So the girls and I have decided to get away from the dreary September days and get some Autumn sun in Cyprus! We're off tomorrow and have been getting excited for the last few days, with frantic messages about packing, how many shoes to take and whether we're really going to take 5 sets of straighteners!! (We're not...just one!)
Packing is not my favourite activity, and it can be really stressful if you let it overwhelm you. So here are my tips for ensuring you pack the right stuff for your holiday and don't go over your 20kg limit!
When packing lots of one thing i.e. skirts, make sure you don't take lots of the same type - go for different colours, textures, lengths and styles to ensure you have enough choice and aren't struggling to find something to wear that isn't black/white/colourful! Once you have a few choices lined up, take out 25% of what you've laid out, and then re-assess!
If you're going on holiday somewhere hot, don't be afraid of colour! With a lovely tan and the glow of the sun on your face, oranges, lemons and purples are really flattering.
Roll, don't fold, your clothes - you will fit so much more in and won't be left with as many creases!
Shoes - probably the hardest thing to pack because you never know what the vibe is going to be - sometimes you will just want to party in your sandals and other times you may want to show off your tanned legs in tiny shorts and killer heels. My advice is to get out all your favourite (and comfortable) shoes in the form of flip flops, sandals and heels. Then take one or two pairs of sandals and flip flops (casual and dressy) and the same for heels.
Once you've done this take ONE more pair of shoes out of your collection, you probably won't wear them!
Don't forget to take some plimsolls or trainers if you're going to be doing any walking or trekking!
Then there's your passport - don't forget this!! And your foreign currency, and your electricals: iPod, Camera, Kindle/Books, Hairdryer, Straighteners/Curlers and all your chargers! Nothing worse than your kindle running out of battery on the second day!
And finally....your toiletries. Here's just a selection, I never go on holiday somewhere hot without sun cream (obviously) insect repellent, cleansing wipes, rehydration sachets (for those hot hungover days), after-sun and a red-hot bright nail varnish!
Other things to consider are a first-aid kit, plasters, tampons, diarrhoea tablets (sometimes you never know when the water's gunna get ya) and leave-in conditioner.
Finally...think about plug adapters, a pack of cards, a sudoku book for the plane and a warm jumper and socks for the air-conditioned flight home in the middle of the night!
Happy Holidays!