What to Pack for a Weekend Away: What Goes in Our Weekend Bag
A weekend away without the children. Already an excellent start.
I’ve taken my Pink City weekend bag on city breaks, spa breaks, girls’ nights away, trips exhibiting in London and festivals. For those short trips, it’s meant leaving the big suitcase at home.
The packing is another matter. I can be quite reasonable about clothes. Shoes are where negotiations break down.
My packing list for a weekend away
For a typical two-night trip, I pack:
- Around four outfits, because apparently two nights require options.
- Pyjamas.
- Underwear and socks.
- Makeup and skincare.
- Toiletries in my washbags.
- Hair tools.
- Shoes chosen after a completely disproportionate amount of thought.
- My phone charger.
That’s roughly what I take in my weekend bag, although how much fits will depend on your clothes, shoes and how generously you interpret “the essentials”.
If you’re heading somewhere cold, wear your bulkiest layers for the journey. It leaves more room in the bag. Possibly for shoes.
Pack for what you’re actually doing
For a city break, start with comfortable shoes and outfits you can mix and match. Add something for dinner if you have plans, rather than packing for every possible version of the weekend.
For a spa break, remember swimwear and check what the hotel provides before bringing your own towel, robe and half the bathroom.
For a festival, the weekend bag handles my clothes and personal bits. The wellies, bedding and camping equipment need their own arrangements. There are limits, even for us.
The washbags have made me annoyingly organised
I fill my washbags with the essentials, including the things everyone else seems to forget.
Someone needs something? There’s a reasonable chance I’ve packed it.
I blame the washbags. Give me separate places to put everything and suddenly I’m the organised friend. Showing off at this point.
Keeping makeup, toiletries and smaller essentials together also saves rummaging through clothes when you’re trying to get ready.
Taking a suitcase too? Use the luggage sleeve
For trips when I do take a suitcase, the luggage sleeve is one of my favourite details.
The weekend bag slips over the suitcase handle, so it stays put while I wheel it through the airport. No balancing it on top and catching it every few steps. Hands free for the important things, like coffee.
If you’re planning to take yours into the cabin, check your airline’s current bag allowance against your bag’s measurements before travelling.
It gets used between weekends, too
Mine also comes to the gym with me. It’s far too useful to sit in a cupboard waiting for a hotel booking.
That’s what we wanted when we designed our bags: beautiful colours, proper quality and practical details you’ll use regularly.
And enough room for a weekend away. Once you’ve made a decision about the shoes.
Explore our weekend bags and washbag sets to find your combination.
Emma x
