What to pack for an overnight hotel stay
- Bring your chargers
- A change of clothes and an extra pair just in case
- Leave the toiletries behind as hotels provide basic kits
Planning on booking a night away and looking for an overnight trip packing list? This guide will provide you with a hotel essentials list for an overnight hotel stay, including what to bring and what to leave behind.
Overnight trip packing list
1. Versatile travel bag
Get an overnight travel bag that is large enough to store all your essentials, while still being sufficient as a day bag or something you can bring to the office if traveling for work. For an overnight hotel stay, a suitcase may be too large and a toiletry bag too small.
2. Change of clothes
When packing a change of clothes, try choosing clothes that are adaptable to a number of different scenarios and weather conditions. Consider items that can pass in a work environment, as well as a late-night bar, to ensure you’re saving space in your luggage.
3. Essential toiletries
You may be staying in a hotel where they provide little bottles of shampoo and shower gel. If that is the case, you should avoid bringing any to save space. When packing toiletries, try simplifying your routine and bring all around essentials, add your toothbrush to the list and some toothpaste – if you’re lucky, your hotel might provide a travel kit with a disposable toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste.
4. Chargers and electronics
Make sure you pack the right chargers – your phone charger, laptop charger or any other particular charger for your device – for the night. As for toothbrush chargers, simply charge your toothbrush before you leave the house.
5. Other important items
Whether it’s an overnight stay or a two-week vacation, things like IDs, travel documents and medication should be added to the list. When packing medication, always remember to store it in your carry-on and pack extra just in case.
What to leave behind for your overnight hotel stay
Hairdryer
Most hotels offer in-room hairdryers, and if they don’t, you can often request one. Alternatively, if you can’t go without a hairdryer, perhaps do your hair on the morning of travel at home, so it's styled for the day and night ahead.
Bulky or unnecessary clothing
We’ve all been there while packing, thinking we need to bring along every item in our wardrobe just so we have more options. When packing, check the temperature and weather forecast of your chosen destination. This will provide a good idea of what type of clothing to bring and cancel out any concerns about bringing bulky items.
