Pack like a Pro – My Top 5 Tips for Stress Free Holiday Packing

My top 5 tips for stress free holiday packing

Hopefully at this time of year you are planning to take a little break away. Whether that is aboard or a staycation we need to get packed. This can be so dauting for some but I love to pack a suitcase and so want to help you to pack like a pro and share my top 5 tips for stress free holiday packing.

Rather than dreading the packing try look at is as the beginning of your well-deserved break from the norm. It is the start of the countdown. Soon you’ll be poolside with a cocktail and packing will be a distant memory but if you’ve forgotten your most comfortable flip flops or those all-important sunglasses then you will be regretting not following my top tips to ensure holidays run as smoothly as possible.

My top 5 tips for stress free holiday packing

1)     A Master list

We all have the staple items that come on every holiday so not specific outfit breakdowns, but high level. Passport and health cards, insurance details, Toiletries, chargers, books, games for travel, first aid, arrival bag (suncream, swimwear, underwear, lighter clothing for all travellers in case your accommodation isn’t ready on arrival), teddies, headphones, suncream, hats, sunglasses booking emails, car rental, codes for carparking all to hand. You may have different categories but the items that always come on holidays need to be on the Master list. This can be saved and used every year. I also have a checklist for when I walk out the door that I use every year.

2)     Pre Pack Prep

I would argue that this is the most important step of all just don’t try to say it very quickly on live TV (see TV segment lol). Don’t pack by category, by that I mean just piling bikinis, dresses, shorts, shoes. Do your packing by outfit to decide what is coming and the aim is to have as many interchangeable outfits and shoe combinations as possible. I do this for myself and the kids to avoid just bringing items for just in case! Once this step is done its easy from here on in! It is also mojito time!

3)     Packing cubes

Are you a fan? I certainly am and have been using them for years. It is definitely worth investing in decent quality ones. I even use mine   for short breaks away. Once I have completed the Pre Pack Prep I then pack by category inside cubes. I neatly roll the items all to the same size inside the cube to optimise the space.

4)     The dreaded decant

Obviously for short haul flights with no check in the decanting of toiletries is essential. You can get those mini sized once but they are honestly so tiny and expensive are they even worth it? I decant anything huge like shampoo, conditioner and my face creams. I generally have a travel bag with all of these items in anyway but also a good tip is to keep the mini freebies you get when you purchase your skincare to use on holidays. For longer holidays I don’t decant as I’ll likely use up the bottles especially sun cream, shampoo etc

5)     Final check & weigh

I usually do the pre pack prep a week or so before to give me enough time to wash and dry anything that we need or to identify if there are gaps where we need to purchase a few bits. I don’t usually pack fully until the night before but I usually have all of the clothes identified and probably hidden from the kids and my husband! When I am doing this final pack I am doing the final check to ensure I have everything and cross checking the master list for the essentials. I have a thing to weigh the bags as I am too anxious to wait to weigh at the airport. I usually pop it into the case too for the way home. I also mix and match the cubes between the suitcases in case something goes missing.

I hope these tips help your packing go a lot smoother this summer. Enjoy the break x