Shoulder season is an amazing time for a mystery holiday.
Usually nudging up against a destination’s peak season – like an overfriendly dog – you get all the benefits of the main travel season.
The attractions you want to check out are open and welcoming in visitors. The hottest bars and clubs of the moment are hitting their stride. And there’s no shortage when it comes to restaurant options either.
But you might need our mystery holiday packing list recommendations to see you on your way.
Shoulder season perks
But taking a mystery holiday during shoulder season means you get to avoid the worst of the crowds, the highest price and often the hottest months of the year too.
Colosseum at the height of summer? No thanks! Joining the peak season queues for the Eiffel Tower lift? We’ll leave that to someone else!
What’s more, unlike Christmas, shoulder season tends to come twice a year, either side of peak season.
So travelling during the shoulder season gives you two bites of the cherry in any given year.
But whether you’ve decided to opt for a sudden impromptu mystery holidays escape, or are future proofing your holiday vibes, you’ll want to know what to include in your mystery holiday packing list.
What to pack for your shoulder season mystery holiday
The good news is that a shoulder season mystery holiday doesn’t have to mean enduring terrible weather.
Nor does it mean spending your hard earned holiday entitlement wrapped in a rainproof mac paired with squelchy trainers.
Even during a destination’s shoulder season, the weather is very often excellent. Its just not officially the season.
All the same, it can make it difficult to know exactly what to pack. Especially if you’re limited to the strict baggage allowances some airlines are now forcing on passengers.
Adaptability is undoubtedly key.
An item that with a couple of tweaks can be worn for a day of exploring and a night out on the town is worth double what you paid for it – rather than what you pretend to yourself you dished out for it. Did someone say capsule wardrobe?
Fill your wheely suitcase with a few of our recommended essentials and you’ll be off to a roaring start – cobbles allowing!
Mystery holiday packing list essentials
Here’s another secret to creating the ideal mystery holiday packing list – be ready for every occasion.
The easiest way to ensure this is to think onions. Yes, onions. Or more correctly, an onion’s layers.
Layering up is a great way of making sure you’re ready for the slightly chilly wind whipping up the Bosphorus in Istanbul in Turkey unexpectantly.
And to keep the goosebumps at bay should the sun momentarily disappear from a Madrid side street.
So T-shirts and vest tops should be your go-to, so long as you’ve got a light sweater, overshirt or jacket to hand as well.
A sarong is a superb addition for the girls. They can double as a shawl when it gets slightly cooler towards the end of the day and take up almost no space in your luggage.
Weather with you
Depending on your destination, you’ll probably also want something to keep you dry if it rains.
Holiday hotspots in northern Europe can get a shower at almost any time of year, so splashing out (excuse the pun) on a lightweight travel umbrella can be a lifesaver.
And when the sky is clear, an umbrella is excellent for creating a little artificial shade.
But also be sure that you’ve packed the suncream, a pair of sunglasses and your swimwear. There’s bound to be the chance to live the luxe life in a hotel pool or at a nearby beach.
Don’t forget to take some comfy clothes for the flight. This may sound like an unnecessary addition to a mystery holiday packing list, but we all know how uncomfortable those tight airline seats can be.
Plus, our bodies change at altitude – ankles get notoriously swollen for instance – giving a scientific reason for needing to add that extra item of clothing!
Happy feet
A good, comfortable pair of shoes is another essential you’ll regret not having if you don’t add them to your mystery holiday packing list. It’s likely you’ll be on your feet a lot of the day.
If they’re weatherproof too, that’s all the better, in case you don’t see that puddle!
Avoid any last-minute holiday purchases you haven’t had time to wear a few times and break in. You don’t want an unruly blister spoiling your time away.
Sandals, sliders and flip flops are another sure-fire way of keeping your feet happy. You won’t want to wear them all day every day, but are great for relaxing, as well as for time by the pool.
And anything with a high heel is probably worth avoiding.
They take up a lot of space, are heavy to lug around in your luggage and can be deadly if you’re taking even a short stroll down an attractive cobbled street in an historic Old Town!
Things to keep off your mystery holiday packing list
As we’ve hopefully already made clear, travelling in shoulder season doesn’t mean you’re going to face bad weather.
In fact, we’d argue you’re likely to encounter some of the best weather of the year. Spring and autumn, which take up shoulder seasons for much of the northern hemisphere, are generally excellent.
After all, who can resist the allure of newly growing flowers, the latest season’s fashion, Easter eggs and the rest?
We can’t!
While you will want something waterproof, you won’t be needing your big winter coats, so give them a rest back home.
Nor will you want any wellies (music festivals aside).
Sticking to lighter colours will keep you the coolest in the sun, so make sure they take up the majority of your mystery holiday packing list and you’ll be off to an unstoppable start!
