40% argue with partner before going on holiday

MORE than four out of ten couples admit arguing about their holiday before they even leave home, according to research.

The study revealed that a third of Britons believe packing a suitcase is the most stressful element of a holiday, while one in four men row with their partner about packing too many clothes.

The poll of 1,000 couples about their holiday habits suggests men and women have very different approaches to planning a trip.

Women fret the most, with 42 per cent finding packing the suitcase the most “stressful” task, but men take it in their stride with just a quarter considering it a chore.

Some 41 per cent of women say it takes them more than an hour to pack a case, but just 22 per cent of men take as long.

Wives and girlfriends want to “wear the trousers” when it comes to preparing for the getaway, according to the survey, with a third of women insisting on packing their other half’s suitcase for him.

The biggest worry for women is “forgetting essentials” such as suncream (23 per cent), swimwear (12 per cent) and even underwear (12 per cent).

Twenty-two per cent of women won’t let their partner pack because they “can’t fold clothes properly”.

The most common gripe among couples is unfairly sharing suitcase space, according to the study by George at Asda, with one in ten accusing their partner of taking up too much room.

One in four men think their wives and girlfriends pack too many clothes – perhaps not a surprise as one in five women admit taking more than five pairs of shoes on a week-long trip. And 25 per cent of women say they pack “excessive” amounts of clothing that never gets worn.

One in four women claim their holiday style is completely different to the image they portray at home, saying they wear outfits they wouldn’t dream of wearing normally.