The ultimate packing checklist

We’ve all been there; first day into your trip that has taken months to plan and save for, the hype is massive with your suitcase being even more massive, you’re positively sure that you have everything you need, how could you not? Your bag is the size of a house. Then you arrive on the beautiful beaches of Spain only to realise you forgot a swimsuit, or arrive in the heart of Paris only to realise you forgot your wallet. In light of this we have arranged a list of what we hope will prevent these packing mishaps with the ultimate packing checklist.

Clothes:

Starting off simple but extremely important, don’t underestimate how easy it can be to forget clothes. It is important to remember to not overpack these as they will most likely be taking up the majority of your suitcase and it is important to remember that 99% of the time your accommodation will have utilities for you to wash your clothes. Be smart and pack for the kind of lifestyle you’ll be having while travelling e.g. a travelling nomad on a budget who is planning to stay in hostels and see the location beyond where the big spending points are will not need as many formal clothes as someone travelling to party and go out frequently.

Here are some of our recommendations:

• Underwear and socks; these take up little room so you can afford to bring an extra pair or 3, better to have more of these than not enough.
• Sleepwear; we recommend bringing a maximum of 2 items of sleepwear that you can have on rotation.
• T-shirts and casual shirts; bring at least 2 of these. They are perfect for your day to day activities and semi-formal outings for the budget traveller or big spender.
• Formal wear; depending on what you plan on doing we recommend at least 1 or 2 nice pairs of formal clothes for those nicer nights out.
• Shoes; we always recommend that travellers wear shoes with good support to help them get the most out of their days, and for the formal traveller at least one pair of nice dress shoes. And if you are planning on doing a lot of walking and hiking some weatherproof boots are a very good investment and also make for great day shoes.
• Jeans, trousers and shorts; a maximum of 3-4 of these will be more than enough, this amount includes formal wear. Also, DO NOT forget a belt.
• Swimwear; always bring at least 1 set of swimmers (depending on your location)
• Seasonal wear; never forget gloves and scarves in colder places and in any locations no matter the weather you should always take a hat.
• Jacket, coat or jumper; no matter where you go we recommend you always take 1 warm jacket or coat and a jumper.
• An umbrella; we think this one is pretty self-explanatory.
• Sunglasses. You never know when you’ll need these.

Toiletries:

Any seasoned traveller will tell you that no matter if you are traveling on a budget or not, hygiene and toiletries are not something you should be stingy with. You will find that feeling fresh every day will make a huge difference on your trip. You can thank us later.

Here are some of our recommendations:

• Toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss
• Soap (generally won’t need this if you are staying in hotels)
• Deodorant (no aerosols if you are flying frequently)
• Shampoo and conditioner (these will generally be included at hotels)
• A brush or comb
• Sunscreen
• Moisturiser; we highly recommend this due to different climates affecting everyones skin differently.
• Shaving supplies (remember, no razors on planes)
• Makeup and makeup remover
• Feminine hygiene products
• Nail file and tweezers
• First aid supplies (bandages, antiseptic, painkillers)
• Medications (VERY important)
• Insect repellent
• Lip balm

Everything else:

It goes without saying that everyone travels differently, everyone is going to different places and everyone has different requirements and needs when they travel. We cannot stress enough to only bring the extra things that you definitely know you will use. Make a list of extras you want to take and ask yourself if you’ll NEED it, and so you don’t forget.

Here are a list of some common items that are almost always a must on a trip:

• Mobile phone
• Laptop or tablet
• Power adapter for the country you are visiting
• Copies of travel documents (passport, visa, credit card, travel insurance, I.D)
• Travel money card
• Chargers for your electronics
• Camera
• Books or E-books for those long periods of travel
• Headphones or earphones
• Travel pillow
• Empty water bottle (for passing through airports, fill it up post-security)
• Itinerary / maps or directions
• Your keys