Travel Packing Tips from Our Team: The Art of Packing for a Mediterranean villa experience

Maizie’s go-to bag is the Dragon Diffusion Tote, versatile enough to serve as hand luggage, beach bag, and market companion: “It earns its place every time,” she notes. 

While packing light doesn’t come naturally, she’s found a solution: sticking to a single colour palette. “It’s the only way I can do it without overthinking.” She never travels without her La Roche-Posay SPF, a non-negotiable when lounging by one or our villa’s pools under the Mediterranean sun. Her reading choice leans towards the evocative: “The Gentleman from Peru” by André Aciman, which she describes as perfect for an afternoon stretched out on a sun lounger. 

Maizie is a list-maker, through and through. Packing is a considered process, accompanied by a glass of something cold and a final review of her itinerary. She packs the night before (any earlier and she’ll undo it all) and always includes a cashmere wrap for cooler evenings, along with running shoes for exploring new places properly. 

And her souvenir of choice? Always olive oil, “a really good local bottle,” she says, “that you simply wouldn’t find at home.” 

Freya’s must-have item is a running belt: “Nothing settles me into a place better than a morning walk,” she says, often discovering a favourite coffee spot along the way. 

For packing light, she suggests bringing a small selection of versatile shoes, like gold-weave sandals or colourful leather slippers, which do the work of elevating each outfit without adding bulk. She packs the day before departure, guided by the weather forecast and a loose plan of her days. Her essentials include a linen column skirt and a soft cardigan, perfect for cooler evenings spent dining outdoors. 

Freya admits to being drawn to easy, page-turning reads on holiday, but her real travel ritual is music. “I have a take-off song,” she says, referring to “The Sea” by Morcheeba, played every single time the plane leaves the ground, followed by a podcast, often Table Manners by Jessie and Lennie Ware. 

And when it comes to souvenirs, Freya has a weakness: local ceramics. From Sicily and Puglia to the Greek islands, she collects pieces that carry the story of each destination home with her. 

A comfortable backpack is Samantha’s non-negotiable. “It just makes everything easier,” she says, especially when moving between airports, villas, and the occasional spontaneous detour. Packing light, however, is another story. “I simply cannot do it, no matter how hard I’ve tried.” Instead, Sam leans into organisation. She keeps a running packing list on her phone and approaches the process “like a game of Tetris,” fitting everything together in a way that somehow works. 

Her in-flight essentials are all about comfort and ease: moisturiser, eye drops, a highlighter stick, mascara, and always a toothbrush close at hand. And when it comes to entertainment, she skips books entirely in favour of music, specifically the Apple Music Chill station. 

Sam’s packing timeline depends on the trip. For longer stays, she starts setting things aside weeks in advance; for shorter breaks, it’s a last-minute affair. Either way, her essentials remain the same: workout clothes, something cosy like a sweatshirt and leggings, and her AirPods Pro 3. 

Beth doesn’t swear by a specific suitcase, but she does recommend the North Face Base Camp Bag for shorter trips: it’s durable, reliable, and perfectly sized for a weekend away. 

Her packing philosophy is admirably streamlined: “Two great bikinis, Havaianas, and a linen shirt, what more could you need?” It’s a formula that captures the simplicity of Mediterranean villa living. If luggage space is limited, she writes a detailed packing list based on exactly what she’ll be doing, often laying out full outfits in advance. “It avoids decision paralysis,” she explains, “and you always feel put together.”  

When it comes to beauty, Beth is unwaveringly loyal to her essentials: Caudalie Very High Protection Lightweight Cream SPF50+ and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant. Her in-flight ritual is quietly luxurious: a large bottle of water, a sheet mask, and something downloaded: usually a podcast or episodes of her favourite binge-worthy series, paired with her Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones. 

“I need a soundtrack to my travels,” says Xavier, whose headphones are his ultimate essential. Noting that they’re just as important for switching off on the plane as they are for setting the tone of a trip. 

When it comes to packing light, Xavier is disciplined. “You have to be ruthless,” he explains. For him, it’s about making clear decisions and maximising hand luggage space, especially a well-packed rucksack, which can hold far more than you might expect. Xavier is a list-maker, jotting down essentials ahead of time and typically packing the night before departure. His in-flight routine is fluid but intentional: calming music for take-off, a film midway through, and something more upbeat as the destination approaches. “I love syncing a movie with whoever I’m travelling with,” he adds, a small ritual that makes the journey feel shared. 

A signature scent is also non-negotiable. He always travels with a fragrance, currently Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent, which immediately transports him abroad and makes him feel like he has, in all respects, arrived in the Mediterranean. 

And when it comes to souvenirs, Xavier takes a thoughtful approach. He brings back gifts for friends and family: often food or beautifully scented items, choosing things that evoke the Mediterranean and allow the experience to linger long after the journey ends. 

Whether you’re travelling with a carefully curated capsule wardrobe or a suitcase that refuses to stay closed, the goal is the same: to arrive ready to experience, to explore, and to unwind. 

And with the right villa waiting for you at the end of the journey, you’re already halfway there.