Anne’s Packing List
as a guideline if you’re lost with your suitcase/backpack!
On Me
(depending on weather back home)
- Long comfy travel pants
- T-shirt
- Hoodie
- Gym/sports shoes and socks (can use later in the gym)
- Phone
- Wallet with passport, credit card, some cash and PADI card
Check In:
- 1x Bikini. Ok, maybe 2, but not more
- 2x Dress, ideally covering up to knees and somewhat over shoulders
- 1x 3/4 pants or longer skirt up to/over knees
- 3x Shirt. I would want to take more, but really not necessary
- 1x short and 1x short dress. If I’d go a day to a resort for a drink, on the bikini beach or on the excursion boat
- Underwear
- Sleepwear
- 1x sports outfit and socks (can easily rinse out and dry in this climate)
- Toiletries
- Sun lotion
- Mosquito spray (also available on Dhigurah)
- Deodorant spray can
- Tweezers
- Floss
- Basic medicine (e.g. paracetamol/panadol
- Tampons – Not available on the island
- Hair brush
- Shampoo (also available at Bliss or big bottles in the shops here)
- Snorkeling gear. Probably only mask and snorkel. Fins take up quite a lot of space, are not necessary and can be rented at Bliss anyway. Mask and snorkel can be rented too, but I prefer my own
Hand Luggage: Rucksack
- Headphones
- Powerbank
- E-reader/Kindle/book
- Charging cables (laptop, kindle, phone)
- Game/puzzle book (but hardly used)
- Plug for airplane headphones (two pin)
- Toothbrush and paste, floss, tampons, wet facial wipe, deodorant roller (spray not allowed on planes), medication if applicable
- One set of clean clothes (simple. Underwear + dress)
- Slippers/flip flops
- Travel socks for in the plane
- Laptop + chargers
- Pen drive with documents/videos
- Ear plugs (for on the plane)
- Chewing gum/mints
- Empty bottle that I can regularly fill with water on the go
- GoPro and/or Camera
- Dive computer
- Sunglasses
Suitcase VS Backpack
I will grab my backpack for this one. But there’s much to say for either.
Why don’t I grab my suitcase? It’s too big, and I will find excuses to fill it up, which is absolutely not necessary. I might reconsider if I’d share the suitcase with my travel partner.
+ Backpack: Smaller, easy to carry around in case I end up in Male’ (for example) on the day of my arrival or departure
– Backpack: Not easy to keep clothes neatly folded, or easy to grab something that’s placed at the bottom
+ Suitcase: Organized. Easy to wheel around at the airport
– Suitcase: Cannot easily roll around in Male’ or local islands. If you visit different islands, perhaps consider a backpack. If you plan a Male’ visit before your departure, there is luggage storage at the airport
*Tried to keep my list to a minimum, but probably still way too much. Want a concise list? Check out what Musannif packs!
Or check out our photo gallery to see what you’re in for!