What to Pack for a Week: Your Ultimate Packing Checklist

Planning a trip for a week? Whether you’re hitting the road or flying to your destination, efficient packing is key to ensuring you have everything you need without overpacking. This essential guide and What To Pack When Traveling For A Week checklist will help you prepare thoroughly, making sure you don’t leave any important items behind.

Clothes

When it comes to clothes for a week-long trip, I’m a big believer in the capsule wardrobe concept. This means selecting pieces that share a similar color palette or pair well together, can be easily layered, mixed and matched, and are versatile enough for various activities you might engage in during your vacation.

Consider the itinerary and activities you have planned. Will you need formal wear? Are you going hiking? Do you intend to work out while traveling? If you’re wondering do consultants travel a lot, their packing lists often emphasize versatility for different client settings and cities.

Also, check the weather forecast closer to your departure date. Expecting snow, rain, or intense sunshine? Knowing the conditions will significantly influence your clothing choices. While you can check about 10 days out, a check a few days before leaving provides a more accurate picture of the weather you’ll encounter.

Here’s a typical versatile packing list for a week for me:

• 2 tank tops
• 3-4 tops
• 1 dress
• 2 pairs of pants (one versatile like black slacks or khakis, one pair of jeans)
• 1 sweater
• 1 light jacket or rain jacket
• 2 bras
• 7 pairs of underwear
• 7 pairs of socks

This list doesn’t include the outfit I wear while traveling (plane or car), which usually consists of another pair of jeans, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and accompanying underwear and socks. Wearing my travel outfit allows me to be comfortable and also brings an extra pair of jeans without taking up valuable luggage space. If you love jeans as much as I do, this is a smart way to pack light while still having options.

Shoes

Your shoe choices will heavily depend on your planned activities. If hiking is on the agenda, hiking boots are essential. For cold, wintery destinations, fleece-lined boots might be necessary. Always wear your bulkiest or heaviest pair of shoes during travel to save space and weight in your bag.

Typically, I wear sneakers or walking shoes when traveling and pack one or two additional pairs of smaller, more versatile shoes. This usually includes a pair of flats and either dress shoes or sandals, depending on the destination. If luggage space is a major concern, a dressier pair of flats can often serve dual purposes, allowing you to skip the dedicated dress shoes.

A universal shoe list for a week could look like this:

• 1 pair of sneakers or walking/hiking shoes
• 1 pair of flats
• 1 pair of dress shoes or sandals

Toiletries

The topic of toiletries is often debated among travelers. Some prefer to rely solely on hotel amenities, while others, particularly those with allergies or sensitivities, prefer to bring their own. What you pack will truly vary based on your personal preferences, needs, and again, the activities you have planned. Packing toiletries can be an opportunity to save space and reduce weight. The following is a generalized list that you can customize as needed:

Remember, if you’re flying with only a carry-on bag, liquids must comply with the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule (containers must be 3.4 ounces or less, fit in one quart-sized bag, one bag per passenger). Switching to solid shampoo, conditioner, and body soap bars can help bypass liquid restrictions if you’re concerned about volume, although 3 ounces is typically sufficient for a week. Choosing a multi-purpose soap with a good lather can also potentially eliminate the need for separate shaving cream.

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body soap
• Lotion
• Sunscreen
• Deodorant
• Razor
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Floss
• Tampons/Pads

Hair & Makeup

This is another area with varying approaches. Many travel experts suggest minimizing or skipping makeup and complex hairstyling while traveling to lighten your load. This is a perfectly valid choice, especially for trips focused on outdoor activities in challenging climates where styling feels futile (like dealing with curly hair in high humidity).

However, you might want to get dressed up for an evening out or simply feel more polished for photos. Here’s a basic set of items you might consider, which you can adjust based on your preferences. Liquids like foundations and lip gloss must also fit in your quart-sized bag if flying carry-on. For guidance on how to pack makeup for plane travel, focus on consolidating liquids and using travel-sized or solid products.

For hair tools, many modern hotels provide hairdryers. A straightener can often be used to create curls with a bit of practice from online tutorials.

Makeup

• Chapstick
• Foundation
• Powder
• Blush
• Eyeshadow palette
• Eyeliner
• Brow product
• Mascara
• Makeup Brush(es)
• Makeup Wipes

Hair

• Brush
• Comb
• Hairdryer (if hotel doesn’t provide or needed for specific styling)
• Curler or Straightener
• Styling product
• Hairspray

Medicine & First Aid

This section is critically important. If you take prescription medication, it’s highly recommended to bring the original bottles along with a copy of the prescription. I still use my weekly pill box to keep track of doses, especially when navigating different time zones.

Pack a small supply of common over-the-counter medications like antacids (Tums) and anti-diarrhea medication (Imodium) in case of digestive issues from unfamiliar food. Trying to find an open pharmacy late at night when you’re feeling unwell is not a pleasant experience.

Your mini-medical kit should also include essentials like tweezers, a few bandaids, antibiotic ointment (Neosporin is useful for small cuts, burns, or bites), an antihistamine like Benadryl (helpful for unexpected allergies, motion sickness, or seasickness), pain relievers (Ibuprofen or Tylenol), and alcohol wipes for sanitizing. The goal is to have enough to manage minor issues for a few hours until you can reach a pharmacy, not to pack a full medicine cabinet.

• Prescriptions (with copies)
• Vitamins
• Weekly pill box
• Antacids (Tums)
• Anti-diarrhea medication (Imodium)
• Tweezers
• Bandaids
• Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
• Antihistamine
• Cold medicine
• Ibuprofen or Tylenol
• Alcohol wipes
• Contact solution (if needed)
• Kleenex

Electronics

Decide how connected you need or want to be during your trip. If you don’t plan to work remotely, you might not need a laptop. Often, a tablet paired with a small foldable keyboard is sufficient. This setup allows you to check emails, read e-books, play games during downtime, and research local information from your hotel. It’s a great space-saver compared to a laptop. For maximum minimalism, a smartphone can often handle most tasks. Regardless of your choices, always bring necessary chargers and consider a backup battery or power bank.

For photography enthusiasts, a DSLR camera might be worth bringing if you anticipate stunning scenery, like when traveling from travel from albania to north macedonia with its beautiful landscapes. While phone cameras are excellent for quick snapshots, a dedicated camera often provides superior quality for memorable photos. If you plan on taking many photos, pack several high-capacity SD cards and extra camera batteries.

• Kindle or iPad (Tablet)
• Foldable keyboard (Optional)
• Laptop (Optional)
• Chargers for all devices
• Back-up Battery or Pocket Charger
• DSLR Camera & Lenses (Optional, for dedicated photography)
• Extra camera batteries
• SD Cards
• Tripod (Optional)
• Phone
• Earbuds/headphones

Documents

Keeping essential documents organized and accessible is crucial for smooth travel. This is especially true for international trips.

• Passport (ensure it’s valid with sufficient time remaining)
• Visa(s) (if required for your destination)
• Physical tickets or passes (if applicable, though often digital now)
• Copy of your passport (keep separate from the original)
• Copy of your travel insurance information
• Copy of your health insurance information
• Copy of your reservations (flights, hotels, tours)

Wallet

Your wallet contains the items you’ll need frequently throughout your trip.

• Cash (some local currency for small purchases)
• Credit Cards (notify banks of travel if needed)
• Identification (Driver’s License or equivalent)

Extras (That You’ll Probably Want)

These aren’t strictly necessary but can significantly enhance your comfort and experience while traveling.

• Travel Towel (especially for hostels or adventurous trips)
• Neck Pillow (essential for comfortable plane or car naps)
• Travel journal and Pen
• Reusable Water bottle
• Deck of cards or small game

Luggage and Packing

Choosing the right luggage is as important as what you put in it. For a week-long flight trip, a large carry-on bag and a personal item are often sufficient. If your travel involves jobs like traveling warehouse jobs with per diem, you might need slightly different luggage depending on the nature and duration of the travel.

Here are some popular carry-on options:

• Osprey Farpoint 40L: A versatile travel backpack that meets most airline carry-on size restrictions. It offers ample space and features stowaway straps for easy checking.
• Calpak Carry-On: Often part of a set, this hard-case carry-on is durable, easy to clean, and offers good protection for contents. It typically fits airline sizes, has built-in TSA locks, spinner wheels, and can be expandable – useful for bringing back souvenirs.
• Samsonite Omni: Samsonite is a reputable luggage brand. This hard-sided spinner meets most carry-on requirements, featuring interior compartments and straps to keep things organized.

If you’re taking a road trip, like traveling across the us by rv, you have more flexibility with luggage size, possibly using a standard suitcase and a smaller day bag. A day bag is always recommended regardless of travel type for excursions at your destination that don’t require your main luggage.

Effective organization within your bags is key, and packing cubes are invaluable for this. They compress clothes and keep categories separate.

• Eagle Creek Spectre Compression Cubes: Made from lightweight, durable rip-stop nylon, these cubes feature a double zipper system to compress contents, saving significant space. While pricier, they are a worthwhile investment for frequent travelers.
• eBags Packing Cubes: An affordable yet durable option with a lifetime guarantee and YKK zippers. They keep your bag neat and tidy with mesh panels for visibility and breathability.
• Pro Packing Cubes: The most budget-friendly choice, also offering a lifetime guarantee and YKK zippers. A great feature is the availability of sets with various colors, making it easy to identify cube contents quickly.

For added security, especially if your luggage lacks integrated locks, TSA-approved locks are recommended. They deter tampering while allowing security personnel to open bags if needed without damaging the lock. A bright luggage tag is also useful for checked bags, making yours easily identifiable on the carousel amidst many similar bags.

Printable Travel Packing List

To make packing even simpler, here is a printable packing list covering essentials for your week-long journey.

Printable packing list for a one week trip