PACKING FOR A PERFECT WEEKEND GETAWAY

PREPARATION IS KEY

Set aside some time to prepare for your trip. You’ll thank yourself once you arrive at your destination. First of all, think about what you’re going to do on the trip. Are you going to take long walks? Go to a museum? Go to an outdoor cinema? Hang out at the beach? Eat dinner at high-end restaurants or sit in a beach hut and gaze out at the ocean? Of course, different activities call for different types of clothing. Once you know what you plan on doing, then you’ll also know what you want to wear. You should also check the weather before writing your to-pack list for your weekend getaway. Arriving at your destination with a weekend bag stuffed with winter clothes when it’s 18°C, warm and sunny outside is a bit of a hassle. If the weather looks like it’s going to be changeable, then packing shoes and outerwear that can withstand wet conditions but also perform well in the sun is a smart idea.

If you choose to travel by air, then you should find out what the hand luggage rules are for the airline you’re travelling with. Normally, you can take one larger cabin bag plus one small handbag on board the plane, but this isn’t the rule for all airlines. You can take liquids in containers of up to 100 ml that together add up to a maximum of 1 litre. Remove all unnecessary items from your toiletry bag or pack everything in a zippable plastic bag so you’re ready to go through security. You should also plan for the off-chance that you might need to check in your cabin bag if the flight is very full. This is why you should pack valuables such as your passport, mobile phone and purse or wallet in a bag that you’re guaranteed to be allowed to take on board. Even if you’re travelling by train, packing light with a bag that can fit in the luggage rack above your seat might be a smart idea. That way you have full control over your valuables and also have any reading materials or games you have packed nearby.

PACK THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS FIRST

If you forget to pack a jumper, it isn’t the end of the world, but forgetting your passport or tickets could be a disaster. Start by making a checklist of the most important things you need to take along with you:

• Passport
• Purse/wallet
• Phone
• Chargers
• European Health Insurance Card
• Adapter
• Toiletry bag
• Tooth brush
• Important documents such as plane tickets, hotel vouchers, transfer vouchers and so forth
• Make sure you have important information with you about car rental, driving directions, telephone numbers, etc.

PLAN YOUR OUTFITS

Now comes the fun part, but perhaps also the trickiest: planning your outfits. Start by laying out the most important items first, such as underwear and socks. These are items that are easy to forget. Then lay out your favourite clothes. What you wear most often at home is what you’ll want to wear on the trip too. Simply skip things you don’t normally wear at home. You will want to look good and feel comfortable on your trip.

Lay the clothes on the bed and think about how you can get the most use out of each garment. Which shirt can be worn with jeans, chinos and shorts? Which jumper can be worn with trousers and skirts? A tank top works well for both a day at the beach and as a party top, but keep in mind that you might need to cover your shoulders if you visit a religious site. A pair of clean trainers can be worn in most restaurants and are also comfortable walking shoes. A white shirt is a wardrobe staple that can be worn with almost any garment and on any occasion. One tip is to pack some simple wardrobe basics that you can then zhuzh up with stylish accessories. Jewellery and watches don’t take up much space in your baggage, but can do wonders for your look.

HOW TO PACK YOUR WEEKEND BAG

Travel in the garments that take the most space and weigh the most. For example, if you want to bring a few extra pairs of shoes, you can travel in your boots and pack your gym shoes. Think twice about whether you really need that thick jacket? Maybe you can follow the layer-on-layer principle instead if it gets cold?

• In your hand luggage, you can bring liquids in packages of up to 100 ml up to a maximum of 1 litre. Remove all unnecessary items from your toiletry bag or pack it everything in a zip bag and you’re ready for the security check.
• Pack shoes along the edges of your bag.
• Put delicate things in your socks.
• First fold your clothes as normal and then roll them up. This saves space and reduces the risk of wrinkles.
• Bring a tote bag or carrier bag for dirty laundry so you don’t have to mix clean and dirty clothes in your suitcase. They can even act as an extra pillow if you fill it with some clothes!
• Feel free to leave some space in the bag. Somewhat bizarrely, you always seem to end up with more things with you on the journey home than on the way out. Bon voyage!