You've come to the right place if you're unsure about what to pack for your next trip. I can surely help you as I've packed and unpacked my bags more times than I can remember – YES, I LOVE TRAVELLING.
I’ll help you choose the right travel bag and travel gadgets and will show you how to organize everything so it all fits perfectly in your bag. What you decide to pack and how you do it is obviously in part down to personal choice. However, there are, in our opinion, some steps you should follow, and that's what I'll focus on.
Step 1 - Get yourself a bag! - What type of bag will be dependent on the length of your trip, if you want to check your bag or just travel with it as carry-on baggage, and also the types of activities you’ll be doing once you get to your destination.
When shopping for a bag the possibilities are vast, you’ll be able to choose from a duffel bag, bags with wheels, backpacks with wheels, standard backpacks or backpacks small enough that can be used as carry-on luggage.
Personally, I always use backpacks.
When I travel with my partner, we have two sets of backpacks, a small one and a carry-on.
Smaller/carry-on;
For him:
For her:
Bigger/checked-in bags;
For him:
For her:
We are both big fans of Osprey & Quechua, and these reliable backpacks have never let us down.
And now that you’ve got yourself a bag, it’s time to start packing!
Step 2 - Lay your clothes, gadgets and everything you're considering taking on your next trip in front of you and get rid of one-third of all those items! This method works really well for most people. Studies conducted by me have found that all people tend to pack way more than what they actually need. By having all your things in front of you, create a sort of visual board, and it then becomes easier to understand what is what and where it should go.
P.S. If you want a nice photo of all your gear, now is also the time to get the camera out and upload your snap to your social media accounts!
Usually, you shouldn’t pack more than 1 week’s (8 or 10 days) worth of clothing if you’re going away on a long trip or even just two or three weeks, as if required, you can do laundry virtually everywhere in the world.
Below, you can find a list of what you may consider packing, and never forget to pack according to the climate you’re going to encounter in your destination.
Absolute essentials:
4 t-shirts and 1 long-sleeved shirt (plus 2 tops if you are a woman);
1 hoodie or 1 fleece jacket;
2 pairs of trousers and/or 3 pairs of shorts, these can also be dresses and/or skirts depending on where you’re going to; 3 large female comfortable cotton trousers;
1 belt;
1 pair of swimming shorts/bikini as these always come in handy even if you're going to a cold destination as there'll always be swimming pools, hot water springs and things alike where those items of clothing may be useful;
10 comfortable pairs of socks, long or short, according to your preference;
2 bras;
10 comfortable pairs of underwear;
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes such as trainers;
1 pair of flip-flops. This must-have item is probably one of the most versatile items ever to take on a trip. You'll use them around your accommodation to go out if you're heading to a warmer climate, to shower, for instance...or as hand fins if you're feeling a bit MacGyverish;
1 pair of pyjamas or sleepwear of your own choice;
1 toiletry bag with toiletries of your choosing (if you are a woman, you may want to consider packing your favourite brand of tampax and/or pads as you may not be able to find those where you go; a good Venus razor, a pocketable hairbrush, tweezers, small scissors, nails file, olive oil body soap as it helps the environment and will last much longer than a shower gel!)
1 electric adapter to charge your gadgets;
1 mobile phone and charger;
*Optional 1:
1 pair of hiking boots if you’ll be doing any hiking;
1 pair of beach/water shoes if you’re going to places where it can be dangerous to go in the water without one;
1 waterproof, lightweight jacket;
1 pair of sunglasses;
1 hat if you’re travelling to a sunny destination;
1 travel pillow, eye mask, and earplugs;
*Optional 2:
1 drone – check the laws of the country you’re travelling to before packing this, as in some places, such devices are illegal,l and you may face hefty fines if you fly one or even jail time;
*Optional 3 - If you’re worried about security:
Also, very important:
1 medical kit;
Step 3 – Now that you know what will go in your bag, it’s time for the PPC…what is the PPC? You may wonder, well, it’s our acronym for Packing the Packing Cubes. Packing cubes are a must regardless of whether you use a backpack, a trolley, or anything in between. These things are life-changing. Instead of having to fumble through your stuff to find those comfy socks you so desperately want, you now only need to unzip your see-through packing cube where you keep all your undies. Packing cubes are inexpensive and so useful. Get yours here if you haven't yet bought them.
And now some bonus tips just for you:
1 - Take your snorkelling gear with you if you're going to a place where you can snorkel, as it'll always be cheaper to get a good snorkelling mask on Amazon than buying or renting one once you get to your destination. 2 - Take some wet wipes (the ones you can safely flush down the toilet) and alcohol gel with you and remember to always put them in your daypack. Wet wipes will come in handy in a variety of situations, and as for the alcohol gel, it'll minimise the risk of you falling ill.
3 - Make a copy of your passport and other important documents. Also, if you tend to misplace your things a little hack is to get some Velcro tape and one google tile and just Velcro tape it to your passport so that you'll always know where it is. 4 - Consider getting a free Curve bank card and one of the new challenger bank cards, such as Revolut in Europe or Starling, N26, Monzo, etc., as you'll avoid paying any extra fees and commissions when you withdraw cash. A Surfroam SIM card or a similar SIM is also a good idea as it’ll save you some money if where you’re going does not have favourable roaming charges.
5 - And finally, if you're travelling with a backpack,
and
Please watch the videos above by clicking on the links provided. Time and time again, I see people who are clueless as to how they should adjust their backpacks to fit their stature or don’t know how to hoist one. These things are not trivial, and you may even damage your back!
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