Summer is fast approaching, and so are my eerily realistic packing anxiety nightmares. Typically, a month before I am set to leave, I have dreams that I show up for my holiday without any of the necessary luggage.
As a result, I have become a pretty diligent and well-organised packer. I put together a list a few weeks before departure and gradually start ticking things off as I add them into my suitcase.
Now, maybe you’re not quite as obsessive about packing as I am – or maybe you are, but your list-making game is a little bit meh. Either way, this ultimate summer holiday packing list is for you. Print it, screenshot it, save it to your Notes app, or use the interactive tick boxes in this blog. Just make sure to use it!
P.S. Huge thanks to Symprove for sponsoring this post. Brands like them make it possible for me to keep creating travel content that (hopefully!) makes your life easier.
Travel documents
Undoubtedly, the most important thing on this list is your travel documents! You won’t get far without your passport or ID (if you’re travelling domestically) or your boarding pass/ticket for travel.
Even in our increasingly virtual world, it is still important to consider carrying backups of anything useful. For example, I have screenshots of my passport on my laptop and phone. I also carry a printout scan of my passport that lives permanently in a pocket in my suitcase.
I also save screenshots of my boarding passes, any visas, and my travel insurance, just in case I am somewhere without internet. I often send these screenshots to myself on WhatsApp, which can be accessed without the internet.
Supplements and medicine
If you have any medicine or supplements you usually take, you will want to consider taking them with you. For me, my gut hates me travelling anywhere new. Not only does it hate flying, but eating new foods causes it to go into a meltdown. Which is why I always make sure to travel with a gut supplement like Symprove.
The live, friendly bacteria in Symprove help maintain a healthy environment in my microbiome as I introduce new and different foods into my gut each day. It means I can enjoy my holiday without the fear of a painful and uncomfortable gut. Find out more in my review.
Symprove has been the most effective gut supplement for me, and thankfully, they sell travel-sized bottles (70ml each), which can be carried in your hand luggage on the plane and don’t require refrigerated storage (unless you open them).
I also carry any of my usual multivitamins and any medicine that I may need to take.
Travel with Symprove!
The gut supplement I swear by – saving me from many a dodgy travel stomach bug. It even comes in handy 70ml travel-sized bottles, which can be packed in your carry-on luggage and don’t need refrigerating.
Clothing
You are going to need to pack some clothes, and ultimately, what clothes you take will depend on what kind of summer holiday you are taking. But I’d hesitate a guess and say you are going somewhere pretty warm. Therefore, cool breezy clothes are a must!
I like to pack a couple of each item, meaning a couple of pairs of shorts, skirts, trousers, t-shirts, vest tops, and light shawls/shirts for covering up. Plus a few warm items of clothing for cooler evenings. I then pair these up with a comfortable pair of trainers, great for long days out exploring, and a pair of sandals.
Oh, and don’t forget plenty of changes of underwear, particularly if you won’t have a laundry service to hand!
If you are going to be by the beach, a swimsuit is a must with a light, packable beach towel. I have a cotton Turkish towel which doubles up as a beautiful shawl.
Toiletries
The toiletries I take will often depend on how long I am travelling for and where. For example, if I am going on a short city trip with no hold luggage, I tend to avoid bringing too many liquids because of the faff at the airport. That being said, I typically travel with solid shampoo, conditioner, and soap anyway.
You should make sure to pack sunscreen for your summer holiday, but I also recommend you pack one that is kind to your skin and the environment. This is why I like to use natural, reef-safe sunscreens where possible.
My key toiletries include shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant (I use a solid natural one), perfume, toothpaste, toothbrush, sunscreen, and a razor. See my full list here.
Entertainment
Summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to catch up on all those books that you promised yourself that you’d read throughout the year. I prefer being able to physically turn pages in a book, but I will pack my Kindle for longer stays because books can be heavy to carry (you’ll see it as one of my recommended electronics below)!
And the great thing about a Kindle is that if you manage to finish reading all your books, you can just connect to the internet and buy some more.
I also sometimes like to pack a deck of cards or any other easy-to-carry games, like Cards Against Humanity.
Travel with Symprove!
The gut supplement I swear by – saving me from many a dodgy travel stomach bug. It even comes in handy 70ml travel-sized bottles, which can be packed in your carry-on luggage and don’t need refrigerating.
Money
If you are travelling internationally, you may want to consider carrying some cash in their local currency, but most definitely a travel-friendly debit and/or credit card. For most destinations, I tend to bring a small amount of the local currency in cash, my Wise debit card and my Monzo credit card.
I am not a big fan of carrying lots of cash around unless it is necessary. So I always make sure to do some research on the destination before leaving, to check whether or not cash is necessary. It is becoming a lot easier to travel with just a bank card now.
I like to use a travel-friendly debit and credit card to keep conversion and ATM fees low – check out my favourites here.
First aid kit
If you are accident-prone like me, then you will benefit from carrying a small first aid kit. I like to keep a few supplies within both my carry-on and hold luggage, like antiseptic wipes and plasters. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to use and replenish these!
More often than not, hotels and holiday lets will have a small first aid kit to hand, but I do like having a few of my own supplies to carry around with me as I explore nature or cities.
Electronics
I often carry a variety of electronics on my summer holidays, including my phone (for messaging family and navigating around new places), my Kindle, a portable battery, chargers, and adapters for my plugs.
I also bring my laptop with me everywhere I go, but I often have to work when travelling.
Whilst I prefer reading physical books, you can’t beat a Kindle on holiday. Plus, a portable battery is an absolute lifesaver for any days out where you will be needing to use your phone a lot, for photos and maps.
Food and drinks
Last of all, but probably the most important for me, are travel snacks! I never travel without something nutritious (or tasty) to eat. Particularly when flying. My go-to is a homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. But you could easily buy a pack from the supermarket.
I also never travel without my reusable water bottle. I hate to think how many single-use plastic water bottles I would have to buy if I didn’t. You also can’t beat cold water throughout a hot sunny day, which you won’t get with a plastic bottle of water bought from the shops.
You can refill your reusable bottle at your hotel or apartment, and even airports tend to have refill stations dotted around. Find the best reusable bottle for you here!
Travel with Symprove!
The gut supplement I swear by – saving me from many a dodgy travel stomach bug. It even comes in handy 70ml travel-sized bottles, which can be packed in your carry-on luggage and don’t need refrigerating.
My go-to travel health insurance:
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