it in the bathroom and when I shower, with the door closed, the steam takes out the wrinkles. Sometimes, a day's outfit is packed/rolled together, but not very often. For Aruba, we unload, get lunch and then unpack.

[Aruba4ever]

No cubes...outside of my shirts I leave everything is my suitcase for the most part....there is no time for unpacking when I arrive, lol.

[WaltVB]

No packing tubes here... but have become expert at packing linen shirts! All shirts are on individual hangers with the sleves clipped together in the back of each. The entire bundle of shirts on hangers are placed into a plastic bag from the dry cleaners and folded as a group into the suitcase......then I cram everything else around it! To unpack... I just take the bundle, hang it up and seperate the shirts. Never a problem with linen or cotton! No more ironing needed!

I do a similar thing for my Columbia PFG shirts, but I fold them on the hangers and then place them in a vacuum bag. I hang them up as soon as I can and they are wrinkle free. Everything else just get stuffed in.

[SusieLovesAruba]

I usually roll up all items of clothing, etc. When there I hang items up that need to be hung like shorts, dresses, certain tops in the closet and leave other items like tanks, swimsuits in suitcase. The cubes sound great so I might try the cubes for my next trip and see how I like using them.

[B Likes To Travel]

I started using packing cubes a few years ago and it has been a game changer. It makes it easier to separate different types of clothes and it saves space.

I usually don’t hit the beach on the first day. After I get the car, I like to go to the grocery store. Then freshen up either for happy hour/dinner/or whatever. Beaching starts early on day 2.