Holiday Insider Travel Advice: How to Pack for your Holiday

TRAVEL GUIDE: HOLIDAY PACKING TIPS

If your holiday packing style consists of bulging baggage or last minute changes follow the handy guide below to help you to pack more effectively and squeeze more in without incurring extra baggage charges at the airport.

First, work out what you’re going to take:
This is perhaps one of the hardest parts, well I find it hard anyway.  The temptation is just to throw everything in, “in case you use/wear it” but making decisions on what to take can have paramount importance on not only the weight of your luggage but also on the enjoyment of your holiday once there.

Think about what type of holiday you’re going on.  If you’re going on a cruise for example, some cruise lines have a formal evening such as a ‘Captain’s Dinner’ where you’ll need a suit or nice dress.  If you’re spending two weeks on a beach holiday, are you really likely to wear those 4 inch platforms that you love?  Be decisive and try to plan out outfits for each day, including underwear, you’ll find it reduces the amount you take.  Most people always overpack and end up with items they don’t wear that they have packed so don’t lose valuable space by doing so.  Making a ‘packing list’ beforehand of all the things you think you’ll need will help you to ensure you don’t overpack.  Items such as floaty kaftan’s are a godsend as they provide cover up during the day around the pool/on the beach and take up litle room in your suitcase.

Minimise your Toiletries:
Toiletries and beauty items can take up so much unneccesary room just because of packaging.  Decant your shampoo/conditioner into smaller bottles (you can buy a set of them in Boots) therefore minimising the amount of space they take up.  If you choose see through bottles of 100ml and under you can even place them in your hand luggage if you’re tight on room in your suitcase.

Divide between Suitcases:
If you have heavier items you need to take e.g. straighteners, hairdryers, shoes, travel iron - then divide them between the suitcases if travelling with others so that the weight is spread out between them.  This makes them easier to carry and avoids extra baggage charges.  Before taking items such as a hairdryer it’s also worth a call ahead to your travel agent or hotel just to check if they already have them in the rooms.  It is a good idea to divide items up like this just in case your luggage goes missing, you may think it’ll never happen to you but unfortunately it sometimes does! You can read about my experience with losing luggage on my post on this blog.

Then Pack!
Rather than just throwing everything into your suitcase, you can get more in and avoid crumpled clothing by packing in an orderly manner.  Place the heavier items in first, such as shoes, then put everything else in by outfit order.  Put the first day’s clothes in last so they are at the top plus perhaps a swimsuit and suncream (just in case your room isn’t ready when you arrive?).  Remember to put your suncream in plastic bags just in case the suitcase gets thrown around and some of them leak.  Some light tops and vest tops that don’t need ironing can be rolled up rather than left flat and fitted into small spaces or inside of shoes to help save space.  If you don’t want to be ironing whilst on holiday then definately don’t take anything linen or anything likely to need ironing!

Lastly, Don’t Forget…..
Essential items such as passport, travel insurance, mobile phone etc etc. For a full list of everything you must remember to take read my Holiday Checklist post.