25.11.20
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Deciding what to pack for a two-week vacation can involve a lot of variables. Where you’re going, what you’ll be doing, and who you’re travelling with, can all make a difference to the kinds of things you’ll need to pack. But there are a few simple measures for packing light which can be applied to all kinds of trips.
Clothing
The big area that people tend to over-pack, on any length of trip, is clothing. It’s tempting to bring a huge variety of outfits for all kinds of “just in case” scenarios. But many travellers only wear about half the clothes they bring with them!
If you’re taking a trip of two weeks or longer, aim to do laundry once a week or so. This way, you can pack less because you’ll have fresh clothes to wear every time they’re washed. Most hotels offer a laundry service, or you can find launderettes and dry cleaners in most towns. This is especially useful if you’re going to multiple destinations, as no one will know if you wore the same outfit in a different city!
Create a “Capsule Wardrobe” by purposefully choosing clothing items that can be mixed and matched, providing you with multiple outfit choices. Packing just 3 bottoms and 7 tops can equate to up to 21 outfits.
Capsule Wardrobe for a Two Week Vacation
Choose simple, classic items that can be paired together, or layered, to create several different outfits. Think plain tops, neutral colours, and stripes. Of course, if you’re going to a beach destination, the outfit styles you’ll choose might be different to what you’d wear on a city break. But the concept remains the same: stick to simple clothing that can be worn in a variety of ways.
You should also look for clothes that can be dressed up or down. For example, a plain black t-shirt can work for casual sightseeing during the day. But add some nice jewellery, switch your shoes, and layer a smart blazer or pashmina over the top, and you’ll have a perfect evening outfit.
Here’s a rough outline for your minimalist two-week packing list:
7x tops (or five tops plus two dresses)
3x trousers, skirts, or shirts (depending on weather and preference)
2x outerwear items for layers
2-3x shoes
7-10x underwear (allow a few extra pairs for the days while you’re getting your laundry done)
1x bathing suit (if needed)
1x scarf
Don’t forget any other specialist clothing you might need if you’re planning any specific activities for your trip. For example yoga gear or running/activewear if you plan on using the gym. However, remember that you can rent a lot of specialist equipment from tour companies. Most diving tours will offer the chance to borrow a wetsuit, for example.
Shoes
Again, the shoes you should pack for a two-week vacation depends very heavily on the style of the trip. For most destinations, however, you shouldn’t need to pack more than three pairs of shoes.
On a hot weather trip, pack one pair of flip flops or sandals, one pair of dress shoes for dining out, and one pair of comfy shoes for walking in. These last are especially important if you plan to spend a lot of time sightseeing.
For a city break, one pair of comfy shoes for sightseeing and one or two pair of dress shoes should be enough. Ankle boots are great for sightseeing in cooler weather, while slip-on sneakers or comfortable sandals are better in the heat.
However, if you’re on a more adventurous trip, you might need one pair of flip flops and one pair of sturdy hiking shoes, as well as a pair of running shoes or sneakers. Water shoes might also be useful, especially if you plan on doing any water sports.
Outerwear
Outerwear items such as coats, jackets or cardigans can usually be re-worn several times before they need washing, so you don’t need to take too many with you. Choose pieces that you can layer together in different combinations in order to save space.
If you’re travelling somewhere cooler, layering is a key tool to help you pack lighter. Think long-sleeved tops with a sweater and a loose jacket or coat over the top. This way, you may not need a bulky, thick coat unless your destination is incredibly cold. A packable down jacket is ideal for a winter destination.
For rainy weather, look for a lightweight waterproof jacket. You can also find ones which stuff down into a small bag. These are ideal to have in your luggage for emergencies.
In moderate weather, such as European destinations during spring or autumn, leather jackets, denim jackets, or blazers are ideal outerwear. These can all easily be paired with a cardigan or thin sweater for some extra warmth, or worn alone over a t-shirt.
Toiletries
Everyone’s list of necessary toiletries is quite different, so it’s best to simply pack what you know you need. But remember that most toiletry items can be replenished no matter where you are in the world, so you don’t need to bring everything!
If you’re trying to pack light, purchase some smaller bottles and decant your normal shampoo, shower gel, etc into these.
Try to only pack the essentials. And don’t forget sunscreen, insect repellent (if necessary) and any medication you take.
Essentials
Finally, below is a list of all the other travel essentials you should pack for any vacation.
Passport, any necessary visas, bank cards, local currency, and any travel documents you need. It’s a good idea to keep these together in a secure travel wallet.
If safety is a concern, consider a discrete money belt.
Contact details for your travel insurance, banks, and credit card companies, as well as any other emergency contacts. Keep a hard copy written down somewhere safe, just in case something happens to your phone.
Travel adapter/s
Chargers for your phone, camera, and any other electricals
Camera and memory cards
Any necessary medication
Sunglasses
To save space, you could purchase an e-book version and store it on your phone or e-reader.
