Those dark winter days are finally over which means summer is coming!
If you, like many other people, are thinking about your upcoming sunny holidays, then it’s good to get yourself organised well in advance.
Packing can seem like a chore when all you want to do is rush to the relaxing part of the holiday.
But don’t worry, thanks to this helpful holiday packing list you can ensure you have everything you’ll need before you go.
I know everyone will have their own unique holiday plans and everyone’s situation is different.
However, you can easily fashion this into your own personal summer holiday checklist and use this list to create your own holiday packing list template.
Whether you’re planning for your next summer holiday, want to ensure you don’t forget anything or are looking for holiday packing tips, this detailed list can help.
To help make planning your next summer holiday easier I’ve detailed your essentials into the key main categories.
The Ultimate Summer Holiday Packing List
Let’s begin our summer holiday packing list with your pre-travel essentials.
Travel Essentials
Without these key travel essentials, getting your holiday started might be very difficult or downright impossible. Many of these items will need to be considered well in advance and not at midnight on the day before you travel.
Before you start packing your clothes, make sure you have these items organised.
Travel Tickets
Whether you’re going on holiday by train, boat, plane, coach or something else entirely, you’re going to need your tickets. No one wants to turn up at the train station ready to start their holiday only to realise they’ve left their tickets behind!
To avoid this, I like to make sure I’ve got the e-tickets on my phone and, if I’m travelling with other people, I forward all the relevant booking emails to everyone in the group. This way, if one person’s phone dies, you’re not all doomed.
I always travel with an external battery charger but if for some reason I didn’t have this with me, or I knew my phone battery is prone to dying, I’d print the tickets out too. Make sure you check the ticket instructions as some places will require these to be printed in physical form.
Passport
If you are taking a summer holiday in a foreign country then you’ll need your passport. For many, a summer holiday means travelling overseas so ensure you have your passport with you and ensure it is covered securely during transit.
Definitely don’t do what I did and only realise you’ve left your passport at home when you’ve already reached the airport. This will result in a number of panicked phone calls and calling in a huge favour to have your passport brought to you in a hurry.
It’s also important to make sure that your passport is not nearing its expiry date. Many countries won’t let you enter if your passport doesn’t have 6 months of more left before its expiry date, so this is something that you’ll want to keep an eye on.
Insurance Documentation
Insurance is an absolute must for any form of travel. You never know what might happen and it’s best to be covered for all eventualities.
I prefer to buy annual multi-trip travel insurance so I don’t need to worry about this before each and every trip. This is because I travel quite a lot and often on an impromptu basis. If you’re more of a planner or you don’t away that often, it may work out cheaper for you to buy insurance for each individual trip.
Whichever kind of holidaymaker you are, don’t go anywhere without travel insurance. It’s not just for medical emergencies, but also cancelled flights and travel disruption, which are all too common these days.
Medical Items
When putting together a summer holiday checklist you will need to ensure you still take care or any pre-existing medical conditions.
You should never let any medical conditions stop you from enjoying your holiday, but you will need to take extra care and ensure you have everything you need.
So, when putting your holiday packing list together make sure you remember the following:
Vaccinations
If you are travelling overseas then you may need vaccinations in order to ensure you don’t catch any foreign diseases.
You won’t always need to do this it really depends on where you’re visiting. If you’re going to Asia or Africa, this is definitely something you’ll want to look up in advance or speak to your doctor about.
If you do need a vaccination, make sure you get it promptly as some require several rounds of injections spread over several weeks.
Check what travel vaccinations you may need here.
Prescriptions
If you are on any kind of prescription medication then you will need to ensure you have enough for the duration of your holiday. You should check your supplies and book an appointment tiwth your GP to get some more if you’re running low.
You may be able to get your medication whilst on holiday but this is usually a huge faff and may require you to make a claim on your insurance for any related costs.
You will also need to ensure that the prescription medication is something you can legally take in the country you’re travelling to as well.
Countries such as Turkey, India and Pakistan have a list of restricted medicines that they will not allow into their countries.
Allergy Card
If you have a serious allergy and are travelling to a country that speaks a different language then you will need an allergy card.
This card will detail your allergies so people in the country you’re visiting will know about your allergies.
Allergy cards are easy to find online and are available in a wide range of languages.
First-Aid Kit
Make sure you save room in your suitcase for a first-aid kit! You never know when accidents will happen so having some first-aid on hand will be incredibly valuable. This should include the basics like plasters, pain relief, blister care etc.
If you have young children or plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, then a travelling first-aid kit you can put in a backpack or handbag will be very useful.
Buy an all-in-one first aid kit online here.
Holiday Toiletries
My experience is that ladies tend to stuff their toiletry bags to the brim for holidays, but often with cosmetics and makeup, leaving some other important items at home.
Meanwhile, men seem to find toiletry packing an even bigger chore than clothes packing and, again, important things get left behind.
Yes, Derek, you do need deodorant for your 4 day trip to Spain at the height of summer. We will notice if you don’t wear it.
Thankfully basic toiletries are pretty easy to get hold of wherever you go now and airports are well stocked with them. However, they can be expensive if they’re bought at the airport so it’s best to be prepared. Check out our list below for all the must-have summer holiday toiletries.
Basic Holiday Toiletries
Your basic holiday toiletries include things like a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, skin creams and more. Basically, whatever you use in your morning/night time routine to keep yourself clean.
It’s best to keep these things together in their own waterproof bag and try to avoid large containers if you’re travelling by plane. If you’re only bringing carry-on luggage then you’ll need to make sure any liquids are in a clear plastic bag.
I’d highly recommend purchasing a proper reusable plastic toiletries bag that can be used every time you travel. This will mean less faff for you at the airport as you’ll have already packed up all your liquids and also less impact on the environment.
Buy a reusable, clear, plastic travel bag for your toiletries here.
Suntan Lotion
I mean it’s a summer holiday so you have to soak up a few rays, don’t you? Unless you’re heading to a colder climate to escape the sun, you’ll likely need some suntan lotion, especially if you’re going on a beach holiday. Make sure you pack a bottle and the higher the factor the better!
Wearing suntan lotion protects your skin from sunburn and even skin diseases so it is essential you are wearing it even on days when it doesn’t seem “that hot”.
I know you’ll want to get your tan on but it’s a myth that suntan lotion prevents tanning. It simply protects your skin from the bad stuff so slather it on!
Towels
Whether your summer holiday is a family trip to the local beach or in a country miles away you will need a towel in your suitcase.
They are excellent for all kinds of reasons and come in all sorts of sizes. I always pack a microfibre towel even if I know the hotel I’m going to will have them. It’s really thin, super light and takes up no space whatsoever.
Buy a microfibre towel online here.
Glasses / Contacts
If you wear glasses or contact lenses then double (triple) check that you’ve packed these for your travels. And this goes for everyone who is travelling so if it’s a family holiday make sure your children have their glasses and contact lenses as well.
A glasses/contacts case should also be brought along to ensure they don’t get lost or squashed during travel. Glasses are expensive and the last thing you want is for your frames to get squashed in the hold.
If you have an extra pair then bringing them along is wise as this isn’t the sort of thing you can source in a foreign country!
Feminine Hygiene
Being on your period whilst travelling, especially in the hot summer months, is the absolute worst. Depending on the nature of travel and your destination getting a hold of feminine hygiene products might be tricky. Especially if you’re quite particular about which products and brands you use.
RELATED: Travel Essentials for Women
It’s always better to be safe and pack some even if you don’t think you’re not travelling at that time of the month.
If you want to save space (and use eco-friendly products), then I’d highly suggest investing in a menstrual cup. It’s a girl’s best friend when travelling as it’s just one product to bring along with you and it only needs to be changed once in the morning and once in the evening.
I won’t pretend it’s not incredibly fiddly to begin with but once you’ve become accustomed it’s so much easier than carrying around a small bag full of pads and tampons.
Buy a menstrual cup online here.
Deodorant
I don’t know why but deodorant is the top thing I’m always forgetting to take with me on holiday. I think it might be because you can’t bring aerosols on planes and then I forget to pick up a stick deodorant altogether.
Deodorant or at the very least the deodorant you are used to, and comfortable using can be hard to find on holiday.
Deodorant is an absolute must on hot, sticky days so if you know you’re travelling to a very hot country, make sure you’ve got one in your bag.
You don’t want to find yourself embarrassed halfway through the day when you start to smell a little “ripe”.
Shaving Equipment
Bringing some razors and shaving gel is handy for both ladies and gentlemen on summer holidays.
Whilst you can often get a pretty cheap razor from a supermarket if you need to, these are usually quite rough on the skin so it’s best to bring your own equipment.
It also wouldn’t be very hygienic to share these so bring your own to avoid winding up having to ask your mates in desperation one evening on holiday. Remember if you are travelling by plane then you should avoid large gel/foam containers.
Luggage
Whether you’re the sort who flat out refuses to pay the additional charge for hold luggage or the person who is always overweight because they’ve packed too much, you won’t be going anywhere without your luggage.
Suitcases
Hopefully, you won’t forget that you’ll need a suitcase, but you will need to ensure it’s large enough for everything you need in advance.
And not just for your belongings but the things you’re going to bring back with you. Too many times have I found myself sitting on a friend’s suitcase and we try to force the zip shut before rushing to the airport!
If you’re going by plane, then choosing a more colourful suitcase can make it a lot easier to find when they all appear on the conveyor belt. If you’ve got a plain coloured case then you can attach a ribbon to it or something else distinctive so you can grab yours quickly.
Backpacks
I always bring a backpack with me for daytime exploring as there’s no way I could fit my camera, sunscreen and a decent sized water bottle in a handbag.
I know they’re not as pretty and can be heavy but at least one person in your holiday party should have one so you can carry the essentials.
If you really don’t want to bring a backpack then I’d suggest sliding a tote bag into your pocket or a smaller bag so that if you end up buying something later you have a way to carry it without paying for an extra plastic bag.
Wallets / Purses
Forgetting your wallet or purse when you’re on holiday is an absolute disaster as it can take days to get a new card and you don’t want to have to rely on your friends.
Depending on where you’re going, it might be worth adding a new more travel suitable wallet/purse to your summer holiday checklist.
These are more secure than your average wallet and offer a large size while retaining a compact form, so they are easier to take with you from place to place.
Clothing
Whilst you’re unlikely to forget your clothes when putting together a holiday checklist for families (or even just yourself), it can be hard to remember everything you need. So, let’s look at all the clothing considerations you need to consider when planning your summer holiday.
Shoes
I hope you won’t forget to wear shoes when running out the door as you head off on holiday but it’s important to bring a variety of different footwear with you.
If you plan to spend time outdoors at the beach then bring some flip-flops or sandals, boots for hiking and maybe even slippers for bedtime.
A good pair of trainers or casual shoes are also ideal for general day to day wear and are much more practical than summer sandals if you’ll be walking lots.
Underwear
I’m always overgenerous with underwear on holidays, especially beach or pool holidays as I find myself changing in and out of underwear and showering a heck of a lot more than I usually do.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry so bring enough for the length of your holiday and then add an extra pair.
For a family summer holiday, you’ll need to consider when laundry should be done so that everyone has enough pairs of undies for the whole trip.
Washing underwear in the sink is not relaxing and not fun.
Swimsuits
When putting together a summer holiday checklist you need to ask yourself what to take to the beach.
Whether it’s a solo holiday just for yourself, a romantic getaway or a family summer holiday you probably be spending some time laid out on a beach towel, soaking up some rays.
Make sure you bring some swimsuits with you but remember to take the local culture into your decision when choosing what to wear. Some beaches have strict rules in place about what you can and can’t wear.
Nightwear
Another thing I always forget on holiday is pyjamas! Whilst it’s not the end of the world, I’d rather not sleep be forced to turn some of my day clothes into nightclothes as they’ll get incredibly crumpled.
If you’re going on holiday with friends then PJs are a must so pack a light pair or an old t-shirt to sleep in.
Electronics
Some people enjoy a holiday to get away from their electronics but you’ll still at least need your phone as a means of contact. Electronics are usually expensive to replace so make sure these are on your travel packing list’.
Phone Charger
Your phone is very important when you’re planning your summer holiday. You’ll want a way to stay in touch with friends and family and contact the authorities in an emergency.
Whilst you’re unlikely to forget your phone you might forget the charger and getting a replacement one in another country could be quite difficult. Always bring along a charger when you’re putting your summer holiday packing list together.
Plug Adaptor
If you’re travelling abroad it is likely that you’ll need an adaptor to actually charge your phone and any other devices you bring along.
Do your research beforehand to check what plugs they have in your destination and ensure you bring a plug adaptor along.
If you’re bringing lots of electrical items, it may be an idea to bring an extension lead too so you don’t need to buy multiple adaptors.
Headphones
Headphones might not strictly be essential, but every summer holiday checklist should be sure to include them.
They are going to make long journeys by train, plane or any other form of travel much easier to handle.
They may also be handy for drowning out the noise of your friends when you just want to chill out and relax!
Portable Charger
If you’re spending long days out adventuring and exploring, you may find that you’re using your phone more than ever for navigation and more.
In this case, it’s essential to bring a portable charger as phone batteries these days are notorious for dying when you need them most.
There are so many options out there right now and most are usually very lightweight so it’s not too much of a burden to bring one along.
Buy my recommended portable charger online here.
Other Holiday Essentials
Well, I think my summer holiday checklist covers almost everything you could need. But there are always going to be a few things that don’t fit into the main categories we’ve looked at so to help ensure everything is covered here are all the other things you might need to bring along for your summer holiday.
Maps
While you can likely buy one of these at the airport/train station or even when you reach your destination it will be much better to get one in advance. This way you can research your holiday while you’re on your way there.
If you are going on a more nature-focused or adventurous holiday like camping or backpacking, then a map is practically a necessity because you won’t always be able to depend on your phone for navigation.
Guidebooks
Similar to a map you can often find guidebooks at airports or when you get to your destination. Plenty of popular summer holiday destinations will have tourist-friendly guides available but getting one in advance is again recommended.
Since these can often be expensive, it’s worth checking if your local library has an up-to-date one first.
It won’t just be a valuable way to educate yourself on your holiday destination but also something to read while you’re travelling there.
Language Books/Apps
If you’re going to a foreign country then you shouldn’t expect everyone to speak English. I studied languages at university and it causes me no end of annoyance when English speakers make zero effort to learn even a simple “hello” in another language before they travel.
While many popular tourist destinations will have English speaking people a language book or app for your smartphone is a big help. Language books/ apps come in many forms for a wide range of languages so bring one along.
So, that finishes up our summer holiday packing list! Yes, it might look a little intimidating but trust me when you break it down it’s easy to manage if you give yourself enough time to get everything done and ready.
This leads me to one final thing you need to consider when it comes to putting together your summer holiday packing list.
When Should You Start Packing?
After you’ve put your summer holiday checklist together or used this one then the next thing you need to think about is when you should actually get all the packing done.
This will really depend on where you’re going, how long your trip is and how many people are travelling.
If it’s just you on your own, then you can save packing until nearer the time but if it’s your whole family you will want to start planning early. If you follow the advice laid out below it should help you get everything you need together with time to spare.
2 Weeks Before Travel
If your summer holiday packing is for a family holiday, then you should start your planning/ packing around 2 weeks in advance. This will ensure everyone’s belongings are ready to go and that you have everything you need.
You don’t have to pack everything right away, but it gives you time to think about what needs to be washed when. It also gives you ample to go out and buy bits and bobs such as hats, sunglasses and more for all the family.
1 Week Before Travel
If you’re going on a week or two-week-long trip then you’ll need to start packing a week or so in advance.
Store away clothes, your toiletries and ensure all your other travel essentials are packed. You can add the electricals before you leave but try to get most of your belongings stored away.
The Weekend Before Travel
If you’re only going on a short trip and are bringing carry-on luggage only then the weekend before your trip is more than sufficient to get all your belongings in order.
It’s wise to think about this at the weekend so if you do need to head out to buy any last-minute bits and bobs or some new summer clothing you’ve got ample time to do so.
Rushing around after work to buy these bits and bobs is a nightmare!
Pin now, read again later!
Laura
Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?