Why this guide: about 12,100 people a month search Google for “travel packing list” (US, DataForSEO Labs, September 2026). This is the answer we would give a client, written to be booked from.
The short answer
- The master listDocuments and money, electronics, a capsule of clothes (5-4-3-2-1), toiletries under the liquids rule, health and medication, and the carry-on essentials
- The rule5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 layers, 1 of everything else (hat, swimsuit, dressy outfit) for a week; wear the bulkiest; wash once for longer trips
- Leave behindAnything 'just in case', a third pair of jeans, full-size toiletries, the hair dryer (hotels have them), books (one, or an e-reader), and valuables you would be upset to lose
Documents, money and electronics
Passport (six months' validity — check), visas or e-visa printouts, ETA/ESTA/eTA confirmations, driving licence and IDP if driving, travel insurance details, flight, hotel and chauffeur confirmations (screenshots), vaccination records where needed, a photocopy of the passport stored separately and a photo of it on the phone. Two cards from different networks, some local cash, a note of the card-blocking numbers. Phone and charger, a multi-country adapter (with USB-C), a power bank (cabin only), headphones, laptop or tablet if needed, cables in a pouch, an e-reader, a portable luggage scale, an AirTag or Tile in each bag.
The clothing capsule and the 5-4-3-2-1 rule
For a week: 5 tops, 4 bottoms (two trousers or skirts, one shorts, one dressier), 3 pairs of shoes (walking, sandals or smart, one for the plane), 2 layers (a sweater, a jacket or a packable rain shell), 1 of each — a hat, a swimsuit, a dressy outfit, pyjamas, a scarf or wrap. Underwear and socks for seven days. Choose a colour palette so everything mixes (navy/white/tan or black/grey/olive), fabrics that wash and dry overnight (merino, technical blends), and wear the bulkiest items on the plane. For two weeks, pack the same and wash once — every hotel has a laundry service and every city a laundromat. Packing cubes by category compress and organise; roll knits, fold shirts.
Toiletries and health
Under the 3-1-1 liquids rule in the carry-on (see our carry-on guide) or full-size in the checked bag: toothbrush and paste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner (or solid bars), moisturiser, sunscreen (SPF 30+, reef-safe for the tropics), lip balm, razor, hairbrush, a small first-aid kit (plasters, blister pads, antiseptic, painkillers, antihistamine, anti-diarrhoeal, rehydration sachets, motion-sickness tablets), all prescription medication in original containers with a copy of the prescription and a week's spare, insect repellent (DEET or picaridin) for the tropics, hand sanitiser, tissues, a sewing kit, earplugs and an eye mask, contact lenses and glasses, any specific items (a menstrual cup, a nail file, tweezers).
Add-ons by trip type
Beach: two swimsuits, a cover-up, a sarong (towel, blanket, wrap), reef shoes, a dry bag, snorkel mask if you are particular, a sun hat, after-sun. City: one smart outfit, comfortable walking shoes broken in, a crossbody bag with a zip, a compact umbrella, a scarf for churches. Cold weather: a merino base layer, a down mid-layer, a shell, insulated boots, a warm hat, gloves, hand warmers, wool socks, lip balm and moisturiser (the air is dry). Safari and hiking: neutral colours (khaki, olive, tan — no black or blue for tsetse areas), a wide-brim hat, a fleece for the dawn drives, binoculars, a headlamp, a small daypack, hiking boots, a water filter or purification tablets. Business: a suit or two in a garment folder, a steamer, a lint roller, extra shirts, a laptop stand, business cards. With children: the child seat question for the chauffeur (request at booking), a small backpack each, snacks, a tablet with downloaded content, a change of clothes in the carry-on for every child, favourite comfort item, medication and a thermometer.
The last 24 hours and the airport
Charge everything; download offline maps, the airline app and the entertainment; print or screenshot the confirmations; weigh the bag (23 kg is the usual checked limit); put the liquids bag, medication, electronics and a change of clothes in the carry-on; empty the water bottle; wear the boots. Book the chauffeur with the flight number so the pickup is timed to the traffic — the booker on this page does it — and see our how-early-to-arrive guide for the airport timing. Then leave the 'just in case' pile on the bed; you will not miss it.
Three things to get right
- 5-4-3-2-1 for a week; wash once for longer.
- One colour palette, fabrics that dry overnight, packing cubes by category.
- Medication, electronics, documents and a change of clothes in the carry-on — always.
