Ultimate Pack List – Are you planning on spending the holidays in a vacation apartment or a vacation home and need a packing list? Then you’ve come to the right place.
You will most likely already have a well-equipped kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom in your vacation home by the sea or in the mountains. But what exactly do you require for your vacation in a vacation home or apartment?
It’s best to find out ahead of time if things like bed linen and towels are already available so you don’t have to bring them with you.
If you’re arriving by plane and won’t be able to fill the car with luggage, check with the airline ahead of time to learn about the baggage allowance. We’ve put together a detailed packing list for the holiday apartment or holiday home in this article.
Ultimate Pack List to Pack in Your Bag Before a Road Trip
No matter the outdoor activity, having the right gear is essential for a successful trip. This ultimate pack list will make sure you have everything you need to enjoy your adventure.
Things for Hand Luggage
The first section of this holiday apartment/holiday home packing list includes a list of items that are best stowed in hand luggage and are easily accessible.
This includes snacks, handkerchiefs, and entertainment items, in addition to ID cards, travel documents, and cash.
Documents and ID cards
- Passports with passport covers/id cards, possibly children’s id cards
- Bus, train, ship, or plane tickets
- Copies of important documents such as protection letters or return travel insurance
- charged mobile phone in case vacationers need to contact the landlord or there is an emergency.
- Concession cards (half-fare travelcards, legitimation cards)
- Sports brivets (diving licenses, sailing licenses, etc.)
- Vaccination card, if necessary, allergy pass, if necessary, blood group card
- Credit card, debit card, travelers’ checks (including card blocking number in case of theft or loss)
- Cash, or foreign currency
- Address book with emergency phone numbers (e.g., bank, adac)
- Directions and addresses (including the telephone number of the landlord or the reception in case of a delay)
- Possibly visas
- Pet passport for the EU
- International/national student ID
- Health insurance card/foreign health insurance (proof)
- Booking confirmations
- Guidebooks and maps
Stuff for Those Arriving by Car
- Driver’s license (car, boat, possibly international driver’s license), vehicle documents
- Sanitary wipes for cleaning hands or toilet seats
- Blanket for children or passengers.
- Charging cable included with navigation device
- Power bank
- Neck pillow, travel pillow
- sunglasses
- Baby food, nappies, wipes, and changing pads
- Soft drinks
- Safety vests
- Vignettes/toll tickets/go-box
- E-book readers, books, tablets
- First aid kits
- Road maps
- Toilet paper and handkerchiefs
- Accommodation address for the sat nav.
- Adac documents
- Sleep mask
- Thermos with tea or coffee
- Motion sickness medication, especially if children are traveling with you,
- Rental car documents
- Entertainment for the children (tablets, radio plays,…)
- If necessary, spare glasses for the driver in case the main glasses are damaged.
- Small change for rest stop toilets
- cool box for soft drinks and water.
- Snacks (fruit, vegetables, bread, gummy bears, chocolate)
- There is music for every taste in the form of CDs or mp3s, including earplugs, in case you are clearly different or you want to watch films, etc.
Things to Do When You Arrive by Plane
- ID documents
- Toys for children, such as coloring books, stickers
- Nasal drops for babies and children who have nasal congestion
- Collapsible prams (which can usually be carried free of charge)
- Earplugs or headphones
- Travel reading
- Travel blanket
- Sleep mask
- To make it easier for babies and toddlers to equalize pressure, use a pacifier or milk bottle for sucking on take-off and landing.
- Travel pillow
- Many airlines transport them only in the cabin.
- Beverages and baby food.
- Jacket or sweater (airplanes are often heavily air-conditioned).
- chewing gum or hard candy to equalize the pressure.
- Electronics (tablets, laptops, and smartphones)
- Zip bags for liquids in hand luggage (100 ml per product is allowed). Everything must be stowed together in a transparent, resealable bag.
I’ll Pack My Suitcase and Take It With Me…
You will find all of the necessary items for your stay in the holiday apartment or holiday home listed below.
Because the items may differ depending on whether the vacation home is near the sea or in the mountains, we’ve created a separate list for each.
Basic Equipment for a Holiday Apartment or Holiday Home
- Washcloth
- Flashlight
- Dishtowels
- Sharp knives, because the cutting tools of the shelters are usually blunt.
- lighters or matches
- multiple sockets and an adapter
- Towel
- Dishwashing sponges or towels
- Corkscrew and can opener (should be on the packing list for the holiday home/apartment to be on the safe side)
- Garbage bag
- Handkerchiefs
- Cling film and aluminum foil
- Noodles, sauce, bread, long-life spread, muesli, milk, soft drinks, water, possibly wine and beer for arrival and the first morning.
- Vinegar and oil
- Kitchen roll
- Daypack for trips/handbag
- Coffee filters and coffee powder.
- Clotheslines and pegs
- If necessary, coffee and kettle
- Dishwashing liquid and tabs (if a dishwasher is available)
- Travel grill, grill lighter, charcoal, grill tongs, and grill sauces, if grilling at the cottage is allowed.
- Pocket knife
- Toilet paper (if any is available in the accommodation)
- Detergent, if a machine is available in the cottage or in the complex.
- Spices
- Bedding
Luggage for Holiday Home in the Mountains
- Mosquito-proof hiking or trekking pants
- Belt (lightweight, with a money pocket)
- Softshell jacket
- Pocket knife (not permitted in carry-on luggage on flights!)
- As required: trekking sandals (for any river crossings).
- T-shirts (transtex for hiking and cotton for afterwards)
- Thermos
- thin down jacket as an “iron reserve”
- Long-sleeved shirt (also as protection against the sun)
- Sewing kit with safety pins
- Umbrella
- Swimsuits for the pool, hot springs, and beach days
- Sunglasses with good UV protection
- Flip flops, slippers, or slides
- Underwear: short and long
- Hiking shoes (if possible, those that go over the ankle, are stable and have a good, thick sole. Heavy mountain shoes that can be used with crampons are more suitable for high tours and summit trekking trips.
- Sneakers (to be able to change shoes in the evening)
- rain pants, rain poncho, rain jacket, rain cape, and a small umbrella
- Replacement laces
- Sleepwear (if necessary, warm)
- Sandals
- Cap/scarf/hat/multifunctional scarf/sun hat (to protect against the cold and sun)
- Hiking/functional socks, mosquito-proof & normal socks
- Hiking or functional socks, mosquito-proof
- Long trousers/jeans
- Fleece jacket
- Fanny pack for money & documents
- Jacket that is both rainproof and breathable.
- Short pants/shorts
- Bottle of water (1.5 liters)
- T-shirts, sweaters, dresses, and skirts, for example.
- Pullover
- Telescopic walking sticks.
- Plastic bags (for dirty laundry and to protect items in your luggage from rain)
- Possibly thin and thick gloves.
Baggage for Vacation Rental on the Beach
- Swimsuit/Bikini/Swimming Trunks
- Beach bag
- Snorkel equipment
- Jacket
- Short socks, long socks
- Money stash 1: hairbrush with secret compartment
- Shawl
- Diving goggles/swimming goggles
- Umbrella
- Underwear or bras
- Sarong/pareo/beach gown
- Short pants or skirts,
- blouses, shirts
- sunglasses, glasses
- Sweater/vest/fleece jacket that is warm
- T-shirts or tops
- caps, headscarves, baseball caps, and hats
- Sturdy shoes, e.g., sports shoes
- Trekking sandals, hiking boots (for excursions)
- Rain jacket/rain cape
- Belt
- Dress
- Sportswear
- Money stash 2: Pepsi soda cans or other secret stash cans (just don’t throw them away accidentally)
- Pajamas or pyjamas
- Long trousers/jeans
- thin sweater
- Watches and jewelry
- Sunscreen and après-sun (travel size)
- Bathing/beach bag
- cleaning cloths and a glasses case
- Sandals, flip flops
- Bathing shoes (preferably firm ones for rocky, sharp-edged ground in the sea)
Bags or Backpacks
- large bag or backpack (e.g., bag with wheels; trolleys are not particularly robust and therefore not very suitable).
- Purse
- Packing cubes or garment bags.
- Zip bags for shampoos, etc.
- If necessary, a second, light travel bag for depositing unneeded clothing in the hotel (place it in your main luggage for the flight, otherwise you will have to check in a second piece of luggage).
- Waterproof stuff sack/dry bag
- Daypack (approx. 30–40 l) with rain cover
- Grid-it organizer advertising (organizer for chargers, cables, headphones, and gadgets)
Technical items
- Bluetooth speaker
- Tripod/camera/battery/charger
- Cell phone/charging cord
- Charger for a laptop or tablet
- A waterproof phone case
- Bluetooth headphones
- Headphones
- External mobile phone battery/power bank
- Ebook reader (e.g., Kindle)
- Cee adapter or cee plug
- E-reader (kindle)/charging cable
- Video cam/battery/charger
- Sd card
- Junction box with extension cord
Sun Protection & Hygiene Items
- Possibly glasses or spare glasses
- Toothbrush + toothpaste for the trip
- Insect repellent
- cleaning cloths and a glasses case
- Handkerchiefs
- Deodorant (travel size)
- Hand razor vs. razor
- Ear plug
- Hair ties (thick)/hair ties (thin)/hair clips
- Ear swabs
- Nail scissors/possibly nail polish remover
- Perhaps a hair dryer.
- Sunscreen with a high protection factor and lip protection
- comb or hairbrush
- Body lotion / apres sun
- Contraceptives / the pill / condoms
- Contact lenses and contact lens solution
- Make-up & remover / make-up removal wipes
- Tampons and feminine hygiene items
- Hair gel or hairspray
- Travel set: shampoo, conditioner, etc.
- Handkerchiefs
- Clothes detergent (note environmental compatibility)
- laundromat or toiletry bag
Travel Pharmacy
- Blister plasters and normal plasters
- First aid kits
- Personal medication
- Disinfectant
- Fever tablets
- Mosquito repellent / mosquito spray
- If necessary, electrolyte preparations, rusks, tea bags
- Painkillers (headache)
- Mosquito repellent for clothing
- If necessary, vitamin tablets and mineral tablets (magnesium)
- Earplugs promotion/earplugs
- Tick cards or tweezers
- Allergy tablets (possibly nose spray and eye drops)
- Insect bite healer
- Sleeping mask
- Wound and healing ointment
- If necessary, water disinfection (e.G. Micropur)
This vacation rental packing list is likely to include more items than you’ll require during your trip. What kind of luggage you should bring depends entirely on what is already available on site.
This list of items is intended to provide an overview of what might be useful while on vacation in a vacation home or apartment, so you can filter out the items that are most important to you and ensure that you don’t forget anything.
Before you leave for your vacation apartment or vacation home, remember to close all the windows and empty the refrigerator and trash can.
In the To-Do List Holiday article, you’ll find a list of everything you should think about before you leave.
Please leave a comment if something is missing from this vacation rental packing list, and we’ll add it to the list. We wish you a wonderful vacation!
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