Your ultimate summer holiday packing list

TravelLifestyle
30 May 2025 • 7:02 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Some people hate packing for a holiday. I am not one of these people.

Call it frequent flyer arrogance, call it Big Virgo Energy, call it plain annoying, but I start making my list around two weeks before departure. I then begin foraging around for the essentials one week before – you just know that passport is wedged in the bottom of a drawer somewhere – making sure I leave two or three buffer days before the journey to allow for picking up last-minute essentials.

It’s an art form, I adore it, and I pride myself on being the person doling out plug adapters and charger cables to those who have not made their own nifty list.

Everyone has individual needs, wants and little luxuries for a summer holiday – clothing being a whole personal list of your own – but the core items will always remain the same. I haven’t included a laptop or any work paraphernalia, because I sincerely hope you’ll be able to switch off this summer. Here are the must-haves:

Everything you’ll (probably) need for a beach holiday this summer

Things you’re most likely to forget, so double check

And one more tip...

Want to become a packing pro? Take note of anything you realise you’ve forgotten or wish you’d packed while on holiday, and add it to a rolling list in your phone’s Notes app. Next time you’ll be equipped for anything.