Packing Checklist
How To Perfectly Pack For Your Vacation
Hey folks! Hope we made a good impression through our first blog. So now let’s just get to some travel-related stuff. Well, today we are gonna share with you guys a pretty perfect yet efficient packing checklist which we learned over time. Additionally, we are also are gonna let you peep inside some efficient packing hacks we personally discovered – and we feel proud of ourselves for that… Lol – and enlighten you guys with the fact that how a traveler can travel with a piece of minimum luggage in his/her suitcase. So let us not waste more time and get along with it quickly.
Packing seems to be a pretty small word but has a different meaning when it comes to traveling. You need a different checklist for every different place you travel to. Like for example, a luxury business traveler would not carry his basic toiletries like soap and shampoo and toilet paper since he knows he would get all these amenities in the hotel he would be staying in. But consider a nomad, a hippie, wouldn’t his basic self-cleaning amenities include all these toiletries? So, our point here is that every traveler has different scenarios, through this post we will lead to packing your suitcase sustainably.
THE BASIC PACKING LIST:
This list is an entire packing checklist of essentials that everyone might need. All the basic amenities right from clothing accessories to essential electronic devices, everything is included in the following checklist:
- ESSENTIALS:
- Travel Documents
- Tickets
- Cash
- Credit card
- TO DRESS UP:
- Clothing:
- Underwear
- Loose pants
- Shorts/skirts
- T-shirts/Tops
- Tanks/Vests & Boxers
- Suits and shirts (carry only if you are on a formal business trip)
- Jackets
- Jeans
2. Footwear:
- Sneakers
- Flats
- Flip flops
- No sandals **
3. Accessories:
- Watches
- Headphones/Earphones
- Scarf/Muffler
- Hats
- Shades/Sunglasses
- Handkerchiefs
- Socks
- TOILETRIES:
- Hygiene:
- Soap & Shampoo
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Deodrant/Cologne
- Tongue cleaner (maybe)
- Towels/Napkins/Handkerchief
- Skincare:
- Instant dry face wash
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Vaseline
- Other:
- Make-up pouch
- Talcum powder
- Night cream
- Lip moisturizer
- PERSONAL:
- Purse/Wallet
- Handy backpack (3-4 ltr volume will just be fine)
- Glasses
- Snacks
- Pills
- Urgent first aid kit
- Water bottles
- Hairdryers
- Bullet journal
- Handbook
- TECH STUFF:
- Laptop
- Mobile phones
- Camera
- Chargers
- Tripods
- Speakers
- Extra SD cards
- Extra batteries
WHAT SHOULD YOUR SUITCASE LOOK LIKE?
Let us narrow it into three categories (or let’s say three types of people) so that you can understand it properly.
1. A SOLO INDIVIDUAL ON A BUSINESS TRIP.
Obviously a person on a business trip needs to carry a maximum load which comprises of his files and tech stuff like his laptop, but what would his suitcase look like while packing?
It’s simple. Narrowing down the scenario, a business trip is most likely to be a 24-48 hour trip. So the person does not need to carry a lot of clothing accessories with him. Packing a pair of suits, a night pair of pajamas, and a Tshirt with a couple of undergarments will just be fine. No need to carry toiletries since the hotel he might be staying in will have all the services included. Some important work files and a laptop is all he needs.
2. A FAMILY VACATION
Secondly, considering a family vacation. Usually, family vacations can last up to a week or so. Packing for families is a tough job since you have to take care and look for every stuff individually.
A couple of T-shirts, shorts, pajamas, obviously no formals, toiletries, personal hygiene stuff, make-up for ladies, first aid kits, pills, and the list goes on for a while. But the main thing that really matters is the type of destination you are going to. Like, let me present you with one more example. If you are traveling to a hilly region with a lot of snow precipitation, you’d definitely need to carry a lot of woolen clothes and other accessories to protect you from that cold, but the bright side here would be you need not to worry about the t-shirts and shirts as you will be covered with the jackets and overcoats the entire time.
Similarly, if you are traveling to a beach all you need is a couple of swimwear and some loose shirts and shorts. Necessity changes according to the location. But some things don’t change like traveling with kids is a bit of trouble. Kids get hungry all the time, and to keep their mouth running, some side snacks are must to have in your suitcase. Pulse home packed food is the best way to avoid food poisoning and an upset tummy during your travel.
3. A SOLO TRAVELER(MAYBE A HIPPIE)
Well, I personally love solo travel, you can all be yourself, independent like a bird, do whatever you like, and most important there is no time limitation. Rather than giving examples here, I’d like to brief you about how I personally pack my suitcase.
I like to travel light, so usually, instead of using a suitcase, I travel with a rucksack on my back, along with a Quechua skiing backpack on my front where I keep all my travel documents, shades, cameras, and my wallet. In my rucksack, (filling from down to up) I put a couple of cargos and Pjs in, above them some t-shirts, jackets, undergarments, towels, on top, I usually keep my pair of flip flops.
Side pockets are usually filled with some high-calorie snacks like some chocolates and protein bars. Not forgetting gums, they are really a must. Also a water bottle in another side pockets. The main pocket (the big one) is where I keep all my tech gadgets wrapped up in a plastic bag. My hat hangs on the chain buckle of my backpack, and the rest of the stuff makes its own space. And…yaaaa! this is how I like to travel.
SELECTING YOUR BAGS/SUITCASE
First things first, you need to make sure the weight of your bags is as light as possible, but the bags do need to be durable. Carry luggage as efficiently as possible, scraping out all those unnecessary things. Considering the above categories, a businessman should try to carry a small duffle bag or a pilot trolley suitcase will just be fine. Whereas, families should carry all their belongings in a large-sized trolley suitcase, and try to make it compact. Families can also use a handy backpack just in case.
The best thing ever invented for a solo traveler is definitely the rucksack. What a thing, man, what a thing!!! Pile all your stuff in this backpack, put it on your shoulder, and ride on. There’s not even an argument for your travel bag that can still continue once you say the word – Rucksack.
PACKING HACKS
Packing can always be fun if you do it in the right way. Make sure you follow the points mentioned below and we assure you your luggage will be systematic, easy to access, and very accurately arranged.
Always use lightweight suitcases to avoid hassle during transit. Choose carry-on-friendly luggage. Instead of folding your clothes, roll’em up and arrange them systematically. This way you can easily pick up the clothes you want to wear without disturbing or spoiling the others. Use the accessories to store more, as you can always put a power bank or some charger or some cables in your shoe. If it is a long vacation and you want to specify your outfits you can separate them at the time of packing itself, also check on a versatile color scheme.
Hygiene is very important, make sure you add a couple of naphthalene balls to reduce the odor, in addition to that always carry a small laundry bag to separate your dirty laundry. If you are on a trekking expedition, it is hard to carry a separate bottle for your shampoo and body wash gel, instead invest in a soap cum shampoo bar.
Usually, I’d suggest you not carry any expensive ornaments on a vacation, but if you do make sure to hide it safely. Non Suspicious objects like cases of sunglasses, earphone pouch, or even shoes are some great places to hide your expensive stuff.
One main thing you need to do while packing your tech stuff is, always use plastic waterproof bags to protect them all the time. It’s not only the rain that can damage your goods but sometimes, a leaking water bottle, sweat can also destroy your expensive items. And while traveling always remember to wear your heaviest c clothes during your journey, this way you can save up the weight in your luggage.
Well now that you have packed up all your luggage satisfactorily, I think there is only one thing that is remaining. Your cab driver is honking downstairs so hurry up!! Pull out all your stuff, jump into that taxi, buy a ticket, hop on to that plane, and let your heart decide what to do next. After all, it is what they say, “The beginning is all it takes”.
HAPPY TRAVEL!