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Holiday abroad must haves.

29 replies

PreparationIsKey · 01/07/2026 19:50

Taking dcs for their 1st holiday abroad in 4 weeks.
What must haves do you recommend? They're 8 and 5.
I've got jungle formula and deet free wrist bands for bug repellent . Sun Lotion obviously. Couple of Inflatables.
But what little things do you find ideal to take or even things you take but never use.
I have calpol tablets , antihistamines already on the list .

OP posts:
SpottyAlpaca · 01/07/2026 19:55

Chill out!

Assuming you’re going to Europe, everywhere has supermarkets & pharmacies. Just buy antihistamines, bug repellant if & when you need them.

RetainersinSpainnotontheplane · 01/07/2026 19:55

Baby powder to get the sand off.

A power strip so you have more outlets to plug into the adaptor.

Imodium. Never needed it but I don’t want to be trying to figure out where to get it if I need it or god forbid trying to describe it to a pharmacist abroad.

Miranda65 · 01/07/2026 20:01

Passports, tickets, money.... the old faithfuls. As mentioned, anything you need out there, you can buy.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/07/2026 20:04

Buy insect repellant when you're there . It'll be formulated for local insects .

SabrinaThwaite · 01/07/2026 20:04

Sun protection shirts.

DancingInTheMoonlights · 01/07/2026 20:06

multi-bank extension leads - there are never enough plug sockets.

SwirlyGates · 01/07/2026 20:14

@RetainersinSpainnotontheplane we needed immodium on a recent holiday. We'd only packed one sachet, which DH used, and then the next night I needed it REALLY badly. I had to send him out to an all-night pharmacy (thank goodness there was one nearby, not something I'd expect). The pharmacist spoke English, and gave him something similar, but translating the cyrillic instructions was interesting. Grin

I haven't immodium for years, but it's on my must-have packing list now - more than one sachet!

Justaquestionplease · 01/07/2026 20:19

Uno! A must have for the evenings or whilst sitting on the balcony. Dobble is a good shout too.

Aposterhasnoname · 01/07/2026 20:21

Tickets, passports, money. Anything else you can buy or do without.

StepawayfromtheLindors · 01/07/2026 20:21

Rehydration powder in sachets in case you have a bad case of upset stomach/vomiting.

Vanillaicelatte · 01/07/2026 20:24

check your passports are actually in date

travel insurance

Not for the kids but get an e aim for using the internet - Watsapp abroad I use Maya Sim and its unlimited internet for 15 for 1 week

an extra long cable for phones / chargers

PreparationIsKey · 01/07/2026 20:27

Passports were all new last month so definitely in date.

Good idea to get the repellent there. Will Google a supermarket but I'm sure it was 20 min away we won't have a car.

Will also buy inflatables there too hopefully.

Yes to uno. And have got the waterproof one

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 01/07/2026 20:28

Is it a hotel or villa?
Extension cables are always useful.
Remember all your chargers

dementedpixie · 01/07/2026 20:31

I take repellent with me. Didn't need it for lanzarote though. Think the wind kept them away

JohnnieFedora · 01/07/2026 20:31

Where are you going? What kind of holiday is it?

A jingle trek through Bolivia will need different things to an All Inclusive in Lanzarote which will need different things to an self catering at Lake Garda which would be different again if your going to Disneyland....

PreparationIsKey · 01/07/2026 20:37

August 1st to Turkey in a hotel.

OP posts:
Rocknrollstar · 01/07/2026 20:51

Books, colouring pencils, colouring books, plain paper. Sun hats.

dementedpixie · 01/07/2026 20:52

We used to take a box of the dcs favourite cereal with us so there was something we knew they'd eat.

Travel wash so you can treat stains and wash out swimwear and underwear. Washing line can be useful for hanging up towels if you have a balcony. I take a few pegs too

SandAndSea · 01/07/2026 21:15

Packing cubes.
Laundry bag.
Laundry sheets.
Games / colouring stuff for the plane and evenings.
A big, old sheet for the beach.

Sundriessundries · 01/07/2026 21:30

Waterproof hats so they can swim even if it’s super hot. The ones made out of swimming costume material.
often cheaper to buy sun cream, medicine etc here vs a resort so I would always do that.

LathkillDale · 01/07/2026 21:30

Imodium - it’s all very well saying there are pharmacies and supermarkets abroad, but you have to be able to get there! Difficult when you can scarcely leave the bathroom!

Antihistamines - we both get mild hay fever, and they are supposed to relieve the itching of mosquito bites, taken regularly.

A microfibre towel - I often use one as a picnic blanket on a beach.

A waterproof pouch for my phone, room key, etc.

Spare glasses - while I have prescription varifocal sunglasses, it’s no fun trying to read menus with them, in a darkish restaurant in the evening!

Nail scissors (in the hold luggage) - for broken nails, removing clothes tags, etc.

Water bottle - I feel guilty about buying loads of small plastic bottles on Greek islands, where waste disposal is a problem.

Sundriessundries · 01/07/2026 21:35

Also these little shoes that can be helpful if the sand is really hot / pool side is really slippery. Bathing / beach shoes for kids

FortyFacedFuckers · 01/07/2026 21:37

Take the calpol tablets on the flight along with a change of clothes for everyone!

AnchorWHAT · 02/07/2026 10:03

Use packing cubes and make sure there is a cube for each person in every bag so that if one bag goes awol you still have clothes to wear, take some laundry sheets to wash stuff out if needed. Wish i had followed my own advice after being without all my luggage for a week last hol.
also in hand luggage have a spare set for everyone, and any medication along with travel bottles of any special / expensive skin care products you use, all mine were in my lost case and finding suitable replacements was not easy.

Hmmmmwineandchocs · 02/07/2026 10:44

Calpol melts for the plane if needed
snacks!
tablet with loads of downloads
bluetooth headphones so no wires
kids and adults ibuprofen and paracetamol
immodium
any other medication neeeded
mozzie repellent depending where we’re going
plasters
antiseptic cream
inflatable (cost a fortune at hotel shops)
puzzle book or similar for sun breaks round the pool
plenty of suncream inc head sun spray (can’t swim in a hat)
rash tops for the height of the UV
uno or similar for an evening