First time abroard what to take

Redrose

Hi there

I am looking to go to Greece in Sept, and with not ever been abroad before i was just wonding if any of you have a check list that you use when packing.

I am at a total loss of what essential items to take.

Hope someone can help me.

Thanks

nearlyrich

Well first of all my advice is to travel light, you don't really need 3 outfits per day unless you are Victoria Beckham. :rolleyes: Choose clothes that don't crease too much and they will stand more than one wear. In a hot climate you can rinse clothes out and they dry overnight, most decent holiday accommodation will have a iron if you really need one, and to be fair most holiday resorts have at least one launderette. Toiletries, really think about what you will use in week (or whatever time you are going for) don 't take huge bottles of shampoo etc it's just unnecessary weight, decant what you need into a smaller bottle. Simplify your make up and just take the essentials.

I don't have a packing list but I travel a lot for work and I keep an essentials bag packed permanently, just add underwear, tops and suits.
When I go on holiday I get everything out ready to pack and discard about 40% of what I was taking, I have never run out of things to wear and I usually come back with something that I didn't wear at all.:o

Don't worry too much about what to to take and have a lovely time.:beer:

Rachie_B

for me the most important things are

travel iron
adaptors to use straightners!
sun creams / after sun / insect repellent etc
mini first aid kit
comfy flip flops!
hat

then for clothing if theres washing facilities i take eg 4 outfits for one week or 8 if going for 2 weeks

i always used to bring too much and half would come back unworn!
be ruthless and dont take "just in case" lol
more room for taking things home with you then

Rachie_B

ps crinkle items are fab!

i have a skirt that just gets washed ,scrunched up ! then left to dry
the more creased the better lol

choccyface2006

Apart from clothes, heres my packing list...seems alot I know but some things are really small and cost loads to buy out there, I only take as much of each thing as we will need for two weeks and discard as much packaging as I can. We are going with 4 children so thats why theres so much, if you don't have kids you will be able to leave alot out.

Holiday checklist


Toiletries

Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hair cream/mouse
Shower gel
Soap
Roll on
Deodorant spray
Sun protection cream
After sun
Baby wipes
Ear buds
Make-up basics
Shaving gel
Razor
Hair bands
Brush & comb
Tissues


Electrical

Hair dryer
Straighteners
Battery charger
Iron
Plug adaptors


Documents

Passports
Airline tickets
Driving license
European health cards
List of passport details/travellers cheque numbers (leave one at home with family)
Travellers’ cheques
Money for taxi/tips/airport
Currency
Nationwide card
Addesses for postcards/important telephone numbers


Miscellaneous

Nail file
Scissors
Tweezers
Travel mirror
Plasters
Painkillers
Disprol/Calpol
Washing powder
Vanish powder
Peg airer/pegs
Laundry bag
Contraceptive
Goggles
Fins
Snorkels
Scuba masks
Swim vests
Sunglasses
Lilos
Ball
Watches
Phrase book
Resort guide
Camera
Underwater camera
Memory cards
Batteries
MP3 player
Mobiles
Chargers
Book/magazines
Small cool bag
Beach bag
Bottle opener/corkscrew
Bucket & spade
Purses for kids
Purse/wallet
Drinks bottles
Holiday books for kids
Container for sand
Pens
Notebook
Beach towels
Snacks
Jack (teddy)
Calculator –(mobile might have one)



Things to do

Book & confirm taxi
Take fish to Mums
Arrange to have plants watered
Turn off all electrical points
Charge batteries
Clear camera memory cards
Organise MP3 player
Arrange currency & travellers cheques
Make copy of passport & TC details
Pack away garden furniture
Top up electric metre
Empty fridge
Empty kitchen bin
Leave car & house/car keys with mum
Top up mobile & dissable voicemail (it costs a fortune to recieve & retrieve messages, tell people to text instead)
Buy washing powder & vanish for all the washing when we get home

Phew!

Basil_2

My advice would be to buy the following things over there to cut down on your luggage, you'll find that they are either cheaper or comparable in price to over here and you won't get the dreaded £6 per kilo excess baggage charge!!
1. - Suncream, all the major brands are sold and you'd be surprised how heavy they actually are if you are packing for a family and unless you've got a really cracking deal over here you won't lose out on price.
2. Beach towels - you can usually pick these up cheap in the resort.
3. Inflatables, buckets and spades - you can get them really cheaply or often they are left by departing holidaymakers.

My essentials:
1. Hairdryer
2. Iron (now you see why I have to make space in my luggage!)
( I never bother with the travel sizes of these as they are as much use as a chocolate fireguard)
3. Avon Skin So Soft Woodland Fresh Dry Oil Spray - a fantastic mozzie repellent.
4. A travel adaptor
5. A basic first aid kit - paracetamol, rehydration sachets (boots do a good one), Immodium, plasters, antiseptic cream.
6. Disposable razors - my waxing never lasts the whole two weeks!
7. A phrasebook for the country I am going to - you never know if you might need it.
8. If I've booked through a brochure I always take the brochure with me - I have needed it before to prove that the description given did not match the reality!!
Hope this helps

nearlyrich

Basil wrote:

(8. If I've booked through a brochure I always take the brochure with me - I have needed it before to prove that the description given did not match the reality!!

We do this too but we just rip out the relevant pages and take them.;)

mclaren_2

passport and tickets are the most important

followed by items you will wear - take practical items ie not 15 pairs of shoes - 1 is adiquate

davidlizard

We usually take no more than about 6kg each when we travel around Greece each summer as we don't want to lug around more than is necessary - just about anything we need we can buy out there, so if you forget anything its no real loss. I really need little more than shorts/flip flops/sun hat/shades and a few shirts for the day with a couple of more respectable shirts/shorts for the evening - rolling clothes up when packing makes them less creased. You do not have to dress up in the vast majority of restaurants - many are outdoor type affairs. A kagoule type coat may be useful as there can be a few showers that time of year, depending where you go.

One thing worth taking is a couple of yards of string (many uses - impromptue clothes line, emergengy guide rope for windbreak, securing unlockable windows, tieing beach umbrellas to mopeds and so on) and half a dozen clothes pegs. A set of ear plugs can also be welcome as some places can suffer from nearby discos/mopeds/barking dogs if you are unlucky. A smallish torch is also worth taking as leccy can be intermittent depending where you are. I also recommend taking a good book for the airport/plane/beach/balcony. Mosquito repellent (both the spray on stuff and spirals/plug ins to keep the room clear) can be brought out there.

We also email documents to ourselves (e.g. insurance, details of who to contact if we lose our plastic etc) as theres usually plenty of internet cafes where one can collect this. Also remember your E111 card - most travel insurances require this. And if you plan to use cashpoints, have a plan B in case the machine eats your card.

How much stuff costs can vary a lot from island to island. Language is not a problem, but a few words of Greek are always well received.

Have a great holiday.

brenda34

My rule for packing is, lay out on the bed everything you want to take. Then put half of that back in the wardrobe. Then put half of what's left back in the wardrobe. What's left is what you will actually wear on holiday!

seven-day-weekend

One or two changes of clothes (they dry in no time), plenty of clean underwear,some beach sandals, some ordinary sandals, cossie, hat, sunscreen/aftersun/insect repellent/toiletries. Roll your clothes and then hang them up when they get there, shouldn't be too creased. Take something long-sleeved but light in case you need to cover up from the sun.

Something warmer to slip on for when you get off the plane in the UK.

Don't forget to drink lots of water! One tip....put a bottle of water in the freezing compartment of the fridge if you have access to one and take it with you frozen.

Who are these people who take IRONS on holiday??? We don't even possess one!