Packing checklist by type of trip
Weekend break, business trip, hiking: ready-to-tick packing lists so you never forget a thing.
Documents and essentials (every trip)
- Passport / ID card (valid for at least 6 months for some countries)
- Tickets and bookings (paper + digital copies)
- Travel insurance
- Payment methods (card + a bit of local cash)
- Chargers and a plug adapter
- Digital copies of important documents
Weekend (2-3 days)
- Clothes for the number of days + 1
- Carry-on-sized toiletries
- One versatile pair of shoes
Business trip
- Ironed or wrinkle-free professional outfit
- Laptop, charger and international adapter
- Business cards
- A minimal kit (your usual medication)
Hiking / outdoors
- Already broken-in hiking shoes
- Layered clothing (base, insulation, waterproof shell)
- Water bottle or hydration system
- First-aid kit, headlamp, offline map
The layering rule (base, insulation, shell) works for nearly any climate: it lets you adjust without packing a different outfit for every temperature.
Travelling with a young child
- Nappies, wipes in enough quantity for the journey + a margin
- Their usual comfort toy or blanket
- Snacks and an empty bottle/cup (to fill after airport security)
- A full change of clothes in the carry-on, never only in checked luggage
Carry-on luggage: the rules to know
| Restriction | Common value (varies by airline) |
|---|---|
| Liquids | Containers of 100 ml max, in a clear bag ≤ 1 litre |
| Typical dimensions | ~55 × 40 × 20 cm / 22 × 16 × 8 in |
| Typical weight | 7-10 kg / 15-22 lb depending on the airline |
| Banned items | Knives, scissors > 6 cm, refillable lighters |
These limits vary significantly between airlines and get updated regularly — always check your carrier's exact rules before packing, especially on a low-cost flight where going over is charged heavily.
Splitting smartly between carry-on and checked luggage
Carry-on: essential medication, documents, electronics, one full change of clothes (in case checked luggage is lost or delayed). Checked: everything else, favouring heavy or delay-tolerant items.
Thanks for the feedback!