How to create a holiday packing list and what to include.

Preparing for a holiday can be exhilarating, whether it’s a weekend away or a longer trip. There is a lot of pleasure to be gained even thinking about a holiday and choosing and discovering your holiday destination. Whether you’re daydreaming about lying on a beach or having an adventure holiday packed full of adrenaline activities, the excitement and anticipation that come with travel planning are very real. Deciding what to pack for a holiday is just as important as planning the trip.

Create a holiday packing checklist PDF to make sure you take everything you need when you leave. Read on to learn how.

What you’ll learn

• Why creating a holiday checklist makes a difference
• The benefits of PDF holiday packing lists
• Customizing a checklist for a holiday to include what you need

A holiday checklist makes a difference.

Whether you’re a sole traveller or packing for your whole family to go on holiday, there can be a ton of things to think about before you head off. Leaving your packing until the last minute can be disastrous, not to mention stress you don’t need.

Those stories about people getting to the airport and forgetting their passport, or discovering it’s expired, are all too true. Likewise, getting to your destination and then discovering you’ve forgotten to pack something essential and having to waste precious holiday time finding a shop that stocks it — no one enjoys doing that. On the other hand, you don’t want to overpack and then find yourself lugging around a lot of stuff in bags and suitcases that you never really needed to take on holiday in the first place.

So, start a holiday packing checklist as soon as you decide to take that well-earned holiday. That way, you can ease the stress of last-minute packing, and keep your energy focused on the holiday and fun times you are about to have.

Create a PDF holiday packing list — the benefits are many.

PDF packing checklists work well for a few reasons —

• They’re portable. You can view and store a PDF on your phone with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, on your phone, a laptop, and a tablet.
  
• They’re shareable. If you’re coordinating the holiday packing for two, three, or four people or more, share and collaborate on your PDF packing checklist together in Adobe Acrobat Online.
• They can be as dynamic as you want them to be. Holiday packing PDFs can be interactive and dynamic — and deserve to be. Add images, colour, and more.

You can create a PDF checklist from scratch in Adobe Acrobat, or convert different file formats to PDF online or in an Adobe Acrobat app.

Customize what you include in a holiday packing checklist.

What you will need to pack and take with you on your holiday will depend on your destination and mode of transportation. You’ll be packing to suit the climate and what you plan to do on holiday. If you’re taking a flight, you’ll have baggage allowances to consider. If you’re off on a road trip, you might have the space of a big SUV, or limited boot space in a shared rental vehicle with friends.

Some of the key things to remember when you’re creating a holiday packing list and travel planning are —

• Remember your documents.
  For international travel, you’ll need your tickets, valid passport, any relevant visas, and travel insurance documentation. Depending on your destination, you might also need proof of vaccinations.
  
  When you’re packing for a holiday in your own region, state, or country, don’t forget your driver’s license, tickets for any public transportation or domestic flights, and any other ID cards and documentation you may need.
  
  Create digital copies of your important documents as well. You can scan documents to PDF with the free Adobe Scan mobile app and password-protect PDFs to keep your information secure.

• Choose clothing for your destination.
  Plan what you’re going to wear to suit the climate, and any activities you’ll be doing while you’re on holiday. Pack items of clothing that you can mix and match and layer for extra warmth if you need to. Remember to include undergarments, socks, and sleepwear.

• Be selective in your footwear.
  Three basic types of footwear to consider packing for any holiday are some comfortable walking shoes, sandals in summer, and smarter shoes for any evenings out.

• Take care of your health.
  Include toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, and skincare products, including sunscreen in summer and insect repellent. Itemize any prescription medications to pack and over-the-counter medicines you may take regularly. Taking a small first aid kit with you on holiday is always a good idea.

• Pack alternative options for entertainment.
  Whether you’re lying on the beach, faced with a rainy day, or experiencing travel delays, you might want to pack at least one source of entertainment in your travel bags. This could be a book, e-reader, or travel-sized games to play with others to pass some time.

• Be prepared for holiday activities.
  If you’ve already got holiday activities planned, remember your swimwear, snorkelling gear, and ski accessories, as needed. If you’re limited on luggage space, weigh up whether it would be a better option to hire some items as and when you need them at your destination.

• Stay in touch with electronic devices.
  Remember your phone, laptop, tablet, or any other electronic devices you use to stay connected with people while you’re on holiday — and don’t forget the chargers and any travel adapters needed to keep them powered up.

• Choose miscellaneous items sensibly.
  There are always some miscellaneous items you need to pack for a holiday — a lot of which you find yourself using during travel to and from your destination. These might include snacks and drinks, travel pillows, eye shades, air plugs, and a laundry bag to separate dirty clothes.

Related content.

Keep exploring! Some of our other articles to help with creating PDF checklists and travel planning include —

• How to plan and pack for a cruise holiday with a PDF checklist
• PDFs for travel planning: Getting ready for your family holiday
• How to create an effective PDF to-do list
• How to manage a to-do list on a mobile phone