Asking for your Holiday/ Traveller Tips.

[whocanbebothered]

I am in my 30s and in two weeks I am off on my first "real" holiday abroad. Going for a week in the sun with my DP (Turkey, incase it's relevant to anyone's advice). I haven't ever been abroad without my parents so I am SO excited!

I know the basics; clothes, suncream (but how much do I take?!), paracetamol!

I'd appreciate your pearls of wisdom for what you pack for holidays, what things are invaluable, what entertains you on the plane (we have 5 hrs in the sky), any little things that aren't really "necessary" but makes life easier whilst there etc. Any massive do's and don't when you are travelling? Go on, give me your combined knowledge please MN

Passport, insurance and money/cards are the only essentials.

Anything else can be bought or done without

Possibly not what you are asking, but my advice is always be very careful when crossing the road abroad, and make sure you are looking the right way, in fact every way in some countries, even on pedestrian crossings, which are often ignored. I had a very close run thing with a speeding taxi in Florence (on a pedestrian crossing) and I am ultra cautious these days. I was half an inch from certain death!

I'd definitely take at least 2 or 3 bottles of suncream per person. It's always been far more expensive abroad in my experience.

I just read, sleep or look out of the window on the flight.

I like to take everything I need because I don't want to waste time shopping on holiday end up paying a lot of money for something that isn't as nice and probably worse quality/less suitable than the version I already have at home.

If you don't have a Starling, Revolut or Monzo card, apply for one today and put your holiday spending money in that account to spend or withdraw cash at the best rate available.

Yes to basic painkillers/first aid kit, so you don't have to go searching and find that the shops are closed - all weekend opening is very much a UK thing and many overseas shops are closed between Saturday lunchtime and Monday morning. Also, you can't always buy painkillers in supermarkets, only pharmacists.

Check all your luggage allowances/liquid rules etc and take food with you, eat at the airport or buy something like a Boots meal deal, as airplane food is usually expensive and poor quality.

I make a point of always looking both ways in countries that drive on the other side of the road to hopefully avoiding stepping out in front of a vehicle after looking the wrong way.

jabs

Take an extension lead and one travel plug - most hotel rooms only have one or two plug sockets.

Mozzie spray containing DEET

First aid kit incl paracetamol, ibuprofen, Imodium, plasters, antiseptic cream. Local pharmacies are great, but all the above will be more expensive than UK.

Anti bac gel/wipes - use liberally.

@BarbaraofSeville Good point about the weekend opening hours abroad. I will Google Monzo cards etc; not really sure what they are but I'm intrigued...

If you might be attractive to mosquitos take some anti-mozzie spray. I've used the kids ranges from Tesco/Sainsburys etc and they've been fine. I've had some very painful experiences when I've forgotten to use it before going outside!
I'd pack a few first aid items - bite cream, paracetamol, immodium and keep some in your handbag when you go out.
I always keep packing to a minimum - if your hotel hires out towels don't bother with beach towels.

Take antihistamines,plasters antiseptic cream etc basically a mini first aid kit

Insect repellant. I can’t stress it enough.

After sun just in case. I don’t burn because I apply sun cream liberally but DH is an idiot and always needs it.

iPad for plane, and headphones.

Ear plugs.

That’s pretty much it for essentials aside from a passport

Well first off Passports and insurance and emergency numbers !! . I always keep mine in a clear plastic wallet in my bag so it's handy and their together

Travel plug and travel wash

Insect repellent in any shape or form

Alcohol gel - it's amazing for sun burn if you get any!

Tablets. Ie... the shits, head aches, if you get bit. The usuals. Just take a few cut out from the packet They come in handy!

And keep an emergency £20 in your purse incase you ever need it !

Just enjoy x

I take casual outfits, smarter for the evening, a wrap (ideal if sightseeing at religious sites and to protect from the sun), comfortable shoes, hat, 2-3 swimwear, small first aid kit including blister plasters if sightseeing!, Imodium (essential for turkey), sunscreen, after sun, then the obvious passport, two forms of money, printed boarding passes, travel adapters for plugs, I take a power pack because my phone dies quickly, beach bag, beach towel, toiletries (in hold luggage) and remember that you can't take liquids in hand luggage over 100ml and all have to be packed into one 10cmx10cm clear bag.

A clothes rail of some sort, to put stuff on before you pack ... really helps with planning and cutting down on duplicates or "I'll just put this in ..."

Another vote for monzo although ours got cloned in Russia so don't keep lots of money on it

If you think you might get an upset stomach, then take meds with you e.g. Imodium & Dioralyte to treat/rehydrate without having to worry about where to get anything.

If you’re taking electronics with you that have USB leads/charger cables then look at getting a native plug with multiple USB ports - saves taking all the UK plugs and adapters. If you’re doing this, I’d also consider getting a long phone cable as I find that plug sockets are never where I want them!

Also, do make sure you are prepared for airport security: have your electronics and liquid bag ready to grab from your hand luggage, coat and belt off, empty pockets etc. Don’t be one of those people who seems surprised they need to get stuff out at the scanners and take ages faffing around. (Can you tell I get annoyed by this one frequent basis?!!)

I would pack then take out about half! And I often take too many pairs of shoes which weigh heavy so minimise those. Handwashing liquid
Small packs of tissues
Wet Ones or similar handbag sized wet wipes
Little travel bottles for shampoo etc
Minimal make up
Minimal jewellery ( I don’t think I took any to Majorca last year)

Buy toiletries, sunscreen etc in the UK to take with you, I've never found it to be cheaper abroad.
I buy water once I've gone through security at the airport, if you are waiting about for transport/transfers at the (hot), destination it comes in handy.
Wet wipes, find these invaluable when out and about, reapplying sun cream etc.
I've also started taking a thin, gauzy scarf with me, I saw some women in Greece using them as a makeshift shawl to keep the sun off when it got really intense, it's a good idea. Still obviously use sun cream too.

Charges and adaptors
Sun cream and after sun/moisturiser
Kindle or similar
Good headphones

Don't pack ANY suntan cream, shower gel etc.....

buy it all from boots online
pick up airside (takes 5 mins)
doesn't count towards your cabin weight
you don't have to take it through security
you don't risk leaking cases

... absolute game changer for me! (no I don't work for them)

Enjoy your hols!

Always split your clothing and toiletries up into each others cases.
That way, if a case goes missing you will have some clothes and toiletries to be going on with until you get sorted.

Check your baggage allowance. Inc case size.
Check again
Look up the rules for your airport.
Check in as soon as you can if you want seats together and haven't pre-booked.
Good travel insurance
Bank card you can use abroad (and tell bank).

Beware just because an activity is available doesn't make it safe. Use common sense

Enjoy yourself.

Beware of other passengers dragging their overweight hand luggage, that they are too weak to actually support, from the overhead locker....

Lucky you, hope you have a great time on your first independent break!

You are only going for a week, so try to pack as light as possible. One tip I have is to put all your adaptor plugs, chargers, battery packs etc in a ziplock bag. Easy to get out if security want a better look and keeps everything together.

A small backpack for the plane is great (it will go under your seat), make sure it has a zipped compartment facing your back. Put passport, check in docs in there. Great security and both hands are free for other things. Same backpack is also great for days out etc. Holds water, suncream, wallet, rolled up wrap and so on. I wouldn't travel without one, but they are cheapies from Amazon so I don't care if they get damaged or wet or whatever.

Pharmacies in Turkey will sell you everything apart from benzos, codeine and morphine without a prescription, well at least that was the case the last time I went to Istanbul (it's a few years now though). I am not a druggie I just asked!

Have a ball!

Some great advice already.

In terms of what to wear to travel, layers are your friend, especially going from here to a hot climate and back again. I tend to wear a comfy but nice dress with leggings and a cardi / wrap, then I can take the leggings / cardi off before landing and vice versa on the way home. Saves trying to fit a whole extra outfit into your hand luggage.

Luggage scales - ours were about £4 from Aldi I think and they're really handy. Not necessarily pinpoint accurate but give you a good idea if you're close to the relevant weight limit...and on that note make sure you know what your weight limit is for both hold and cabin luggage and what size is the maximum for your cabin luggage.

And yes yes to @Wink1970 we do that too! suncream etc weighs heavy so order online pick up at airport changed my life too!

Avon Skin So Soft is MUCH better, safer, cheaper and more effective than any insect repellant. Apply in the morning (and after swimming) and you won't have any bites, plus your skin will be soft and you won't have to breathe in any of the scary spray repellent.