Packing for your holiday can either be a last-minute rush the night before flying or a calculated process that takes two weeks. Whatever type of packer you are, our worst nightmare is to forget something important or having to rush to a supermarket on arrival to buy some sun cream.
Our ultimate holiday packing list caters to standard holidays ranging from a weekend away to a three-week adventure. We’ve collated all of the essentials, as well as some personal favourites and location/climate specific must-haves. Use our list to help you pack and vastly reduce the chances of forgetting something!
The essentials for any holiday packing list:
- Passport
- Holiday documents (Visa, booking confirmations for flight, accommodation, tours, car rental, etc – digital or printed)
- Boarding passes (if checking in online)
- Document wallet
- Driving licence and international driving application
- Travel insurance
- Travel currency
- Credit and debit card set up for usage abroad
Well-being:
- Sun cream
- Aftersun
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Mini first aid kit
- Medication (personal, paracememol, ibruprofen, Immodium)
- Toiletries
- Razors/electric shaver
- Wet wipes
- Beauty accessories
- Insect repellent (tropical strength)
- Flight socks (if applicable)
- Neck rest for the flight
Clothing:
- One or two warm jackets/hoodies
- Swimwear
- T-shirts
- Underwear
- Dresses/smart shirts
- Shorts
- Vests
- Sun hat
- Comfortable shoes
- Dress shoes/trainers
- Flip flops
- Nightwear
- Laundry bag
Accessories:
- Sunglasses
- Backpack/carry-on bag
- Healthy and non-healthy snacks
- 2 or 3 travel adapters/converters
- Pen and paper
- Mini torch
- Travel games (deck of cards, mini board games, crossword)
- Eye mask
- Travel wash – great if you’re going for a longer holiday
Gadgets:
- Mobile phone and charger
- Kindle/E-reader/tablet
- Headphones
- Laptop
- Digital camera – compact/DSLR/cross-over
- Portable USB charging pack
- Nintendo Switch for gaming on the go
If you have small children:
- Toys/entertainment/games console
- Baby changing accessories
- Baby care bag
- Changes of clothes
- Trunki suitcase
Climate/area specific:
If you’re venturing off to a rather cold part of the world, have a sports holiday planned or you’re going off the beaten track, make sure you pack everything you’ll need. If you’re struggling for space, simply buy these items when you get there.
- Sports gear
- Wet suit
- Snorkelling gear
- Cold climate clothing (hat, gloves, scarf, thermals, winter coat)
- Waterproof jacket
- Tent
- Hiking boots
- Ski gear
- Hiking boots
Don’t forget to:
- Only pack liquids 100ml of less in the hand luggage
- Add luggage tags to all suitcases – these should include your name and address
- Take note of the baggage weight allowances and weigh your cases
- Don’t pack too many shoes and toiletries – they take up a lot of space and weight
- Pack all valuables in your hand luggage
- Save space in your suitcase for gifts and holiday purchases, especially if you’re going somewhere that’s great for shopping.
Our holiday packing tips:
- Pack a change of clothes and some toiletries in your hand luggage. You can use them to freshen up on the flight or to go a few extra days if your luggage gets lost in transit.
- Check the weather before you fly and build your holiday packing list around the climate. A waterproof jacket is usually a good call whatever the weather!
- Don’t pack any towels! They take up a lot of valuable space and almost all 3-5-star hotels provide free towels to take to the pool and beach. Double check on the hotel’s website first.
- Pack your hand luggage with electronics and liquids on top, already in transparent bags. This will make your airport security experience so much quicker.
- By all means pack snazzy going-out clothes and fashion statements, but try to pack as many ‘can wear it with anything’ pieces of clothing as you can. It saves space in your case.
- Invest in good quality and lightweight suitcases/travel bags. They allow you to pack much more for the weight allowance and are generally more manoeuvrable than old school suitcases, ideal if you holiday often or you’re on the move a lot!
Thanks for browsing our ultimate holiday packing list! Print it out or save it to your phone and get all set for the airport with less stress. If you’re still short of a few items, simply pop to the shop in the airport or order for next day delivery with Amazon Prime.
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