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!

What? You take water on holiday with you? Where are you travelling?

I travel a lot. And even in some European cities I don’t want to spend time buying some disgusting expensive luke warm bottled water. I live in a country where you basically can drink water out of rivers. 😂 And if where I am staying doesn’t have a fridge, I really like ice cold fresh water!

That’s not going to work in easyJet baggage luggage allowance. 🤣

100 % the extension cord with multiple plug points because these days you need a lot!

I also always make sure i have a couple of portable battery chargers, fully charged. Brilliant for actual travel and can be left to charge up in accommodation then you have additional options for charging overnight or while out.

Preferred tea bags! 🤣

I usually throw a couple of plastic bags in. So useful as emergencyaundry bags or for wet stiff or dirty shoes.

Never travelled with easyJet. 😅 But I have travelled to many places, and this had never been a problem if it’s checked in. Are you saying easyJet wouldn’t allow it?

If it’s about weight I travel lightly, and the water obviously won’t be packed on the way back.

Different note, how can bottled water in America taste like sewage? 🤮

More weight to carry and space taken up! I’d rather bring home souvenirs or presents.

One of those wide but thin inflatable cushions as the last two flights I've taken, the seats were like bricks.

A mini Phillips screwdriver lives in my suitcase, as does nail scissors for tags etc.

Prescription sunglasses are my absolute must, absolutely love not having to mess about swapping them out all day long.

Exactly. You need to plan these things. 😅

If you’re going on a long haul, pre-order your usual toiletries from the Boots at the airport and pick them up when you go through duty free. You’ll be allowed to take them on the plane, it’s great as they don’t count towards your main hold luggage allowance and if you pack some spare empty mini bottles, you can decant leftovers (and use for a mini break 😀).

Ear plugs and eye masks. I've got several that are kept in the cases.
Large cotton sarong in a nice colour that doubles as a scarf to travel with, planes can be cold.

But planes usually have blankets.

Long haul anyway.

Not always, in my experience.
And sometimes they're a bit smelly.

I like Rehab shampoo and conditioner sheets and their little capsule of hair and body oils for travelling.

A travel adapter plug and an extension plug with sockets for phone/kindle/airpods.

A big scarf, I have a cosy one for colder places and a thin one for warm places. They’ve come in handy for lots of different reasons.

Not really a travel item but I always bring my own pillowcase. It’s just nicer.

A couple of klippits are handy for reselling large bags of crisps etc
https://www.klippit.co.uk

mini sewing kit (handy for any clothes repairs needed and the needle also useful for splinters)

Even when it's "safe" to drink the water, I take my Grayl water filter bottle. Brilliant piece of kit, and means I don't have to buy single-use plastic bottles. Not cheap, and probably not worth it for most EU travel, but if you're in the market for a filter, get this one.

Also, if you need anti-malaria / dengue sprays and don't like DEET, picaridin formulas work just as well without the smell, slip, plastic-melting properties etc..

Ooh thanks so much for this ! Saw them in Italy at a rugby match and they were amazing I kept meaning to look them up

Yeah, they often are. 🤢

I tend to travel with hand luggage only, so still take small versions or use the silicon bottles.

These are great
https://www.boots.com/boots-travelpouch-set-100ml-10323176

How do you use them. Do you wet your hair and just rub them on. Do they lather up properly ?

I'm very sensitive to earpods/headphones so find it very uncomfortable when watching films on long haul flights. So I bought what is essentially mini speakers in a fabric headband. Complete gamechanger, very comfortable, sound quality is great and also doubles as an eye mask if you want to sleep.

An alternative type of charger;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09JKJ1QRJ

If all your devices can be charged using USB C, then just take one of these (with the alternative plug attachment) and enough - and properly powered, in the case of a laptop/tablet - cables to suit everything you need.

My laptop can be charged through the USB C port, as long as the wattage is high enough, so the charger needs to be powerful enough, and the cable needs to be able to transfer enough power.

I have:

A see through bag of basic first aid stuff (paracetamol, ibuprofen, plasters, diarrhoea tablets, senokot, antiseptic wipes, bite cream, antihistamines).

A bag with various chargers / adaptors.

A packing list - honed over the years for all types of trips - makes packing really easy.

Always take a couple of large bin bags that can be used for dirty shoes etc, a laundry bag m, and a sturdy shopping bag.

I have a travel washing line that is twisted elastic with a hook on each end. Weighs virtually nothing, stretches to any length you need, and doesn’t need pegs as you just pinch the corner of the clothes through the gaps in the twisted line.

Also multi/USB adaptor and full first aid kit as above. I remove the tablets from
boxes but keep the instructions with the strips and have never had a problem (apart from when someone fiddled with the kit before holiday and we ended up with upset stomachs and no Imodium.

I found this out completely by accident, but having a couple of tampons in the top
pocket of your rucksack or carry on bag really
reduces the amount of time security men want to rummage through your bag. I am 100% for airport security but in some airports it is just a numbers game and you have to unpack and repack your stuff multiple times before you get on the plane. One guy physically recoiled at finding two Lil lets in my rucksack and I’ve never been waved through so quickly before in my life.

It definitely works for me, lol best thing I’ve done on a plane as I can’t sleep when it’s light
Hopefully it works for you