Three major packing mishaps that taught me what's really important to travel with.

Packing, we all think we have mastered it. We’ve got our Primark packing cubes and know the rolling techniques, and I personally love the extra space you can sneak in your shoes. However, this unfortunately doesn’t save us from who we really are as packers. Are you the list creator? The procrastinator? The thrower-in? The one-pair-of-pants-goer? Or the classic overpacker? I’m here to tell you that it's okay. It is all a part of the process. Here are my top 3 biggest “oops” moments, and what I learnt from them.

anyone else?

Mishap No 1: weather app mayhem

Welcome to my usual 10 minutes of packing chaos.

Step 1: check where I am going (but definitely not the weather app).

Step 2: one of two thoughts always come to mind either “It was boiling when I was there a couple of weeks ago” or “that’s in the Caribbean, its always hot there.”

Spoiler: even the Bahamas has a hurricane season. I found this out the hard way when I arrived with nothing but bikinis and flip flops.

You’d think I’d have learned from this horrendous mistake…alas, no. These days, I force myself to always throw in at least one jumper or a pair of jeans, no matter where I am heading. Even Tenerife in the height of summer can get chilly at night. Do I sometimes swap out these essentials to fit more going out outfits in? Guilty. But you can always buy an umbrella when you get there.

Mishap No 2: Sunscreen vs Perfume

Believe me, I understand how stressful the security queue can be. Five people all shouting different instructions for what you need to take out of your bag. Plastic bags being shoved in your face. And let’s not even mention the dreaded 100ml rule!

Finally, you’ve gathered every liquid that’s been hiding at the bottom of your bag for months - maybe even years. Then, you see it: the tiny pot you spent an hour scrapping sunscreen into, measuring out exactly 100ml. You breathe a sigh of relief. “Phew” you think “that’s saved me 10 minutes of interrogations about what I was planning to use it for.” But then you glance over at the liquids bag…it’s full. Panic sets in. “what can I substitute it for?” Your Dior lip oil? Never. Your sol de Janeiro perfume? you can’t live without your tropical aroma. The beaten-up hand sanitizer at the very bottom that has never been touched? You might need it. You decided, “I’ll have to throw it away, it is only a couple of days, and if I really need it, I can always get some more.” Problem solved.

This very scenario happened to me and my mum on the way to the Maldives. That decision came in at a very expensive set back! Whoops! I mean at least we could cry about it on a beautiful beach sipping margaritas.

However, on other occasions, where I haven’t bothered to buy another pot, I learned the hard way. Sun damage is real! You can always grab another sol de Janeiro in the duty free, but you can’t get back the days wasted sitting in shade jail.

Mishap No 3: Midnight hunger panic

Another huge regret hits me at 3am. I’m lying awake with my dear friend, jet lag. The hunger is unbearable - I’d risk everything for a raisin, right about now. Why did I not grab anything to eat?

I’m scouring my suitcase, nothing. My handbag, still nothing. I suddenly remember in-room dining. I walk over to the TV to flick through the menu only to discover it isn’t available for another hour. “Whyyyyyyy” I wail. I fall to my knees.

An accurate representation of the above.

Then - Light bulb moment. I slowly look towards my bag. I creep over to it and grab my work apron. I pause. “please” I whisper. I reach my hand inside and a smile begins to surface. During the rush of the meal service earlier, I placed a small packet of shortbread in my pocket. A moment of appreciation for my past self’s unknowing attempt to save me from this awful moment.

My biggest lesson: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A BISCUIT!

Unfortunately, these aren't the only dramas I have faced with packing, and i'm sure there will be many more. The most important thing is to power on, whether that's with icicles hanging from your nose, covered in snacks in bed, or smothered in aloe Vera because let's be honest half the fun, is in the chaos.