Are you planning your trips this year and need to figure out what to take with you? Or are you trying to be more efficient with packing in general? You’ve come to the right place. I’m here to share with you my ultimate packing list.
It is no secret that I love to travel and I love to travel light. Let me explain, because I’m not a minimalist packer and I believe in enjoying my clothes when I’m out exploring somewhere new. But I really dislike overpacking. Packing light also means that you have less luggage and you get to use public transport more. I also want to have space for shopping on vacation, especially in Europe – I talked about this in a different blog post.
Over the years, during every unpacking I’ve kept record of the things I didn’t use during my trip and I refined my list. It is truly the best version and that is why I call it the ultimate packing list – now let’s get to it.
*As you are reading below, items marked with a star (*) will be packed into my personal bag to go on the airplane with me.
This post is all about my Ultimate Packing List. I hope you try this out and let me know your thoughts!
#1 Number of Bags
Luggage
This is usually my first thought.
- How long am I going?
- What are my airline companies’ rules and restrictions?
- How much shopping do I want to do at my destination?
So, I’ll give an example. If I am going on a 10-day trip to Europe; and my airline company allows me to bring one checked luggage and one carry on; and I intend to shop at my destination; I will bring one medium size suitcase, one carry-on and one personal item to take with me. If it is a short trip (three to four days), I will skip the luggage and bring a carry on, and a personal item with me.
Note – Whenever I plan on bringing three pieces (luggage, carry-on and personal item) with me, because I want to pack light and have room for shopping; I will pack my carry on and put it in my medium size suitcase, that way I have plenty of room for new purchases at my destination. On my return flight, I will check the luggage and take my carry-on and personal item with me on the plane. I hope that makes sense.
Toiletry bags
I then organize the number of toiletry bags I need for several categories below; toiletries, eye care, hair care, skin care, and make up. I like packing each category separately because sometimes bathroom counters are small and I may not be able to unpack everything. So the separate bags keep me organized.
#2 Toiletries
Depending on where I’m going to stay this list will change. If I’m staying at a family members’ house, a hotel, or an Airbnb, I will make necessary tweaks. The first three items will be skipped if I’m staying at a hotel for example.
Basics
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Small hard soap
- Razor
- Q-tips
- Hand lotion*
- Body lotion
- Deodorant*
- Perfume
- Tide stain remover pen
Oral Care
- Toothbrush*
- Toothpaste*
- Floss
Feminine Hygiene Products
If it’s that time of the month
- Tampons
- Pads
- Liners
- Or whatever you use
#3 Skin Care
Whenever I can I use travel size containers as the weight of each of those items adds up very quickly.
- Facewash
- Toner
- Serum
- Facial cream & eye cream
- Sunblock
- Cotton rounds/ pads
- Lip scrub, mask and lip balm*
#4 Haircare
I love going to Europe and I travel frequently enough that I bought a 220 V curling wand that I take with me on every trip. It makes my life easier.
- Anti-frizz cream
- Curling spray
- Curling wand
- Shower cap
#5 Make-up
Make- up
I simplify my make-up routine even more when I’m on vacation. I can’t see myself taking huge palettes or things I might use once or twice.
- CC Cream
- Concealer with brush
- Setting powder
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- Eyebrow pomade with brush and gel
- Bronzer and brush
- Spa headband
- Make-up remover and cotton rounds
Nails
You might skip this altogether if you’re a fan of gel nails or powder dipping. I am not, so I paint my nails and toes before my trip and take the nail polish with me and will re-do my nails around day four or five. I buy this nail polish remover at French pharmacies, it comes in a small container of 20 nail polish remover-soaked cotton pads, which makes it so easy to remove and apply a fresh coat.
- Nail polish remover
- Nail polish
#6 Eye Care
This section is for those who wear eyeglasses.
- Eyeglasses*
- A back-up pair of lenses (you might need more if you wear dailies)
- A bottle of lenses’ solution, travel size preferred
- Lenses’ container and another as back up
- Eye drops and anything else you use
#7 Clothes
I check the weather forecast and rely on it heavily when packing. I keep this section very broad in my packing list because depending on my destination I will pack very differently. If you are skiing in Aspen or hiking in Peru you will pack very differently. So, it makes no sense to say 5 t-shirts and 2 sweaters and make a list out of that, right?
To make life easier, I pick a color palette for each trip, which allows me to mix and match items easily. I then plan an outfit for each day, knowing that I can change my mind and wear things differently. Having a color palette will also make it easier to minimize the number of accessories and bags needed (more on this below).
Packing cubes – all the rage. I’m not a fan. I don’t feel I need them. I roll all my clothes and place them in my luggage, never felt like I needed an upgrade to this system.
Outerwear
Depending on the weather, I pack one or two from this list. I will almost always take a trench coat with me as it is a very versatile item.
- Cardigan
- Short jacket
- Trench coat
- A proper winter coat
Tops
- Tank tops
- T-shirts
- Long sleeve tees
- Buttoned shirts
- Sweater
Bottoms
- Jeans
- Pleated pants
- Shorts
Skirts and Dresses
- Silk midi skirts
- Linen or Cotton ribbed dresses
- If you have a special occasion, don’t forget to pack something elevated
Depending on my destination/ plans
- Day at the beach: Swimsuit, towel, hat, beach bag, jelly sandals
- Work out gear: Sports bra/ tights/ top/ running shoes & socks
As an example – If I am going to Paris in September for 6 days, I will have one dress, one skirt, one sweater, one button down shirt, two tank tops, one t-shirt, one pair of jeans, one pair of pleated pants, one cardigan or trench coat (depending on the weather). This list rarely exceeds ten or eleven items and I’ve never regretted my light packing.
Underwear
- Bras, panties
Hotel Room Attire
- PJ, slippers
Sézane Toiletry, Make-up bags and Jewelry box.
#8 Shoes & Socks
I bring no more than three pairs of shoes with me, and make sure they pair well with my selection of clothes.
Try packing socks at the same time as your shoes because the choices you make will depend on the type of shoe you bring (no show vs ankle height as an example).
- Comfortable pair of walking shoes
- Sandals
- Ballerinas
- Boots
- Socks
#9 Bags & Accessories
I pack this section at the very end, because accessories largely depend on what I’m planning on wearing during the trip.
I chose what bags I’m going to bring with me. I’m not a fan of carrying several purses. I usually pick one bag that matches all my outfits and then pick the bag I’m going to be carrying on the plane with me. For example, The Row’s Margaux 15 is a great size bag to go on the plane with you, while the Mansur Gavriel’s Mini Bucket Bag is a great day to night bag to carry every day on your trip.
- Watch
- Sunglasses*
- Hat
- Jewelry box* (rings, simple necklace, 1-2 earrings, statement necklace)
- Scarf, hat and gloves
- Umbrella, always pack a small one that fits your purse
- Bag to go on the plane with me
- Bag to carry every day with me
Jewelry
I wear my rings and pick a simple necklace I have on me during the entire trip, and bring no more than one or two earrings and a statement necklace. The jewelry box I have from Sézane comes really handy, I love how small and organized it is and everything is secure in its place. These are often sold out online and more easily found in stores.
#10 In-flight: Clothes, Travel Essentials & Entertainment
Travel Essentials
- Passport
- A pen (just in case!)
- Your no foreign transaction fee credit card
- Some local currency
- Reusable water bottle
- Tea bags for the flight and the entire trip
Entertainment
- Kindle or book
- Old school earphones so I don’t waste a new pair each time I’m on the plane
- My phone (obviously) and charger
- Air pods
- Battery pack
- International plug adapter
Clothes I wear during the flight
I usually travel in a more put together version of joggers, t-shirt, sweater, and a comfortable pair of walking shoes. I make sure to pack a large scarf that covers my shoulders. For international flights, I use the pillow and cover offered on the plane.
Flight Essentials
Everything mentioned in this article with (*), plus masks, soap sheets, hand sanitizer and a sheet mask.
Ok, in case you didn’t read carefully here is that list: Deodorant, hand sanitizer and lotion, lip balm, sheet mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, eyeglasses (if you use one), sunglasses, and your jewelry box. Liquids go into a Ziploc bag.
First-aid items
- Band aids
- Advil/ Tylenol, your pills and anything else you use on the regular
Note: Before packing it all, I eyeball my items. After years of trying to pack light and stick to this list, I have a feel for when I’m overpacking. As I put things in my luggage, I continue to ask myself if I need each item. Sometimes I overpack shoes, sometimes it’s clothes. The general rule of thumb is, if an item is easily replaceable by something else, then it needs to go.
This was all about my Ultimate Packing List, I wanted to share with you. Do you pack differently? Please leave me a comment.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and reading.
See you next week,
Girl on the Upper East Side
If this interested you, you might want to read;
Leave a Reply