What not to Pack for your next Holiday – Essential Travel Tips

The key to knowing what to pack to go on holiday is actually knowing what not to take.

After spending many years packing for holidays and coming back with half a suitcase full of unworn clothes and lots of just in case items that never got used I decided it was time to take a good long look at the packing list and get to grips with the situation.

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Sometimes you just have to look at a situation differently, and packing for your holiday is no different.

If you think your packing list is out of control, lets take a look at the list of things you can leave behind for your next trip.

Not only will it save you loads of time when it comes to getting organised for your next trip, but cutting back on what you take on holiday could also save you money too.

I think we’ve all been caught up at some time or another in buying something new for a holiday and with baggage allowance at a premium these days, the smaller the suitcase you can take on a trip the better.

Traveling with hand luggage only can really make a big difference to your holiday budget!

What not to Pack for your next Holiday

Toiletries

Be sure to ask yourself what toiletries you need to take on holiday.

Do you really need the full range of skincare and make up that resides in your bathroom, or can you manage without for a few days?

If possible, try and find out what toiletries are going to be provided at your holiday accommodation.

If things like hand wash, shower gel and shampoo are provided then leave yours behind.

It will save you taking big bottles with you or using up your liquid allowance if you are traveling with hand luggage only.

If there are toiletries you simply can’t live without, then always put these in small bottles and take only what you need.

Towels

Do you need to take towels on holiday?

In most cases the answer is going to be no, which is great.

They are a large bulky item, which you can definitely leave behind.

Always check the list of what is provided on your holiday, and if you are concerned towels are not going to be there, look for some compact microfibre towels that won’t take up much room in your suitcase.

Books

Reading on holiday is one of my favourite pastimes, but books are big and bulky. They can also weigh you down, which isn’t ideal.

There’s two options to save on luggage space here.

Now might be the time to invest in an ereader so that you can enjoy your favourite books pretty much anywhere.

The other option is to wait until you arrive on holiday and see if they have a collection of books you can pick from.

If that isn’t an option, you can make it your mission to find the second hand book store and pick up your next read from there.

You might be tempted to pack your guide books for your trip, but in the digital age where a wealth of tourist information can be found on your phone these days, you can even leave this bulky item at home too.

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Shoes

How many pairs of shoes do you need to take on holiday?

Bearing in mind they take up loads of room in your suitcase and are awkward to pack, the answer is as few as possible.

Do you really need a pair of shoes for every outfit?

The key to packing light when it comes to shoes is to only take what you really need and focus on being comfortable.

Hairdryer

Should you pack your hairdryer or even straighteners for your holiday?

There’s a few reasons why you should leave the hairdryer behind when packing your suitcase.

You are very likely to have a hairdryer provided in your accommodation, which is a great reason to leave yours out of your suitcase.

It’s also worth bearing in mind they are terrible for the environment so perhaps it’s time to start drying your hair naturally anyway.

Being on holiday isn’t about spending loads of time in front of the mirror.

Time is much better spent going out and exploring, so keep the hair care to a minimum.

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Work

How many of us our guilty of taking our work on holiday with us?

This is wrong for so may reasons. Holidays are a chance to switch off and take a proper break from the 9-5.

Taking work on holiday probably means taking a laptop, an extra phone and your notepad.

Seeing as this article is all about what not to pack for your next trip, there’s a strong argument for leaving all of these items out of your suitcase.

Clothes

I’m still working out how much clothes to pack for a holiday.

I’m in charge of packing for everyone, and I always end up packing too many clothes.

I have to be way more strict about taking an outfit for everyday. It’s simply not necessary. Clothes can be worn again or even washed while on holiday if necessary.

My children especially love wearing the same outfit for several days, which is a huge source of frustration when I’ve over packed.

Now I ask everyone to get the clothes they want to take, and I interfere as little as possible.

It’s really helped when it comes to packing light for family holidays.

Food and Drink

I completely understand the need to pack some snacks for travelling, but taking the contents of the food cupboard to make sure you have access to your favourite tea and biscuits is taking up unnecessary room in your suitcase.

Be ruthless when it comes to taking these non essential items.

Many things can be bought on holiday these days, so leaving things behind shouldn’t be a big deal.

If your travelling abroad, embrace the local offering.

If you don’t love it, you’ll appreciate things all the more when you get home, including your favourite brew.

Jewellery

If you have a valuable jewellery collection, leave it at home.

Taking things like this with you can make you a target for petty crime and it’s just just not worth it.

Costume jewellery probably doesn’t have that much value to it, but taking it on holiday can take up valuable room in your case that could be used for other things.

Gadgets/Tech

There is always a section on my packing list for gadgets and tech.

If not streamlined, this list can soon get out of control.

I have been guilty of taking multiple cameras on holiday before, when actually the phone on my camera was perfectly capable of capturing everything I needed.

Cables and chargers can soon get out of control and in a tangle if left unchecked.

If cables and chargers can be shared, leave some behind and save yourself even more space in the suitcase.

Iron

Should I take an iron on holiday?

Personally I don’t even iron at home, let alone on holiday so I wouldn’t even consider it.

Some people do worry that clothes will get creased in the suitcase, but taking an iron with you shouldn’t be necessary.

Most hotels and holiday accommodation providers will put an iron in your room, so you don’t have to pack one in your suitcase.

Just in case

There’s always a list of items that end up in your suitcase just in case.

If you have packed anything, just in case your might need it, ask yourself if you really think you will need it.

If you think there is a possibility you could potentially use the item, ask yourself if it’s something you could buy if you really needed it.

If it’s a relatively inexpensive item, that won’t be provided in your accommodation, take the risk and leave it at home.

Even if you end up buying it while your on holiday, it won’t be the end of the world.

I suspect though, the truth is you will probably manage without it!

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