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Ever found yourself wishing for a magical portal to teleport you from your bed straight into a luxury seaside villa? Perhaps you’d like a friendly robot to help you pack for an overnight trip, and organise a fun-filled week of relaxing and adventuring in equal measures?
While the Fishbird Central team figure out the last little bit of science needed to make that happen for you, we recommend booking as many overnight trips as you can – for practice!
As we all know, the thrill of adventure lies not just in the destination, but in the heady thrill of packing your own overnight bag!
Sure, you might be a minimalist at heart, but there’s nothing worse than forgetting your toothbrush, and realising that you brought your dog but no underpants or shoes. And did you always own that dog?
This post will give you the lowdown on what to pack—whether it’s the must-haves that keep you comfortable or the nice-to-haves that make your trip memorable.
So, buckle up friends and get ready to become the packing professional your future self will thank!
You’re ready to hit the road for your overnight stay – but wait! Have you got all of your essentials?
Let’s start with the basics: your ID and wallet. If you win the lotto while you’re away, will you be able to identify yourself and cash the novelty cheque? Make sure your purse, wallet or grocery bag is big enough for all the cash you might win!
Do you want raccoons nesting in your house while you’re away? Probably not! So make sure you have your car & house keys with you and all the doors and windows are shut. Take out the rubbish so you don’t come home to a kitchen that could take flight on its own.
Then there are the best friends of the modern traveller: phone & charger. Forget either of these, and you’re in for a rough ride. Imagine having to take a photo of your breakfast using an actual camera! Oh, the shame! And let’s not even talk about the panic that sets in when your phone battery dips below 20%, and your charger is MIA.
We suggest also throwing in your car documents, so that – knock on wood – if anything should breakdown while you’re on the road, you’ve got all the bells and whistles handy for a service.
If you’ve remembered to pack your phone, you probably already have a GPS or map built in. Feel free to also invite a friend to read out directions to you from a paper map – it can take you down unusual roads you may never have seen! Ooh look! A water treatment plant – romantic!
Finally, make sure you have all your booking information. We all want to avoid that awkward scenario where you turn up to the Airbnb and your cute couple’s cottage, only to find it already contains 3 men called Terry who insist they booked it first. Check your welcome email, you might be in the cabin next door.
Packing bathroom essentials for an overnight trip, can be a fine art. First up, the humble toothbrush and toothpaste. These tiny tooth tools have the power to make or break your entire experience. Forget them, and you’ll find yourself MacGyvering a toothbrush out of a hot chip and praying a seagull doesn’t steal all your complimentary breath mints.
For all the ladies out there, set aside your “lady business“. This will obviously include any spy disguise packs, feminine hygiene products, ninja stars, sonic screwdrivers and deodorant. Gentlemen, you also have your own “gentleman business” moments to consider – such as beard wands, telescopes, handkerchiefs and deodorant. For those that don’t identify as either lady or gent, your business should already be perfect and you only need to pack what brings you joy … and deodorant. Everyone needs deodorant.
Then there are the glorious tubes of body and face wash and hair care products. Sure, you could survive a night with that mystery soap provided by the hotel, but why risk smelling like every other Terry, when you could bring your favourite body smell in a little miniature bottle?
For the love of all things brown, don’t forget your moisturiser and sunscreen—your skin’s best friends. It’s not just about looking good – although you always do – it”s about being sun smart and graduating ‘holiday university’ sunburn free.
What’s your vision for your overnight stay? Maybe you picture yourself safely lounging by a fire, sipping from a mug of Douwe Egberts hot chocolate, while leisurely flipping through the pages of the 15 books you’ve brought with you.
In reality, you’ll probably get through two chapters before passing out from the joy of having so many books – or spend so much time debating which local bookshops to go to, that you’ll end up reading none of your novels. However, don’t make the rookie mistake of under packing your fiction! The HORROR! … *faints onto a pile of novels* …
You’ll also want to pack your laptop & charger – if only for the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can watch as much YouTube as you like (after reading all those books) on account of you’re on holiday and there will be no consequences.
Let’s not forget essential snacks. Nothing derails an overnight stay quicker than a hangry tourist. Throw in some noise cancelling headphones to drown out the sound of everyone chewing, and you’re golden.
And for those of us who fancy ourselves Picasso adjacent, don’t forget your art supplies! A travel pack of paint, brushes, pens, crayons, paper, coloured pencils and fineliners – will have you sketching up a storm even on sunny days!
Unless you’re looking to make a statement, need a suit for your birthday, or you’re planning on spending most of your time at a particular kind of beach – you’ll need to pack something to wear.
We suggest you pack a few comfortable outfits – t-shirts & shorts or jeans or jorts or skorts or jarts – whatever bottom takes your fancy. You want to be ready for any kind of action. What if you see a fibreglass dinosaur at the side of the road?! Are you ready to jump out and take your picture with it? Bam! Holiday goal achieved!
No-one, in the history of holidays, has ever figured out the math of packing underwear. Yes, you’re only going overnight, so common sense would say just pack 12 pairs. However, don’t be surprised if you go to close your bag and feel the eerie dread of ‘not enough pants’. Throw in a few extra just in case. You will end up with more underwear than actual outfits – this is standard.
Put in some cute sleepwear. Cute can mean something different for everyone – a satin twin set, a Dr Who onesie that makes TARDIS sounds, or a Victorian nightgown with matching triangular hat. You do you. You’re cute in everything.
Top your case off with your favourite hat and sunnies, so you can remain mysterious as the need arises. Don’t forget a jacket or jumper – because if you don’t bring one, the weather will absolutely take that as a challenge. And of course, you’ve got to pack a swim outfit, even if there’s only a vague possibility of water nearby. Like your sleepwear, your swim outfit can throw vibes of anything from “grizzled lighthouse captain” to “bedazzled bikini babe”. Your body, your rules, Captain.
But perhaps the most crucial item of all is the eating outfit. Yes, you’ll need an outfit that’s comfy yet stylish, stretchy enough to handle that extra slice of pizza, and photogenic enough to hide the sauce stain you made earlier. You’ll be eating a lot, so extra points if it’s reversible.
That’s it! You’re amazing! You’re packed! Now get out of my driveway!
Happy Travels, friends!
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