Travel: What to pack for a weekend break

I love going away for a weekend mini break! It’s so nice packing your bags and driving away late on a Friday evening to check into a hotel for a few nights! Whether you are driving or catching a late train, it is always good to just take a small amount of luggage as you just don’t need that much for one or two nights. It’s nice to have some creature comforts and luxuries whilst you are away, and it’s also good to have some space saving mini’s. These are my handy hints when packing for a mini break!

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Spa

If your hotel has a spa, don’t forget your swimming costume, hair bobble and sandals. I like to take my own flip flops as the ones they provide you with are often hard to walk in and you never have to worry about another guest getting confused and taking yours instead of their own! My Swimming costume is from Boden and my flip flops are Birkinstocks from Jones Bootmakers. The hair bobble is because it’s nice to have your hair pulled back when in the steam room.

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Bath

Call me crazy, but I always call ahead and check there is a bath in my room. I have been known to upgrade to a better room is there is no bath tub. Why? Because there is nothing better than a hotel room bath! I often save my best bath products for such weekends away, I usually take something really opulent and spa-y, like ESPA Detoxifying Seaweed bath soak and then something a little more fun and fabulous like Lush bath bombs. Then I have the choice no matter what my mood is, although, I usually use both as I love to soak in a tub! One bath is never enough, even if you are only staying one night!

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Travel Minis

I always take travel minis away with me and if I don’t have enough mini’s, I try to take products which come in small sized packaging. I always take lip balm away with me, as I find hotels often have a lot heating and air conditioning which really make my lips dry, this Dermalogica Lipbalm is amazing at curing dry lips. I am currently using Soap & Glory Endless Glove, it smells like a dream. I often find it on my boyfriends bedside table, I think he secretly loves it, even though he claims it’s too ‘girly’! I am also massively hooked on sprinkling a few drops of Aromatherapy Associates Support Essence on my pillow. It really knocks me out to sleep and that’s amazing for me, as I am a really troubled sleeper. Bodhi & Birch Shower gel is always a real treat, it’s so beautifully scented and I only have two mini bottles left, so once these have finished I will need to find a new set of shower gel mini’s, I love these so much I am tempted to splash out on a full sized bottle! My cleanser is Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, this is a real beauty hero, if you haven’t tried it, you need to, if you have already tried it and you love it, check out this post! My Toner is Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, it contains so many rose petals it smells like heaven! My eye cream is Lulu’s Time Bomb Black Op’s, it works a treat on my chronic dark circles and this tube has lasted for ages! My face cream is a tiny pot of Darphin Moisturiser, it’s so nice, I really wish I had the full sized version of it! My face oil is L’oreal Extraordinary Rebalancing Facial Oil, it’s light so it absorbs fast, but it’s also really luxurious and nourishing. It’s a fantastic price too! Finally, Healgel Intensive is an amazing night cream. It’s a lovely cream to apply and it gives a great hit of hydration to my skin, I have used this many times before and I keep going back for more and more, because it’s so good!! And for my hair, it’s much easier, just a little John Frieda, it’s perfect for frizzy hair like mine! Phew!!

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Make-up

I have a big make-up bag bursting full of products and I tend to use the same few things, so when I travel, I just take the minimum amount I need. I keep my face make up looking quite fresh and natural, so a little Clarins Instant Light Radiance Base with Clarins Summer Bronzing Compact to give me a little contouring and glow on my face. I’m in love with this base, it gives a beautiful finish and the slight coverage I need, it also just makes me look like I am rested and I have been eating only vegetables for weeks! I pack some Nars Blusher, because their pink blush is to die for! I love Benefit Gimme Brow to keep my brows looking good and Wild About Beauty make an amazing black liquid eyeliner. I have a little Clarins Eyeshadow which gives a pretty rose gold tint to my lids and I have packed Nars lipliner and lipstick, as they are my favourites! The little bag is from ASOS it is by Lulu Guinness and it is an exclusive design to ASOS Beauty.

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Clothing & Accessories

I always try and pack a bit of a capsule wardrobe when I am away for the weekend. Simple cotton jersey dresses tend not to crease badly and if they are black or a block colour, they tend to match with more bag or shoes. Don’t forget to pack some fancy jewellery for dinner and a cute little clutch bag or evening bag. Personally, I love a pouch clutch bag as they are dressy, yet space saving. Also in a hotel restaurant, you don’t really need to take much down to dinner with you anyway! My Clutch bag is by Nooki Design (get 10% off with the code FASHIONFORLUNCH), the scarf and pearls are Chanel, the rings are by H&M, the crab necklace is by Alex Monroe at Hiho Silver, the semi precious stone necklace is by Freedom at Topshop and the geometric necklace is by Charlotte Valkeniers.

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Overnight Bag

I always think it is important to have a nice overnight bag. You can’t check into a nice hotel with a scruffy backpack, and similarly, it is ridiculous to take a huge suitcase which is big enough for a week away. So a nice overnight bag, is a great investment and you will be surprised how often you need to use it every year. Mine is from Cath Kidston, isn’t it pretty? The leather trim is really stylish, yet the canvas body means it’s nice and lightweight.

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Bon voyage! 

Of course, these days, you don’t have to drop all your stuff off at a hotel first before you can go on your adventures. Facilities now exist at many transport hubs that let you leave your belongings in secure accommodation. For instance, luggage storage in Victoria Station is part of a London scheme to help more people access the capital. You can store just about whatever you want, including your overnight bags, even if they’re large!xw