Stuck to the fridge before every holiday when I was growing up was my mother’s clothes menu. The clothes she wanted to wear every morning and night were listed on the list. I thought everyone’s mother wrote one.
This is exactly what I do now, and it’s a great time-saver.
I research the destination, temperatures and likely restaurant venues, then write up my menu and pack outfits in order so I can just take out that day’s clothes from the suitcase.
To ensure a relaxing holiday, create a checklist of all the essentials. Make sure to check it twice.
I am able to co-ordinate accessories and shoes that may work throughout the holiday. It also allows me the flexibility of packing light knowing every jacket and dress will be worn.
Do you unpack your stuff often? This also saves time and you’re ready to leave at a moment’s notice – albeit with a stuffed dirty laundry bag to fit in.
Wendy Atkin Smith is the managing director at cruise company Viking UK. She loves packing light.
She says: ‘If possible, I carry only hand luggage. Although you need to be extremely careful with packing, it is important that you remember the following: It’s okay to wear something more than one time!
‘When I’m travelling on a Viking ship I make use of the free laundrettes, and the ironing service is a real treat, making my outfit repeats effortless.
‘If possible, I carry only hand luggage,’ says Wendy Atkin Smith, the managing director of cruise firm Viking UK (file photo)
‘If packing light doesn’t come naturally to you, during the holiday I would suggest making a list of the things you wish you’d brought, and at the end a list of what you haven’t used. Save it until next year’s travels and you could be packing light in no time.’
Nicky Kelvin, Head of The Points Guy UK, says the main reason we have anxiety before taking a holiday is because we forget to take essentials with us.
He adds: ‘To ensure you have everything you need on every trip, build a list of those essentials in the cold light of day when the pressure of a trip is not upon you.
‘I keep my list of 12 essentials in my iPhone reminders, and it’s the last thing I check when I finish packing and again right before I leave the house. Once you’ve used the list once and been on a trip with it, you can be at ease knowing you’re all set for the future, from medicine and sunglasses to gym kit and charging pack.’
Nicky Kelvin, head of The Points Guy UK, keeps a list of 12 travel essentials in his iPhone reminders (file photo)
Do you really need to drag your suitcase all the way from home to get to the airport? asks Neil Simpson, The Mail on Sunday’s Holiday Hero.
He says: ‘Stride past check-in queues and go straight to security. Don’t bother with baggage reclaim during arrivals. Instead, go directly to your hotel and your bag will be there. You can leave your baggage at the reception to return home with style.
‘How? By using a baggage delivery service. Your luggage will be collected by couriers from your house and delivered to your hotel. They then bring it back. The super-rich have done it for years but prices are falling and it can cost just £30 to deliver luggage to hotels across Europe. Firms such as The Baggageman, Luggage Mule, Send My Bag and Sherpr can give quotes.’
A bag delivery service allows couriers to collect the case and deliver it directly to your hotel. (file photo
Experts disagree about when to book your next holiday.
Chief executive at Jet2holidays Steve Heapy is clear in his 2022 message: Book early
Do your research and book with a company you can trust
Chief executive at Jet2holidays, Steve Heapy
He says: ‘There is an enormous amount of demand for next summer, meaning that the best rooms in the best hotels in the best destinations are going to be snapped up. Last-minute deals will be harder to come by than ever.
‘Do your research and book with a company you can trust – far too many companies have let down their customers over the past couple of years. Look for ATOL-protected holiday packages.’
Travel Counsellors offers expert guidance to help you plan your next trip.
A spokesman says: ‘Paper is key at the moment – don’t underestimate the need for downloading to paper for swift airport transition. Always check passport validity, as Europe takes passport validity from the date of issue, not expiry.’
Travel Counsellors warns: ‘Ring your bank and let them know you’re away to avoid cards being blocked’ (file photo)
Alex Polizzi, pictured, recommends holidaying close to home if you want to make the most of a short time away
Travel Counsellors also recommend using a different email address for each adult and child for Covid test results, as it’s a real time and stress-saver when recording results or proof- of-vaccine status.
They add: ‘Do ring your bank and let them know you’re away to avoid cards being blocked. Ensure you book your airport lounge in advance, as due to Covid many are operating at reduced capacity and fill up quickly.’
And a final pre-flight plan means you’ll have a smooth start to your holiday: ‘If you’re landing late, book your first evening meal at your destination – there is nothing worse than arriving late, unpacking and being left to then sort dinner.’
And if the idea of holidaying abroad is simply too much, take heart from hotelier Alex Polizzi, best known as Channel 5’s Hotel Inspector, whose most recent venture is The Star at Alfriston, East Sussex.
She says: ‘If you want to make the most of a short time away, pick somewhere no more than an hour’s drive from where you live. Minimise travel time and maximise holiday time by booking somewhere lovely that you have never got round to because you consider it to be too close to home.’