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Want to make sure that you’ve packed everything you need for your trip? Super! Here’s a free printable vacation packing list that’ll help you do just that!
This week I wanted to make you another printable that’ll simplify your traveling. It’s a complete vacation packing list so that you can feel at ease that you won’t forget to pack anything important.
I absolutely love traveling and it’s one of those things that’s always on my “dreams and goals list”.
But the packing part is the one that stresses me so much.
And I can’t tell you how many times I double-check that I have my passport and wallet with me on the departure day. Only after I’ve gotten rid off the checked luggage and have my boarding pass in my hand I start enjoying the trip… if even then. But at that point I can’t do much about anything anymore so I just “surrender” and accept that I’ve packed what I’ve packed and that’ll have to do.
So if you’re anything like me and you worry about your packing, then you’ll love this ultimate packing checklist!
I want you to enjoy every bit of your trip and the time before your departure day should be equally enjoyable.
So I hope this printable packing list will simplify your traveling and give you a bit more peace of mind so that you can have the best trip ever.
Packing properly is one of the biggest things you need to take care of so that you can enjoy your vacation. But it’s not the only thing. There are different things you’ll need to do and arrange
before booking
a few weeks before your trip
just before your departure day
and on the departure day
I’ve also made you achecklist for all those things you need to do so that you can feel at ease when you’re planning your trip and that you get to enjoy your travels without worrying if you forgot something.
But in this post there’s a complete list of things that you might want to pack on your next trip.
I’ll guide you through this complete travel packing list so that you can be organized and stress-free and feel confident that you remembered to packed everything needed.
Note! I made you also a pre-written packing list printable, but because I know that different trips and situations need different items to be packed (like you don’t need a beach towel if you’re going skiing), so there’s also a blank packing list that you can customize to your needs.
So here we go!
The categories on the printable packing list
I’ve categorized the vacation packing list into four categories: clothes, miscellaneous, toiletries and carry-on bag.
And here are the sub-categories for each main category. I’ll go into details after I’ve introduced these categories for you.
Psst! If you’d like to make your own packing list, these are a great starting point for that purpose.
Packing tips: And the best suitcase brandis this one. Without a doubt. They last forever.
Packing list for vacation – all Items
Here’s the complete list of items, products, papers and other things you (might) want to pack. You can also find all of these in the pre-written packing list printable. Or you can use the ones that you need and create your own packing list (there’s also a blank packing list printable for you to do so).
Clothes
Basics
Underwear
Bras/undershirts
Socks/tights
Nightwear
Bathrobe
Casual everyday clothes & formal
T-shirts
Casual shirts
Dress shirts
Sweaters/sweatshirts
Jeans
Pants
Slacks
Shorts
Skirts
Dresses
Blazers
Suits
Formal weal
Outerwear
Jackets/coats
Raincoats
Hats
Gloves
Scarves
Other
Sports wear
Swimsuits
Miscellaneous
Footwear
Athletic shoes
Casual shoes
Dress/formal shoes
Sandals/flip-flops
Slippers
Accessories
Belts
Ties
Jewellery
Backpack/day bag
Purses
Tote bags
Other
Umbrella
Plastic bags
Laundry bag
Sewing kit
Torchlight
Beach towel
Health
Small first-aid kit
Medication
Vitamins
Important info
List of medications
Credit card companies contacts
Emergency contacts
Address book
Phone numbers
Packing tips: Check out also the free printable travel checklist I’ve made for things to do at home before your travels. You can print it out from this post. And order a set of packing cubes. These luggage organizers are awesome and affordable.
Toiletries– what to pack in your toiletry bag
Hair
Shampoo+conditioner
Hairbrush/comb
Styling products+tools
Hair accessories
Dental care
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Personal care
Soap/shower gel
Deodorant
Perfume/cologne
Moisturizer
Sunscreen
Shaving products
Face cleanser
Face lotion
Lip balm
Nail file/clippers
Tweezers
Contact lenses+case
Feminine hygiene products
Beauty
Makeup
Makeup remover
Cotton buds
Compact mirror
Packing tips: If I travel light and have to choose what to take with me, then this is THE product I go nowhere without.
Packing tips: I don‘t travel anywhere anymore without this footrest. This is the best few bucks I’ve ever spent. And the people sitting next to me always ask what it is and secretly (and sometimes openly) wish they would have one too.
How to use the free printable packing list for vacation
So there are three versions to choose from:
The pre-written one with all items and categories on it.
A blank one with the main categories on it
And a totally blank one with just checkboxes on it that you can customize to your needs
The ultimate packing list PDFs come in US letter size, but you can resize and use it for example as half letter or A4 size paper (or A5).
You can also keep the packing lists in your planner, in your travel binder or in your home management binder so that you can revisit them and use them multiple times.
Thecomplete travel packing listhas a place to write
Your destination
When you’re traveling
And who you’re traveling with
And then there are four different categories.
Clothes
Miscellaneous
Toiletries
Carry-on
You can either use the pre-written one or customize your own and use the complete packing list as an inspiration.
Psst! Check out also the complete traveling checklist for things to do at home before your travels.
And this is how the complete travel packing lists look like.
This is the pre-written ultimate vacation packing list:
And this is the blank packing list with the main categories:
And this is the totally blank packing list:
How to download vacation packing list template
You can download the ultimate packing list printables by clicking the download links under the images. These are printable gifts so please feel free to print out as many as you need for your personal use.
The printables (of course) come without the big bow logo.
DOWNLOAD: Complete Travel Packing Lists(ALL THREE IN ONE PDF FILE)
Its version of the 5-4-3-2-1 method includes "five tops, four bottoms, three accessories, two shoes (a practical pair and a nice pair), and one swimsuit," though like the Times this formula allows the wiggle room to swap out accessories based on your destination and type of travel.
Toothbrush is the #1 most forgotten item with 18% of respondents. Men are less forgetful than women -- at least, according to how they responded. The least forgotten thing is food; with men being more forgetful of food compared to women. Younger travelers forget socks and phone chargers most often.
(You can read about why this is important in my post on bra care and maintenance.) Each pair of underwear can only be worn once before it needs to be laundered. If you have unlimited suitcase space and don't want to do any laundry, a two-week trip means packing 14/2 = 7 bras and at least 14 pairs of underwear.
Some people swear by the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method -- five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes and dresses, two swimsuits and bags, and one watch, hat, and pair of sunglasses.
One general guideline is to pack one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops (short or long-sleeve or outer layer), five pairs of socks, six pairs of underwear. This should be enough to last you for two weeks.
Do the clothing countdown: If you need a mantra to help streamline your wardrobe, use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule for a weeklong trip: Limit yourself to no more than five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat. The list should be adjusted to suit your needs.
The 333 method is simple: Pack three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes, then mix and match for at least nine different outfits or 27 different looks if you're counting the various shoe options, too.
The 123456 rule is a popular strategy for packing light when traveling. It involves packing one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops, five pairs of socks, and six pairs of underwear.
Adopt a Layered Packing Approach: Place items you'll need first or most often at the top or in easily accessible pockets. Choose a Bag with Multiple Compartments: A bag with various pockets and compartments aids in separating and organizing different types of items, making them easier to find and access.
Bras are repositories for dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells. For best skin health and support, wash them every two to four wears, though increase that to more often if you were sweating a lot when wearing it or are experiencing skin irritation or infection in the area around your breasts.
To extend the life cycle of your bras you should rotate the bras you wear. You should not wear the same bra two days in a row because it will lose its firmness - your bra needs time to refresh and rebound. A good rule of thumb is to wear it, rest it, wear it, wash it.
It is best to have two pairs of bottoms (pants, shorts, or skirts) for each week that you'll be staying. Plan on bringing four shirts per week, and two jackets to layer for warmth (if you're traveling to a cool or cold destination). For a two-week trip, you need four bottoms and eight tops.
Sleepwear. Whether you sleep in t-shirts and sweatpants or complete pajama sets, about two pairs of pajamas will be enough for a weeklong vacation. However, if you're someone who likes slipping into fresh pajamas every night, then you may want to pack extra loungewear, space in your luggage permitting.
For trips that are only a few days in length, you may be fine with just one pair of shoes, especially if you aren't doing a wide variety of activities. However, for trips that are a week or more in length, two to three pairs of shoes are more appropriate.
And I think this method is really something you can tailor to your personal style. In general, it often looks like 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 shoes, 2 dresses and 1 bag. You can also add in additional things like maybe 2 belts, and 1 hat.
The concept of this packing rule is that you choose three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes to create more than a dozen outfit looks that fit easily into your carry-on.
1:5 Rule 🍃 For every 1 trip you want to take, say no to 5 materialistic items. How? People who prioritise travel say no to impulsive shopping, luxury stays, expensive alcohol, gourmet food orders, unwanted bag packs.
This technique claims the crown for being the most space-efficient way of packing clothes. By rolling my clothes tightly into a “sausage or burrito-like package,” I packed two weeks' worth of clothing into a small carry-on! This means fewer bags to carry around and fewer space worries.
Pack bulky items like shoes and personal care items on one side and clothing on the other. First, pack clothing that tends to wrinkle on the zippered side. Since it has a flat surface this will lessen wrinkles and the zip closure keeps clothing from shifting and falling out when you open the bag.
Implement the 54321 packing method, which outlines the ideal way to pack light and is especially helpful when packing for cold weather. This viral hack contends that all one needs to pack on any given trip are five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two (dresses or handbags), and one each of small accessories.
You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
Your packing technique of choice will very much depend on your priorities. Vertical folding is the best compromise for those short on time, while bundling is the ultimate technique if you have an hour or two at your disposal and want to maximize space without creating wrinkles.
Also called the Sudoku method, the 3 x 3 grid method is used to change the way you dress (or pack!) by optimizing your outfit possibilities with a little creative mixing and matching. This process not only provides freedom in its simplicity but is also valuable for uncovering the versatility of your closet.
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Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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