You’ve spent the time planning and plotting and now your girls’ getaway is all booked. As the day of your big trip approaches, it’s time to think about packing.

Wondering where to begin? It’s time to take a step back and really consider what you need to take with you in order to have an unforgettable holiday with your favourite friends.  

Plan outfits around your itinerary

First, think about the type of holiday you’re on. This dictates a lot of the things you’ll pack. If it’s a weekend in the countryside, it’s likely you’ll need wellies and jeans, while a beach break will be all swimming costumes and sarongs. Consider the weather so that you know if you’ll need a rain mac and layers or a sun hat and lashings of SPF50.

Once you have an idea of the types of clothing you’ll need, check to see what activities are booked in. If there’s a morning hike, a wine-tasting afternoon and a refined dinner on the agenda, you need to allocate exactly one outfit for each event.

Laying your clothes out on the bed by day and activity prevents you from packing redundant pieces that never leave your suitcase. By organising everything in this way, you ensure you have every look ready to go, meaning you save time when you’re away because you had already decided what you’ll be wearing back at home.

Choose versatile pieces that can be styled multiple ways

Creating a capsule wardrobe means you’re able to easily transition from brunch to a candlelit dinner. To maximise these key pieces, opt for some staples. A classic linen shirt works beautifully as a beach cover-up and can be elevated into an elegant evening layer when you button it up and add statement jewellery.

Similarly, shorts or a simple black dress work well for a stroll through a city centre when paired with comfortable women’s sandals. As night falls, you can swap these for wedge heels.

Remember the essentials for comfort and convenience

As well as what to pack, knowing how to pack is also essential if you want easy organisation. Invest in mesh packing cubes to categorise your garments. These make it easy to quickly find your favourite top without having to pull everything out of your suitcase.

In addition to clothes, think about how to store skincare, makeup and toiletries. Group everything into leak-proof pouches to streamline your AM/PM routines. Remember to check quantities too as this will help to speed up the airport security queue.

You’ll need one more pouch for tech like a portable power bank and headphones. Consider choosing smaller items like in-ear buds that can be easily stashed into a pocket.

Leave room for spontaneity (and shopping!)

Try to resist the urge to fill every square inch of your luggage before you set off. You might discover a boutique linen dress in a local market or your friends might convince you to buy matching vintage sunglasses, so leaving around a quarter of your suitcase empty gives you the freedom to buy a couple of pieces.

Packing light also spares you the anxiety of facing hefty excess baggage fees at the airport check-in desk. Keeping things flexible ensures that you can easily bring home mementos.