So, needless to say, I have absolutely no need of a travel packing list right now.

I do, however, keep one handy at all times, using the ‘Reminders’ app on my iPhone to create a rolling travel packing list that I can consult any time I need to – you know, for those unexpected travel opportunities that crop up all the time?

(This has literally never happened to me: my life is just not that interesting, unfortunately. Still, it’s good to be prepared, isn’t it?)

My travel packing list consists of almost everything I could conceivably need to travel: I don’t list every item of clothing I’m going to take, because I think I can probably trust myself to remember to, you know, pack some damn clothes, but I do list just about everything else, to avoid those awkward moments when you’re sitting on the runway, and suddenly remember that your toothbrush, on the other hand, is still sitting by the bathroom sink, where you left it that morning. Yes, I’ve been there, and it was incidents like that one which made me develop my ultimate travel packing list. And here it is…

TRAVEL PACKING LIST

(No, this is not everything I take, it’s just an image: calm down…)

Electronics:

Phone

Phone charger

Spare battery pack

Laptop

Laptop charging cable

DSLR

Spare lenses

Battery charger for DSLR

Card reader for DSLR

GOPRO and accessories

Kindle

Kindle charger

Travel hairdryer

Curling Iron

(Yup, all of these electronnics chargers are the absolute bane of my life, seriously: they add so much weight to my suitcase, but I just can’t live without them, unfortunately, other than for a super-short trip..)

Toiletries and Cosmetics

Makeup bag

(I pack this a couple of days before, then use the products from it, rather than from the rest of my stash, just so I can be sure I haven’t forgotten anything essential…)

Cleanser, moisturiser, eye cream

Eye makeup remover

(I once forgot this on a trip to a small island: trying to remove waterproof mascara without soap or water was NOT fun, let me tell you…)

Nail polish remover (travel sized)

Cotton pads

Shampoo & Conditioner (travel sized)

(If I’m going to be travelling for more than a couple of days, I just leave these out of the suitcase and buy full-sized versions when i get to my destination: so much easier than lugging heavy bottles of product around and worrying about it leaking in my suitcase…)

Sunscreen

Contact lenses

Razor (for my legs!)

Toothbrush & toothpaste

Hairbrush

Deodorant

Painkillers and any other  essential medication

Perfume

Clothes

(Top tip: pack your way through your day: so, start with underwear, then move onto clothes, then outerwear and shoes, before finishing up with nightwear…)

Underwear & bras

Dresses and skirts

Jeans

(I always take at least one pair of jeans, regardless of where I’m going: you never know what the weather will do!)

t-shirts and tops

sweaters and cardigans

socks

swimwear if required

nightwear

Outerwear, if not wearing it on the flight

(Quantities of each will depend on climate and length of stay: this is also the reason I haven’t given an exact list of clothing, as it really will differ from trip to trip, but here’s a sample packing list I put together a while back, suitable for a springtime mini break – or it would also work for summer if you’re headed to the UK!)

Shoes

At least…

One pair of heels

One pair of wedges

One pair of sneakers

One pair of flats

One pair of flip-flops/sandals

Accessories

One small clutch bag/cross body bag (large bag carried on flight)

Canvas tote/beach bag

Selection of scarves and necklaces

A couple of belts

Misc.

Earplugs

SYLA mask

What’s on your ultimate travel packing list?

 

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