You just can’t beat any time away from home to relax and recharge. However, let’s be honest. When it comes to what to pack for an overnight trip, we’ve all ended up either taking far too much or forgetting an absolute essential at least once.
Even though we’re only talking about one night here, there’s often just as much preparation involved as seven nights away. You just don’t need to take quite as many things!
Whether you’re treating yourself to a spa break or exploring a new city, here are the things you need to pack to have a super enjoyable 48 hours or less.
1. Swimming Essentials
For those drawn to waterside escapes, be it a serene lakeside cabin or a beachfront cottage, don’t forget to bring a swimsuit, cosy towel and good book to unwind by the water.
Pack suncream to protect your skin, a hat for shade and some comfortable sandals for leisurely walks along the shore. A lightweight jacket or sweatshirt is also handy for cooler evenings, along with a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout your stay. These items will ensure you have everything you need to relax and enjoy your waterside getaway.
2. Healthcare
Health comes first, people! Hand sanitiser and/or wipes are essentials for any trip to keep the bugs at bay. Oh, and if there’s one thing that can ruin any trip, it’s a sudden headache that just won’t go away or an unexpected injury.
Carrying a mini first aid kit* full of plasters, bandages and cleansing wipes won’t guarantee that you have a totally accident-free overnight stay, but it will certainly help put your mind at rest. Just add tissues, painkillers and any important medication and you’re good to go.
3. Electronics
When deciding what to pack for an overnight trip, your phone is a given, but there’s no point in taking it without its charger. Invest in a portable power bank like this Miady one* so you can charge up anytime on the go.
As for the slightly less necessary electronics, you may need to take your tablet or laptop, especially if you’re mid-way through a series on Netflix or Disney Plus. If you think you might want to capture some memories — and don’t want to take your phone everywhere with you — don’t forget your camera.
One electronic you can definitely ditch is the travel hairdryer. Even if you plan on washing your hair, most hotels and Airbnbs will have one anyway giving you more space for an extra pair of shoes…
4. Two Outfits
Strictly speaking, you only need two outfits for an overnight trip — the one you go in and the one you come back in.
To save bag space, stick to the same bottoms and change your top (making three pieces total). Alternatively, take two one-pieces (like a dress, jumpsuit or playsuit) for an even more streamlined travel wardrobe. Bonus points if you can wear the same pair of shoes for both outfits!
Keep any accessories to a minimum by selecting versatile pieces that will match both of your outfits. For example, don’t underestimate the power of layered jewellery or a good headband for making a similar outfit look different.
5. Layers
Watch out for the weather if you’re opting for a UK staycation. The trick is to pack layers if you’re to have any chance of staying one step ahead of Britain’s famously unreliable forecasts.
The layers you take will depend on what you have in your wardrobe already. A good place to start is with:
- A lightweight cardigan or rain jacket if you’re going away in Spring/Summer
- A sweatshirt or hoodie underneath a coat or rain jacket if you’re going away in Autumn/Winter
Don’t forget to accessorise! Add your trusty winter woollies for cold weather and your sun hat or cap for warmer weather.
6. Glasses or Contacts and Sunglasses
If you wear glasses or contact lenses on a daily basis, it’ll come as no surprise to hear that they should be right at the top of your packing list.
Own several pairs and not sure which to take? Easy — keep it simple by choosing the pair that goes best with all the outfits you’re planning on taking.
Likewise, if it’s set to be sunny, pop a pair of sunglasses into your bag. I’m all for classic shapes and neutral hues, like these silver aviators* or these chunky black cat-eye shades.
7. Toiletries
If you’re going away for the night, you’re going to want to take the products in your everyday skincare routine at the very least.
Use mini travel bottles* to save space in your travel bag. You could even make the most of the accommodation’s shampoo and conditioner to save yourself even more bag real estate.
8. Hair Accessories
What to pack for an overnight trip 101: a bobble or scrunchie that won’t kink your hair. There’s nothing worse than sweeping your hair off your face and into a pony during the day only for your ‘do to be totally ruined by nighttime.
Enter: the invisibobble*. Waterproof and durable, get one of these in your bag (or on your wrist) pronto if you want to minimise the time needed to restyle your hair.
Even the best hair ties can’t tame those pesky flyaways, though, so be sure to take a bobby pin (or 150)* along for the ride too.
9. Makeup
When it comes to deciding how much makeup to take for an overnight trip, it all depends on what you’re doing.
If you’re going for a natural makeup look, a lightweight BB or CC cream infused with SPF should suffice, such as Tarte Cosmetics’ Skin Treat Poreless Tinted Moisturiser*. Then you may want the following:
- Concealer, like Tarte Cosmetics’ Shape Tape*
- Mascara, like Tarte Cosmetics’ Maneater*
- Eyelash curlers, such as Tarte Cosmetics’ Picture Perfect Combo*
- Lip balm, such as Nars’ Afterglow* in various shades
Better yet if you stick to travel-sized bottles or tubes.
10. Tickets or Confirmations
Finally, you’ll need to take along tickets or booking confirmations for anything you’ve pre-booked on your overnight stay.
Most confirmations are emailed to you nowadays but I recommend printing any important documents for accommodation or transportation. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and who knows how good your WiFi will be.
What to Use as a Bag for Your Overnight Trip
If your trip involves travelling by public transport or you’re planning a journey that involves a lot of walking, a simple backpack will store all your belongings safely. This Gymshark one* evenly distributes the weight across your back and shoulders for comfy carrying.
You may find that a carry-on suitcase* works better for plane or car rides, or even the handy weekend bag or gym-style duffle*.
It’s also a good idea to take a smaller handbag for carrying around your daily essentials. You won’t want to carry a bulky weekend bag everywhere you go if you can help it!
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What to Pack for an Overnight Trip: Final Thoughts
Planning what to pack for an overnight trip will definitely require a little more thought than your average day out. Even so, it doesn’t need to be a tricky process.
Consider the weather forecast and try to streamline your packing list as much as possible. Or simply come back here and refer to this checklist and you’ll get it spot on every time. Bon voyage!
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