Photo: Anete Lusina

This is really huge thing to write about as you might think what hard can be in packing all your stuff and head to the airport. Well, good packing might save you a lot of space that you might use for a stuff bought in a country you going, you don't have to struggle how to fit all your souvenirs and newly bought clothes into your overweight luggage.

Of course every bag/backpack/suitcase will be different, depend on the holiday and the season of the year you are going. Let's try to speak about most of them and you might just try to adjust it to your needs.


Packing for relaxing vacation 

Photo: Roberto Nickson

You are going to the beautiful 5-star spa resort with 5 swimming pools, evening entertainment, all inclusive option and shuttle whenever you like or so. You are not really planning to explore, maybe one or two night outs and some city tour but you focus mainly on your relaxing time at the pool and all those spa treatments your hotel offer to you.

It doesn't matter if you are going for one or two of even three weeks of such holiday you might want to adjust your suitcase to don't carry unnecessary stuff.


What not to bring: 
- Hairdryer - why would you? Even some of the worst hostels in Europe already include a hairdryer in every room/bathroom. You might want to check it in your room's feature before you jump into decision of not taking one with you, but I can guarantee they will have one for you.


- Unnecessary hair equipment like straightener, curler, tons of bobby pins and hair bands and stuff like that. Basically, you should to treat yourself and for couple of days, forget how your hair routine looks like, spending an hour a day to straight this hair up so people won't see me looking like a medusa. Of course, if you can't live without such things you will take them anyway but you might consider your holiday as a full freedom that you just don't care. I used to take my straightener with me for ages everywhere but I realized I only have used it for the first few days and then give up. Don't forget, all you do, you do for yourself only.

Psst. A lot of hotel receptions might actually have straighteners or curlers as a lot of tourists leave those things behind very often. Same as they leave phone chargers (in case you forgot one), pin plug adapters, battery chargers, books etc.


- Outfit for every single day. Unless you are planning to hang out every day on some trips, tours and it's hot, you will get sweaty or dirty, you don't really require taking outfit - some people even  takes two outfits for a day - for every day. Look, you decided you will spend most of the time by the pool or in spa, why would you take so many clothes with you? In case, you would get dirty, you can always use a washing machine that MUST be in 5-star hotel or simply wash in hands and let it dry. That's the easiest way to save up massive space in your suitcase.

Plus, hey, you might want to buy some clothes in the country you visit, as it's a nice and original souvenir you do for yourself. I went to US having 1/4 if the suitcase full and I came back barely fitting stuff into it and I had to walk with my fluffy donkey from ,,Shrek'' movie in my hand as it wouldn't fit. He made a great pillow on plane by the way.


- Couple of books. But why? I am going on relaxing holidays I might need a lot of to kill the time so book is perfect? Yes, it is, indeed but every hotel offer you tons of books (again, tourists leave them!) you might actually find yourself reading something you would never normally buy or borrow. I would take one, maybe two books in paper if I really want to go through them but in general for those who loves their books but don't want to waste the space I recommend e-book. It is so simple and light to carry and you can get any book you like on it without stress your luggage might become too heavy. But there is something special in getting a book at the hotel that your would have never considered and give it a go.. try!


- Food, snacks, treats in your main suitcase.  It might get squished, melt, smudge your clothes and at the end of the day - you don't really need it. If you pick up half-board or all-inclusive option in your hotel you will definitely not gonna need it. Most of the hotels have some shop or shops nearby that you can stuff your bag with goods and it's a great time to try those local products it has to offer. Dry foods are not necessary for you as well since you have all your meals already paid for and every hotel offer some range of fresh fruits too. No need to over pack your luggage with those then.

Of course, it looks different if you are backpacking or having self-catering room so you have to feed yourself but before you start packing, check prices of food in the country you are going cause you might find yourself carrying all that food for more than it's worth!


- Towels. A lot of people still taking them! And most of them never use them. Towels are usually required in every 2-star and up hotel, guest house, B&B etc. So you shouldn't be worried about it. 5-star usually offer free beach/pool towels as well but better confirm that before you take one of the room towels to the beach with you. Simple room towels, leg towels and stuff like that is in every room in the world. In special cases you might want to take some, for example, if you don't believe in their cleanliness but then I would rather not to book dodgy-looking hotel with dodgy-looking rooms, otherwise, I wouldn't bother with taking a room towels with me. Saving massive space!


- Full size cosmetics and beauty products. Unless you are allergic or/and can't absolutely leave the house without make-up and show to the sunlight your pure skin, don't pack unnecessary beauty products. They take a lot of space, if you really need them, you can find a lot of shops at the airport offering smaller versions to use up on holidays but.. it's such a lot of plastic being wasted every single day by tourists and those companies who offer that, it breaks my heart when I think about it. I personally forget about make-up on my holidays after two days. I only discover it If I plan a night out. If I miss something, I get it from the local shops.

If you are trying to relax and take as much from this holiday as you can, you may consider giving your skin a break from all those chemical ,,beauty'' products as well. Take only what - for you - is necessary and leave the rest of the stuff at home. Your skin will be grateful for this break. 


I know it is way easier to talk about what not to bring than what to actually bring but I think there is no reason for me to tell you what do you really need to take on your holidays? This days, unless we go to take vacations on the desert thousand kilometers from people, we might actually buy anything anywhere we go, so even if you forget a swimsuit or your lingerie you still don't panic - you just go to the shop.



Packing for exploring/active vacation

Photo: Willian Justen

You love adventure, you love nature, you love to hike and explore but you also like to be stylish, take some Insta-ready-shots and at the same time you don't want to over pack your luggage as you would like to bring something nice home with your from that journey.

Same as it goes to the notes above, you don't really need half of the equipment you will think of while packing. Try to make a list of everything that comes to your head that you might need and then try to cross those ones you will not bring with you. On my list to Thailand I even put some aid kit. And then I thought If I'm gonna be that extreme to actually potentially need it. Of course, there is still some percent of chance that I might but that goes to every single thing we think of and we just have to take the risk and give up on those most unlikely things to happen.


- Take clothes adjusted to the weather. Don't expect that in high mountains will be as warm as on the bottom or that weather forecast shows that in Ireland there will be no rain for the length of your stay. You must predict that it might. It's nice you just packed your shorts and Nike's with you but don't forget about practical clothes. It's better to stay warm than sick, right? Always take some long sleeve, parka or waterproof jacket with you to the country with unpredictable weather. Waterproof stuff is usually very light and doesn't take a lot of space and might save you from getting completely soaked from unexpected rainfall. 


- Good quality, comfortable shoes. People say it doesn't matter how comfortable shoes are if your feet are tired... well.. It's not necessary true because walking in flip-flops through the town for 3-4 hours and walking in trainers makes huge difference. Your foot receive better support in trainer, it's not getting that sore and you will be able to walk the next day like nothing happened, compared to flip-flops. I have seen people hiking to the famous monuments, attractions in flip-flops, most of them were taking off shoes completely on the 1/3 of the way up (which is not the smartest idea as well if you step on the broken glass or sharp rock) but even if it wasn't hurtful anymore it's really uncomfortable for your feet as we are not get used to walk barefoot like our ancestors hundreds years ago.

Okay but you got your trainers yesterday, brand new, packed them with you and after first day walking around your foot is twice bigger, hurtful and full of blisters. The reason it happened it's because they new and not adjusted to your foot properly yet. It might happened but it doesn't have to and unfortunately it depend on your foot and its shape. Just in case, take with you only shoes that have been already worn, you can count on them to be comfortable for a longer walk or hike and don't let the wrong shoes spoil your holidays.

Photo: rawpixel

- Power bank, charging sources. It is so obvious and so many people just forget. I think I don't have to explain that. You are half way up to the highest peak in your life and you battery in your camera or phone is already dead from taking all those pictures you've taken early and you can't even proof your friends you actually reached the peak or did something you wouldn't ever ever do... or you just went to take more pictures of beautiful landscape or interesting view and you can't because your camera or phone is gone to the sleep-land. Power bank is one of the best solutions that everybody should have in their travel kit if you are planning to take a lot of pictures why being away on the trips, far from any source of energy. I've got my 26k Power bank, testing now but happy so far.

Psst. If you forget  to bring it with you or you never considered taking it, you might ask in the restaurants, coffee shops to charge your phone/camera if you have a charger with you. Sometimes you don't even need a charger but that's a lucky/unlucky shot.


- A bit of exchanged currency. Okay, I agree this is something you don't really pack to your luggage but it is important thing to have. Check the local currency before you go and exchange tiny bit of money until you still in your country. Do the research as well if it's better to change your money in your country, pay with cards only or change in the country of destination. Why I mention this is because you might find yourself in uncomfortable situation where you see ,,cash only" note and all you have is a card and couple of euro's in your wallet. It's good to have a cash for small things as well like bottle of water or a snack, there is no need to pay by card. Plus, you might be in the dodgy place that says ,,We love to copy your card details illegally and use up whatever balance you have" so it's better to be ready just pay by cash.


- A hat/cap. Depend on the weather, it can protect from the sun or warm up the head.




First aid kit

Photo: rawpixel

For a lot of frequent travelers, this is important thing to have, especially if they are going to backpacking, very cheap travelling, hitch-hiking, walking, riding the bike through couple of countries. But if you are panning to stay in the hotel is it less likely you might need it, unless you are planning on some extreme stuff. If you just target wandering on city streets, a little bit of sight-seeing and just normal, basic holiday then I wouldn't bother taking it with you.

You see, even if you would take it, there is a high chance you would leave it in a hotel for the whole stay instead of taking it with you. But if' it's something that doesn't let you sleep if you don't have it, just take it for your own peace.



If you have any more questions or advice, please share with us in comments below.

All that points may not apply to you. You might try to implement one at the time and see how it goes. Maybe it will save you some space in your suitcase.


Psst...



- Mags