packing/prepping for a girls holiday abroad - help a novice out!

[Peachyqueen]

I'm really really panicking about a week long holiday to Greece later in the year. I'm going with a group of girls.

I have never been abroad or on a girls holiday and I'm very aware of the fact that I can't just pop to Sainsburys to pick up anything I've missed

I've booked waxing and am aware I will need several cossies/dress etc. and passport is up to date! But please help an extremely unorganised novice and give me your packing essentials before I go round the twist!

There are shops in Greece 🤣 you need shorts t shirts , flip flops sunglasses and dresses for nighttime. Underwear and makeup That's all

And bikini 👙

You won't need several cossies. They dry instantly. You need one perhaps two

You've booked waxing already? When are you going?

Just think about what you'll be doing and take clothes and accessories as appropriate.

Get a Starling card so you can pay or withdraw cash without paying exchange fees. But also have a backup card in case you lose it.

Perhaps think about taking suncream, or buy it at Boots in the airport, because it is usually much more expensive overseas. You can also save by sharing shampoo, conditioner, shower gel etc if you're all in the same apartment/villa.

Read the information about luggage allowances, security, liquid limits etc on your airline and airport website so you're not one of those who turns up to security with three bags of 'products' that get taken off you.

Make sure you have booked insurance.

Bring sunscreen as always expensive but put it (and any other liquids) in a ziploc bag and then in another ziploc bag! You will have to put it in your luggage and you don't want to risk a spillage.
Two bathing suits will be fine unless you are all fashionistas. A sarong or other cover up. A kaftan is comfy and good to slip
over a bathing suit if going to a restaurant for lunch or doing a bit of walking around and need a bit more coverage.
Flip flops and a pair of sandals should be enough - a pair that works day and night.
Then really a couple t shirts, shorts and a sun dress, if you've got one or two that don't wrinkle even better. Roll rather than fold clothes.
I always pack a couple plastic bags - one to keep dirty clothes separate and one for wet bathing suit if you need to carry it around.
If you get one carry on make it a beach bag and put your smaller handbag inside - a little crossbody bag for your money and phone and mini bottle of sunscreen you can use when sightseeing. If you are only taking carry on be sure to check measurements- not all air lines are equal and I think Ryan Air has a particularly small allowance - you can buy the right size on Amazon. You will have to be very streamlined if so, wearing a few layers on the flight out might help.
Lastly a pashmina type thing - just in case of chilly evenings and can double as a blanket on the flight and even act as a sarong.
Have fun!

Small first aid kit. Plasters, painkillers, etc.
Shampoo bar, easier and lighter than liquid.
Scan your travel docs to email account so if you mislay them aboard you have details to hand.

Take soap rather than shower gel,It’s smaller, lighter and won’t leak and can go in hand luggage without worry. Solid shampoo bar as well is light, solid abs takes your minimal space. You get amazing olive oil soaps in Greece that make your skin glow. There are tons of local shops but if you buy toiletries it costs a bomb (as I found out when I forgot shampoo and a small bottle was 8 euros). My main tip is to go to the Holland a barret and get acidophilus and start taking it now. It’s good bacteria and helps protect against a bad tummy abroad. The only year I was ill on holiday was when I hadn’t had acidophilus. If you have hold luggage park a few outfits into your hand luggage, swimming costume, t shirt, shorts, dress I case your luggage goes to New Zealand by accident.

Lots of things I hadn't thought about, thank you!

So many good ideas, keep them coming please!

Take sanpro, hair ties, and if you’re not flying I hand luggage then favourite food - when I’m away with friends I often have a moment of missing uk/DH/other friends so enjoy having something that reminds me of home.

Don’t forget an adapter plug for your phone etc.

I only ever take handluggage. Summer things are small. You can't take any liquids over 100m so just buy then from boots when you get through security at the airport.

@jendifer

Take sanpro, hair ties, and if you’re not flying I hand luggage then favourite food - when I’m away with friends I often have a moment of missing uk/DH/other friends so enjoy having something that reminds me of home.

Seriously? She's going to Greece for a week with her friends, not the space station for a year!

Passport, money, phone (which will have the emails with your tickets and insurance).

It’s Greece. For a week!

@maddy68

I only ever take handluggage. Summer things are small. You can't take any liquids over 100m so just buy then from boots when you get through security at the airport.

Good tip, but remember, you can't bring anything bigger than 100 ml back with you, so bear this in mind when buying anything, be it toiletries or booze etc.

On the way back, you'll have to ditch anything in > 100 ml bottles at security, but can buy again in airport shops.

Check your hand luggage allowance. For Easyjet and Ryanair, the basic only includes a small rucksack/large handbag. A small wheelie case as hand luggage costs extra. Jet2 at least, and probably BA and some other airlines, allows a decent sized wheelie case and large handbag on the plane, which is more than sufficient for a 'week in the sun' holiday.

18 X pants is my basic rule.
Shorts, tops, couple of cozzies, few nice dresses for going out, few more casual outfits for night. Couple of bras.
Going out shoes, beach shoes.

You don't need 6 X toiletries so I'd agree where you can to share and pick them up once you go through bag check.

Couple of books, ear phones, ear plugs, charger and adapter.

@Foolsrule

Passport, money, phone (which will have the emails with your tickets and insurance).

It’s Greece. For a week!

But I don't want to spend time on holiday shopping for things I already have at home, so I'll plan to take everything I need with me.

Print out your boarding pass, insurance details, hotel address and any covid passes etc as well as having them on your phone, in case your phone is lost/broken/stolen while you are on holiday. Or at the very least, make sure someone else in the group has all these of your's in their phone. Plus make sure you can access a photograph of the photo page of your passport if that is lost.

It's often far quicker and easier to wave a piece of paper at the various airport checkpoints, rather than hunt through the various folders on your phone, that instantly disappear when you need them.

@maddy68 that’s why I take mostly solid soap, deodorant and shampoo.they are light, take up next to no room and don’t need to go in the liquids bag. Just buy an spf at airport.

Plan luggage with your girls, last time I went away we took 1 case of hold luggage between us as we were charged for each piece with Easyjet, useful for toiletries and bringing back a few souvenirs.