What To Pack for a Holiday: 7 Helpful Tips + BONUS!

Wondering what to pack for a holiday? As half term and the summer holidays quickly approach, many of us start to think about what we need to pack for our trips. Whether staycationing or heading further afield, or if you're going away for a few days or a few weeks, it's essential to have the right clothes, shoes and accessories to make
your trip as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Here are seven tips on what to pack
for a holiday, plus a bonus tip! Hopefully this information will help to make your holiday planning just a little bit easier.

1. Make a list of what you'll need for your trip.
What do you pack? It's always exciting to get out of town and explore new places, but it can also be stressful when packing. One of the most important parts of travelling is being prepared for any situation. With some planning and preparation, you can easily avoid some common pitfalls that travellers often face when going on an international trip or vacation, such as forgetting essentials like toothpaste or packing
too many clothes instead of what's needed.
Try making an organised list with everything necessary before getting ready. So before
jumping into taking off without giving yourself enough time to pack everything properly, consider these questions: Do I need all those items? And if so, will they serve more than one purpose?" Start by writing down everything you need, like clothing, toiletries, or travel documents; then start editing them until only true essentials remain. Ask yourself if these will serve more than one purpose during your travels (such as wearing
something differently). For example, packing a pair of trainers that you can use for doing lots of walking and sightseeing, but that can also be dressed up for the evenings is a great way to save space in your suitcase.

2. Start with the essentials.
When packing for a trip, it's important to start packing travel essentials. As the name implies, these are things that are essential, such as your travel insurance policy. Make sure your policy is easily accessible and covers specific certainties (for example, covid) so there won’t be anything standing between yourself and adventure when travelling abroad or when returning home after your trip.

Other items that should be on the essential list include your phone charger and travel
adapter. These items are essential because clearly, documenting your holiday on social media is absolutely essential nowadays 🤣 Just make sure you check on roaming charges before you use up all your data!

3. Pack comfy shoes and clothes for all weather conditions.
Even if you're just going on a beach holiday, it's important to pack for all weather conditions. You never know when a rainstorm will hit, or the temperature will drop at night. So pack comfortable clothes that can be layered and keep you warm and dry. It's also important to remember what kind of outfit is appropriate for each activity. You don't want to be caught wearing the wrong thing at the wrong time. So decide in advance what pieces of clothing you'll need for each activity and pack accordingly.

You'll also need a good pair of comfortable shoes for all your walking. Consider packing some trainers or fold up shoes to wear around town. You can't go wrong with a pair of quality fold up shoes. They're super easy to pack and comfortable for wearing all day during your sightseeing adventures. Plus, they save space in your bag too. Just a word of warning to be careful when it comes to roll up shoes or very flimsy folding shoes. You want to ensure the fold up ballet pumps you choose have substantial padding and a good outsole, so it's worth investing in a quality pair like these that you know will be durable, comfortable and look fantastic too.

4. Don't forget travel-sized toiletries.
When it comes to packing for a holiday, one of the most important things to remember is to pack your toiletries. Make sure to pack hand sanitiser, and any other travel-sized
toiletries and essentials you might need. These items will come in especially handy if you find
yourself in a situation where you can't access a sink or soap. Not only are these items
essential for keeping you clean while on vacation, but they can also be expensive to buy
once you're at your destination. That's why it's important to bring along your toiletries. Pack travel-sized toiletries like our 60-ml bottle hand care set to save space in your suitcase and ensure you can take them onboard. Our handy sets include a 60ml trio of luxurious hand lotion,
hand wash and hand sanitiser spray, in either Damask Rose or Bergamot, Cardamom & Pepper. If you can't find travel-sized versions of your favourite products, buy the larger sizes and decant them into small bottles or containers.

Another item to remember is a face mask! While face masks are not required in all places anymore, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Face masks can protect you from harmful bacteria and viruses, and they can also help to prevent the spread of illness. What with covid, it's definitely worth investing in a few, good quality face masks, whether in cotton or silk, that you can pack into your handbag or backpack. We have a fantastic range of quality face masks that you can shop here.

5. Add entertainment and electronics to your packing list.
Don't forget to pack entertainment for your flight, cruise or car journey. For many, the idea of
spending hours upon hours cooped up in a small space with nothing to do is enough to
make them break out into a cold sweat. So just remember, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself entertained on your trip. Adding a few entertainment and electronics items to your packing list can mean the difference between an enjoyable journey and one that feels like it's dragging on forever. Books, magazines, music and movies will help pass the time. Just don't forget to download everything, including your films, podcasts and music before you leave home, otherwise you'll risk hefty downloading charges and, more often than not, slow wifi, making downloading an impossible feat! And finally, if you're travelling with a laptop or other electronics, make sure you have all the necessary chargers, cables and adapters. From experience, it's definitely worth carrying a worldwide adapter in your hand luggage if you're heading overseas. There's nothing more frustrating than having a low battery and not being able to charge up, especially when you've downloaded your films and were looking forward to watching them!

6. Don't forget important travel documents and money.
When packing for a holiday, it's important to remember to bring all of the essential
travel documents and money. Assuming you're travelling internationally, your passport
should be at the top of your list. Make sure it's up to date (you need at least 6 months to 1 year before expiry) and will remain valid for the
duration of your trip. You'll also need to check the visa requirements of your destination country and apply for any necessary visas well in advance.

Next, you'll need to make sure you have enough money to cover your travel expenses. This means taking both cash and a credit and/or debit card that can be used internationally. It's worth giving your bank a call beforehand to let them know that you'll be travelling overseas, as sometimes they'll pick up on international transactions and potentially identify them as fraud, prompting you to ring the fraud team, which will be costly due to overseas call charges and also take up valuable sightseeing time.

It's also a good idea to have some local currency on hand when you first arrive. Finally, don't forget to pack any other important travel documents, such as your travel insurance policy, boarding pass, and hotel reservations.

7. Double-check your holiday packing list before you leave!
Making a packing list is one of the best ways to ensure that you remember everything you need for your holiday. But it's also important to double-check that list before you leave to make sure that you haven't forgotten anything.

One common mistake is forgetting important items like passports and tickets. Another
mistake is packing too much, which can be heavy and inconvenient. By double-checking
your list, you can avoid making these mistakes and have a stress-free holiday!

BONUS: Pack an extra set of clothes and toiletries in case your luggage is lost or delayed.
It's always good to pack an extra set of clothes and toiletries in your carry-on bag if your
luggage is lost or delayed. This way, you'll have something to wear until your luggage
arrives. Toiletries can be a lifesaver if your luggage is lost or delayed. Pack a toothbrush,
toothpaste, deodorant, and any other essentials you might need. This way, you'll be able
to freshen up and feel more presentable until your luggage arrives.

If you're travelling with medication, make sure to pack it in your carry-on bag so that you have it with you at all times.

If you're travelling with valuables, such as jewellery or electronics, it's best to keep them in your carry-on bag. This way, you'll have them with you and won't worry about them getting lost or stolen.

We hope our packing tips have been helpful. Remember, the key to packing light is
planning and focusing on the essentials. With a little bit of organisation, you'll be able to pack everything you need without any hassle. Safe travels!