Even when you think you’ve thought of everything, there’s inevitably always something that gets left behind. If you’re always the one scrambling last minute around the airport for toothpaste, our comprehensive packing lists will help. It’s been created using suggestions made by our travellers and is categorised to include weather and activity considerations. So, whether you’re exploring temples in Bali or navigating the Inca Trail in Peru, there’s a packing list for you.

Packing tips

Right. You’ve got everything you need for your trip, now there’s just the small issue of fitting it all in your luggage. We’ve created some handy packing hacks so you can pack like a pro.

• Roll, don’t fold
• Fill shoes and boots with underwear and breakables
• Place liquids and gels inside plastic bags
• Use packing cubes or vacuum packing
• Pack light: get your packing pile and halve it

For those thinking of packing everything on the list above…. you might want to check your airline for excess baggage fees!

Essentials – Don’t leave home without

If you remember nothing else, remember these:

• Passport (check its expiry and any necessary visas well in advance of your trip)
• Tickets (particularly e-Tickets) for flights, transport, tours etc
• Travel insurance documents
• Photocopies of all of the above, kept in different places to the originals or left at home with a relative
• Itinerary (airline, train, bus, accommodation bookings etc.)
• Mobile phone and charger
• List of any important contacts or numbers
• Luggage – backpack, suitcase, day bag
• Notebook
• Pens (lots of immigration forms to fill in)
• ATM card (Maestro or Cirrus logos on the back are most widely accepted)
• Cash in the local currency of your arrival destination
• Credit card (Visa or Mastercard are most widely accepted)
• Money belt (wear hidden under your clothes)

Covid Stuff

Although we hope Covid is behind us, you never know. People are still getting sick, so it pays to be prepared.

• A sense of humour and adventure (sometimes all you can do is laugh, right??)
• Proof of vaccinations
• Face Masks (some airlines have minimum mask requirements so check before travelling)
• Hand sanitiser
• Alcohol/ Disinfecting Wipes
• Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

Clothing packing tips and tricks

Dressing for the weather is one of the greatest packing conundrums. Too many clothes in hot weather can leave you in a pool of sweat, while underdressing in cold weather can make you ill. Getting it right is all about finding the balance (and Googling the forecast before you go).

In hot weather:

Tip: wear light and baggy items to avoid garments sticking to you.

• T-shirts
• Short-sleeved shirts
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Light trousers (for cooler evenings)
• Light jacket (e.g. denim)
• Thongs
• Cap or sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Flat shoes or sneakers
• Short pyjamas (a roomy t-shirt and shorts or nightie)

In cold weather

Tip: layering will allow you to add or remove items swiftly when going from outside to inside and back again.

• Trousers
• Long-sleeved tops or shirts
• Warm jacket
• Sweater or fleece
• Boots
• Woolly hat or beanie
• Scarf
• Gloves
• Long socks
• Long pyjamas (flannel is a warm option)

In wet weather

• Water-proof jacket or raincoat (preferably a pack-away)
• Waterproof shoes – or go extreme with waterproof socks too
• Umbrella

In snowy weather

• Snow boots with cleated-tread soles
• Balaclava
• Underlayers
• Thick socks

Occasionwear

If you’re heading abroad for a wedding or other event or to a fancy hotel, you’ll want to put your glad rags on.

Smart

• Elegant dress, skirt, top or jumpsuit
• Jewellery
• Heels
• Clutch bag
• Suit
• Dress shirts
• Smart trousers
• Dress shoes or brogues
• Tie
• Belt
• Handkerchief
• Cufflinks
• Perfume or after shave

For all

• Underwear: bra, undies, boxers, knickers
• Safety pins
• Sewing kit

Toiletries

• Comb or brush
• Contact lens equipment or glasses
• Cotton buds
• Dental floss
• Deodorant
• Lip balm
• Make-up
• Mirror
• Moisturiser (face and body)
• Nail clippers
• Razors
• Shampoo, conditioner and soap (solid options save space and last longer)
• Shaving cream
• Sunscreen
• Tampons and pads
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Microfibre towel (rolls up small and is quick to dry)
• Contraceptives
• Clothesline
• Dry shampoo

For travel with children

• Milk bottles
• Food/snacks
• Formula/powder
• Water bottles/non-spill bottles
• Baby backpack
• Baby wipes
• Bibs
• Copy of birth certificates
• Changing mat
• Children’s books
• Children’s pain relief
• Colouring books and crayons
• Dummies/pacifiers
• Extra clothes
• Kid-friendly camera
• Nappies/diapers
• Stroller
• Sun hat Toys

Useful Travel Accessories

• Batteries
• Tablet or Kindle
• Extension cable
• Foldable water bottle
• Collapsible coffee cup
• Camera (with spare flash cards, battery charger and spare batteries)
• Combo or key locks for your bag
• Padlock for your room
• Day pack or small shoulder bag
• Eating utensils
• Electrical adapter and plug converter
• Flashlight
• Guide books
• Inflatable travel pillow
• International driving license
• Mosquito net
• Passport photos
• Pillow or pillowcase (can be used as a dirty clothes/laundry bag)
• Reusable plastic bag/tote bag
• Travel alarm clock
• Universal sink plug
• Wet wipes/baby wipes (fantastic for cleaning hands before eating)
• Zip-lock bags (the freezer ones are usually the best for storing liquids)

First Aid Kit

• Anti-bacterial cream
• Plasters (fabric and waterproof of varying sizes)
• Compression bandages
• Diarrhoea tablets
• Gauzes
• Insect and/or mosquito repellent (and anti-itch ointment)
• Iodine/hydrogen peroxide
• Prescription medicines
• Motion sickness tablets
• Pain killers
• Replacement/rehydration salts sachets
• Small scissors
• Tweezers
• Water-purifying tablets
• Yellow Fever certificate or International Certificate of Vaccination
• Hydralyte sachets
• Burn cream

Travel Insurance

We all know that the good times can take a slight detour when travelling. When the going gets tough, Travel Insurance Direct policies aim to do the heavy lifting and may assist with travel insurance cover such as comprehensive travel insurance to help keep your trip moving in the right direction, so you can refocus on the fun.