Can I have your top tips for holidays abroad.

[SereneHighnessPrincessTheresa]

Off abroad next week, just Greece so nowhere off the beaten track and only for a week. Ages since we've been abroad and I'm an anxious traveller. Can I have your top tips for a being all prepared and not a stressful mess?

Children?

Suncream, it is expensive out there.

First aid kit, paracetamol, immodium, plasters, anti sickness, travel sickness, anti histamine etc. Every holiday people take the piss, every holiday someone needs something out of it.

Comfortable shoes for travel. In your hand luggage have what you need for the day if you have an early flight and a late check in.

plan an activity for your last day to keep everyone occupied while waiting for the airport transfer

have a charger handy to charge at airport. Take ear plugs and an eye mask if you struggle to sleep in new places. I even take my own pillowcase.

check is your accommodation provides towels for the pool or beach?

high factor sun cream and a book

Three all teenage 13-17 but eldest has autism so more like a 14/15 year old.

Make sure you pack the stuff that will be difficult to find out there, the stuff you can find out there is not an issue for example you can always buy more stuff like socks and t-shirts if you need them.

Also make sure that difficult to replace stuff is with you if possible rather than in your luggage which might get lost.

My kids are smaller but I spent AGEs packing everything in an organised way. I used those IKEA ziplock bags. For every day (for 2 small children) there was a ziplock bag with their day outfits and evening outfits. Then when there I just needed to pick out the (labelled)bag for that day each morning and at the end of the day stick all the dirty clothes back in there. There was also a pyjama bag and a swimwear bag for each kid plus a few spare outfits.

Take at least one plug adaptor and a multi plug extension.

Four wheeled luggage is much easier than other types because you can push it

Take one suitcase and one carry on rucksack per person makes life much easier to manage.

Try not to carry liquids through security but if you do put them in a bag before security clear zip food back is fine

Have all passports in a plastic wallet

Put a tiny strip of masking tape on each passport with name on so you don't have to open them

Remember phone charger and power bank for flight . Download Netflix progs to watch. Headphones.

I pack a dress and cossie, pants and sandal in my case in case luggage goes AWOL.

Use packing cubes

Buy a boots meal deal to eat on plane

As well as above I pack hydrocortisone and antihistamine and a small pair of scissors.

I usually travel in thin loose harem trousers t shirt and cardigan or hoodie and trainers.

Take a spare luggage type padlock.

Print out your boarding cards, and other details - don't just rely on your phone.
When you pack, put everything on the bed and then put one third to a half of it away again - you don't need loads of stuff.
If you are putting bags in the hold, you only need a handbag or very small rucksack to take on the plane as hand luggage.
Allow LOTS of time to travel to the airport.
Don't drink alcohol while lying by the pool - you'll feel awful, and it will spoil your holiday.
Do at least one thing every day out of your comfort zone or new to you, so that you make the most of your trip.

Mix the clothes for each person between the suitcases so that if one goes missing, that person isn’t left with no clothes.

Put a swimming cossie and spare pair of pants for each person in their hand luggage in case all the hold luggage goes missing.

Essential medication always in hand luggage - again in case hold luggage goes missing.

Put together a decent first aid kit so it doesn’t matter if you’re not close to a pharmacy - my must haves: Imodium, rehydration powders, antihistamines, painkillers, bite cream, plasters / bandages, sudocrem, Gaviscon / rennies, thermometer, instant ice packs, aloe vera gel or after sun.

Travel wash to do quick bits of laundry if needed.

Plenty of sunscreen.

Plug adapters - we usually just take a couple and then an extension lead.

Make sure your passport is in date, including the stupid six month rule.

I’m in Greece now it’s getting warmer each day but still a little chilly on an evening so bring hoodies/denim jackets something light to carry if required. Also mozzies are now out in force so bring mozzie spray containing deet for the first few days you can always buy more locally.
Also keep a couple of bottles of water in hand luggage/buy on plane in case you arrive late or it’s a bank holiday which are plentiful at this time of year.
Hope you have a memorable holiday 🇬🇷😎

We take our own snacks for the airport as food inside can be expensive and have long queues. we buy sandwiches, crisps, fruit and sandwiches.

a tip i for from here was to bring an empty drinks bottle and fill it up from one of the drinking wafer fountains once you've got through security.

You can m often buy pool toys cheaper in the Uk than abroad. i've bought water sprayers from poundland, which i've taken abroad.

Many hotels will have a supermarket attached which can be expensive. Find a supermarket that the locals use, (there is usually one in the local area).