Your number one things to take travelling / on holiday

[lisalisa]

I’m having a few mini holidays over the next few months and have seen various adverts on social media for travel accessories / things that make travel easier / more stylish / more practical .
what have you bought recently that’s really enhanced your travel experience or make it more fun / easier to travel ?

Passport
Phone and charger
Clothes
Wash bag

Not stylish recommendations but...

Multi usb charger with various cables
Cross body bag
Tea bags

Packing cubes

Ooo definitely packing cubes! I love an organised suitcase and it's so good to keep dirty clothes packed away too once they've been worn. It's easy to pack / unpack and your suitcase doesn't look like it's been through the way after the baggage handlers have kicked it about.

The whole extension cord trick - instead of multiple adaptions, take an extension cord!

I love my passport holder, it's an older fashioned one that holds my passport, and VISAs and my travel money. I pop the bag tags in too and I feel like it's easier to make sure I'm not losing my passport when I can see the holder in my bag. It means there's no fuss of trying to grab passport / boarding pass or getting them shoved into the wrong bag pocket, they're just always there in the holder and easy to find.

Also, have bought a fab rucksack that fits under the seat in front of you but for a few nights can fit all you need as long as you fly in your winter coat and boots. No need to pay extra to the airline. Will find link

A set of small bottles for just enough shampoo/conditioner/cleanser for the trip. Won them in a raffle.

Neck pillow for long haul flights.

Definitely go hand luggage only if you can! I will never put anything in the hold again.Top tips to do this are:
Learn how to roll clothes properly ( indie each other - YouTube it!)
Find a really good soft bag with loads of pockets
Stick to neutrals so you can mix and match easily
Use hotel toiletries where available
Wear an extra layer when travelling

Travel pouch for passports.

Sterling card for spending, rather than getting euros.

Extension lead with one travel plug.

Take one adaptor for the country you’re travelling to and an extension cable from your home country. Then you don’t need to worry about using loads of different adapters x

Depends where you're going, how long for, what airline etc.

I have what I call my toy bag which is a very very thin lightweight rucksack that folds into its own pocket. I put it inside my hand luggage and it contains my phone, headphones, kindle, bottle of water and sweets for the flight. Use this for long haul.

I'm on an EasyJet flight later this year and the chewpest way of travelling with them is to have hand luggage only. I have just bought a rucksack that is the exact dimensions of theiir maximum allowable handluggage.

But as pp said as long as you have your passport, credit card and some clothes you'll be ok.

Sarongs for beach holidays
Travel clothes pegs
Good SPF lip balm
Another vote for packing cubes

Sorry to butt in here, but can I ask what sort of lightweight rucksack you take?

A multi-plug with two UK plug sockets and three USBs

Solid shampoo, conditioner & face wash (I use Gruum) if taking hand luggage only

As above with deodorant - stick not spray or roll on.

Buy a sheet mask at the airport for dry skin after flying

Single-use eye drops (my eyes really dry out on planes)

Portable phone charger

Longchamp-style folding handbag

First defence and anti-bac wipes for the plane

Water bottle to fill up after security

Google Chromecast - often don’t work in hotels, but if you’re AirBnb-ing or similar, it’s super useful to cast to the TV from your phone

Thin but warm big scarf for the flight

I also always take my own slippers with me, as I hate the thin hotel slippers you get.

Kindle
Coffee bags

Oh! And a bag of a Yorkshire Tea bags.

@Shinyandnew1

I got mine in Disney Paris. It folds to nothing. Something like this but possibly even more lightweight:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/G4Free-Lightweight-Foldable-Resistant-Traveling/dp/B08HRJ1KS6/ref=ascdff_B08HRJ1KS6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=473115828162&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9637183068636355880&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044980&hvtargid=pla-1005526489430&psc=1&mcid=195cd2bd229d3e2f8d070f627328f765

the 'Point It' book!

Doesn't matter what the language is - just point it - good in emergencies or even if you just need to buy a toothbrush

I've had mine 20 years - hopefully you can still get them

Eye mask
AirPods
Things to watch/read downloaded on phone
All manner of wipes
Massive thin scarf
Lavender spray
Slippers
Snacks
Power bank
Lanyard for phone
Downloaded map of area on Google maps/language downloaded on Google translate
Moisturiser/lip balm
Flight socks

A Kindle. Can't go away without books, and a Kindle ensures I never run out of reading material.

Multi plug.

I bought a pack of earrings from Primark for a few pounds and kept the cardboard with all the holes in it. Now I take it with 6 pairs of earrings that go with my outfits.

lots of different toiletry bags, one for toiletries, one for make up, hair accessories and jewellery and another for medication.

Ear plugs.

Kindle
International adapter with multiple USB ports so you can charge everything at once
Packing cubes

For a splurge Briggs & Riley cabin case with compression technology. My DH can pack 3 weeks worth of clothes into one of those.

Insect repellent
Antihistamines
Steroid cream

Not glamorous but very necessary!

Always pack an extension cord ( esp if we are travelling with our kids) and then one travel plug
And a couple of ice cube bags. I hate staying somewhere that only has one teeny ice cube tray.

Photographer's vest for the pockets. Anything in there doesnt count for your carry-on allowance.

In-flight conveniences all covered by pp.

Wellness at the destination: a resistance band and a tennis ball (the latter for deep tissue neck and back massage using body weight against the wall.)

a bin bag - put dirty clothes in to bring home then they can easily be put in the wash when home. But also come in handy for various reasons

power strip that lets you plug 4 things in

my own cup - an enamel one that can't break. I don't like using hotel ones

i use ikea ziploc backs as packing cubes - it's great cos you can see what's inside.

after a flight sat next to the world's smelliest man, a little rollerball thing of lavender oil so I can put some under my nose if that happens again