Written by Menswear Style in Travel on the 28th November 2022

Travelling light is the way forward. If you can get away with taking just a carry-on bag for your flight, you’re not only saving money on baggage costs but it’s also more convenient for going through the airport. You don’t have to queue to check-in your baggage and you don’t have to queue to collect it on exit. However, taking a small bag does mean you have to priortise your items. So, what should be your essential choices for vacation? Take a look at this simple list:

Sunglasses 

If you’re heading to somewhere the sun shines, you’ll need a good pair of sunglasses. Surprisingly, this is the number one holiday item that people leave behind. When you arrive somewhere hot and sunny, sunglasses should be on the top of your list. Not only do they make life a lot easier if you wear prescription glasses but they also protect your eyes from damage when you’re sat in a brightness that your eyes are not used to. Ray-Ban has a great collection of men’s sunglasses.

Shorts 

You can’t go on holiday without at least two pairs of mens shorts. You’ll need one pair for lounging in the sun or wandering across the beach. You’ll need a second pair for the evening. Look for shorts that would work well whether you’re heading out on a pub crawl or taking your partner for a fancy meal. Both can easily be folded into a carry-on bag. 

Sandals 

Many men make the mistake of thinking that one pair of trainers will suffice when traveling abroad. It’s important to remember that your feet could get too hot to wear trainers but the ground will be too hot to walk bare footed. A pair of sandals or flip flops will make all the difference. Be sure to avoid taking crocs with you! They’ll leave you with some questionable tan lines.

Underwear 

Don’t be the man that uses one pair of underpants several times. There’s only so many ways you can turn your pants before they become unusable. Take plenty of spare underpants with you in your carry-on. If you roll them into balls, they won’t take up much space. 

Protection 

Yes, you’ll need to take more than one form of protection. Firstly, you’ll need protection from the sun. Take a travel size bottle of sun lotion and a travel size after sun for your first day there. Once you’ve got your bearings on vacation, you can buy more at a local store. You may also want to take sexual protection. If you’re planning on being intimate with your partner while you’re away, you may want to pack some condoms. Although these aren’t usually hard to find, you don’t want to risk not being able to find them when you need them. It’s also important to remember to pack an adaptor and charger for your phone. Your phone can come in handy in a number of situations, from translating a different language to getting directions when you're lost, so it’s vital that you keep your phone charged throughout your trip.

Sunglasses, Shorts, Sandals, Underwear, and Protection are the 5 Essentials to Pack in Your Vacation Bag.