The ski holiday that you have been awaiting for months has finally come around and all that’s left for you to do is pack your bags and book your taxi to the airport. Before you start packing however it is a good idea to write yourself a list of everything that you need to take with you; it is so easy to forget things amidst all the excitement but forgetting to pack certain items could ruin your holiday before it has even begun.
First check your baggage allowance with the airline you are flying with and make sure you have paid extra for the carriage of any winter sports equipment (if applicable), then read on for a definitive guide of everything you may need whilst on holiday. You could even print this guide out and check the items off manually as you pack.
Main Suitcase
- Clothes – this sounds pretty self explanatory but you will want to think about what you will be wearing both on and off the slopes. It’s a good idea to pack clothing that can be layered – this way you can adjust what you are wearing to suit the temperature.
- Ski jacket, ski socks and salopettes.
- Wraparound sunglasses, goggles, hat and socks.
- Skis and boots – if you are taking your own make sure you notify the airline in advance, especially if they don’t fit in your main suitcase.
- Lip block and sun cream – these are both essential items unless you want to get burned on your first day and spend the rest of your holiday unable to move.
- Small first aid kit – make sure to pack things like blister plasters, pain killers, antiseptic cream/wipes and hot and cold packs as well as any prescription medications that you take.
- Contact lens kit (if applicable).
- Small back pack – ideal for carrying with you on the slopes, you can use it for carrying items like your first aid kit, sunglasses, sun cream, tissues and of course, chocolate!
Hand Luggage
The items you pack into your hand luggage are even more important than what goes into your main suitcase. Again, make sure that you have checked the size and weight allowance with your airline before packing.
Vital hand luggage items include:
- Your passport – you won’t be going anywhere without it.
- Travel insurance – hopefully you made sure to get winter sports cover when you booked your insurance, if not now would be the time to do so.
- Travel documents – this includes everything from your airline passes to your proof of accommodation.
- Photographs – some ski resorts require a passport sized photo in order to grant you a lift pass, it’s much easier to get these printed before you leave home.
- Travel currency.
- Bank cards – make sure you let your bank know in advance that you are travelling abroad; some banks will reject payment requests if they have not been notified.
- Phone and phone cards – If you aren’t taking phone cards with you make sure your phone has enough credit on it to last for the duration of your holiday. Remember to pack your phone charger too.
- Car hire documents and driving license (if applicable).
- Kindle, iPod, Books etc.
- Camera and charger.
Have an amazing holiday, I’m sure you will.
About the Author: Laura writes for Extreme Sports X, a popular extreme sports magazine that covers a wide range of sporting activities.