The holidays are right around the corner, and many of you will be off to see family and loved ones. With virtually every airline charging for checked bags on domestic flights, it is a struggle to pack everything necessary to maintain fabulosity.  Traveling during the winter months can be even more difficult as a result of all of the heavy clothing and jackets needed. Well, not to worry because we have the ultimate packing list for you right here!

Weekend Getaway

When traveling for the weekend, call ahead to the hotel you will be staying in and ask them what appliances they have in the room. Why pack a hairdryer or iron when your hotel has one in the room. A five-minute phone call can save you ten minutes of sitting on top of your suitcase struggling with the zipper to close it!

Shampoo Sheets- These shampoo sheets save precious space in your quart sized bag for more important liquids. At $2.78 for 50 sheets you can’t go wrong!

Conditioner Sheets- Sheets of conditioner. ‘Nuf said!

Travel Sized toothpaste- Clean teeth…need I say more.

Deodorant- This travel sized deodorant will keep you smelling fresh and still leave you room to pack your favorite sweater!

LA Fresh Shaving Gel Packets- Travel sized shaving gel is still too big for a fabulously packed suitcase. These shaving gel packets are $0.29 each and are absolutely perfect for a weekend getaway!

Razor- You can’t leave home without your favorite hair removal device!

Nail polish remover pads- These are only $0.05 a piece and the perfect travel companion because who wants to walk around with chipped nail polish?

Essie Fall 09 Mini 4 piece set- Buy this set and have mini versions of Falls hottest colors at your fingertips. This is the perfect purse companion not just for travel days but everyday to fix chips.

Shout Wipes- Don’t let a stain on your favorite shirt ruin your trip. Shout wipes are a must-have for every handbag you own, in every drawer in your office, in your car, hidden in every nook and cranny you can think of cause you never know where a stain awaits.

Mini travel lint roller- These sticky lint rollers de-stick sticky objects like hair, lint, fuzz, etc. I am stuck on these pint sized lint rollers.

Pocket sized Kleenex- Make sure you keep these in your purse to stave off plane sniffles and runny noses or to replace the beverage napkin you dropped on the floor!

Travel size umbrella- Getting caught in the rain stinks. This travel size umbrella is so small you can be prepared to sing in the rain and stay dry doing it.

Bath and Body Works Pocket Bac Deep cleansing Hand Gel- While many other hand sanitizers dry out your hands, Bath and Body Works hand sanitizers keep your hands fabulously soft and smooth. My pick: the sweet pea scent, but pick your favorite and stock up!

Off Deep Woods Insect repellent wipes- Probably not high on your list, especially in winter. These wipes are so compact they are worth packing if traveling to a warm climate because you never know where pesky little critters like mosquitoes can pop up.

Tweezerman’s Petite Manicure Set- This teeny set comes with tweezers, cuticle pusher and nail file so you can fix a snagged nail or newly discovered and unwanted eyebrow hair on the go.

Sewing Kit- I don’t know how to sew, but I pack one of these sewing kits on every trip…what good does a sewing kit do for someone who can’t sew? Two words: Google baby! You can search how to sew on a button or fix a torn hem. It may not turn out as well as your favorite tailor’s work, but it works in a pinch.

Pack It Compressor Bags- This set comes with two bags that take the air out of clothes when the bag is rolled up. This is perfect for dirty clothes or bulky sweaters! Worried about popping a hole in the bag…it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Pashmina Shawl- Under $25 and offered in every color imaginable. A Pashmina shawl serves double duty as a blanket on the plane and shawl/scarf  to wear with an outfit.  It can also be invaluable on vacations where church or temple visits are on the agenda and shoulders, legs must be covered.

For a Beach getaway add to your list:

Banana Boat After Sun Cleansing Wipes- These wipes are an ingenious must-have for your beach bag. They wipe off sunscreen, sweat and most importantly sand!!!!

Your favorite sunscreen in travel size

Stash flip Flops- These flip flops have a heel compartment to stash your stuff so you can swim with the fishies with some piece of mind!

Oka B- Rubber thongs- This shoe is such a favorite at S2F, we devoted an entire blog entry to them a month or so ago. These shoes are made of a waterproof material…so waterproof, they are dishwasher safe. They come in a rainbow of 23 shades and are designed to massage your feet with every step using reflexology principles.

For trekking for faraway or off the beaten path places add to your list:

WC kit- Each kit contains a toilet seat cover, toilet paper and a pre-moistened towelette.

Pepto Bismal Chewable tablets, Tylenol, cough drops, Echinacea, extra prescription medicine- You never know what medicine will be available is some of the world’s more remote locations. Have some medicine cabinet items stashed away.

Splenda- Sounds silly now, but you want to expand your horizons not your waistline when traveling far and wide. These sweetener packets will come in handy when out and about in the far corners of the world.

Travel Towel- These super absorbent towels are a lifesaver when staying in a sketch hotel with stained towels or for an impromptu snorkeling trip.

For a long flight add to your list:

No Jet Lag- I swear by these homeopathic pills for flights to faraway places.

Your favorite travel pillow

Extra snacks

A good book or a great Kindle!

For a travel outside the United States add to your list:

Produce wipes- Why is fruit outside the U.S. so darn delicious? Ever see the produce in the markets and your mouth starts to salivate? These produce wipes will allow you to safely eat produce on the go while traveling. You will be shocked at how much these produce wipes change the way your travel and eat while traveling. Impromptu picnics in a beautiful parks and locales become part of your routine when you have these wipes. You enrich your travel experience and save money too!

Plug adaptors or convertors- A necessity for charging cameras, phones, PDAs and using electronic devises you’ve brought from home.

Pen- Keep this close-by so you can fill out immigration and custom forms.

Pre-printed address labels- Who doesn’t love receiving a postcard from a faraway place? Pre-print your friends addresses on a page of address labels. Make sure to add USA after the zip code and you will find a great shortcut to fabulous friendship!

Journal and glue stick- Don’t want to throw away that ticket stub from the Louvre? A journal and glue stick keeps these paper mementos organized and preserves memories from your travels.

If you are under 5’ 4” add to your list:

Folding Foot Rest- It seems ridiculous, but this revolutionized long haul flight travel for me. At 5’1”….Okay, okay… five feet, this foldable foot stool creates a much more comfortable seating environment and prevents numb bum from setting in! It folds super flat and can even fit in a purse.

For traveling couples add to your packing list:

Flexible tripod- This will end the twosome “how are we going to get a photo of the two of us without someone stealing our camera” dilemma while traveling. The tripod is flexible and can be wrapped around poles, tree branches and with the timer on your camera…voila!!!

So, bookmark this page, pan your next trip and consult this list before packing for shortcuts to perfect packing!