Packing Lists for Every Type of Holiday 2026

The golden rule for beach holidays: pack less clothing than you think you need (beach destinations are the easiest places to do laundry or buy basics) but more sun protection.

Clothing

• Swimwear × 2–3 (so one is always dry)
• Cover-ups / sarongs (required at some beach bars and restaurants)
• Lightweight dresses or shorts + t-shirts
• 1–2 smarter outfits for dinners
• Sandals + flip-flops + 1 pair of trainers
• Light cardigan or hoodie (air conditioning on flights and in restaurants)

Beach Essentials

• SPF 50+ sunscreen × 2–3 bottles (much cheaper from home)
• Aftersun lotion
• Reef-safe sunscreen (required in many destinations)
• Sunglasses (polarised for beach)
• Wide-brim sun hat
• Beach bag (lightweight)
• Dry bag / waterproof phone case for water activities
• Snorkelling mask (if you plan to snorkel often)

What to Leave Behind

• Jeans (heavy, take ages to dry, unnecessary at beach destinations)
• More than 2 pairs of shoes
• Hair dryer (most hotel rooms have them)
• More books than you can read (use Kindle)

City breaks reward light packing — you'll be walking a lot, navigating public transport and possibly changing accommodation. A cabin bag only (avoiding checked luggage) transforms the experience.

• Comfortable walking shoes — this is the single most important item. You'll walk 15,000–25,000 steps/day on a city break
• Smart-casual outfits that work for both sightseeing and evening dining (pack mix-and-match)
• A lightweight, packable day bag for sightseeing (cross-body bag for security in busy cities)
• Compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
• City map app downloaded offline (Google Maps, Maps.me)
• Portable power bank — you'll use your phone heavily for navigation
• Padlock for hostel lockers (if applicable)
• Anti-pickpocket measures: money belt or hidden pocket for passport and backup card in crowded tourist areas

Destination-specific additions: For cold-weather city breaks (Scandinavia, winter Europe): thermal underlayers, waterproof outer layer, warm hat and gloves. For Middle East cities (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan): modest clothing for mosques and souks (shoulders and knees covered).

Safari packing has specific requirements — mostly around colour (neutral tones only), dust protection and layering for cold mornings.

Clothing — Colour is Critical

• Neutral colours only: khaki, olive, beige, tan, grey, brown
• Avoid: bright white (stands out, attracts insects), blue/black (attracts tsetse flies), red and orange
• Long-sleeved shirts × 4–5 (sun and insect protection, doubles as smart casual for lodge dinners)
• Zip-off trousers/shorts × 2 (versatile)
• Fleece or warm layer for cold early-morning game drives (East Africa can be surprisingly cold at dawn)
• Light waterproof jacket (for afternoon showers in green season)
• Comfortable closed-toe shoes for walking safaris
• Flip-flops or sandals for camp

Safari-Specific Gear

• Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) — transformative for spotting distant wildlife
• Camera with zoom lens (at least 300mm equivalent for wildlife)
• DEET insect repellent (50% for East Africa malaria zones)
• Malaria tablets (as prescribed by your GP)
• Dust bag for camera equipment
• Wide-brim hat (essential in open vehicles)
• Sunscreen SPF 50+ (in open vehicles you get intense sun)
• Lightweight backpack or day bag for game drives

See our Kenya and Tanzania destination guides for destination-specific safari packing tips.

Hire everything possible: Skis, boots, poles and helmets are all available to hire at every ski resort and hiring is almost always cheaper than checking equipment as airline cargo. This reduces your luggage dramatically.

• Ski jacket (waterproof and insulated)
• Ski salopettes / trousers (waterproof)
• Thermal base layer top and bottom × 2–3
• Ski socks × 4 (merino wool recommended)
• Fleece mid-layer
• Ski gloves or mittens
• Ski helmet (hire or bring — bringing your own is significantly more hygienic)
• Ski goggles (essential — rental shops often run out or have poor quality)
• Balaclava or neck gaiter
• SPF 50+ sunscreen and SPF lip balm (UV intensity at altitude is extreme)
• Après-ski outfit (smart-casual — ski resorts have good restaurants and bars)
• Waterproof walking boots for the village
• Travel insurance with ski cover — this is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes skiing. Mountain rescue, piste closure and equipment cover are all specific to ski policies.

For babies and toddlers:

• Portable travel cot (if destination can't guarantee one)
• Baby sunscreen (SPF 50+, mineral-based)
• Favourite comfort items / sleep aids
• Enough nappies for the journey + 1–2 days at destination
• Baby food pouches for flights
• Change of clothes × 3 in hand luggage (babies and toddlers have accidents at the worst moments)
• Portable white noise machine (for different time zones)

For older children:

• Children's sun hat and SPF 50+ sun cream
• Travel-size games and activity books
• Downloaded movies and shows (offline) on a dedicated tablet
• Noise-cancelling or kid-friendly headphones
• Light backpack for carrying their own water and snacks on days out

See our full Family Travel Tips Guide for more detailed advice.

For any flight over 6 hours, these items are what separate a comfortable journey from an ordeal:

• Noise-cancelling headphones — the single best long-haul investment. Reduces engine noise fatigue dramatically
• Neck pillow — memory foam or inflatable
• Eye mask — especially for daytime flights
• Compression socks — reduces DVT risk on flights over 4 hours; available from Boots and pharmacies
• Melatonin (if changing time zones) — discuss with your GP; available over the counter in the UK
• Change of clothes in hand luggage — essential if checked luggage is delayed
• Hydrating face mist — aircraft cabins are extremely dry (10–15% humidity); your skin will thank you
• Water bottle (empty through security, fill at departure gate) — staying hydrated is the most important thing on a long flight
• Snacks — airline food timings are unpredictable; having something to eat on your schedule improves comfort significantly

• Know your allowance: Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet) have very strict carry-on size/weight limits — check the exact dimensions before you pack and measure your bag. A bag that's 2cm too wide costs £50+ at the gate
• Cabin bag only = game changer: Even for 2-week trips, experienced travellers manage with cabin bag only — faster departure (no check-in queue), no baggage reclaim wait, no risk of lost luggage
• Pack a packing cube set: Packing cubes compress clothing and keep your bag organised — a genuine quality-of-life improvement
• Roll, don't fold: Rolling clothes takes significantly less space than folding
• Liquids rule in hand luggage: All liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less, in a single clear resealable bag. Suncream, shampoo and toiletries over 100ml must go in checked luggage
• TSA-approved locks for checked luggage: For long-haul checked bags, use a TSA-approved combination lock — US airport security can open these without cutting them
• Photograph your luggage: Take a photo of your bag before checking it in — makes it much easier to describe to the airline if lost