Recently, I headed to Lisbon, Portugal for a much needed city break. We spent our time there and in Cascais, a seaside town about 30 minutes away. Travelling in March, the weather was the biggest question mark over the holiday - and what to pack. Luckily for us, we experienced a few sunny days. But also some terrible showers too!
Packing the correct clothes for an out-of-season holiday (or indeed any UK holiday all year) can be tricky. That said, there are a few things to take so that you are always be prepared, whatever the weather.
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First up, layers, layers, layers. My friend and I could have clothed a small family with the amount of cardigans, shawls and jumpers we had between us. Layers are a brilliant way of keeping you warm while also allowing you to moderate your temperature when the sun comes out. (Think a cardigan tied around your waist or loosely hung over shoulders). If you know the weather might get a bit too nippy, I would recommend packing a scarf too.
Select your coat wisely. If the forecast shows some chance of rain, a hooded coat is your best option. For the 20 minute showers we experienced in Lisbon, this was an absolute life saver. And THE best protection against the dreaded, humid, frizzy hair look.
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| Image: Pinterest |
Although I spent a lot of the holiday in a pair of good jeans, I also packed some skirts and dresses for the evening. When it's a drizzly but still warm, sheer tights are the answer. They allow you to mix up your outfit from the standard top/jeans look, while giving you some coverage. And if it gets hotter? Like a jumper, just take it off!
Now let'ts not forget sunglasses. Chances are there will be some sunny moments. Squinting at the beautiful architecture or tourist attractions is not ideal. One pair packed in your bag is all you need.
Speaking of bags, this one is up to personal preference. However, taking into account a) ease of walking and b) safety, a secure rucksack or a sling over bag is probably your best shout. I opted for a compact canvas rucksack so I could fit my umbrella/water bottle/sunglasses/cardigan inside, but a sling over bag works well too if you prefer to have less on you. Both free up your hands for much needed Intsa-gramming and coffee drinking.Win Win.
So there we go - a quick guide to city break essentials, drawn from experience. Now to book that next holiday...
