Need a list of things to pack? 
Then you’ve come to the right place!
It is not always easy to remember all the things to take and packing can quickly become a nightmare. If you are leaving for a weekend, a week or a month, the personal effects to take away will not necessarily be the same.
Below we have summarized a packing list for you by length of stay.
What to pack for a week’s vacation
What to put in your suitcase will also depend a little on the destination, the weather and the activities you plan there, but there are always essential effects to remember.
Important Documents
Here is a checklist of things to pack and best to plan ahead with some of the following :
- Passport (with visa if you are going to a foreign country) or identity document and remember to scan them and send them to yourself by email in case you lose them during your stay
- Bank card (debit and credit)
- Cash money
- Insurance card and certificate (required in some countries)
- Transport and accommodation booking
- Driving license (if you plan to rent a car locally)
- Vaccination booklet and Covid Pass (yes nowadays it is impossible to travel without it)
Pharmacy
It’s no fun being sick on vacation! Better to have a travel pharmacy on hand for first aid and save yourself from going through hell at local pharmacies and hospitals. Here’s what to pack for first aid:
- Pain killer
- Anti-diarrheal (for all gastrointestinal disorders, food poisoning, etc.)
- Medication for motion sickness and seasickness
- Sunburn cream
- Cream against insect bites and mosquito repellent
- Bandages
- Pills and treatments for your chronic diseases
Remember to take all prescriptions for these medications with you! Indeed, there are countries where certain drugs are banned or considered drugs due to their risk of addiction and you would not want to have a problem upon arrival!
The essentials
Packing for 1 week consists of taking only the essentials. A cabin bag should be more than enough for a short stay.
Here are our proposals :
- The phone WITH its charger (yes yes otherwise how are you going to post your beautiful photos on Instagram if you have no more battery)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Towel
- Deodorant and/or perfume (better to smell good)
- Shampoo and shower gel
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and bathing suit if you go out in the sun
- Book and/or magazine
- Make-up
- A Swiss army knife that goes everywhere
- Super comfortable shoes
- Underwear and socks for a week (it’s not worth washing them, the stay is short)
- Sleepwear
- Handbag or ideally shoulder bag for your on-site visits
- Pants and t-shirts/sweaters (no need to exaggerate, you’re only there for a week)
- A nice outfit (for parties or just to take nice pictures)
- An umbrella or raincoat type jacket that you can also put on if it’s cold
And if you forgot something, don’t panic! As long as you have your credit card 
you can buy everything on site. Not only will you be supporting the local economy, but you will also be bringing back a nice useful souvenir with you.
A little personal advice for women, we recommend local earrings! It adds color to all your photos, it takes absolutely no space in the suitcase and it’s a nice souvenir that will remind you of your vacation every time you put them to work (plus it will make colleagues jealous) .
What to put in your suitcase for 15 days of vacation
Now it’s starting to get more serious! In addition to all the items listed in the above part for one week, you can add the following things in your suitcase for 15 days:
- Hair removal kits for women
- Shaving materials for men
- Nail clipper
- More varied clothes depending on the planned activities (shorts, dress, skirt, tights, sweater, warm/cold clothes depending on the destination)
- A little more underwear and socks (or a product to wash them)
- Walking shoes and shoes specific to your activities
- Jewelry and accessories (hats, scarves) to always be a star
- Leisure to keep you busy on rainy days or in the evening before sleeping (book, tablet with wifi, sketchbook, etc.).
What to put in your suitcase for 2 weeks will mainly depend on your activities and the season in which you are traveling. But again, as long as you have your ID and money (and also your medications for your chronic conditions) everything else can be bought locally. You just have to adapt a little to life on site and take advantage of the local markets.
If you are hesitating between bringing a cabin suitcase or a checked suitcase for a 15-day stay, perhaps our article can help you decide.
List of things to put in your suitcase for 3 weeks to 1 month
When it comes to packing for more than 3 weeks, the things to add to the previous lists of things are all the effects that will bring you more comfort during your stay. To be able to carry everything, it is better to take a big suitcase.
Hygiene and body care
Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you have to let go! Here’s what to pack for 3 weeks or more:
- Hairbrush, comb
- Hair gel
- Hair care products
- Face and body cream
- Sanitary napkin
- Lip balm
- Hair dryer, straightener/curler
- Condoms (especially if you are going single)
- Disinfectants
- Hair accessories (barrettes, elastics, etc.)
Trips during your vacation
During a long stay you will probably have to travel to several places. To make those trips more comfortable, here’s what to pack:
- Roadmaps
- GPS
- Child seat, if traveling with them
- Chewing gum for the plane (it helps to calm the difference in pressure in the ears)
- Compression stockings
- Neck pillow
- Disinfectant wipes
- Notepad and pen
- Magazines and books
- Translator program
Clothes
You can afford to be more generous with what you take for clothes when you pack your checked suitcase for 1 month. Here are some ideas :
- Several pants – cotton, linen, jeans, shorts…
- Several different tops (tank top, long-sleeved t-shirt, shirts, sweaters, vests, etc.)
- Belts
- Hats, gloves (depending on destination and season)
- Pareo, beach towels, several swimsuits and bikinis, water toys (again depending on the destination and the season)
- Sport clothes
- Travel detergent for easy washing of e.g. underwear and socks
Arrangements for your accommodation
A stay of more than 3 weeks away from your accommodation requires a minimum of organization before departure to be sure of finding your place of residence as good as you let it on your return. Here is the checklist :
- Unplug electrical appliances
- Turn off radiators and heaters
- If you leave in the middle of winter, remember to stop the water inlets outside to avoid freezing.
- Find someone to take care of your pets if you have them and they are not traveling with you
- Ask a good soul to come and water your plants once a week
- Arrange yourself so that the mail does not remain in your mailbox for the duration of your absence (this is a perfect sign for thieves)
- Empty the refrigerator, question that it does not smell horrible when you return
- Tidy up the house before leaving, to be less depressed when you return
- Notify your neighbors of your absence, so that they can keep an eye on your accommodation
Packing for 1 year
Woawww!! that’s it… you’ve been imagining it for so long and finally the dream is coming true! You’re going to go around the world for a year! What luck ! What a great experience!
When leaving for a long period, the things to take will be very different from what they would be for a short vacation.
In any case, you will never be able to take everything you need for the duration of your trip. You will have to buy certain things on the spot during your stay.
It would probably be good to consider taking a hold suitcase for all your belongings and a carry-on suitcase for everything electronic and fragile (computer, camera, etc.).
The indispensable
The important thing is above all to favor what is comfortable and also what will allow you to personalize your future destinations a little so that you feel “at home”. Here are our suggestions:
- Comfortable clothes adapted to the 4 seasons. Since you can’t take your whole wardrobe either, opt for 4 pants, 4 t-shirts, 4 sweaters, 4 pairs of different shoes, a dozen underwear and socks. The rest will have to be purchased during your stay.
- Everything you need to keep in touch with your friends or keep working if you’re still under contract. So laptop, camera, external hard drive, earphone, powerbank, all chargers…
- Something to personalize your daily life. This can be a few photos of your loved ones or some lucky charm items.
Administrative
A departure for a year requires some administrative preparations. Here are the points to remember :
- Find a telephone subscription for abroad (possibility of roaming anywhere in the world with certain operators)
- Long term travel insurance
- Forward the letter mails either to a family member or to your new destination
- Pause newspaper subscriptions
- Sublet your accommodation (to a student or on a rental platform)
- Notify the municipality of your place of residence and ask for their letter of departure
- And above all the most important… have a nice farewell party
Conclusion
Whatever the length of your stay, packing for the holidays should above all be a moment of pleasure and not a stress! So relax… as long as you have your passport and some cash, everything else is easy… You can always buy the necessities on the spot and support the economy and small local vendors.
Also, don’t forget that you are still very limited in what you can carry. Airlines allow between 23kgs and 30kgs maximum suitcase in the hold and much less in the cabin. Take a look at our summary of permitted weights and dimensions for carry-on suitcases. Choose a light suitcase to be able to save a few kg, but don’t even exaggerate! If you take too much things, you will no longer be able to shop on site
Stay zen, you will have great experiences! Enjoy the holidays!
