If you’re one of the lucky ones that can go on holiday this year, follow this advice to ensure you’ve got everything you need.

It is time to start thinking about what to take along on your upcoming holiday or trip and what to leave behind. If you’re travelling by air, remember to check luggage weight restrictions with your travel agency or airline.

What you pack depends largely on where you are going, but the following items are essential to ensure a joyful vacation in any location:

    • A list: As you think of things to take along, add them to a list. It is the best way to ensure that you have packed everything you need to make your holiday as trouble-free as possible. Take the list with you and check it again when you pack up to go home.
    • Appropriate clothes and shoes: Think about where you are going, what type of activities you plan to participate in and what special clothes and shoes you may need, for example: swim suits and diving fins for a beach holiday or bush clothes and hiking boots for a safari. Always pack a pair of comfortable shoes for walking – travelling is never the best time to try out a new pair of shoes!
    • Travel documents: Ensure that your identity document, passport and visas (if applicable) and driving license are all valid. Photocopy all your documents, including accommodation reservations, insurance documents and air tickets and keep them somewhere separate from the original documents.
    • Cash, credit cards and foreign currency: Remember to order traveller’s cheques well in advance of your departure date. Obtain a money belt if you have to carry large sums of cash, but rather make use of safer options such as credit cards.
    • Items to keep you connected: Phones and phone charges, power cords and converters, batteries, phone cards should be packed if you want to stay connected. Note email login/password information somewhere if you think you may forget them.
    • Emergency kit and prescription medicines: Pack prescription medicines into a small airtight plastic box along with plasters, all purpose cream for stings, bites or abrasions, painkillers, antiseptic wipes, medicine for upset stomachs and mosquito repellent, depending on your destination. It is a good idea to have an extra pair of prescription glasses as well.
    • Toiletries: Leave your usual economy sizes of toiletries at home and pack small quantities. If you are travelling overseas, purchase smaller than 100ml containers for liquids and creams as bigger sizes are not allowed on airplanes.
    • Personal appliances, for example, hair dryer and shaver. Remember to pack power point adapters if necessary.
    • Reading material, map books, pens and notebooks. A travel diary is a wonderful way of documenting a special holiday or journey.
    • Video camera, camera and lenses are needed to capture the memorable moments to share with family and friends.
    • Sun protection: Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and a water bottle are a must for a summer holiday.

Some planning beforehand (yes, that list!) ensures that you have everything ready well in advance of your travel day to ensure a hassle-free departure and a well-deserved break.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about healthy holidays.