Weekend Away Essentials

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I love short breaks away – especially staycations. There are so many great places to explore in the UK from historical sites, vast lake lands, big cities and coast land, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

[Missed a post in my staycation series? Catch up here.]

To be honest I rarely go on holiday overseas and often opt for a few weekends (or long weekends) away in the UK instead. In fact I’m spending a long weekend in Plymouth at the end of April. 🙂

I think my fondness for staycations stems from having grown up visiting English coastal towns, North Wales and the Isle of Wight with my family, when I was a child. We had some wonderful holidays exploring castles in North Wales and Weymouth remains one of my favourite places to visit.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love to travel abroad from time to time but feel a staycation helps me to both save money, help local tourism and learn a little more about ‘my own backyard’.

However I’ve learnt that the packing process of a short break or a weekend away isn’t any less stressful than any other holiday. Especially with the unpredictably of the British weather! There have been times I’ve forgotten to pack my coat in the Summer months as a heat wave was forecast, only to experience a downpour instead. 🙁

So with that in mind, here are my weekend away essentials. 🚘🛣⛽

Weekend Away Essentials

Clothes

Base layer or leggings

These are great for keeping you warm when the temperature drops at night and are perfect for lounging in. Whether that’s around your hotel, B&B or campsite.

Coat / Jacket

I usually pack a rain mac and a lighter jacket (leather or denim depending on the season) with me, as you can never predict the lovely British weather. Along with my warm pea coat during the Winter months. When it comes to outerwear I will usually wear the bulkiest item and store it on a peg (if I’m travelling by public transport) or on the back seat of my car for the journey.

A nice dress

I usually pack one that can be dressed down for the day time or dressed up for the evening. It’s a great versatile piece to have just in case.

If you’re not a fan of dresses, a nice dressy top is also a good shout.

Loose-fitting t-shirts / vests

I usually pack plain ones so they can be easily mixed and matched with jeans or a skirt. But a simple pattern is great too such as polka dots or stripes. They’re perfect for layering under a jumper or long sleeved top, depending on the weather.

Jeans

I always wear a pair of jeans to travel in, if I’m the one driving or the aforementioned leggings if I’m a passenger. Jeans can easily be dressed up or down depending on the type of activities you’ll be doing.

Toiletries

For any weekend away, I’ll typically pack:-
First Aid Kit, which usually stays in my cars glove box or stowed in one of the inner pockets of my bag. You can make up your own or purchase them in a wide range of sizes.
Tooth brush and tooth paste
Shower gel
Shampoo / Conditioner
Deodorant
Sun cream
Wet wipes
Hand sanitizer
Lip balm – I’ll be taking the Ultrasun SPF30 lip balm, that I won in Sophie (from Glow Steady’s) giveaway.

I think these are pretty self explanatory but if you’d like specific recommendations, let me know. 😊

No makeup?

You’ll notice there’s no makeup listed, because I’m only going away for a few days but, if I know I’m going out in the evenings I’ll pack a small eye shadow palette and mascara.

Bedtime

Sleep mask
I’ve been using a sleep mask for a few years now to get a better night’s sleep. It’s perfect for blocking out any light that may creep in from light curtains or light from a television screen or standby buttons.

Misc.

Antihistamines
I suffer with a few different allergies so I always keep these on hand, just in case.

Painkillers
Again, useful to have just in case.

A book to read
This is also part of my evening routine. I try to read something, that isn’t a screen, before I go to bed.

What are your weekend away essentials? Any items I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments. 😊