You don’t have to be trekking the wilderness to need some essential travel kit. It pays to be prepared no matter where you’re going in the world – whether that’s a package holiday abroad, a UK break or a backpacking adventure.
That’s because there are some essentials that make travelling easier, more organised and comfortable. I thought I’d share with you some items that play an important role in my packing to help you enjoy an easy holiday next time you go away.
1. Travel documents
Surely, the most important part of any trip is making sure you have your travel documents with you. Travel tickets, accommodation booking information, your passport, and driving license for car hire.
I like to know that it’s all in one place so that I don’t have to panic at any stage when I can’t find something important. I have both a zippy wallet for shorter trips with smaller hand luggage and a leather travel document folio for longer holidays when I might have more items with me that I need to keep organised.
2. Money
While we’re on the subject of important items, we’ve got to discuss money. Sure, that’s an easy one to cover if you’re holidaying in the UK but, if you’re heading out of the country, you’ll probably need to get prepared with some currency.
So, I’ve found that a travel wallet with plenty of different sections for different currencies works well. I’m also a big fan of the pre-paid travel money card from the Post Office (not sponsored, I just use it myself and it works well).
You just load the card with Euros or whatever currencies you need, and then you can just tap and pay like any debit card. It reminds me a bit of the old travellers’ cheques, so you don’t need to carry as much cash, and it saves you from having to pay currency conversion charges each time you use your credit card abroad.
3. Compact bags
I’ve recently got myself and my husband a couple of small leather bags from Scaramanga. These are cross-body bags for security and they are solely for wandering around the resort and local area when we’re on holiday.
Much like the classic bumbag, this phone bag is just the right size for a few important essentials you might need with you at all times, such as your phone and travel money card, plus (for me) wet wipes and sanitiser for eating out. I keep the bags tucked inside my suitcase until we arrive, then shift my daily bits and bobs into them when we nip out for a stroll.
My micro handbag from Scaramanga is a zip-around design with a front pocket, which I’ve found is perfect for carrying a digital camera – great for photography enthusiasts. I know we all have cameras on our phones (and the bag will easily fit a phone if you prefer) but we still take a real camera with us in order to have more control over the settings and get high-resolution images of the beautiful landscapes we’re enjoying during our getaway.
4. Camera for kids
It’s also a lovely idea to include your children in the process of capturing memories of your holiday. Of course, many younger children won’t have phones to take photographs but they can join in the experience with a digital camera for kids or an instant camera like this Photo Creator one.
It has a micro SD card included for storing digital photos and videos while you’re away, but it also allows kids to instantly print out their images using the included thermal paper – which is great if your little ones are creating a scrapbook of their holiday adventures.
I think that taking a camera on holiday is a lovely way to get youngsters interested in photography and also help them to appreciate their surroundings and look for the lovely details of the location. Plus, it’s got a selfie option and plenty of ways that children can personalise their prints with frames and stickers – making it an entertaining activity for journeys too.
5. Tech solutions
While we’re on the subject of tech, let’s consider the cables and sockets you’ll need to power your devices while you’re away. Don’t forget that travel adaptor! I often find that I need to take pouch full of leads and plugs with me, so I’ve found a more practical solution with this Connex multi-device charging solution.
It has a Swiss-army vibe about it, with various input and output USB, lightning and micro connectors that are compatible with all kinds of devices including Apple and Android so it cuts down on the need for multiple cables and delivers high-speed charging. It also serves as a data transfer solution if you want to copy, share and backup images, videos and data from your devices while you’re away.
6. Noise-cancelling headphones
This is a travel must-have for me. My noise-cancelling headphones are so useful when travelling on any kind of noisy transport like trains, planes and buses. It allows me to listen to music or podcasts in peace, while completely blocking out the drone of engines.
Plus, if your accommodation ends up being in a bustling location when you arrive at your destination, you can also wear your ANC headphones to minimise disturbances. This can help you enjoy a peaceful break and can even help you get to sleep in a noisy environment.
I was given my noise-cancelling headphones as a gift from my husband for my birthday and I use them all the time for relaxation. I’ve since bought him the same pair in a different colour so that he can benefit from the peace and quiet the headphones deliver.
7. Day packs
I’ve had the same smart leather backpack for years now and it’s my carry-on underseat bag. It’s also the ideal compact size for day trips when on holiday. If I’m going out exploring and know that I won’t be back at my accommodation for many hours, I load up my backpack with SPF, a water bottle, a light layer, maybe a snack or packed lunch – anything that I might need while I’m out and about.
If you’ve got children, you’ll probably be carrying a few more items for them too. Insulated food jars or bottles like the ones I have from b.box (above) are handy for keeping food and drink cool in hot countries. Plus, storing food in the jar prevents snacks from getting mushed up and making a mess in the bottom of your backpack.
My day backpack also lets me carry anything I buy whilst at local markets or shops hands-free, comfortably stowed on my back. Plus, it’s got enough room for me to carry my fold-out shopper bag, ready for more purchases or for carrying towels or swimwear from the beach.
8. Suitcase packing
I’m sure I don’t need to mention suitcases, as that’s rather obvious and you probably already have one you like. However, I’m particularly happy with my Skylark case, which I have bought in two sizes. I’ve even since bought the same cases for my husband so you can tell it’s a winner for me.
The main thing I want to talk about here is the importance of packing carefully; there’s nothing worse than opening your suitcase to find shampoos and sun creams dripping all over your clothes. So, I’ve got a couple of durable leather washbags for travelling with waterproof interiors to keep spills contained.
By the way, I suggest always taking way more sunscreen than you think you’ll need because, hopefully, the weather will be lovely enough that you’ll need to use loads of it every day and will probably run out before the end of the trip. Sure you can buy some while you’re away but for folks with sensitive skin like me, I have to be careful to only use the SPF50 that I usually use at home.
9. Extra bags
I also recommend taking some extra bags with you for wet swimwear and for filling up with your washing while you’re away. That way, anything dirty doesn’t get messed up with your clean clothes and is immediately put away at the end of each day.
These don’t have to be special bags; just a bag-for-life carrier will do, or a flat cotton tote or drawstring bag that doesn’t take up any space in your case. Also, I think it’s always a good idea to keep your shoes in a bag away from your clothes to prevent dirt or dust from getting on your clothing.
By the way, my little smartphone-sized bag above is also the right dimensions for the Mini size Rough Guide books, so you can always have your destination guide with you. This series also comes with a free ebook to download, so you’ll have everything you need on your phone too – but I think it’s nice if you’re travelling with kids to let them flick through the guidebook and fold out the maps to get them involved in learning more about the destination.
10. Luggage security
If you’re travelling by air, it’s a good idea to choose TSA locks for your checked-in suitcases so that they can be inspected by security if needed. My case has a lock built-in and you can buy TSA-approved combination locks with the ‘red diamond’ logo.
And be sure to add luggage tags to your case – this not only identifies you as the owner, but it also allows you to easily spot your case when you’re collecting it. It could be a personalised leather tag or a colourful patterned luggage strap – anything you’ll be able to see at a distance to make it obvious that the suitcase belongs to you. That just makes the process at the airport a little easier and allows you to get on your way more quickly.
I hope that sharing my list of personal travel essentials will help you to enjoy an easier getaway next time you travel. I know I’m obsessively organised but I’ve found that these few items really do help to make a holiday go more smoothly, both during the journey and when I’m exploring my destination.
Let me know your own vacation essentials in the comments below, I’d love to hear what clever solutions you use to make your break enjoyable and efficient.
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Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 
