I may have overpacked for Bali, but I'm super glad I packed these 6 things

Overpacker for life... 👀

“We’ll just take two bags,” I said to Shane as I booked our flights to Bali. I’m always hopeful, “I won’t need to take much.”

I’m an over-everything. Over-thinker. Over-packer. Over-cautious. I can never do anything under… it seems.

So at the 11th hour, as we were packing for our trip and my suitcase was becoming increasingly full, I pondered out loud, “Should we add another bag, maybe?”

Fast forward to the flight home, our bags brimming, the check-in guy adding the bright orange ‘Heavy’ tags to all our bags, I was so glad we’d opted for the extra bag, but also ashamed for our lack of packing skills, I silently vowed to do better, be better and to pack lighter in future.

I may overpack, but I’m always prepared… of course because I have everything. There are six things though, that I was so glad that I had in my bag, and no matter how light I pack in the future (ha!) these will always make an appearance.

The ugly soft hat

Did my kids hate this hat? Yep. But by the end of the trip, I think they found it endearing. I mean, I don’t even love this hat, but I loved that I could drop it in the pool, dry it out, scrunch if in my bag or pocket, wear it, toss it anywhere, and it still delivered every day. This one was about $30 from Ghanda… but I’m sure you can find ugly soft hats where ever they sell hats.

The light sunscreen

I wish I loved sunscreen. I’m so fussy with feeling clean, and sunscreen is a layer of stuff that sits on the skin, and it icks me. But I still wear it, but I’m fussy because I want one that really works, but also feels light. This Go-To Nifty Fifty Fluid is brilliant for that. I went through the whole tube on our trip, and will be buying another ASAP.

The pop-out fan

This was the best thing ever. I don’t know if I’ve ever been hotter (or sweatier, gross) than on this trip to Bali, and this fan - which folds up - was the most welcome relief. Shane said, “Do you know you get grumpy when you’re hot?” I nodded - but it mostly only occurs when he gets us to trek a million miles in the heat instead of opting for a convenient $2 taxi. Somehow, the pop-out fan makes me 84% less grumpy.

The scent-sational sanitiser

So, Bali Belly is a thing. Sanitiser is essential on any trip to Bali. I liked this spray one from Mask.co because it smelled amazing, and the spray distributed well - better than a squirty bottle.

The juicy book

I am devastated that I had to leave this book behind, due to packing issues (insert eye roll here!). I’m only 1/3 of the way through too. The goal of our trip was to restore my nervous system to some kind of normal… while the first week or so of the trip I carried this book like an accessory, to the pool and back, never getting past the first cover, but eventually I got my brain to settle and I read… and it was relaxing. I think I’ll try the audiobook to finish it up!

The magic mousse

I have loved this hair mousse (RevitaFoam) since Lulu was a toddler and we were doing weekly swimming lessons. It is magic. Even this trip when the girls got braids, and we were taking them undone straight after a swim (the knots! So many knots!) this gets through them. It’s not cheap - I think the cheapest I can get it is $15 for the can, but it is worth every cent.

Just don’t leave it around, because it smells so good the kids will go nuts with it and use it at any opportunity. I love it for my hair too, when it’s copped a batterying with swimming and sun.

THE swimsuit

I lived in these swimsuits the whole trip (I have 3 of them), and I could almost cry because I love them so much - because swimsuits and my body are a ‘thing’… so to find something that is comfy, and supportive is a big win. This one is by ActiveTruth - and they also do a bikini which I’m considering getting. We’ll see!

Fess up, are you an over-packer, or an under-packer? Or have you perfected the whole packing game?