Tips for packing for a holiday

I love holidays. I love the build up, the airport, the flight. My favourite feeling is knowing you're off to a sunny place with a long stretch ahead of you with only what book to read first or what bikini to wear that day to think about.

I have travelled to Ibiza with a pink leather weekend bag, lived out of a backpack for 2 months whilst travelling the east coast of Australia and most recently a cheap and cheerful all inclusive week in the Canary Islands.

What to put in your hand luggage.

Always use your beach bag as your hand luggage if going on a beach holiday. 

Wear your straw hat so that it doesn't get squashed in the case.

I always buy a new pair of socks, usually pretty, kitsch ones from Topshop to put on once I've taken my seat on the flight. 

I put mini makeup samples in a clear zip up cosmetic bag to freshen up before landing or once at baggage claim eg mini moisturiser/tinted moisturiser, powder for shine and a natural mascara.

Sunglasses.

Book and latest magazine.

Pocket tissues.

Earphones.

Passport & travel documents.

Money - bank card and British pounds for flight and Euros/dollars for the holiday.

Spare pair of knickers.

Toothbrush & mini toothpaste.

Phone charger, phone.

Star Tip: Pashmina to use as a blanket or a pillow on the flight.

How to pack your case.

Look through your clothes you want to take and organise them into outfits. If you have already planned day trips, booked club night tickets, you will have a better idea of what you will wear on particular days. If not then you need the following:

1x outfit to fly in

Beachwear eg 3 bikinis per week, 2 kaftans, 1 beach dress. Flip flops. 

Days out eg boat trip, sightseeing. Wear the beach dress or shorts and a vest or if you've already worn an outfit on a night time you can wear it again in the day. It will look different with a beach bag, sunglasses and flip flops so don't have to worry about the photos. 

Nights out 7 outfits whether they are mix and match tops and shorts, or playsuits or dresses. 

Shoes - flip flops. Jewelled sandals. Converse if doing any sporty activity whilst there eg horse riding, bike riding.

So tips for packing. 

1. Roll everything you can, it creases less. 

2. Put shoes, clutch bags, accessories in the zip pouch inside the case.

3. Items that don't crease much like chiffon, crinkled fabrics, patterned items can go at the bottoms of the case.

4. The pouch pockets on the length and width of the case I use to keep my clean underwear together

5. I take a laundry bag to put worn underwear in too.

6. Toiletries are the heaviest so take as little and a light as possible so not a full bottle of shower gel for 1 week - use common sense. 

7. At home I cleanse and moisturise but just take a pack of face wipes on holiday.

8. Buy and use padlocks on your case.

9. If you travel once a year for a week or more you should invest in a good case, it will last longer than a poor quality cheap one.

10. Use ribbon, stickers etc to make your case recognisable to you for that annoying task at baggage claim.

  

When you've arrived.

I'm sure you'll head straight for the pool but at some point on the jest sat of night I would (if there is enough wardrobe space) hang all evening outfits, fold all bikini sets, underwear, pj vest and shorts sets in the wardrobe and drawers. Put shoes and bags together too. By the time you come go wear something any travel creases will of dropped out. 

Star Tip: hang particularly creased items on the bathroom so the steam from people's showers will remove any remaining creases.

Happy packing! Enjoy your holiday!

Kitty x