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Holiday packing list: the complete checklist

This is the base list that works for almost any holiday — beach, city, cottage or hotel. Work top to bottom and tick off what you have. At the bottom you will find lists for specific situations: with kids, by campervan, camping or winter sports.

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Documents, money and insurance

0 of 72 packed

Start here. This is the only category where forgetting something actually cancels the holiday.

Clothes — a week’s base

Count on one set per day plus two spare. Going longer than ten days? Wash on the road rather than dragging two suitcases.

Toiletries

Flying with cabin baggage only? Liquids are limited to 100 ml per container in a single one-litre transparent bag.

Electronics

First aid and medication

Bring your own medication for the whole trip plus a few spare days, in the original packaging with the leaflet.

Carry-on

The rule: anything that would ruin your trip if the suitcase went missing travels in the cabin.

Just before you close the front door

Packing lists for specific holidays

This base list covers most of it. For these situations there is more to add:

App Packing list app: what to look for Rather tick it off together than print it? Six criteria and an honest comparison. Packing list Packing list for a holiday with kids By age: baby, toddler and school age. Including carry-on and first aid. Packing list Campervan packing list Ten categories, from levelling blocks and water hose to bike rack and gas bottle. Packing list Camping packing list with kids Tent, bedding, cooking gear and everything for the campsite. Packing list Winter sports packing list Thermals, helmet, goggles and the rest of the slope basics. Packing list City trip packing list Packing light for a weekend in the city. Flying Flying with kids Ten hacks from parents who have done it more often.

What to pack: three rules of thumb

Pack for the weather you will get, not the weather you hope for. Check the forecast a week ahead and adjust. A rain jacket you do not use weighs nothing; one you do not have ruins a day.

Anything you can buy there does not need carrying. Shampoo, sunscreen and nappies are available everywhere. Medication, your glasses and your charger are not — at least not in the form you need.

Split the list when there are several of you. One hairdryer, one first-aid kit and one adapter strip per party is enough. That only works if everyone looks at the same list.

Build it once, reuse it every holiday

In PAKT you add this packing list to your trip and assign who brings each item. What is packed is visible to everyone straight away — offline too.

After the holiday the list stays. Next time you adjust what is different instead of starting over.

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PAKT holiday planner — packing list split across the family, showing who brings what

Never lose a list again

Put this packing list into PAKT, invite your travel party and split who brings what. After the holiday the list stays for next time.

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Frequently asked questions

What really belongs on a holiday packing list?

Anything that makes your holiday impossible or expensive if forgotten: documents, medication, glasses or lenses, chargers and the right adapter, plus a card and some cash. The rest — clothes, toiletries, beach gear — is annoying to forget but available almost anywhere.

How much clothing do you need for a week?

One set of underwear and socks per day plus two spare, five to seven tops, two or three bottoms and one smarter outfit. Always bring a warm layer, even for a beach holiday. Going longer than ten days? Wash on the road.

What is not allowed in cabin baggage?

Liquids over 100 ml per container, sharp objects such as scissors and pocket knives, and lighters beyond the allowance. Conversely, power banks and loose lithium batteries must travel in the cabin and not in the hold. Always check your airline’s current rules.

What should go in your carry-on?

Anything that would ruin the trip if your suitcase went missing: passports, boarding passes, wallet, phone and charger, medication for at least two days and one complete change of clothes. Plus what you need en route.

How do you split a packing list between people?

Use one shared list rather than everyone making their own, and assign who brings each item. Shared items — hairdryer, first-aid kit, adapter strip — only need to come once. PAKT records that per item so nobody has to ask.