This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Going on holiday! It’s every woman’s dream to just pack up and escape from reality for a while. But let’s be real, preparing for a holiday can be quite an ordeal. I recently went on holiday with my husband to Goa, India, and once there, we had the most fabulous time.
However, a woman’s holiday to-do list can be daunting. Quite apart from all the organisation of booking the holiday, the car hire, and the research for the best places to go whilst there, there is also the shutting up shop this end. Cancelling newspapers, dog care, and making sure all bills are paid. And that is in advance of us packing and preparing ourselves before going on holiday.
Men just throw some shorts, tee-shirts and dodgy sandals in a case and they are good to go. They may wave a pair of nail clippers near their toes but that’s the best body prep we can (usually) expect from our men. Meanwhile, we women tend to spend hours in our bathroom or at a beauty salon. There is a lot of exfoliating, buffing, filing and extracting that needs to go on before we are beach body ready!
First things first, I have to make a packing list. It’s not just a matter of throwing some clothes in a suitcase and hoping for the best, oh no. I need to plan out every outfit, every accessory, and every toiletry, and even bring along some emergency snacks just in case. And let’s not forget about the gadgets – phone, laptop or ipad, charger, and a million other cords that I always manage to forget.
Then there’s the issue of getting everything to fit in my suitcase. It’s like a game of Tetris, trying to cram everything in while still leaving room for souvenirs. And, of course, I always end up bringing too much stuff and have to sit on my suitcase to zip it up.
But the real struggle is getting to the airport. No matter how early I wake up, I always end up running around the house like a madwoman, searching for my passport, my boarding pass, my ID, my phone, my wallet – basically my entire life. And let’s not forget the dreaded security line. I have to take off my shoes, my belt, and my jewellery, and somehow manage to keep everything organised and not lose anything in the process.
But despite all the chaos, it’s all worth it once I’m finally on that plane, sipping a glass of something special and watching the clouds go by. Here’s to hoping you don’t forget anything important and have a holiday to remember (for all the right reasons, of course!).
So I thought I would try to share some of my travel tips:
PACK IN ADVANCE or send your suitcases to your holiday destination in advance using a company such as Send My Bag (other firms are available). This service avoids excess luggage fees and speeds up your journey.
HEAT RASH – take an antihistamine every day for a week or so before you leave. It definitely works for me.
SUN PROTECTION – on my last holiday to India I took Heliocare supplements throughout my holiday. They’re perfect for giving your skin additional protection when it needs it most, such as during prolonged periods or high levels of sun exposure. And they are perfect for sensitive skin. They give additional defence from within against the damaging effects of UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared-A. The supplements feature high levels of the powerful key ingredient Fernblock, plus additional skin-boosting ingredients.
STICK TO A COLOUR PALETTE of no more than three shades, and you’ll find that all of your holiday wardrobe will work together.
PACK IN OUTFITS: this way, you won’t end up with one side of your case that doesn’t even see the light of day. Lay everything out, even your accessories, and style up each outfit to create a capsule holiday wardrobe. If you cannot wear something with two different pieces, then don’t add it to your bag.
A KIMONO/KAFTAN is a great option for throwing over anything from a swimming costume to leggings. Aspiga does some wonderful styles. For cool evenings a wrap from Kettlewell is really handy. Read Grace’s latest article for some of her kaftan choices.
A WHITE COTTON SHIRT should always be part of your holiday wardrobe – Artichoke has some great ones at the moment. For now, I love the classic Tallulah; however, if I wanted a cover-up for holiday, then either the Johanna (the classic with a twist) or the Tessa (with adjustable sleeve lengths) would work well. They are all made in crisp cotton that irons beautifully.
And the great news is we have a 10% discount code for the following white ONLY shirts – The Annabel White Frilled Collar, The Frill Collar Tallulah, The Tessa shirt, The Johanna Cross Back and the Tallulah. The discount code is AGWHITE.
NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT A SCARF – if a long-haul flight then make it a cashmere one as the air conditioning can be quite chilly. A large silk square will double up as a sarong around the pool or beach.
THE BRIGHTER COLOUR YOUR SUITCASE, the quicker you’ll find it on the airport carousel. Or use a stand-out luggage tag.
YOUR CABIN BAG SHOULD BE A BACK UP in case your luggage is lost or if you are delayed and have to stay overnight in an hotel. So pack lingerie, swimsuit, sunglasses and flip-flops so you are beach ready as you land and can cope until your bag arrives.
‘NO VPL’ KNICKERS – a must! M&S have a good range. Go for nude colours for wearing under white sundresses etc.
A HAT and if not a foldable one, then, when you pack it, fill it with socks, knickers etc, to keep its shape. If it is too expensive to damage, then buy one when you are there and leave it for the next guest at your hotel or villa.
DON’T GO OVERBOARD WITH MAKE-UP. You don’t use very much on holiday, just some lippie as your eyes are covered with sunglasses. I do have my eyelashes curled before a holiday – the LVL treatment available at some beauty salons is great.
MINI TRAVEL BOTTLES from Boots are a must to decant small amounts of your favourite beauty products into.
TAKE A GOOD INSECT REPELLENT We like Mrs Whites as it has such a lovely fragrance. Wristbands are also effective.
DON’T TAKE HEAVY BOOKS. Download books onto your iPad or Kindle. Podcasts are also great to listen to on your mobile. Conversations from a Long Marriage is one Grace and I highly recommend and will have you howling with laughter.
MULTI TRAVEL PLUG ADAPTER will keep all your devices charged. Available from Amazon.
TAKE YOUR OWN PILLOW – especially good for staycations in the UK as probably too big to take abroad.
FINALLY, CULL EVERYTHING YOU’VE LAID OUT BY HALF, as you will not use it even if you think you will.
Wherever you’re going, have a wonderful time! If you’d like to see our latest handpicked holiday fashion, click here now.
If you are like BackPacking Granny, an intrepid traveller, you’ll be glad you read her invaluable travel tips.