For many people, the prospect of packing their bags for a fortnight’s holiday is enough to bring on heart palpitations. So how do those upping sticks for an entire year cope with deciding what to take, and what to leave behind?

The first way you can ease the tension is by mitigating risk. Humans seem to be hard-wired to convince themselves that if they have a flight to catch, they’re somehow going to contrive to miss it. To remove any doubt, you could book yourself into an airport hotel and arrive the night before so you won’t have to worry about getting to the airport on your day of departure.

Most airports around the world have hotels near by, with the major ones particularly well catered for. For example, there are a vast number of Heathrow hotels in London and Charles de Gaulle airport hotels in Paris.

Packing for a year away is a tough old job, even to the most seasoned traveller. So to help you along the way, we’ve broken the task down into sections. We hope this helps!

1. Clothes

The first thing you need to do when deciding what clothes to take for a year away is to lose the ‘holiday’ mentality. A year is too long for this kind of forensic planning, so instead you should take a moderate selection that will cover you for all weather conditions and occasions, but without packing your entire wardrobe.

Think about what kind of trips you’ll be doing while you’re away.

Also bear in mind that during a year away, you’re more than likely at some point to indulge in some retail therapy, either for replacements or simply because you spotted something you liked. If possible, it’s worth leaving some spare room in your luggage to bring home these new purchases at the end of your trip, otherwise you could find yourself paying out for a separate delivery.

2. Toiletries

The spectre of 9/11 has done nothing to lighten the emotional hazards of air travel. Whilst nervous fliers now have the menace of terrorism as an added reason to dread their journey, today’s airports also present an equally insidious threat: the 100mg rule!

Parents travelling with children can always curb a tantrum by administering a smacked bottom. Nevertheless, the simple fact is that however much you take, you’re going to need replenishments along your journey. With this in mind, the most sensible solution is to travel with as few toiletries as possible in order to free up space for more essential, long-term stuff. You can always stock up on toothpaste, mouthwash, shower gels, etc, once you’re settled into your first destination.

However, bear in mind that toiletry makes differ from country to country. I was recently in Mallorca and was looking everywhere for a Nivea face wash – a product that is available in almost every chemist in the UK – but could not find it anywhere. If you have any favourite products that you simply couldn’t live without, make sure you take them with.

3. Practical stuff

There’s some items that you can pretty much guarantee will come in handy during a year away, even if you’re not planning on getting up to anything too adventurous or off-the-beaten-track.

The first item is a torch. Equally useful during a power cut as in a dark cave or while camping at night, you could even go for the ultra-practical option of a hard hat with a torch attached to the top. This will take up a fair amount of luggage room, so you’ll have to weigh up the pros and cons.

A First Aid kit is another essential that you’ll be guaranteed to require. Hopefully you’ll never need to use anything beyond a plaster and cream for blisters, but it’s certainly worth chucking in some Paracetamol and Imodium in there too. Other items you may want to chuck in there include painkillers, rehydration sachets, and – for contact lens wearers – a solid supply of contacts and solution.

Other key items include a universal electrical plug adaptor, a universal sink plug, a ball of string (always useful for make-shift washing lines), a sewing kit and a sleeping bag liner or duvet cover to protect you from dirty mattresses.

Good luck and happy travels!

Did you know?

Almost 80% of international tourists come from European and North American countries. East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand furnish about 15% of all tourists.

- Guest Blogger: Paul

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