... And not forget your pants.
Packing is one of the main things I actually despise in this beautiful world! I'm terrible at it; I always leave it to the last minute and I always leave something behind. Now, you may be thinking, 'why the heck should I take advice from this idiot?', and in most ways, you're correct. However, as I've made all the mistakes in the goddamn book already, I can give you the grand opportunity to learn from them! My tips aim to help you get it over with as quick as possible whilst remembering the essentials. Let's get started.
Always follow these three golden rules.
First rule: Don't leave it to the last minute.
We've all been there, and it just brings extra stress. Start as early as possible, and do as much as possible. This applies for long hauls, a little city break, the lot. Once you've done all you can, make a list of what's missing to put in later, after the last wash and all that jazz.
Second rule: Stick to the list. This is my true achilles heel. If you stick to it, you won't over pack, which is super important.
Third rule: Passport. Check it's within six months of expiry, to be safe. Currency. Chargers.
All things to check for early on.
Now you've got the golden rules down, let's get to the nitty gritty. Being armed with a plan will make packing much less daunting.
Baggage: Think about what sort of trip you're going on.
City break = cabin bag. Backpacking = backpack. Fancy Flight and luxury getaway = Suitcase.
Think about these early on so it gives you time to borrow/buy the appropriate baggage you need. You don't want to get to packing and have all the bits but not the baggage.
If you're doing a bit of backpacking, I recommend using packing cubes to group stuff together, you can pick them up for around £10 online, and they're so helpful when your living on the road.
Hang Luggage: Think of everything you'll need those first few hours after leaving your front door, and make sure they are somewhere accessible.
Passport. check. Phone. check. Boarding pass. check. Bank cards. check. Hotel reservations. check. Car hire confirmation. check. Currency. check. Insurance Forms. check. ALL OF THEM. If you're away for a long trip and want to stay organised, buy yourself a travel wallet - trust me, they make life on the road easier. I loooooove the look of LRM Goods ones.
Remember to check your airline's policy on hand luggage and put them in a suitable bag with all those wonderful pieces of entertainment/distractions/essentials you'll want for the flight.
Spread the word: Depending on what sort of trip you're going on, it's worth remembering to tell the right people that you're leaving the country. Your bank, your phone network, your boss, your mum. It's always beneficial as it may save you time, money, hassle, and from losing your job.
Technology: This is a section I personally, love. Think of what camera you want, a handy compact, just your phone, a big DSLR, a waterproof, an action cam? What chargers do you need, for your camera/tablet/phone/power bank/sat nav with the right map. What plug adaptor will you need, and how many? Who knows, you may want to chuck in your Gameboy.
Duration: Before we get onto the more monotonous categories, think about how long you're going away for. I have been prone to overpack but still don't have the right things, so it's worth planning ahead to make your packing more efficient. For example, for a weeks sunny getaway, how many pairs of jeans do you really need. Really. Moving abroad? It's all about the underpacking. It's key as nobody wants to be tied down with heavy bags when they're on the move. Plus once you've hit base, you'll find everything you need out there anyway.
Climate: We all take this for granted. But do double check it before you leave. 'Cause it's embarrassing going to hike the Atlas Mountains in little Levi shorts. Honestly.
Toiletries: Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Suncream. Deodorant. Face bits. Hair bits. Meds. Plasters. Remember if you're putting these in a cabin bag, careful you don't overpack on your liquids, and keep those bits together for ease when going through security.
Undies: Now we've established how long we're going for, and what the weather will be like, what sort of outfits are you thinking? Time for the base layer. Big pants, small pants, strapless bras, big bras, little briefs, tight briefs! and don't forget those SOCKS (and slipper socks.) True essentials.
Outfits: Here we go. The boring bit. Eww. I usually break this up into bottoms and tops I want to take, and then work out if there's a few outfits in there from that. But the more sensible (time-consuming) way would be to pack by outfit, it ensures you have something for each occasion, and as long as items overlap, it's pretty efficient. If you have started doing this far enough in advance too, you can always treat yourself and buy that missing item to make packing that wee bit more exciting.
SO, when it comes to packing the outfits you need. Let's break it down together.
What sort of trip is it? Beaching/hiking/family/surfing/lounging/camping/culture/dinner dates/cycling/clubbing?
Who you going with? Alone/an organisation/friends/colleagues/family?
Beaching: Swimwear, flip flops, and cover ups. done.
Hiking: How intense are you going? Make sure you've invested in some half decent footwear, then either pack your gortex or your lightweights and your exercise leggings.
Family'ing: Someone else's family? Something to make a relatively good first impression. Your family? Who cares.
Loung'ing: I usually tie this into PJs to make it easier. Because nobody wants to go away without their trackies/comfy shorts etc.
Watersporting: Probably worth hiring wetsuits etc unless you've got a huge luggage allowance, but there's no harm in chucking in your rash vest.
Roadtripping: I think this one is the most overlooked. When you're travelling I think it's so important to have packed your slouchy shorts and tees.
Camping: Layers. It's gonna get cold, and it's gonna get warm, so it's all about the layers. Plus things that you wouldn't mind getting muddy.
Culture'ing: Another embarrassing one to mess up. Nobody wants to turn up to a temple in their high-waisted shorts and crop, no matter what country or climate you're in. Lots of cultures want to see shoulders covered, and layers below the knee. Have a research before you go away, or if you're unsure, chuck in a scarf you could wrap around your shoulders or hair to be on the safe side. Nobody wants to be the token ignorant Brit.
Cycling: PADDING. Your tush is going to hurt either way, but a little padding can go a long way. Either to your seat or your shorts, it's going to help for the first few hours. Also under pack, you won't need much else, except your puncture repair kit, and your moisturiser, otherwise you will be a shrivelled little leaf by the end. Thanks to the Grays for this one!
Clubbing: Your gladrags. Embrace it. The smaller the better! Less space means more options. I think the key here is to not overpack on shoes. That's where you lose weight and space in your luggage.
I don't know about you, but I feel like we've all learnt something here today together. Still missing something? Let me know - I wouldn't be surprised!
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