There’s always the temptation to overload your suitcase with all kinds of extra belongings as a ‘just in case measure’, but try to resist. You’re on holiday – you’ll be wearing minimal clothing and you won’t need the entire contents of your bathroom cabinet or wardrobe to have a fantastic time.
Vital for holiday success
When planning your girls-only holiday, check out the destination first and see if your hotel provides life’s essentials, such as shampoos, towels and hairdryers. If you’re in luck, you’ll have some extra room in your baggage allowance for that indispensable extra bottle of moisturiser or hair conditioner. Hair straighteners are also a fantastic idea, if you use them.
Talk to your girlfriends and see what they’re packing. If one of you uses less products than another, you can share the load. Another useful tip is to take a bag of miniature bath/shower products rather than the full-size bottles you use at home.
Unfortunately, make-up does have a tendency to go gunky in the sun. In order to avoid this, take a light concealer or a BB cream rather than heavy-duty foundation. Another thing to consider is that heat actually intensifies perfume – so don’t spray too much before going out on the tiles.
Keeping in touch with everyone
Family back home tend to worry – it’s their job – so packing a charger, mobile phone and that all-important travel adapter is vital. You don’t want the local constabulary trying to track you down because you haven’t contacted your loved ones back home. You might know you’re safe and mature – most of the time – but odds are your parents’ imaginations will be in overdrive while you’re away.
Clothes and accessories
Holidays are the perfect time to try out a new look, swap items of clothing with your friends, and generally have a lot of fun dressing up.
For day or nightwear, maxi dresses cover up anything you want to hide, and this season’s range come in light, airy fabrics so they won’t take up too much room in your case. If you’re heading out for a holiday in the sun, cool clothing such as shorts, and t-shirts are also must-haves. A pair of jeans or light trousers will always be useful, and again won’t take up too much space in your baggage.
You’ll want to maintain your style on the beach, so it’s a good idea to pack a long scarf that can double up as a sarong during the day. Making sure to pack more than one item of swimwear will mean you can avoid the perils of a damp bikini and stay beach chic. Finally, a light tote bag to carry your sun cream, sun glasses and drinking water will complete your beach ensemble.
Don’t forget the footwear
Shoes can take up a lot of space so you’ll have to be realistic about what you can include in your packing. A pair of killer heels may be essential for strutting your stuff in local bars and clubs – but a pretty pair of sandals is much more suitable for holiday. Sandals don’t take up much room and are vital if you want to achieve the laid-back beach babe look.
Let’s talk practical. Remember to pack a pair of trainers if you’re planning on doing some sightseeing, you don’t want to spoil your holiday with blisters. If you’re wondering what to wear around the pool, look no further than the humble flip flop. Yes, they might seem boring but they’re an indispensable holiday item. Just make sure you don’t hit the dance floor in these, or you’ll end up with very bruised toes by the end of the evening.
Girls go out
Going out on the town is one of the thrills of any holiday with your girlfriends. After you’re manicured and dressed up, you’ll be looking to hit the floor.
To make sure you don’t end up in the dingiest dive around, do a little research, either before you go on holiday or during the day when you reach your resort. Talk to other groups of people and see what they’ve discovered, word of mouth is a powerful tool!
Remember, the bar that’s selling the cheapest drinks isn’t always the one where you’ll have the most fun.
Getting back after a night out
Getting back to your hotel after a night out can be awkward if you’ve been drinking or you’re not familiar with your resort. Make sure you do the journey back from the club or restaurant with your friends. It’s a good idea to make sure you’ve got enough local currency between you all to grab a taxi home at the end of a fabulous and hectic evening.
