Here is a generic packing list you can adapt
Shopping list
Checks in advance
Passport checks
Check for the expiry date, and the expiry date allowed by destinations. Some countries require 6 months, in case you overstay.
Check your passport has no rips or tears or the airline might deny you boarding
Check enough blank pages are left for visas.
Visas - check requirements for all family and colleagues including spouse, children, nanny, granny, driver, guide, family members who are different nationality.
Allow time for visa issue, or you have to pay extra for fast delivery or courier if you don't have time to go to the embassy, even if sending it remotely is allowed
If you need a new passport you may need to reapply for visas in the new passport. You might have to send back your old passport. In that case copy it so you have a permanent record of your travels for your diary and family history. Records of travels can prove you meet residency requirements, and remind you to not exceed them. In addition, evidence of travel might prove you could not have committed a parking offence or serious crime because you were overseas.
Car
Car tax
MOT (car road worthiness)
Tyre pressure
Petrol (gas) - fill up, note or dated photograph amount in car, in case of petrol theft
Car numberplate noted
car insurance, check expiry date
Car insurance number
car insurance helpline
Compare car hire costs and book car hire
Note location of car hire office
Note location of meet and greet at airport, or parking or valet parking, which side of building, which side of road
Suitcase
Check suitcase is regulation size and weight,
fits in boot (trunk) of car,
is not too heavy to carry
leave space for souvenirs, gifts from family, hotels, restaurants, conference bags and literature, guidebooks bought at destination, maps and brochures
Check suitcase wheels work and are clean
pack luggage trolley, strap, string, labels, scissors with blades less than the regulation, which could be a maximum of six inches from a certain point on the scissors or knife blade
Photograph luggage and note colour and brand in case you need to report loss, or speak to those whose language is not English
add identifying colour or sticker to black suitcases and all suitcases and bags, umbrellas, walking sticks
Note hiking sticks with points might not be allowed, as carry on, also sports equipment such as cricket bats, surf boards, tennis rackets, so these must be packed in checked in luggage or sent separately as oversize luggage
Clingfilm or luggage protector might be useful to protect luggage from scratches and dirt
LANGUAGE
Print vital words of foreign language of destination (from Wikitravel phrasebook of the country or countries of your travel tip)
Learn the word for help
(I was able to shout AYUDA, Spanish for aid or help, when I fell downstairs in a Spanish parador hotel in La Palma, in the Canary Islands)
Print the word for allergy and the type of allergy for a restaurant or doctor or pharmacy
Travel insurance
patient number, eg UK NHS number
helpline number
Destination
Destination and contact details and names for family, neighbours or colleagues
Hotel
Book room upgrades
Airline
Book airline upgrades such as leg room, exit seat,
check in online at correct time, being sure not to pay extra on budget airline for printing boarding pass, ate or early check in
Holiday booking location and date confirmation
copy of passport left at home with passport number
First night hotel reservation
Location of destination hospital or doctor
Before leaving home
Inform work or club of duties others must do whilst you are away
Inform work or club of dates you are not available. For security do not tell media nor allow others to broadcast the fact that you are out of the office, your home, or your country. Simply say you are unavailable, or away from desk, or unable to take calls.
Cancel gardeners or window cleaners, or leave their payment with others, or book them for your return.
Leave a set of door keys and credit cards at home in case they are lost or stolen from you whilst away
Turn off gas, electricity, water, heating, air con, or leave it on low, according to length of stay and weather forecast and safety requirements
Check for items left in dishwasher or microwave or fridge which might go rancid
PETS
Arrange pet sitter.
Get pet acquainted with pet sitter or pet holiday location.
Put chip and tags on pet. Leave pet toys and food and instructions. Check pet insurance and where pet sitter should take pet, and instruct pet sitter on insurance, pet hospital or vet location and whether pet should be saved at all costs if injured or ill.
Check if pet is allowed in cabin of aircraft and what leash or bedding or pet food must be provided.
AIRLINE
Book special seat, window for photos, aisle for claustrophobic, near toilet, away from noisy galley and babies, quietest part of plane, upgrade, seats of family together, near exit if in transit,
Available airmiles
HOTEL OR CONFERENCE CENTRE
Find out if there is a group or delegate or longstay discount
Join hotel loyalty scheme to get upgrades, freebies, better toiletries.
Book junior suite or sea view.
Note which side of hotel is on busy road.
Book ground floor if afraid of heights. Book higher floor if afraid of intruders through doors and windows.
Book room near fire escape, or away from left noise, or near lift or conference room or restaurant or swimming pool if likely to be in a rush.
Book rooms near other members of family or group.
Book rooms near lift if you have mobility problems.
Check hotel has a lift or porter for luggage if you cannot carry luggage or have many bags.
Ensure suitcases are locked, and keep valuables and laptops with you because the luggage trolley may go in another lift.
Keep swimsuit handy in travel bag, wheel on gab or top of suitcase, in case pool closes at 5 pm or just after your arrival. You could even travel in a swimsuit to be sure of using the pool if you are only staying one night.
Check pool closing times (5 pm at some SPANISH parador hotels in the Canary islands of La Palma and Tenerife).
Tell restaurant in advance it is your birthday, allergies.
Arrive early and check room before accepting it.
Compare with rooms of others in your group.
Swapping Bedrooms For A Bidet Story June 2026
My bedroom in the Parador Teide on Tenerife had a bidet but the next Parador on La Palma gave me a room with no bidet. I thought it was just a lower grade or older hotel. I asked to see a friend's ground floor room and discovered they had a bidet.
I went back to reception and asked if they had a room with a bidet at the same price. They did. I requested a swap.
My husband was already asleep on the bed. However, I wheeled out the suitcases and left him a note of the new room number.
After installing everything in the other room, I went back and found he was awake and astonished that all the suitcases and bags had been moved in the dark without disturbing him.
Travel ITEMS
Clothes
Travel Documents
Travel Bag
Before Returning Home
Before Leaving Hotel
Before Leaving Hotel Bedroom
During and after accident
Photo of location for insurance
FORWARD A COPY TO another family member
Photo of injury for doctor/insurance claim
Details of vehicle or condition of place of injusry (eg broken step, wet floor)
Hospital x-ray and report and translation for continuing care at home on return
Make report to insurance within the required time frame
MEDICATION
Daily pills
Painkillers eg aspirin or if allergic to aspirin, panadol/paracetamol - know the local generic name to buy cheaper than branded products eg in the Philippines
Travel pills
sea sickness
sleeping pills
Insect repellent
Insect spray )if travelling by car, not a pressurised can if on aircraft_
Stingose or other bite cream.
Medication for mouth ulcers, athletes foot, dandruff.
Special Trips
Equipment
Clothes
Sports
Swimming = swimming costume, hat, beach shoes, beach bag or towel, sunhat, sun cream, wqterproof keyholder, waterproof watch, cover for phone. Buckets and spades for children. Information on tsunamis, beach flag warnings/
City and hotel Precautions
Earthquake shelters, fire escape.
Check in
Check out
Day before departure
Pack all except travel clothes and food. have address inside suitcase.
ALARMS
set alarms on hotel clock, mobile phone or watch
Order early picnic breakfast if needed, vegetarian if needed, request compact packing if travelling on airline with luggage restrictions. remember to ask for vegetarian or fish alternative such as salmon if you don't like beef, pork, processed meat, cheese, egg, tuna (our three star parador de las Canadas del Teide on Tenerife gave us salmon and egg instead of ham and cheese, but the grander five star Taoro hotel said they only did regular and vegetarian, gave us thick white bread, and when we changed one item to vegetarian and said one vegetarian, for me, we got one breakfast instead of two, so the other made in a hurry had to be rushed up the car park to us after we had checked out.
Skiing
Ski boots, poles if practical and preferred rather than hiring, trousers (pants) thermal underclothes, gloves, hat, goggles, padded jacket with interior and exterior pockets, lift pass lanyard and identity photos.
Hiking
Wine events
Pack bottle stoppers, Champagne stoppers, Platypus flat screw top drink containers, water bottles filled with water, wafers or savoury biscuits, tee shirts with wine logos, ear-rings with wine symbols, names of delegates, good year charts, colour identity charts, books on wines, business address cards, passport or identity card to prove you are over 18, hard shell suitcase to support wine, protective plastic bottle covers, gift tags and bottle bags for gifts to VIP speakers, or helpers
Conference
Learn the names of the VIP speakers, your colleagues overseas, the organizers. Look up their photos on Facebook or LinkedIn in order to recognize them.
Check if any of your group of old or new friends or colleagues are travelling back the same way. You might car share, sit together, swap advice, share alternative car hire if the airline cancels the flight.
Before boarding plane home
Pack computer or laptop if on airline with luggage restriction, pack
Leave room for computer, umbrella, folding walking sticks if travelling on airline with luggage restrictions.
Thank organizers.
Note hotel names in your diary and write reviews whilst you have time at the airport and it is fresh in your memory.
For some repeat events you might wish to book the hotel again for next year, especially for annual events such as the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland in August.
SIMPLE PACKING LIST
Dress / Suit for travel, underwear (bra, vest, underpants) socks, sandals, bag for documents, spare clothes, night dress / pyjamas Optional swimsuit. Scarf, belt, jewellery for evening. Sunhat. Jacket, Raincoat.
Toothbrush and paste, comb, lipstick.
Notebook and pen.
Diary.
Travel documents - passport, visa, airline ticket on phone, car park ticket, driving license, hotel reservation letter, mobile phone and charger, and sockets, laptop and powerpoint, mouse and cover. Additional camera for conference calls.
Packing Clothes
Day dresses and suits (numbers of days of stay, maximum 7, wash and wear repeat for second week.
Sandals, spare pair, waterproof or beach shoes, evening shoes, hiking boots or walking shoes.
Socks.
Evening blouses and skirt,
best dress or suit,
jewellery to match,
necklace, bracelet, rings, brooch, scarf slip, safety pins and sewing kit with needles threaded with black and white cotton or self threading needle, or needle threader. Optional spare spools of black and white thread for shortening hems and dresses or repairing tears.
Packing Medication / cosmetics
Toothebrush or elecgric toothebrush and charger
Toothepaste
Tweezers and nail file or manicure set
Hair conditioner and shampoo
insect spray for car and bedroom
insect repellent for body in day, evening and night
warm evening jacket for air conditioning
Shorts and sleeveless top for sunny spells
Warm jumper, sweatshirt and jacket for cold mountains, sea breezes, mountain hikes, evenings, bike and boat rides.
Paxkable umbrella, kept handy for travelling.
(Some gym bags have a waterproof zip compartment underneath for wet swimsuits, sweaty gym outfits, laundry, or wet umbrellas).
For travelling I have bought a bag with a horizontal strap to fix the bag on top of a wheelie bag. You can also buy computer cases with a strap.
Soap and or shaving cream and razor
Packing List - take it with you to check you have brought back everything you set out with, nothing left behind.
Hotel Bedroom Check
Two or more people should do the bedroom check.
Check every room and every cupboard, behind every door (hook on the back of the bathroom door for your own bathrobe or night dress or swimsuit or underwear_
Check in cupboards (even if not used by you - our toddler put a toy in a hotel cupboard)
Check under beds for pens and slippers.
Check under pillows for night clothes and contraceptives.
Check wastebins for items which have fallen off tables.
Check the minibar for your pills as well as food and drink, alcohol, birthday cake, chocolates and cheese and milk.
Photograph the minibar when you arrive and leave to prove to yourself and the hotel whether you took any goods.
Check bathroom for toothbrush left for you to clean teeth after breakfast.
Check balcony for shoes and swimsuits and underwear and night clothes left to dry.
Check pockets of all discarded items. To get onto a Ryanair flight without paying fifty pounds for excess baggage, after we had already paid for three bags, my husband put my laptop in a suitcase and threw away the case. I check the padded pockets and found my power brick and mouse.
Car check
Check car boot, glove box, door pockets, pockets on the back of the front seats, under the front seats.
On the end of your packing list write reminders for next trip.
My reminders are
1 Keep a coin handy for a luggage trolley at Stansted airport in the Uk.
2 The collection point for cars is by the valet direction upstairs, not back down at meet and greet where you left your car.
3 Pack Nespresso or Lidl coffee capsules if going to the Canary islands. We did not like the coffee capsules given free with the coffee making machines in four different hotels.
Happy holidays!
Useful Websites
Visas
See embassy websites.
Suitcases
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
Have a standard place for everything. For example, business cards on the left, toothbrush and cosmetics on the right. Swimsuit top left. Swimsuit and underwear top right. Day clothes on top. Evening clothes at the bottom. Or day clothes on one side. Evening clothes on the other side. Always lay the suitcase down the same way. For example, pull up handle on the right.
If two of you have a suitcase each and both need an x shape folding suitcase support. One hotel reception told me they have a room full of them to supply to guests on request.
Check ebay and amazon and other specialist luggage shops and brands. You might look for hard shell cases to protect fragile items and bottles. I like expanding suitcases, which have double zips.
Suitcases with double dividers allow you to open one half without the contents of the other half spilling everywhere. Another solution is packing cubes. Or pack flat and secure with inner straps.
As for scissors, no blades longer than 6 cm measured from the fulcrum.
Useful Websites
What you cannot take on Ryanair
https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb
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