Top tips for packing your car for a holiday

17:33 20 August 2010

One in four (26%) family holidays get off to a bad start because of arguments about the amount of luggage their partners take, according to research from the UK car hire broker Holiday Autos.

Contrary to popular belief, men take marginally more luggage than women on a beach holiday, including board games, DVDs and games consoles. Over ambitious packing habits lead to almost a third (29%) of men admitting that they have had to leave items behind at an airport or similar because they just can't fit them in the car. While, only 17% of women admit to the same thing.

The research reveals that the problem actually starts long before the plane takes off or the drive begins. When booking car hire, 82% of men are in the driving seat. However, men are more likely to prioritise engine size and make of car over more practical matters such as luggage space and number of seats -potentially creating a logistical conundrum in the airport car park on arrival.

In order to ensure that holiday makers don't end up having to leave excess baggage on the curb side, Holiday Autos has five handy hints to help fit everything in.

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Follow the rule of P

1. Plan - write a list and ask yourself "Do I really need this?"

2. Pliable packaging - pack into soft hold-alls, not hard-case or roll-along bags

3. Pack it in - fill every gap, squeeze everything in

4. Prepare for projectiles - avoid packing above the line of the back seats

5. Pockets and pouches - maximise space in the car by using all stow compartments

For more useful tips and advice on getting the most out of your hire car, visit www.holidayautos.co.uk