What to pack for a trip: a list by trip type and how not to forget anything

The base list, for any trip

• Documents: photo ID (and passport, if needed), cards, a little cash, bookings and insurance.
• Clothes: one set per day for underwear and socks, and fewer of the rest, which you can repeat.
• Toiletries: toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, personal items and sunscreen.
• Electronics: phone charger, headphones, a plug adapter if needed and a power bank.
• Medicine: regular medication (with a few spare days) and a basic kit.

What changes by trip type

Amounts: count by days

For trips up to a week, bring underwear and socks for each day, plus one spare, and repeat T-shirts and pants. For longer trips, do not grow the luggage: plan to do laundry once. Packing less makes everything easier, from transport to the hotel.

The list as a checking routine

A list only works if you use it while packing. In a note with checkboxes, tick each item as it goes into the bag. At the end, the counter shows whether anything is missing. A second check at the front door (ID, wallet, phone, keys) catches what slipped through.

The packing list template already comes split by category, with a "Before leaving" section for what gets forgotten even in a hurry: windows closed, trash out, house key.

How to make it all fit

• Roll clothes instead of folding: they take less room and wrinkle less.
• Put the heavy things (shoes, toiletries) near the suitcase wheels, so it does not tip over.
• Use shoes as packaging: socks and small items fit inside them.
• Keep liquids in a small bag, to make airport checks easier and avoid leaks.
• Leave some free space for what you will bring back.

Before closing, look at the list again, not at the suitcase: the list is what reminds you of what you would forget.

Improve the list every trip

When you get back, open the list and write two things: what you brought and did not use, and what you missed. On the next trip the list starts out more accurate. Keep the notes in a folder, like trips/lisbon-2027, and one trip’s list becomes the starting point for the next.

Join the list to the rest of the planning

The packing list pairs with the itinerary, bookings and budget, all in the same trip folder. Your travel companions can edit the same notes from their phones, and the link opens on each person’s device.

Do not write ID, passport or card numbers in the note. Anyone with the note’s address can open it.