Time is our biggest finite resource, so anything that helps save you minutes (or even hours!) is worth the initial effort. Creating your own master travel packing list will save you so much time and stress.
I recently went on a holiday with my husband and our two kids to visit extended family in Hungary and Switzerland.
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Guess who was packing for EVERYONE? And packing doesn’t just mean throwing clothes into a suitcase. It involves thinking through the weather, events, activities, and the individual quirks and needs of each person—and more.
On top of that, our trip was to the other side of the world, where the seasons are the opposite of ours in Australia. It’s hard to imagine what you really need for summer weather when you’re dressed in an Oodie and Uggs (the links are here to help our non-Aussie friends picture this fashionable outfit) while wearing five layers to stay warm…
Travel preparation can be exhausting and stressful!
Luckily, I had previously made a packing checklist for a summer holiday we took last year—even though that one was for a week’s holiday in Dunsborough (a seaside town four hours’ drive from Perth). From that summer holiday packing list, I duplicated and tweaked it for a trip to Singapore to visit family for two weeks.
So for this trip, I combined many of the summer checklist items with the international flight-related items and then added or removed a few things, et voilà! I had a well-thought-out (mostly from previous planning—thank you, past me!), proven and updated packing list (because I learned from my previous trips what I packed too much or too little of). It was easy to follow (I’d made the checklist in categories—by person, by what was packed in carry on or in suitcase, etc.) and saved me SO. MUCH. TIME.
So how do you go about creating your own master travel packing list?
- Start by creating general lists like toiletries, hand luggage, electronics, accessories, clothing, health, entertainment, etc.
- Brainstorm your list items in the notes pages of your LH Agenda Planner or Notebook
- Think through the different categories—what items do you use during your normal daily routines?
- What do you use during your morning and evening routines?
- Note down the types of clothes and accessories you like to use—jeans, jumpsuits, necklaces, sneakers, etc.
- Go through the entertainment and electronics you typically use—movies, books, phone, headphones.
- What items do you like to have in your handbag for comfort and convenience?
- If you’re responsible for packing for other family members, create lists for each of them to include their important and favourite items (especially relevant when you’re packing for kids—there’s no way you can forget Snuggles the Bunny).
- Then create relevant specialised lists for the types of trips or holidays you typically need to pack for—beach, camping, skiing. Many of the general lists you can replicate.
When your next holiday comes up, refer to your master travel packing list, and just choose an existing list or create a new type from a subset of items.
Need a starting point?
Here is a snapshot of some of my categories with lists.
Travel packing lists
TRAVEL OUTFITS
PERSON 1
- Yoga pants
- Singlet top
- Long sleeve top
- Long cardigan
- Scarf
- Socks
- Easy enclosed shoes
KID 1
- Pants
- T-shirt
- Long sleeve top
- Hoodie zip
- Socks
- Sandals
CARRY ON BAGS
HANDBAG
- Passports
- Wallet
- International money
- Phone
- Headphones
- Medication
- Hand sanitiser
- Tissues
CARRY ON BAG
- Flight itinerary
- Planner/Journal
- Pens
- Book
- Booklight
- Crosswords
- Pen
- Powerpack
- Chargers
- Blow up pillow
- Empty water bottle
- Mints
- Snacks
- Compression socks
- Spare clothes
KIDS CARRY ON
- Teddy bear
- Water bottle
- Headphones
- iPad
- Charger
- Games – cards, snakes
- Colouring books
- Pencil case
- Book
- Change of clothes
TOILETRIES
- Hairbrush
- Hair ties
- Hair straightener
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Nail cutter & file
- Soap
- Razor
- Face wash
- Serums
- Moisturiser
- Makeup
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito spray
- Toothbrush
- Toothbrush charger
- Toothpaste
- Flossers
- Vitamins
- Face Wipes
- Hygiene items
- First aid basics – bandaids, disinfectant,
ELECTRONICS
- Power board
- Adaptors
- Laptop & mouse & charger
- Music player
- Selfie stick
- Fans rechargable
SUITCASE – for each person
- Tops – singlet, short sleeve, long sleeve
- Pants
- Shorts/Skirts
- Jumpsuits/dresses
- Jackets
- Sweaters/cardigans
- Sunglasses/spare glasses
- Underwear
- Socks
- Workout clothes & sports bra
- Shoes – sneakers, slides
- Jewellery
- Swimsuits
- Swim accessories – googles, coverup
- Accessories – belts, scarves, hats
MISC SUITCASE
- Presents
- Special food
I hope you find this level of organisation helpful whenever your next holiday comes up.
Here’s to a calm packing experience!
Arienne Gorlach is a life coach with a background in marketing, administration, and running her own planner and coaching business. She helped create and deliver the financial literacy campaign 10thousandgirl, is LH Agenda’s Community Coach, and loves all things related to planners, life design, goal setting, productivity, time management, and intentional living.
