What should I take with me on a trip for a week?

What am I taking with me on a trip for a week

I used to pack my suitcase before every trip, as if I was going to emigrate instead of for a week. I took three pairs of shoes, clothes for all occasions, and half the bathroom, and for some reason I always managed to forget something I really needed.

One day I returned from a trip with half the things that I hadn't taken out of my suitcase at all. But I had to buy a phone charger at the airport. After that, I decided to conduct an experiment: to assemble the next week's trip as intelligently as possible - only what I really use.

And it turned out that there are much fewer things needed than it seems.

Clothes: the main thing is not to take too much

The first rule I've learned for myself is not to take clothes for every day. If I'm traveling for a week, I don't need seven T-shirts, seven pairs of socks, and seven sets of clothes at all.

I usually take 4-5 T-shirts, a pair of shorts or light trousers, one more versatile pair of trousers, several sets of underwear and socks. If the trip assumes cool weather, I add a light sweatshirt or jacket.

I also make sure to take something in which I can go out properly in the evening. Not because I'm going to go to a restaurant every day, but because one day there's bound to be a situation where you want to go out for dinner after the beach, and you look like you've just come from a desert tour.

I try to limit shoes to two pairs: comfortable sneakers and something light. If I take the third pair, I almost always regret it later, because it takes up half the suitcase and lies there idle for most of the trip.

The first-aid kit that I underestimated before

I had another problem with the first aid kit for a long time.: I either didn't take anything at all, or I put so much in there, as if I were going to open my own medical center.

Now I'm taking a small set of the most necessary things: remedies that may be useful to me personally, patches, antiseptic, painkillers and medications that I take regularly. Plus, something for stomach problems - after several trips, I realized that the local cuisine can sometimes surprise more than any attraction.

I put sunscreen on separately if I go to a place where there is a lot of sun. I used to consider it something optional, until one day I spent the whole next day in my room, because I decided the day before that "an hour in the sun wouldn't do anything."

Did.

Electronics

This is where I try to control myself especially strongly.

The phone number is clear. Charging is the same. I almost always take a powerbank, especially if I plan to walk and take pictures a lot. I also have a small universal socket adapter that has been living in a travel bag for a long time.

I only take my laptop when I'm really going to use it. If the trip is an ordinary tourist trip, then most often I leave him at home. After all, I'm going to see a new city, not continue to sit in front of the screen.

I'm taking headphones too. Sometimes a long flight or bus ride becomes much more enjoyable if you can turn on the music and just look out the window.

Documents and things that you remember too late

My passport and money are obvious, but I try to keep my documents in more than one place. I keep a copy of my passport and basic travel information on my phone so that I don't run out of information in case of an unpleasant situation.

Before departure, I check the insurance, reservations, tickets and the address of the accommodation. All this takes a few minutes, but it's much more pleasant to check your documents at home than to try to figure out at the airport why the booking confirmation letter suddenly disappeared just when it was needed.

I also take a small backpack for daily walks. It holds water, a phone, a power bank, documents, sunglasses and some small things.

What am I not taking now?

It's probably even more important.

I stopped taking clothes "just in case," huge bottles of cosmetics, several books that I don't read anyway, extra shoes, and all sorts of things that could theoretically be useful.

Because after a week of traveling, a simple thing almost always turns out: if I really need some small change, it can most likely be bought on the spot.

But for some reason I have to carry all this on myself for seven days.

Now, before closing the suitcase, I ask myself one question: "Am I sure I'm going to use this?"

If the answer is "well, maybe," the item usually stays at home.

And the more I travel, the more I like this approach. A good suitcase for a week-long trip is not one that can barely be closed. This is the one that, after packing, you can safely pick up with one hand and not feel that you accidentally packed your whole house there along with your things.