5 Holiday Essentials to Have Ready for Summer
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Last week I was talking all about visiting The Canary Islands, so today I would follow on by talking about some of the holiday essentials you should look to have on hand ready for your summer away this year.
Suitable Luggage
No matter if you are staying in the UK or heading off to a far-flung shore you are going to want to make sure you have suitable luggage. This means not only making sure your items are protected but if you are flying making sure the dimensions and weight pass those allowed by the airlines.
If you are looking for luggage that will help keep your belongings organised then Emigre and their travel collection is worth checking out.
It is worth making sure within your hand luggage you choose a bag which allows you to keep all your travel documentation safe as well. This will include your passport, tickets (if you have e-tickets then a travel charger for your phone should be a must), insurance documents and medical items (including any proof of vaccinations which may be needed).
For any luggage that goes into the hold, it is worth adding a brightly coloured piece of ribbon or luggage tag which will help you differentiate it from other similar cases as it comes around the carrousel.
Maps and Guidebooks
If you are heading to a location you haven’t been to before, making sure you pack maps and guidebooks for the area can be really helpful. These can help you not only find your way around but help direct you to points of interest within the locality.
If you are heading abroad to a country that speaks another language you will also want to include a language book or app, to help you out with communication. While most places do speak English to some degree, it is always worth trying to at least say simple words such as hello, please and thank you in the native tongue.
Clothing
Before packing your clothing you are going to want to take a look at the predicted weather for the time you are away. This will hopefully help you decide on what layers you need to look into packing. Alongside clothing you are also going to want to consider; shoes, swimming suits, underwear and nightwear.
It is always worth packing something in case it rains or gets a bit colder at night, even when heading off to a warmer location if you have room within your suitcase.
Electronics and Gadgets
This is perhaps a category that wouldn’t have had so much thought got into it not so long ago. However these days you are going to want to think about your phone charger, plug/mains adaptors, headphones and of course as mentioned before a portable charger.
Depending on personal preference, you may also want to include a camera, although these days phone cameras are so good many will choose to go without a separate camera to capture the memories.
Toiletries
If you are travelling by plane before you start packing this part you are going to want to check the toiletries allowance for your airline. If you are taking liquids into the cabin you will need to decant liquids and creams into clear plastic containers of no more than 100ml and store them in a clear bag. Luckily you can easily buy travel-safe packs which can be reused.
Besides shower gel, shampoo and conditioner and any daily products you may use, you will also want to think about hygiene products if your period may start, deodorant, shaving items and any make-up you may want. Alongside, toothbrush, toothpaste and hairbrush.
I hope this helps you with packing your suitcase for your summer adventures this year.
What is your must-have item in a suitcase?
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I have to write a list even if I am going out of the area for the day haha. It’s great having articles like this to refer to to remind us what to take as I always forget something!
I’m the same – I always forget something even with a list but at least with a list it’s not quite so much forgotten lol.
Gosh, there seems to be such a lot to think about! I’ve not had a holiday for many, many years; at first, because I couldn’t afford one, and now because Fibromyalgia has almost crippled me. It’s why I always keep my fingers crossed and hope for a sunny Summer in England every year!
IT’s so hard isn’t it – I am definitely one of those people who always manages to forget something!
It must be a sign of my age, but my ‘must have’ is a few decent tea bags!
I love that – honestly I need my cuppa in the morning.
My must-have suitcase item is waterproof bags for wet or damp clothing. Especially important for swimming costumes and towels.
This is such a good idea, I always panic when things are still wet before we come home!
I think maps & guide books are essential so you can plan plan what you want to do when.
Definitely, it can really help you out as well when you are exploring to be able to find your way.
For years I swore that nothing could replace ‘proper’ books; now I wouldn’t travel without my Kindle.
I have to admit I always said that, then my eyes got funny and I went to kindle as it was easier to read and now I only do audiobooks!
@Sarah-Louise Bailey, I prefer to read rather than listen to audiobooks. However, ‘proper’ books are difficult for me to hold now, which is why I love the Kindle. I’m calling it ‘mine’ although I have actually appropriated my husband’s (am hoping for one of my own for my birthday this month).
I had to change from books to kindle and then finally audiobooks, the swap to audio was the hardest it took me years to start enjoying reading again. I found in the end I have to listen at 2x – 2.5x speed which probably matches with how fast I would read for it to work. At normal speed I just found it monotonous and I couldn’t do it at all.
My tip is to use those shower caps you get in hotel bathrooms, great for putting over shoes and i pack my Velcro rollers in them too. I also pack a plastic shopping pack to put dirty clothes in on the return journey
That’s such a good idea, I wouldn’t have thought of that – thank you!
Spf and charger ! Never go anywhere without these essentials
They are a must, aren’t they?! I am totally with you on those.
My tip is take some stuff out – don’t have it overloaded nothing worse than the repacking you see at the airport
That would be a nightmare – definitely worth really thinking about what you have packed.
Take a photo of your suitcase on your phone, so if it goes missing when you are filling in forms at the airport you have exact details
@MARIA ROGERS, great tip and very easy to do. Better a photo than black with black rubbery patches!!
This is such a good idea! I would never remember what I had inside, so this is a must do from now on thank you!
I think in recent years there has not been a holiday where we have forgotten something. Our last holiday we forgot our travel money and our bank cards and managed to survive a whole holiday using Apple Pay. How amazing is that? Will be looking at this list before we go to Malta. I will try and break the record and not forget anything this time round
Oh wow, that is amazing that you managed to do it all on Apple Pay! I have to admit I always forget something, I get so focused on meds or similar that I forget my hairbrush most of the time lol.