It always happens to someone on a big trip. You get on the plane, start looking for your charger, and realize you left it on your nightstand at home.
According to a survey, the most forgotten items before a trip are phone chargers, sunscreen, razors, toothbrushes, and sunglasses.
Got a big vacation in the works? Make sure that you don’t leave anything important behind by reviewing this ultimate packing list!
Clothes
You probably aren’t going to forget all of your clothes when you’re packing for your trip, but you may forget certain items of clothing, or you may not pack enough.
Before you start packing, you should look up the predicted forecast for the weather where you’re going. Even if the weather is going to be incredibly cold, you may still want to bring a pair of shorts to wear in your hotel in case it’s too hot. It’s better to be prepared than to go without it.
Here are some clothing items you should have on your ultimate packing list regardless of where you are going.
- T-shirts
- Tank tops
- Underwear
- Jeans
- Shorts
- Pajamas
- Comfortable shoes
- At least one dressy outfit
- Swimsuits
- Hat
- Pairs of socks
- Jacket
- Sweatshirt
You want to make sure that you can pack layers in case the weather isn’t what you expected. If the weather is really cold, layers will save your life. If you end up being too hot, you can just take a few items of clothes off.
You also have to consider what you’re going to do on your trip. If you’re going to go hiking a lot, you’ll want to make sure you have good hiking shoes and comfortable clothes to hike in. If you’re just going to be sightseeing and taking pictures for your Instagram, you can probably just bring some casual clothes.
How many clothes you pack and what you bring can also be dependent on whether you are just bringing a carry on or a checked in suitcase. Think about how much room you have, and find good organizational ways to maximize the space you have.
Accessories
Accessories are also important to complement any outfit you have. These may not be as essential as the clothes listed above, but they can make your outfit stand out and make you feel confident
Some accessories you could pack are:
- Earrings
- Necklaces
- Scarves
- Belt
- Purse
- Wallet
- Watches
- Shoes
- Suspenders
- Sunglasses
There are some other accessories you could consider bringing as well. If you wear a nose ring or stud, you may want to bring a backup one just in case you lose yours. That way you won’t have to worry about the hole closing up while you’re on vacation.
Depending on where you go, you may also not want to bring your most expensive diamond or pearl earrings because they could be stolen. If you have cheap costume jewelry that looks similar, think about bringing that instead.
The same can be said for watches for the guys as well. You may want to consider leaving your thousand dollar watch at home and look for the best affordable watches instead.
Toiletries
Toiletries are also important to pack, and you want to make sure that you don’t forget any.
Some common toiletries that pack are:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss (If you do floss)
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Razor
- Shaving cream
- Sunscreen
- Lotion
- Chapstick
- Makeup
- Feminine hygiene products
- Contacts
- Contact case
- Contact solution
- Glasses
- Medications
- Vitamins
- Face wash
- Face moisturizer
- Perfume or body spray
- First aid kit
Some quick tips on the toiletries packing list is to consider if you are flying and bringing a carry-on.
If you are, there is a limit on what liquids you can bring and the size. You should check with your airline carrier and TSA. The general rule is that you can bring one quart-sized bag containing liquids no more than 3.4 ounces.
Most stores sell travel sizes of common toiletries, like shampoo and conditioner. You may also want to skip bringing the razor if you’re just taking a carry on. TSA may have an issue with it, and if you can it’d be easier to just buy a disposable one when you arrive at your destination.
For medication, if it is prescription you may want to bring the prescription to avoid any hassle or arguments with TSA.
Technology
Technology is also important to pack on your trip.
Here are some common items you should consider packing:
- Charging cord
- Portable charger
- Outlet adapter (if you are going to a different country)
- Laptop
- Laptop charger
- Camera
- Photography equipment
- Phone
- Tablet
- SIM card (if you are planning on using one in a different country)
- Headphones
One tip when traveling with electronics is to make sure you put it in your personal bag, especially if you are checking a bag. If they lose your bag, you don’t want all your valuables to be missing with it.
Travel Documents
Whether you are traveling out of the country or not, most of these documents are important to have for any trip.
Here are some items to help you get started thinking about what to pack:
- Passport
- Visa
- IDs
- Cash
- Credit cards
- Debit card
- Health insurance card
- Reservations
- Hotel
- Airplane
- Tours
- Emergency contacts
- Guidebooks
- Maps
- A copy of all of these documents
When you make copies of these documents, don’t keep the copies in the same place as the originals. The last thing you’d want to happen would be to lose your passport and the copy of your passport in a foreign country.
Packing Should Be a Breeze with Your Ultimate Packing List
One important thing to keep in mind is to remember that you’re not going to another planet.
You’re just going to a new state or country, and if your ultimate packing list fails you, you can normally buy the forgotten item there.
Don’t let the stress of packing take away your fun and excitement of planning your future trip.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip so that you can start packing.
