6 weekend getaways in 6 months, you can say I’ve got this weekend packing list down to a science!
Since being home, I have packed for a weekend in Sonoma wine country, a quick trip to Southern California and the occasional raging bachelorette parties in Las Vegas. I pretty much pack the same basics and essentials with minor modifications depending on location, climate and occasion. But all in all, it’s a solid weekend getaway packing list.
Pack
Can I tell you how happy I am Gerard won our Tom Bihn Tri-Star luggage in a contest a while back?! It has become my go-to luggage for all weekend trips. It’s my smedium size luggage that has all the compartments to fit my OCD packing habits. I like to wear it as a backpack but it can be carried by handle or strapped on like a shoulder bag also. Did I mention it’s also carry-on size? It’s literally the perfect weekender bag.
- Tom Bihn Tri-Star
- 2 Tom Bihn Packing Cubes in Small
- Tom Bihn Snake Charmer used as toiletry kit
- Messenger bag
- Make-up bag
Clothing
Top
- 1 LBD, little black dress or a sundress that can be worn for day or night
- 1 light sweater
- 1 t-shirt or tank top
- 1 cute and flirty top
- 1 dressy top to be worn for day or night, great with a pair of dark denim for evening out
- 2 bras (wirefree bras pack really well for me)
Bottom
- 1 denim
- 1 everyday casual pants
- 1 pajama
- 1 pair of socks
- 3 underwear (Exofficio travels well)
Shoes
Nude is the new black! I am convinced nude shoes are the most versatile color for shoes, it goes with everything and everywhere. Plus, it’s appropriate for day or night. It pairs perfectly with skinny denim and a tank top as well as your LBD for a night on the town. And choose a wedge, they’re cute and way more comfortable than heels.
- 1 pair of nude wedges
- 1 pair of cute sandals
- 1 pair of comfortable flats – I pack my Toms everywhere
Accessories
- 1 sunglasses
- hair ties/bobby pins
- jewelry – earrings, watch, ring, necklace
Toiletry
- toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
- face wash
- L’Oreal Active Daily Moisture Lotion with SPF15
- Jergens’ Aloe Fresh lotion
- chapstick with SPF15
- Moroccan argan oil shampoo + conditioner
- body wash + loofah
- q-tips
- deodorant + perfume
- nail filer
- brush/comb
- contact lens/solution/eye drops
- Mini Chi hair straightener
- Hand sanitizer
- Tissue
Make-up
- 5×7 make-up bag
- bareMinerals SPF 15 matte foundation/ mineral veil with SPF 25/ laughter blush
- benefit’s play sticks in jump rope
- eye primer/ eyeshadow quad/ eyeliner/ mascara/ curler
- lipgloss
Medicine
- Asthma inhaler
- Advil
- Anti-allergy
- Multi-vitamin
- Tums
Miscellaneous
- Zip-lock bag
- Band-Aid
- Gum
- Kindle
- iPod
- Cell phone charger
Documents
- Driver’s license
- e-ticket or airline confirmation
- debit/credit card
- cash
- pen
It’s good to note everything I listed in Accessories, Toiletry, Medicine and Miscellaneous all fits neatly into the Tom Bihn’s Snake Charmer. The Snake Charmer is actually meant for power supply, cords and other small electronics. I don’t use it for this. Instead, I think it’s a great toiletry kit.
For wine tasting in Napa Valley or wine country in general,
Swap the sundress and light sweater and pack a maxi dress paired with a fitted blazer instead. The fitted blazer will help add a touch of evening to the maxi dress, appropriate for an award winning dinner in wine country.
For the typical Las Vegas Bachelorette weekend,
I would ditch the tamed LBD for 2 Vegas-appropriate “slutty” dresses + 1 romper, great for day time pool parties. Ditch the light sweater, denim, and closed-toe flats for these: foldable flats (Girls, you know why. And don’t even tell me you bare foot it from the club back to the hotel.. that’s just gross!), evening purse/clutch, 1 short, 2 fun and flirty tank tops and 1 bikini.
And here’s how it all looks neatly packed in my Tom Bihn – pants and light sweater on one side, dress and tops in 1 small packing cube, bras and undies in the other small packing cube. Shoes, toiletry and miscellaneous stored in the middle compartment.
There you have it – my weekend in a bag.
What’s your weekender essential you can’t travel without?
Psst.. Tom Bihn graciously provided me accessories to go with my Tri-Star. As always, all opinions are my own. These article may also contain affiliate links to help us continue trippin.





I am so impressed!!! What cute clothes!
Hehe, thanks Andi!
I am so impressed!!! What cute clothes!
Hehe, thanks Andi!
“I would ditch the tamed LBD for 2 Vegas-appropriate “slutty” dresses”, Haha, Kieu, I love your blog posts! I’m well impressed with your packing skills, I polish up my “less is more”-motto every time I pack… Sometimes with more success than other times 😛
My essential, I would say, is my light pink/white-ish shawl. It’s not a known brand, but my cousin bought it for me in Spain 5 years ago and it’s perfect for everything, not too big, not too small, not to warm, but not to thin so I get cold. Good for every season except winter.
Thanks for sharing, Kieu!
Hahaha.. you totally know what I mean with the shift in attire for Las Vegas. 😛 And I totally understand you with your shawl. One of my favorite accessory for any outfit is a light summer Indian scarf I picked up in India.. 😀
“I would ditch the tamed LBD for 2 Vegas-appropriate “slutty” dresses”, Haha, Kieu, I love your blog posts! I’m well impressed with your packing skills, I polish up my “less is more”-motto every time I pack… Sometimes with more success than other times 😛
My essential, I would say, is my light pink/white-ish shawl. It’s not a known brand, but my cousin bought it for me in Spain 5 years ago and it’s perfect for everything, not too big, not too small, not to warm, but not to thin so I get cold. Good for every season except winter.
Thanks for sharing, Kieu!
Hahaha.. you totally know what I mean with the shift in attire for Las Vegas. 😛 And I totally understand you with your shawl. One of my favorite accessory for any outfit is a light summer Indian scarf I picked up in India.. 😀
Love me some Tom Bihn products!!
Love me some Tom Bihn products!!
I like seeing all those pairs of shoes there!! 🙂 And the weekender bag looks really cool, perfect size.
LOL thanks Pola. You should definitely check out the bag – great size and stylish too!
I like seeing all those pairs of shoes there!! 🙂 And the weekender bag looks really cool, perfect size.
LOL thanks Pola. You should definitely check out the bag – great size and stylish too!
Ha ha, three pairs of shoes for a weekend? Otherwise impressive. I can never pack so little.
Can you believe that?! I’m good with clothes but terrible when it comes to scaling down on shoes. hahaha
Ha ha, three pairs of shoes for a weekend? Otherwise impressive. I can never pack so little.
Can you believe that?! I’m good with clothes but terrible when it comes to scaling down on shoes. hahaha
I am slowly but surely ditching the “everything but the kitchen sink” packing… I recently did a weekend trip for a family reunion and used only my Dakine backpack – it’s a school backpack! I was so proud 🙂
Whoa.. a Dakine backpack?! Nice!!!! Proud of you too!
I am slowly but surely ditching the “everything but the kitchen sink” packing… I recently did a weekend trip for a family reunion and used only my Dakine backpack – it’s a school backpack! I was so proud 🙂
Whoa.. a Dakine backpack?! Nice!!!! Proud of you too!
i know we’ve bonded over this before, but seriously? PACKING CUBES. how did i live without them before? also, love the weekender bag–definitely something i’m in need of now that we’ve moved.
Right?! Omg, where are you guys now? I’m so behind.. 🙁
i know we’ve bonded over this before, but seriously? PACKING CUBES. how did i live without them before? also, love the weekender bag–definitely something i’m in need of now that we’ve moved.
Right?! Omg, where are you guys now? I’m so behind.. 🙁
Great weekend getaway packing list! I’ll be packing this weekend for Seattle, so I’ll have to compare my list to this one. I’m actually an expert at carry-on packing now, which is so exciting. Makes life easier, though I find it harder to pack for a weekend away than a few weeks, haha.
Ohhh.. I would love to see your list! It’s always good to do a comparison. Mine could probably use a little fine tuning but it’s been good so far.
Great weekend getaway packing list! I’ll be packing this weekend for Seattle, so I’ll have to compare my list to this one. I’m actually an expert at carry-on packing now, which is so exciting. Makes life easier, though I find it harder to pack for a weekend away than a few weeks, haha.
Ohhh.. I would love to see your list! It’s always good to do a comparison. Mine could probably use a little fine tuning but it’s been good so far.
Packing cubes are a life saver! I’ve also found that laundry bags do the trick if you get them in different sizes. 😉
Oh I forgot about my laundry bag. It was actually an essential for us when we were traveling long-term. 🙂
Packing cubes are a life saver! I’ve also found that laundry bags do the trick if you get them in different sizes. 😉
Oh I forgot about my laundry bag. It was actually an essential for us when we were traveling long-term. 🙂
i have yet to try these packing cubes! hmmm…i’m so NOT a pro. weekend travel essential i cannot live without…definitely a cute dress i’d say.
Seriously.. I’ve seen how you pack. You need packing cubes, woman! lol
i have yet to try these packing cubes! hmmm…i’m so NOT a pro. weekend travel essential i cannot live without…definitely a cute dress i’d say.
Seriously.. I’ve seen how you pack. You need packing cubes, woman! lol
It is always good to have a list to refer back to in order to make sure nothing is forgotten. I love the handy little bags.
It is always good to have a list to refer back to in order to make sure nothing is forgotten. I love the handy little bags.
Wow, you really took great care in compiling this list! I struggle with packing for just a weekend trip, too. And I agree about the nude-color shoes! I’ve been looking for a cute/comfortable pair for a while now.
I’m looking into some Tom wedges.. they look cute on others and quite comfy from a distance. lol.
Wow, you really took great care in compiling this list! I struggle with packing for just a weekend trip, too. And I agree about the nude-color shoes! I’ve been looking for a cute/comfortable pair for a while now.
I’m looking into some Tom wedges.. they look cute on others and quite comfy from a distance. lol.
I used to have a packing list similar to this that doesn’t even get out of my bag anymore. But lately, the past couple of years, I’ve been doing a lot more traveling with my little one, so I’ve had to upgrade our pack from a 40-liter carry on to a 60-liter pack and then have a totally different set for my own travels with friends and work.
gotta get this packing thing down pat since I see myself close to being this OC on packing
I can’t imagine packing for the little ones, I can barely managed my own list. Haha
I used to have a packing list similar to this that doesn’t even get out of my bag anymore. But lately, the past couple of years, I’ve been doing a lot more traveling with my little one, so I’ve had to upgrade our pack from a 40-liter carry on to a 60-liter pack and then have a totally different set for my own travels with friends and work.
gotta get this packing thing down pat since I see myself close to being this OC on packing
I can’t imagine packing for the little ones, I can barely managed my own list. Haha
i was copying this list & the only thing u forgot was a razor/hair removal stuff.. girl gotta shave!
Oh good call! A girl definitely needs smooth legs, LOL. I usually try and shave right before I leave for a weekend getaway to avoid having to pack them but prob should add to the list as Optional. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by and happy packing!
i was copying this list & the only thing u forgot was a razor/hair removal stuff.. girl gotta shave!
Oh good call! A girl definitely needs smooth legs, LOL. I usually try and shave right before I leave for a weekend getaway to avoid having to pack them but prob should add to the list as Optional. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by and happy packing!
Oh my, where has this list been all my life?! Lol
u forgot a sanitary towel or tampon… just in case
i totally did! definitely need those.. just in case. 😉
You have so cool packing ideas! For me the hardest thing in the world is to pack! I just don’t know what to take with me and what to leave at home. Next week I should start packing for my moving out and I am so afraid. wish me luck!
Amanda Gold
Thanks! I think the more you do it, the more it becomes 2nd nature. We leave for Spain in two days and I have yet to start packing. LOL! Eeeeeek — good luck on your move!
Everything looks so neat and tidy! I wish I was that organized, I am moving to California next week and when the moving company came I was still packing, lol!
that is cool trip