Leanne Bayley
Things you need to pack for your holiday: the ultimate guide of all your essentials. From your hand luggage needs, insurance documents, medication and what to take to keep the children entertained...
Remembering to pack everything for your holiday used to be hard enough, but it's now become a mammoth task following the ongoing coronavirus drama.
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With travel restrictions (seemingly) easing, you may be thinking about booking a proper holiday next year– and you'll need even more essentials for your break, including hand sanitiser and face masks. Whether you're hoping to jet away for a family holiday, a trip with friends or a romantic break with your other half, we've done the hard part for you by compiling your need-to-know packing guide - so now there's just the small matter of how to fit it all into your suitcase!
Discover your ultimate guide to holiday packing
Travel documents:
These are the items you can't afford to travel without. Make sure you have your passport and various travel documents - such as your travel insurance - safe in your hand luggage. It’s also worth making a copy before you travel in case anything goes missing.
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Valuables, tech and entertainment:
From the all-important phone and charger to your travel currency and camera, you're going to want to save plenty of room in your hand luggage for these valuables and entertainment. Make sure you take an appropriate plug adaptor for your destination, and download some of your favourite films or TV shows to watch on the flight if you have a long journey. Picking up a phrase book or travel guide to the country you're visiting will prove invaluable in helping you to find your way around and impress the locals with your lingo – or at least try.
These are the essentials you can't forget in your hand luggage or suitcase:
1) Passport
Tiger Passport Holder, £9, Paperchase
2) Insurance documents - if you're concerned about coronavirus, we've taken a look at travel insurance policies.
3) Boarding pass
4) Visa documents
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5) Any other holiday documentation
Joules Travel Wallet, £27, John Lewis
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6) Driving licence
7) Phone
8) Phone charger
9) Plug adaptors
iBlockCube Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter, £27.99, Amazon
10) Purse and travel money
11) Keys
12) Laptop or tablet
13) Charger for laptop
14) Headphones
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15) Camera
16) Camera charger
17) Portable phone charger
18) Pen and notebook
Moleskine Voyageur Travel Notebook, £22, John Lewis
19) Books or magazines
20) Phrasebook or travel guide to the country you're visiting
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Essentials:
These essentials will help to make your journey more comfortable, and will also come in handy once you arrive. Save money (and single-use plastic) by taking your own refillable water bottle that you can fill up after passing through security, and don't forget your sunglasses if you're travelling somewhere hot.
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21) Disinfectant wipes. You probably touch your phone as much as you touch your face. To minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus, clean your phone and other belongings with a disinfectant wipe. Keep a pack handy for any surface you might need to clean as you move through public spaces.
Alcohol wipes 70%, pack of 50, £7.99, Amazon
22) Glasses or contact lenses
23) Sunglasses
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24) Tissues
25) Antibacterial hand gel or hand santitiser - this is particularly important following the outbreak of coronavirus. The ideal is at least 60% alcohol.
Halo Instant 76% Alcohol Hand Sanitiser Gel 100ml Pack of 10, £14.99 Amazon
26) Face mask - when it comes to cloth masks, there are plenty of fun face masks for kids, as well as stylish alternatives to shop online. You can even buy a HELLO! face mask! On Amazon you can shop disposable FFP2/KN95 face masks, too.
Pack of 25 FFP2/KN95 Face Masks, £19.95, Amazon
27) Any medication you need (plus prescription)
28) A clear sealable bag for your liquids
29) A bag for your cosmetics - we love this ultra portable one from Glossier.
Holiday Beauty Bag, £55, Glossier
30) Refillable water bottle - take it through security empty and fill it up once you're through
LARS NYSØM stainless steel water bottle, £19.99, Amazon
31) Hand cream (under 100ml)
32) Moisturiser (under 100ml)
33) Sleep kit for longer flights with eye mask and earplugs
34) Travel pillow
If travelling with children:
Keep little ones comfortable and entertained on your travels with snacks, toys and games. Don't forget a spare change of clothes for the journey, as well as any nappies, wet wipes and medication you may need.
35) Change of clothes for the journey
36) Nappies (including swim nappies for the pool) and/or underwear
Huggies little swimmers swim nappies size 3-4 12 pants, £5.50, Boots
37) Wet wipes
38) Snacks and enough baby food/ milk for the journey
39) Medication
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40) Dummies or comforters
41) Toys, games or books
42) Clothes
43) Sun hat
44) Bucket and spade for beach entertainment
45) Specific toiletries for children such as sensitive shampoo
Hold Luggage:
It goes without saying that you're going to want to pack beachwear, swimwear and lots of sun cream if you're going somewhere hot. Make sure you take enough sun cream and after sun to see you through at least the first few days, and pack bug repellent, antiseptic cream and a first aid kit to keep your family happy and healthy throughout your trip.
While you can pick up many toiletries and emergency supplies close to most resorts, taking your own will give you peace of mind that you have everything you need on hand, while saving valuable time to enjoy by the pool or on the beach.
Fingers crossed everything will be perfect on your trip, but it’s important to prepare for all eventualities – from packing an umbrella or waterproof jacket for any sudden downpours to taking a small sewing kit for any clothing malfunctions.
46) First aid kit
Travel first aid kit, £12, Boots
47) Toothbrush
48) Toothpaste
49) Mouthwash
50) Dental floss
51) Face creams
52) Body lotions
HELLO! loves: Seychelles Staycation Travel Essentials, £30, The White Company
53) Cleanser
54) Deodorant
55) Perfume
56) Bug repellent
57) Hairdryer
GHD flight travel hair dryer with protective bag, £59, LookFantasic
58) Shampoo and conditioner
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59) Hairstyling products such as hairspray or gel
60) Hairbrush
Balmain travel pouch with detangling brush, argan moisturising elixir and leave in conditioner, £99.95, Lookfantastic
61) Hair bobbles
62) Travel-friendly hair tools
ghd Unplugged Cordless Hair Straightener, £299, ghd
63) Antiseptic cream
64) Makeup
65) Makeup remover
66) Sun cream
67) After sun
Herbivore after sun skin soothing mist, £11, Revolve
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68) Razor
69) Beach umbrella
70) Umbrella
71) Waterproof jacket
Packaway waterproof jacket, more colours available, from £21.99, Amazon
72) Mini sewing kit
73) Underwear
74) Packing cubes with a laundry bag
Eono by Amazon 8-piece set of packing cubes, more colours available, £27.99 , Amazon
75) Clothes
76) Sandals and trainers
77) Swimwear
78) Pyjamas
79) Handbag
80) Beach bag
81) Beach towel
Sustainable beach towel, £12.99, Wayfair
82) Goggles or snorkelling mask
83) Fabric spray
The Laundress Fabric Fresh spray, £13, Selfridges
84) Belts
85) Jewellery and accessories
86) Disposable camera
Kodak Single Use FunSaver Camera with Flash, £20.95, Amazon
87) An extra bag for waste, laundry, etc.
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