Gemini Before You Fly: Jemma Solomon takes holiday-packing off the to-do list for Brits this summer with a little help from AI

Google has partnered with renowned organisation expert and entrepreneur, Jemma Solomon, to help Brits take the stress out of holiday packing and save them both time and money when travelling abroad this summer using its AI, Gemini.

Coinciding with the launch of its new mobile app, holiday-goers can use Gemini to help them pack their bags quickly and smartly, within the right luggage dimensions, for the right destination, and for the right activities, in turn helping to save the nation millions of pounds in excess baggage fees and toiletries ditched at the airport.

This comes hot on the heels of new research revealing that nearly a third (32%) of Brits have taken time off work – either precious annual leave, sick days or ‘meetings’ booked in the diary – to pack for their holidays. Thanks in large part to overpacking, holidaymakers travelling abroad this year are also expected to lose £221m in abandoned toiletries that will be left behind at the airport.*

The Gemini app can easily provide a solution to this problem in seconds – by helping travellers pack the right volume and type of clothes for their trip, for the right airline, in the right weather, for the right location – all through typing a simple prompt into its chat box – saving travellers the time needed to scour many more websites to gather this information.**

The trials and tribulations of travel

Google’s new research also revealed that while a third (33%) of Brits find packing for holidays stressful, over a quarter (28%) describe it as anxiety-inducing. This could explain the lengthy amount of time Brits spend preparing their suitcases, with almost half (40%) saying it takes them at least 3 hours to pack a single bag. Gen Z (16-24 year old) holidaymakers take longer to pack than any other age group – with 60% of them taking at least 3 hours to get holiday ready.

And even when bags are fully packed and zipped up, it appears the problems don’t stop. Over half of Brits (56%) admit they’ve over-packed their bags in the past and nearly a quarter (23%) confess to overpacking every single time they go on holiday. The top five over-packed items according to the research are:

T-shirts (42%)
Underwear (32%)
Trousers (24%)
Shoes (23%)
Socks (20%)

Gemini Before You Fly

Gemini – Google’s AI assistant now available on Android and iOS – aims to supercharge creativity and productivity by helping users write, plan, learn, research and more, all through typing prompts in its chat box. This means holiday-goers can tell Gemini where they’re flying to and with what airline, and ask it what they need to bring with them. It will then share recommendations based on their trip, the weather and the baggage allowance of their airline in seconds.

To help the nation pack with ease, Jemma Solomon has revealed her top tips to pack ‘like a pro’, including how to make the most of Gemini – in turn saving Brits money at the airport and helping them to fly stress-free with better peace of mind.

Organisation expert and entrepreneur, Jemma Solomon said: “While we all love a summer holiday, not many people like packing their suitcases before they travel, especially if you need to pack for your three kids like I do. It can be stressful, time-consuming, and taking too many items can leave you out of pocket at the airport. That’s why I’m thrilled to team up with Google to share my top tips on packing the right way using the super helpful Gemini app. Thanks to this powerful little AI wizard, it’s never been easier to pack like a pro, calm your mind and get a few hours of time back when preparing for your summer getaway!”

Jemma Solomon’s top packing tips:

1. Choose a suitable suitcase: When packing for holiday, your luggage isn’t one-size-fits-all. With three children, I’m often tempted to take as big a suitcase as possible but be mindful of the type of holiday you’re going on. For example, if you’re going somewhere chilly you’ll need a bigger case for thicker layers.

2. Compile a perfect pre-trip checklist: The key to stress-free packing and avoiding a last-minute scramble around the house is to create a checklist. Gemini can help with this; simply ask it to compile a list of ‘travel essentials’ and it will generate your list, doing the hard work for you. You can even include specific holiday activities that might require extra clothing when inputting your ‘prompt’ such as swimming or skiing.

3. Invest in a set of packing cubes – they’re a game-changer! Packing cubes are all the rage with travel lovers and it’s no surprise why. These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived. Make sure you buy a set or two before your getaway this summer!

4. Use Gemini to avoid overpacking and dodge airport fees: Most of us have overpacked for our holidays – in fact, nearly a quarter of us do so every time we go away. To make my bags a little lighter, and to dodge excess baggage fees at the airport, I use Gemini as my expert packing companion. I simply tell it where and when I’m flying and with what airline, and it shares my baggage allowance, the weather forecast, and what sort of clothes I should bring to fit the climate. It’s that easy – try it for yourself!

5. Pack versatile pieces to maximise your outfits: Travelling light doesn’t mean sacrificing your style! I love to pick out versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits, whatever the weather. Think about neutral colours, layering, and clothes that can easily transition from daytime lounging to nighttime fun. You can even try typing “travel capsule wardrobe” into Gemini for a few ideas on creating super versatile outfits for your trip.

Gemini Packing Squad

Some lucky holidaymakers can take packing off the to-do list entirely! Google is also launching the Gemini Packing Squad, a team of packing experts who will tour the nation to help people pack their bags pre-holiday using Gemini this summer. Brits who submit their most memorable packing experience or story will have the chance to receive an exclusive visit from the Squad to help them pack before their holiday. To enter, simply click here. ***

Head of Product Communications at Google UK, Laurian Clemence, said: “Britain is a nation of stressed out overpackers, with many of us taking time off work to cram a suitcase full. The new Gemini app is perfectly positioned to take on these problems and help quell the anxiety that comes with packing. Simply ask Gemini to tell you how and what to pack based on their airline, destination, trip length and who you’re travelling with – the app will then share recommendations based on the weather, baggage allowance and your activities in seconds. Download the new Gemini app to Gemini Before You Fly and take the stress and cost out of holiday packing forever!”