What should I pack for a summer trip to Italy?

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Last Updated on September 27, 2022 by Laura Teso

Perhaps not everyone knows that I’m a bit of a control freak. Not for everything, luckily. But when it comes to travel, I must do all the things in my own way, with my times and above all, I must make a list of things to pack. Actually, it’s now 2 years that I use the same list, perfectioned over time. 

What should I pack for a summer trip to Italy?

I divide the list into sections: clothes, seaside stuff, medicines, technology, miscellaneous, food, and beauty.

1 Clothes

  • Socks and undergarments (if you follow me on Instagram, you know that on my last trip I forgot the socks and I borrowed them from my husband. It happened because I struck out this line after inserting only the undergarments in the suitcase. I thought: Now I’ll insert the socks. But then I received a phone call. When I got back to my packing, I saw the line crossed out and I thought that everything was done). So: do not make the same mistake!)
  • Pajama (in summer I actually use just a comfy cotton T-shirt)
  • Summer dresses
  • T-shirts
  • Skirts
  • Trousers
  • Shorts
  • Jumpsuit (if I want to feel comfortable in the hotel room for example). I once packed only clothes for the activities and when I got in the room, I realized I had nothing to wear, except the “pajama T-shirt” so, even for breakfast or to hang out at the hotel I always had to dress up. 
  • One super light summer sweater (you never know)
  • For the same reason 1 foulard and my light denim jacket
  • A hat
  • Shoes (I usually bring my black Vans, a pair of white sneakers and 1 sandal)
  • Slippers (hotels usually have those, but in agriturismo or B&B they don’t)

! Tip: try to coordinate the colors, so that you can create several combinations with only a few items. 

! What about an elegant dress? I think I don’t even own an elegant dress. I always pack a black dress, which can be suitable for many occasions. 

2 Beachware

  • Beach bag
  • Swimsuits
  • Pareo or light dress 
  • Swimming cap (some places require for you to wear it)
  • Flipflops
  • Acqua Shoes for pebbled beaches 
  • Beach towel and Bathrobe (if not provided by the hotel): I use those in microfiber so that they’re super thin.
  • Extra towel: I always bring an extra microfiber towel for my hair. Hotels and B&Bs always provide you with hand towels, shower towels, and bidet towel, but there’s never a towel for hair. I usually wash my hair and then let them dry a bit under a towel put as a turban. So, when I finally use the hairdryer, it requires 2 minutes to dry them (I have super thin hair). 

! Tip: better to inquire the hotel owners regarding the gear they offer

The sea in Polignano a Mare
The sea in Polignano a Mare

3 Medicines

Here the list can vary, depending on your needs. I must bring with me my asthma and allergies medicines. Plus I always have with me cortisone, paracetamol, the pills to digest lactose (I keep it in my purse), mosquito repellent, band-aids, rubbing alcohol and thermometer. I usually bring only a couple of pills for each item, unless it’s the ones I have to take every day (so I obviously count the days of the trip). 

! Tip: better to purchase travel size bottles where to put the liquids (for example rubbing alcohol). 

4 Technology

  • Smartphone and charger
  • Camera and charger + second battery
  • Electric shaver if needed
  • Powerbank for my smartphone

! I mostly travel in Italy, so I don’t have this problem. But better you bring with you also a power adapter for Italian sockets.

5 Miscellaneous

  • Documents
  • Kleenex
  • Notes and pen
  • Travel guides 
  • Books/Kindle (I now use my smartphone)
  • K-way and/or travel-size umbrella
  • Sunglasses
  • Money
  • A couple of plastic bags where to put dirty clothes

6 Food

I mostly travel by car. So I always bring with me a small “stock” of food because you never know when hunger strikes. It usually includes a pack of almonds and nuts, a pack of taralli (similar to breadsticks), sometimes fruits and carrots (if I didn’t manage to eat them before leaving, I wash them, put them into food bags and bring them with me for a snack), and obviously some water bottles. I’m always afraid of running out of water. 

7 Beauty

  • Shampo, shower gel and soap (yes, some places do not provide you with these things)
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush and dental floss
  • Brush, comb and hair scrunchies
  • Lens cleaning cloth for my glasses
  • Tweezer and clippers
  • Earplugs (I can’t sleep without them)
  • Razor for my legs 
  • Moisturizer
  • Sunscreen
  • Ladies products if needed
  • Chapstick (I can’t live nor leave without it)
  • Makeup items
  • Condoms (I’m not ashamed)
Abiby beauty box

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