If packing sends you into a spin check out our packing tips and you’ll be unpacked and relaxing on a beach before you know it.
Choosing the right suitcase
The first decision to make is what kind of suitcase you want to take. If you’re going anywhere for more than a week, we’d suggest a hard case to keep clothes from getting too crumpled. Wheels are a good idea if you’re going to be carrying your case for any distance.
Decide what to wear
Once you’ve decided on a case it’s time to think about what to put in it. Give yourself plenty of time, start packing a week before you leave and you can slowly build up your holiday wardrobe.
Think about what activities you are likely to enjoy on holiday (is there a gym, do you like hiking, day trips, yoga on the beach, fine dining) so you can make sure you have clothes appropriate for everything you want to do.
Items you can splash out on are sunglasses and swimwear because they’re small and fit into gaps in your suitcase so pack a selection of bikinis, swimsuits and sunglasses and you’ll feel like you have a variety of looks to choose from.
Don’t forget to think about the weather – cool evenings or rain showers are no problem if you pack for them.
Make everything you pack work hard
The key to successful packing is to make sure that everything you pack can work in a variety of ways. Sarongs are the perfect example as they can be worn as scarfs, to keep you warm on the plane, rolled out as a beach towel and then slung around your hips as a skirt or cover-up.
When choosing which clothes to take with you try to imagine a holiday palette of colours that each item should fit into, that way you’ll find that all your clothes can be easily mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits for your holiday.
Think about accessories which can be the key to transforming comfortable daywear like a maxi dress into elegant eveningwear.
How to pack
In a hard case you should place shoes in first and then lay folded clothing on top. Remember to always do up the buttons and turn up the collars on shirts, blazers and jackets and then turn in the lapels before folding. Tops and t-shirts can be rolled if they have been carefully folded first. Put make-up and toiletries in see-through bags so you can see what’s in each one. And don’t forget to pack a laundry bag to keep washing separate for your return.
Tips for electricals
Pack one six socket extension cable with one travel adaptor to plug it in with and you’ll be able to charge all your items without needing individual adaptors. If however you find you need to charge something but you don’t have an adaptor, remember most modern TVs now have USB ports on them and can be used to charge devices.
Keep chargers in unused glasses cases rather than loose in bags so that they don’t get tangled or lost.
Read more
- Check out which luxury luggage is trending for 2015
- For more holiday style inspiration check out what London Fashion Week predicted for Spring/Summer 2015
- Discover the top 10 gadgets to take with you to the beach.