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Packing tips: multi-functional items for your holiday packing
The best packing tips can help get your holiday started right. Save on space and weight by packing these multi-purpose items that will make your life easier
Packing tips: multi-functional items you should never go on holiday without
Let’s face it. As much as we all love going on holiday, no one really likes packing. There are some super organised people out there, who we really admire, whose underwear is always folded and for whom packing is fun, as they know exactly where everything is, have a packing list, and know just what they’ll wear on each and every day of their holiday. But, the rest of us tend to find ourselves surrounded by clothes that’ll never fit in our carry-on suitcase on the night before we leave, with no idea what to pack, desperately in need of a few dependable packing tips.
Does that sound familiar? In that case, you’ll be looking to figure out how you can make packing for a holiday simpler in future. There are lots of suitcase packing tips to be discovered that will make your life easier, but today we’re going to focus on specific items that you’ll want to throw into your bag, as they’re multi-functional, meaning you have more space to play with wherever you’re going, from Italy, to Istanbul, to India.
It’s up to you if you use that space to take more of your favourite outfits on holiday with you, cram in a few more travel gadgets, or you stock up on souvenirs and gifts when you’re there.
Packing tips: multifunctional items
But what are these magical items that could transform your travelling experience? Most of them are pretty simple, but once you’ve discovered them, you’ll never go on holiday without them again.
A sarong is one of the best handy things for travelling there is
In western culture, sarongs tend to be something that only women use. But men could take a lesson from other cultures, as they’re one of the most useful items to take travelling there is, whatever your gender.
They’re wonderfully versatile. You can wear them, wrapping them around your waist or getting creative and tying them into different types of dress. Both men and women can use them to cover up exposed skin if you happen to spot a church or temple you’d like to visit.
You can use them as a beach towel, or as any kind of towel, for that matter. They also make fabulous picnic blankets, or you can tie them up between trees and create an improvised sunshade.
You can use them as a thin blanket on a chilly bus or plane. If you happen to be staying in a hostel at any point on your trip, you can use them to create your own cocoon of privacy in your bunk.
On top of all that, they’re super easy to wash and quick to dry, making them highly practical for travelling, meaning that taking one of these with you is one of the very best packing tips there is. If you don’t already have one of these useful travel items, invest in a nice one on your next holiday and then take it with you wherever you go.
Make sure you always keep your sarong with you when you go out for the day, as this is one of those travel accessories that you could find yourself in need of at any time.
One of the best things to take travelling is coconut oil
Are you a coconut oil fiend? We’re big fans of this versatile oil, which is fantastic for skin and hair alike.
We never go anywhere without a small jar of coconut oil, or a larger one if we’ve got checked luggage. This is one of those packing tips that’s a real game-changer.When it comes to saving space, cosmetics can be a bit of a nightmare. All those different plastic bottles take up large amounts of space. The plastic is bad news for the planet, and the chemicals contained in most commercial cosmetics can actually do pretty nasty things to your skin.
The good news is that organic extra virgin coconut oil is one of those amazing things to bring on a trip, as it can replace many cosmetics. It can be used as both a face and body moisturiser, and it makes an excellent after sun. Whilst it should never be a replacement for a good sun cream, it even naturally contains a low SPF.
When your hair is feeling the effects of all that sun, sea and sand, coconut oil makes for a great hair mask. It’s also a natural make-up remover, although we also love those microfibre pads that are becoming more and more popular, which wipe away your makeup in seconds, no other products needed.
You can use coconut to oil pull and keep your mouth healthy, and some people even find that it works as a natural deodorant.
Try out all these tricks for yourself before you go on your next adventure and see if they work for you. Just be sure to close the jar firmly and wrap it up in a bag to avoid oil spills.
Other multi-functional travel items
So, you’ve probably got the idea by now. One of the best packing tips out there is that it’s all about thinking outside the box and finding creative uses for the travel items you’re taking with you.
Need a few more ideas for handy things to take on holiday? Why not try:
- Multipurpose soap: There are several brands of soap out there that can be used as shampoo, shower gel, laundry soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, shaving cream… The list goes on. Why not grab yourself a bottle and save yourself huge amounts of space?
- Multipurpose makeup: Makeup can take up huge amounts of space, so great travel items for women are products that keep the amount of makeup you need with you down to a minimum. We love BB cream (in place of foundation and facial sunscreen) and swear by carrying a brown pencil which, if you can get the right shade for you, can be eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lipstick and rouge all in one.
- Metal water bottle: First things first, a reusable water bottle is vital for any trip. But it’s not just for drinking water out of. You can also use it is a thermos, a hot water bottle, or even pop your toothbrush inside it to keep it clean when you’re on the move.
