It’s always great to book a flight and get on the plane to a new city but as most of us work full time and have limited holidays each year, we sometimes have to settle for short weekend breaks as opposed to the two week stay we really want. I’m talking about going straight to the airport from work on the Friday evening and jetting back on the Sunday night. It’s the adrenaline rush, the excitement, the stress.

When you go on these super-short breaks, there’s rarely any point in taking (and paying for) a huge suitcase so it’s usually best to squeeze what you can into a cabin bag. I mean how much stuff could you actually need for two nights (said no woman ever)?

It can be pretty stressful packing for a weekend as you’re likely to find yourself packing just as much stuff as you’d take for one week. But I guarantee you’ll come home and won’t have touched half of it. Think about it this way: the less stuff you have then the quicker it’s going to take to get ready in the morning ergo more time at the breakfast buffet (yes!).So we’ve put together a fool proof list of tips and tricks we follow when prepping for a city break.

Comfy Shoes

City breaks are usually jam-packed with walking and exploring so the most important thing is packing a pair of shoes you know are not going to cripple you by Sunday. I usually pack 1 pair and wear my favourites to the airport so that I can alternate. If I can squeeze it in I’ll also take a pair of strappy sandals just in case we go on an impromptu dinner somewhere fancy.

A Useful Bag

You’re going to need a bag that you can carry around with you all day without it constantly slipping off your shoulder or weighing your arm down. A bag for the essentials: camera, phone, purse and lipgloss. I find the best bags are those with a strap that goes across the body, or a backpack – whichever you prefer. A clutch might also be handy for that evening out.

Clothes

You’re only going away for a couple of days so chances are you can get away with wearing the same jeans for more than one day. If possible, I’d skip packing any more as they’ll weigh you down and take up a lot of space. So you’re only really going to need to pick a top for each day (and maybe a spare just in case). Remember to pack underwear, pyjamas, socks and swimwear and you’re all set!

Toiletries

All you’re going to need here are the absolute bare essentials. I take tinted moisturiser, eyebrow gel (because I can’t live without), deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste. If you need anything whilst there, you can pop to the local store but chances are you’re going to be able to live without it for 2 days.

Tip: Remember that when going through security at the airport, you’re going to have to put all of your liquids in a clear bag for checks and most airlines don’t allow anything above 100ml to go into the cabin. Keep things small!

Cameras and Electronics

If you’re travelling in a group you’ll only need one camera to get the memorable shots, plus it’s 2019 and most of us have smartphones with cameras installed in them. Maybe try only taking 2 chargers/or adapters as well so that you can share.

This post is extremely short as you’re only going away for 2 days – not for a lifetime so all of the other stuff is unnecessary and doesn’t need mentioning. Obviously, don’t forget to take your passport and your boarding passes and you’ll be absolutely fine!  I regularly go away  on weekend trips and I can usually pack in less than 15 minutes! Have a great time!