Resource · Packing List

The Complete School Trip Packing List — By Trip Type, Season and Destination

A good school trip packing list does two things: makes sure every student arrives with what they need, and stops anyone from bringing what they shouldn't. This guide gives you a base list plus add-ons by trip type, season and destination — designed to be customised and reissued in your pre-trip information pack.

Issue the list at least four weeks before departure so parents have time to shop, and reinforce it at the pre-departure student briefing. For where the packing list fits in the broader pre-departure phase, see our complete school trip checklist.

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Documents and essentials — hand luggage only

Anything in this category goes in hand luggage. Hold bags get lost or delayed; you cannot survive day one without these items.

Passport (validity verified against destination rules)
EHIC / GHIC card (where applicable)
Travel insurance certificate (printed copy)
Emergency contact card (school-issued)
Phone and charger
Wallet with pocket money (cash + card)
Prescription medication (with copy of prescription)
Glasses or contact lenses (plus spares)
Boarding pass / travel documents

Clothing base list

For a typical 5–7 night trip. Adjust upwards for longer trips; never adjust downwards. Pack mix-and-match, layerable items rather than complete outfits.

7 × underwear and socks
5 × t-shirts or tops
2 × long-sleeve tops or jumpers
2 × pairs of trousers / jeans
1 × smart-casual outfit (for cultural venues)
1 × lightweight waterproof jacket
1 × warm layer (fleece or hoodie)
Comfortable walking shoes (broken in, not new)
Trainers (for sport / activity sessions)
Sandals or flip-flops (summer trips, communal showers)
Pyjamas
Swimwear (if pool / beach on itinerary)

Toiletries and personal care

Most accommodation provides basic shower gel and shampoo, but plan as if it doesn't. Compact bottles work better than full-size for hand luggage compliance.

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Shower gel and shampoo (travel-size)
Deodorant
Hairbrush
Sun cream (SPF 30+) — essential year-round in Iberia
Lip balm with SPF
Personal hygiene products
Small towel (some accommodation doesn't provide)
Basic first-aid items (plasters, paracetamol for own use)
Hand sanitiser (small bottle)

Tech and miscellaneous

The pieces that quietly make or break the trip experience.

International power adapter (EU two-pin for Portugal and Spain)
Refillable water bottle (essential — single-use plastic increasingly restricted)
Phone headphones / earbuds
Power bank (cabin-compliant capacity)
Reusable shopping bag (for laundry, souvenirs, beach)
Day rucksack (small, for daily use)
Sunglasses
Notebook and pen (for school workbooks or reflection)
Book or eReader (for downtime)

Season-specific additions

Iberian climate varies more than students expect. Adjust the base list by trip date.

November–March: thermal base layer, gloves, beanie, heavier waterproof
April–May / September–October: layerable mid-weight, light scarf, compact umbrella
June–August: sun hat, lightweight long-sleeve (sun protection), extra t-shirts, lighter shoes
Mountain extensions (any season): hiking boots, walking socks, walking poles if recommended
Coastal / surf extensions: rashguard, beach towel, reef-safe sun cream

Trip-type specific add-ons

Each trip type adds a small kit of specific items. Customise the list issued to parents.

Language immersion: vocabulary notebook, dictionary or phrasebook, homestay gift
Sports tours: kit per sport, shin pads / mouthguards, water bottle, towel for training sessions
Cultural trips: smart-casual outfit for cultural venues, small camera (where permitted)
Volunteer / Service projects: old work clothes (likely to get stained), sturdy closed-toe shoes, gardening gloves
IB CAS programmes: reflection journal, smartphone for evidence photos, school-issued CAS portfolio document

What NOT to pack

Equally important. Clarify these explicitly in the pre-trip student briefing.

Large amounts of cash (use cards plus modest cash buffer)
Valuable jewellery
Expensive cameras beyond a phone camera (insurance risk)
Aerosols beyond 100ml (airline-restricted)
Sharp objects in hand luggage (Swiss army knives, scissors)
Energy drinks (banned at most school accommodation)
Alcohol, vapes or any controlled substances (school sanctions apply)

Final-day repack and customs awareness

Brief students before the return journey to repack carefully — souvenirs, dirty laundry and gifts often won't fit in the original bag. Remind them about liquid limits in hand luggage (100ml per item, 1L total per passenger). For trips returning to the UK from EU destinations, students should be aware of personal-allowance limits on alcohol and tobacco even though most won't be carrying any.

Related resources

Complete Checklist

Phased pre-departure checklist.

International Planning Guide

For trips abroad.

How to Plan a School Trip

Step-by-step planning guide.

Teacher's Guide

What teachers need to know.

Risk Assessment Guide

EVC-ready structure.

Budget Guide

Per-student cost breakdowns.

Related programmes

Educational Trips

Curriculum-linked itineraries.

Language Immersion

Spanish and Portuguese programmes.

Sports Tours

Sport-specific packing add-ons.

School Trips to Portugal

Portugal hub.

School Trips to Spain

Spain hub.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Youngrup.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about school trip packing

How much luggage can a student bring on a school trip abroad?

Most low-cost airlines used for European school trips allow one piece of hold luggage (typically 20kg) plus one cabin bag (often 10kg with a strict size limit). Most trips run perfectly well within these limits — over-packing is the more common problem. Check the operator's specific airline allowance and circulate it in the pre-trip information pack.

Should students carry valuables in hold luggage or hand luggage?

Hand luggage always — passports, phones, chargers, prescription medication, glasses, contact lenses, any pocket money. Hold luggage gets lost or delayed; you can survive a delayed hold bag but not a lost passport on day one. Brief students explicitly on this point.

What's the most-forgotten item on a school trip packing list?

International power adapters, every time. Followed by a refillable water bottle (now essential as most European airports and venues no longer sell single-use plastic). Followed by spare prescription medication beyond the trip length, in case of travel disruption.

Should students bring their phones on a school trip?

Almost all do; the question is how phone use is regulated. Most schools agree a protocol with parents pre-trip: phones permitted for free time and emergency contact, switched off in lessons and structured activities, parental contact via the school's emergency line rather than direct, and a clear policy on social-media posting during the trip.

Does the packing list change by season and destination?

Significantly. November–April Portugal and Spain trips need layered warmth (the indoor heating is often weaker than UK norms); June–September trips need sun protection, hat and refillable water bottle as core items. Mountain or coastal extensions add specific kit. Issue a destination-and-season-specific packing list, not a generic one.

Who's responsible for packing — student or parent?

Both — but supervise the process. Younger students (Year 7–9) typically need parent involvement in packing; older students (Year 10+) can manage independently with a clear list. The school's role is to issue the list early enough (4 weeks pre-departure minimum) that parents can shop for missing items.

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