A travel blog about adventure and culture

Traveler´s Buddy

  • HOME
  • TRAVEL 101
  • TRAVEL JOURNAL
  • DESTINATIONS
    • Africa
    • America
    • Asia
    • Europe
  • TRAVELBUZZ
  • MORE
    • Write for Traveler’s Buddy
    • Work with me
      • Media content
      • Video Content
      • Photography and Video content
    • Contact me
    • About me
    • MediaKit
Danakil depression camel caravan
Avatar
Juan Martinez
Thursday, 18 August 2016 / Published in Travel 101

The ultimate packing list for a weekend traveler

A copy of your passport, an old ID card or a deck of cards. Do you have everything you need for a weekend trip?

Weekend trips are the best to get away from your daily job and spend some nice time with your partner, friends or by yourself.

From getaways around Europe with budget airlines or discount tickets to short trips around South East Asia or South America during your semester abroad, weekend trips let us see more in the middle of a busy daily life. Now, the final question is: What should you pack for that weekend getaway?

Packing is not rocket science and it doesn´t need to be, but it is good to know what you need to take with you and what can stay at home. Because let’s face it; no one wants to take things on a holiday that in the end he won´t even touch.

Let´s start with the basics!

Papers and documents

Definitely the most important thing if you don´t want your trip to end before it starts.

If you are leaving the country, don´t forget that you need a passport and some kind of ID for your daily trips. But your passport is not everything, you also need credit cards, insurance cards and, for some countries, even your vaccination certificate (in South East Asian countries). For a weekend trip I take the following documents with me:

P3530323

    • Passport + a copy of it
    • Old (not necessarily expired) ID card with photo and birth date: Extremely useful if you want to go out without the risk of loosing important documents.
    • 1 credit card for daily expenses + a second credit card for emergencies (you never know when your card gets blocked)
    • 100 USD/EUR in cash: Euros and Dollars are universal currency so take some with you.
    • Insurance card
  • Small notebook with hotel addresses and simple travel indications (train connections/ time tables/ mobile phone numbers)

Insider Tips:

    1. Keep an online backup of all documents in a cloud you can access anytime.

  1. Always leave your passport and emergency credit cards at your hostel’s safety deposit box and take a copy of your passport and/or an old ID with you.

Bags and backpacks

You are going away for 3 days, not 3 weeks, so you won´t need that 55l backpack or the big suitcase your mom gave you when moving out. It´s also important to take into consideration that most of us probably fly budget airlines, so we don´t even want to take any check-in baggage, as it might cost even more than the flight ticket.

You will not only need a bag for your clothes, but also a bag for your daily tours, dirty clothes and toiletries.

For a weekend trip I take the following bags and backpacks:

P3530327

    • 35l backpack: A normal school bag. Perfect to pack enough clothes for a weekend and a laptop, plus it’s comfortable enough to be carried as a daily bag.
    • Camera bag: I might not have a big camera, but I have lots of gear I like to take with me. My camera bag is perfect for this! With enough space for both of my cameras, gear, sunglasses and maybe one or another extra element, this bag is perfect for a weekend trip. And the best of all is that most airlines allow it as a second bag in cabin.
    • Pouch: great for short walks and to carry documents. However, the main purpose of this bag is for you to pack the dirty clothes for the return flight.
  • Toiletries bag: Small, practical and simple. A small bag for you to put your toothbrush, dental cream, shampoo and any other things you might need.

Electronic gear

Electronics are not only important gear for travel bloggers, but also for any other traveler in modern days. Cameras keep special moments as memories and mobile phones keep you up to date with home. For a weekend travel I like to take the following gear:

2016-08-18 09.37.55

I always take these 4 gadgets to a weekend trip: camera, action camera, tablet and mobile phone

And remember! You are not less a traveler if you travel with electronic gear, you are simply traveling smarter.

Clothes

It´s a long weekend traveling, not a conference. You don´t need to take more than you need, but you need to be prepared for any situation. A t-shirt per day, one shirt and one pair of pants will definitely be enough for your weekend. However, an extra pair of shoes won´t take too much space in your bag and can be a nice alternative if you want to try a fancy restaurant or hit the clubs on the weekend.

2 pairs of shoes, 4 tshirts, 1 shirt, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of pants, a tank top, 3 pair of socks, 3 pairs of underwear and one jacket

2 pairs of shoes, 4 tshirts, 1 shirt, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of pants, a tank top, 3 pair of socks, 3 pairs of underwear and one jacket

Also it is important to take a fleece jacket for cold nights, an old shirt and shorts as a pyjama and enough socks and underwear for your trip.

NOTE: Depending on the season, you can always consider taking swimming shorts, a winter jacket or a rain coat.

Accessories

Accessories are very useful for a weekend trip. From a deck of cards if you want to kill some time at the airport to the right headphones for a more entertaining flight. Accessories shouldn´t take too much space in your bag and still make a difference if you want to travel in a more comfortable way.

I like to divide the accessories I take on a weekend trip into three categories:

weekend packing list accesories

Fashion: Hat, scarf, belt, watch, sunglasses; electonic: tripod, selfie stick, power bank, chargers; other: magazines, deck of cards, book

    1.  Fashion accesories: Belt, scarf, hat or a watch. These accessories are not necessary unless a specific situation needs it. In this case I need to point out, that although I might not need a watch, I like to take one of my wood watches on my travels, as they don´t occupy any space at all.
    1. Electronic accessories: headphones, mini speakers, power bank or even a selfie stick. These accessories make your travel more comfortable. But first think about it: are you really going to do night photography or is the tripod going to be on tour for nothing?
  1. Other accessories: Card decks, travel magazines or books. These accessories have the purpose of entertaining us. While I almost always take a deck of cards with me, I´m personally not a big fan of taking travel magazines or books with me, as I know they’ll spend more time in than outside my backpack.

Insider Tip: 90% of the hostels have towels included or for an extra price. Towels not only take a lot of space in your bag, but they can also be quite uncomfortable on the way back, as they might still be wet. In other words: Don´t take a towel with you!

Also, don’t forget to bring a lock, just in case!

Toiletries

Shampoo, liquid for contact lenses, toothpaste and soap. These elements are very important on our travels but they shouldn´t take half of the space in our luggage. Many supermarkets offer all these products in small 50ml packages. Get them in advance and don´t waste space.

Here is a list of the toiletries I take for a weekend trip

P3530325

List

As you can see, there is no magic in a packing list for a weekend trip, but choosing the right things can make the difference between being prepared for any situation or simply taking stuff you won´t need.

packing list bag

As you can see, all this things fit perfectly in a simple backpack and a camera bag

[fbcomments]

  • Tweet
Tagged under: accesories for traveling, city trips information, city trips packing list, clothes for traveling, information tips, information travel article, packing list, tips to pack, useful tips, weekend travel, weekend trip, what to pack

What you can read next

How to pack for a train trip around Europe
Packing for a train journey across Europe
Tips to get a couch through Couchsurfing
STPC Stopover paid by carrier
Free hotels and tours during a stop-over? – What is a Stopover Paid by Carrier

See my work for Lonely Planet

Juan Martinez - Lonely Planet Berlin

See more of my work

Juan Martinez BBC Travel - Deutsche Welle

Follow me on Instagram

Instagram Juan Martinez Travelers Buddy

Follow me on facebook

facebook banner travelersbuddy

See my videos on YouTube

youtube channel Travelersbuddy

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • 15 types of travelers you will meet in a hostel15 types of travelers you will meet in a hostel
  • These are the roots of modern languagesThese are the roots of modern languages
  • Why Frankfurt Airport might be the coolest airport in EuropeWhy Frankfurt Airport might be the coolest airport in Europe
  • Europe’s most beautiful mountain landscapesEurope’s most beautiful mountain landscapes
  • 5 ways to be a traveler at home5 ways to be a traveler at home
  • Arrival guide for the best view from the airplaneArrival guide for the best view from the airplane
  • Exploring the volcano route of NicaraguaExploring the volcano route of Nicaragua
  • How Qatar’s cultural diversity revives your sensesHow Qatar’s cultural diversity revives your senses
  • Uncommon activities to learn on a long tripUncommon activities to learn on a long trip
  • Tourist or Traveler? – which one are youTourist or Traveler? – which one are you

RECENT POSTS

  • Stabroek Market - Best things to do in Georgetown Guyana

    Best things to do in Georgetown Guyana

    Georgetown is a city full of surprises, a melti...
  • Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone

    How to travel from Guinea to Sierra Leone by ferry

    Travelling from Guinea to Sierra Leone by ferry...
  • aerial view of Guyana rivers

    Preserving Guyana’s Pristine Landscapes: A never-ending challenge

    Guyana is a good example of how wildlife protec...
  • Exploring Acklins and Crooked Islands – The Bahamas' Hidden Paradise

    Exploring Acklins and Crooked Islands – The Bahamas’ Hidden Paradise

    If there is a place where it is possible to com...
  • These are the best local activities to do in Nassau

    These are the best local activities to do in Nassau

    Say goodbye to swimming with the dolphins and v...
  • Deutschlandticket getaway - how to get a Deutschlandticket

    The Deutschlandticket – A train ticket for unlimited travel in Germany

    After the success of the 9 Euro ticket, a succe...
  • How to do some island-hopping in the Bahamas by mailboat

    How to do some island-hopping in the Bahamas by mailboat

    Did you know that you can travel around the Bah...
  • All you need to know to plan a visit to the Palace of Versailles

    All you need to know to plan a visit to the Palace of Versailles

    From tickets to the best times to visit, here i...

WRITE YOUR STORY

We accept guest posts from bloggers, journalists or travel enthusiast about anything what motivated you to travel and experience new things

CONTACT ME HERE

WORK WITH ME

Last year we worked with over 10 different tourism boards from all over the globe. Learn more how we can work together and present how awesome your destination is

CONTACT ME HERE

COME AND SAY HI

Don't be shy and just drop us an email. It´s free

CONTACT ME HERE
Travelers Buddy Mountains Footer
  • Home
  • Travel journal
  • About me
  • Contact me
  • Write for Traveler’s Buddy
  • Imprint
  • More about Traveler´s Buddy
  • Travel journal
  • Home
  • About me
  • Work with me
  • Write for Traveler’s Buddy
  • Contact me
  • GET SOCIAL

www.thetravelersbuddy.com© 2021. All rights reserved

TOP