Holiday Packing List

Everyone has done it at least once: arrived at the airport and realised the passports are still on the kitchen table, or unpacked at the hotel to find no charger and no sun cream. A written packing list is the simplest way to make sure the things that matter actually make it into the case. The trick is not starting from a blank page every time, but working from a ready-made list of essentials and adjusting it to the trip.

What you pack depends almost entirely on the kind of holiday you are taking. A beach week needs swimwear, sandals and factor 50; a city break needs comfortable shoes and one smart outfit; a ski trip needs thermals, gloves and a proper coat; and a family holiday means doubling up on spare clothes and remembering the buggy, the snacks and the favourite toy. A single generic list never quite fits, which is why this maker gives you a tailored starting point for each trip type.

Organising your list by category also makes packing faster and calmer. When documents, toiletries, clothing and tech each have their own section, you pack one area at a time and can see at a glance what is still outstanding. It is far harder to leave the travel insurance details or the phone charger behind when they each have a tick box staring back at you.

This maker starts you off with the items most people need for each kind of holiday. Untick anything that does not apply, add the things that are specific to your trip, and you have a complete packing list in under two minutes. Print a copy for the suitcase, or keep the shareable link and reuse it for the next holiday.