Useful travel items that make short and long haul holidays easier

[Missohnoyoubetterdont]

Does anyone have any tips for really useful things to take away with them when travelling. It’s just a short haul trip bit long haul too? Things that have made life easier. I have just discovered packing cubes…but late to the game but have really organised my suitcase!

A travel sink plug like this: https://amzn.eu/d/07ou3nkV because it's incredibly frustrating when sink plugs in hotels don't work.

I’ve read before about someone placing a Boots order for shampoo, conditioner, creams, shower gels and SPF to collect in Departures. That’s well over a kilo if you’re a family of 4. I know someone has to carry it from there onwards but DH always has an empty rucksack with just a book inside.

I’ve never done it though.

We have these bands for our sunbeds. Use up way less luggage space than those chunky clips and don’t break.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/397719938291?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338590836&toolid=10044&loc_physical_ms=41949&customid=a13b56b27bc6108909cc3c9a2afd190d&gclid=a13b56b27bc6108909cc3c9a2afd190d

Wow! Some great ideas here. Thank you. Will definitely look at the adapters.

This is the best piece of kit ever and so inexpensive. I was forever leaving the phone down ready to be pinched, or dropping it from my hand etc. It's anti theft aswell to prevent your phone being swiped from your hand. It's good for latching keys also. I attach it to the hole in the zip pull on the inside pocket of whatever little cross body I'm using, same for keys. Godsend. I do realise that it won't stop a determined thief, but it's a deterrent just the same, and I don't worry about phone falling out of my hand either.

www.amazon.co.uk/Mozeat-Lens-Colourful-Theftproof-Anti-Lost/dp/B0CNP1N9CG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?sr=8-1-spons&aref=pYfBD8aMqE&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY

I used to do this for nappies/baby food etc when DCs were younger because I wasn’t using my luggage allowance for it. I always brought a buggy bag and just filled up the buggy bag once the buggy was in before we boarded the plane.

Which ran an article recently saying that they had tested packing cubes, compression packing cubes, rolling clothes & just folding them. They fitted the most in just rolling them. However I do think packing cubes come into their own if you are moving around every couple of days.

Interesting! I do like having one for underwear and one for swimming stuff etc kind of zoning my clothes!

I do - there's only me and I only ever take hand luggage. I have sensitive skin so need products I'm used to.

A luggage weighing thing, it's light and we kept it in our hand luggage. Complete peace of mind that we wouldn't have to worry at the airport. Very accurate, I made a note of the weight at home and it matched up to what the scales said at baggage drop.

This sounds mental but we packed some things in small Tupperware boxes and then put them in the suitcase. We then used those tupperware boxes on the way back to put in breakfast items from the hotel restaurant for the kids to have on the way to the airport or on the plane.

We took a travel size bottle of Stergene hand wash detergent thing. If we got any stains on anything, i mixed a small amount of this with water and spot removed the stain. It got out a disgusting blueberry coloured splodge of bird poo from my jacket.

Also if you want to avoid excessive roaming charges from your network and if you are worried about WiFi at the hotel, I'd highly recommend Mobi Matters for an e-Sim. Worked perfectly when we went to Turkey and had mobile coverage throughout the entire trip for a fraction of the price that Vodafone would've charged

Am I the only one who doesn’t get packing cubes? I have the type that compress and the type that doesn’t, find it much easier to pack without.
I pack foldable reusable shopping bags, an compact umbrella to use as sun protection or rain protection, a small analogue fan, a couple of cheap carabiners to attached sun hats to my rucksack.

I agree. Actually I mistyped. They fitted most in just folding them. I think rolling is better for not creasing though.

@BrendaSmall these threads never have anything new, but oh my word... The backwards hoodie idea is going to revolutionise my travelling! It's simple, but amazing 👌

Dr Beckmann laundry sheets - save space for hand (or machine) washing.
A few folding coat hangers - useful as back up if not enough provided.
Hanging storage pockets for cosmetics and small items, to hang on bathroom door or other wall hook.

I roll them and then put them in packing cubes 😂 I think the benefit to me is that it compartmentalises my bag, too. To keep everything in it's right place, so I'm not digging about too much.i thought the cubes were stupid but I got some really lightweight ones and they are so useful.

Ziploc bags, the thick freezer bags not the flimsy ones
laundry sheets
cheesecloth dresses and shirts (dry quickly, comfy, and don’t need ironing)
A little crossbody bag for phone, bank cards and passport. So everything is always right there

I travel a lot and I think my top tip is travelling as light as possible

I've spent far to much time in the third world, but even in Europe, you need: basic medical supplies, paracetamol, ibuprofen, plasters, antiseptic, a crepe bandage (for that sprained wrist/ankle), some gauze and micropore tape, some latex gloves (cut a finger off which with some micropore will be a waterproof dressing on a cut finger), tweezers to pull out splinters, a universal bath plug, a tube of travel wash and a length of string to be a washing line. My luxury items: travel kettle, a mug, teabags and a pack of cup-a-soup. If you are really going remote, a sharps kit, I've never bothered but there was always one in the work first aid box.

You need to bring the original packaging for medicine. But I do the same, always pack medicine just in case.

Depends on where I am going, but I often pack one or two 1,5 litre bottles of frozen water. Packed in the suitcase in a didgeridoona water holder (bought the first one 20 years ago, never ever bought a better thing in my life 😂 apart from their cooler bags) I have ice cold fresh water for three days.

My children used to make fun of me, but now as young adults they see it as almost a life saver if I bring them a bottle when we travel together.

Yes because I never check in luggage.

Definitely. We mostly do trips when we move on every couple of days, so never really unpack. It is much easier to pick clothes from a few different packing cubes divided into different categories, rather than rummaging around in a case for your socks!

Yes so do I - in one of those little sisal bags so that you can use it like a flannel and just store in a plastic bag to pack if it's damp.

I’ve just discovered those sisal soap bags! They are great!

Im often doing hand luggage only so try and take as much in solid/stick form as possible. I struggle to find a good selection of travel size products for everything and I take soooooo many different things that I need to ration the liquid space.

Solid/stick form:
Deodorant
shampoo bar
Body soap (although often just buy a bottle of shower gel)
Face cleansing bar

Then I can usually manage to fit in mini bottles of conditioner, curl cream, hair serum (can you guess my hair needs a lot of help?!), eye cream, face serum, moisturiser, perfume, small toothpaste, face SPF.

I also keep packing lists on my phone of regular trips so that I don’t have to think as hard and can pack quickly when I need to. These include skiing, beach holiday, work trip, various lists for the kids.

I have also just bought some lounge pants and matching top, which are basically Pyjamas that you are allowed to wear outside! I wear them for flights as super comfy but also great for yoga ( I do still try and do yoga wherever I am!)