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...
Packing for a holiday is all part of the fun. No, honestly it is! After a travel-free couple of years, holidays abroad are back in full force this year, meaning packing for trips away has never been more exciting.
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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
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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.
Family travel wallet with personalisation, £28.80, NotOnTheHighStreet
Travel Document Wallet, £10, Estella Bartlett
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Radley Essex Road backpack, £108, Amazon
This gorgeous slimline Radley bag is ideal for travel, hand luggage and sightseeing. It is full of discreet pockets and is part of the Radley Responsible range - which makes this a guilt-free purchase.
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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.
Stackers Cable Tidy Pack, £30, John Lewis
These are the essentials you can't forget in your hand luggage or suitcase:
1) Passport
2) Insurance documents
3) Boarding pass
4) Visa documents
5) Any other holiday documentation
6) Driving licence
7) Phone
8) Phone charger
9) Plug adaptors
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iBlockCube Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter, £32.99, Amazon
10) Purse and travel money
11) Keys
12) Laptop or tablet
13) Charger for laptop
14) Headphones or earphones
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15) Digital camera
16) Camera charger
17) Portable phone charger
18) Pen and notebook
Travels and Experiences Notebook, £30, Selfridges
19) Books or magazines (or a HELLO! magazine subscription!)
20) Travel phrasebook or travel guide to the country you're visiting.
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. 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.
22) Glasses or contact lenses
23) Sunglasses
Glasses organiser with five slots, £24.99, Amazon
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24) Pocket tissues
25) Antibacterial hand gel or hand santitiser
Hand Sanitiser Holder + Keyring, £7.98, 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.
Pack of 25 FFP2/KN95 Face Masks, £19.95, Amazon
27) Any medication you need - a personal pill organiser will come in handy
28) A clear sealable bag for your liquids
29) A bag for your cosmetics - we love this ultra portable one from Glossier.
Beauty Bag, £32, Glossier
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30) Reusable 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) Face moisturiser (under 100ml)
33) Travel sleep kit for longer flights with eye mask and earplugs
34) Travel pillow
J-Pillow Chin supporting travel pillow, £27.95, Amazon
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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
37) Baby wet wipes
38) Travel snacks and enough baby food/ milk for the journey
39) Medication
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40) Dummies or comforters
41) Toys, games or books
Travel activity case for ages 4-plus, £16.32, Amazon
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
Spa Wherever You Are Kit, £25, TempleSpa
53) Cleanser
54) Deodorant
55) Perfume or fragrance
56) Bug repellent
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57) Hairdryer
ghd On The Go Set, was £358, now £286, ghd
58) Shampoo and conditioner
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59) Hairstyling products such as hairspray or gel
OUAI mini hair essentials bundle, £34, Look Fantastic
60) Hairbrush
61) Hair bobbles
62) Silk pillow case and face mask for sleeping
Satin pillow case set, £16.50, Beauty Bay
63) Antiseptic cream
64) Makeup
65) Makeup remover
66) Sun cream
67) After sun
Soltan essentials family pack, £14.67, Boots
68) Razor
69) Beach umbrella
70) Umbrella
71) A steamer
Steamery Cirrus No. 3 Iron Steamer, £145, Arket
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72) Waterproof jacket
73) Mini sewing kit
74) Underwear
75) Packing cubes with a laundry bag
Eono by Amazon 8-piece set of packing cubes, more colours available, £25.99, Amazon
76) Clothes
77) Sandals and trainers
Pack of 10 shoe bags for travel, £8.69, Amazon
78) Swimwear
79) Pyjamas
80) Handbag
81) Beach bag
82) Beach towel
Fit Flip microfibre towel, £9.99, Amazon
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83) Goggles or snorkelling mask
84) Fabric spray
85) Belts
86) Jewellery and accessories
Jewellery travel case, £13.99, Amazon
87) Disposable camera
88) Laundry bags
Laundry tidy bags, £17.99, Amazon
89) Handheld fans
Mini USB handheld fan, £15.99, Amazon
Rechargeable handheld fan, £16.99, Amazon
This fan is a dream. It has a powerful three settings option and is extremely quiet and lightweight so you can take it anywhere. With a handy USB charging point, too!
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