My Holiday Tips (10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you)

Member Name: Whizz11

Product:	10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you
Date:	28/10/08 (308 review reads)
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Holiday!!

As the days turn colder and the nights draw in my attention always turns to planning my next holiday! My thoughts normally take me somewhere with a beautiful white sandy beach, tropical palm tress and endless sunshine however my next one in a few weeks is a trip to New York. As I can't get holidays out of my mind at the moment, I am busy planning 2009 with great anticipation, I thought I would share with you my list of essentials for those intrepid adventures.

Firstly I am not going to bore you with lists including passport, foreign currency etc as unless you are extremely silly or forgetful these are always a must and something every traveller should have with them. I travel quite a bit so my list is going to be hints and tips I've picked up over the years that really help to make the trip smoother.

1. A big plastic bag. I assume everybody takes underwear on holiday with them. If you are like me I generally live out of my suitcase for the week and don't really unpack. When you are done with that's days underclothes it is really nice to have a dirty washing bag to put them in and not put them in with your clean knickers and then get them all confused for the next day so in this instance a plastic dirty washing bag is invaluable.


2. A dedicated pair of flip flops for the beach/pool. I have nice flip flops that I will wear during the day or out in the evening etc but you really should have a pair that you don't mind getting wet, sandy etc and that you can just kick off when you get to the pool and don't mind losing if you do misplace them or someone steals them. They should also be non-slippy on the bottom and generally waterproof is quite a good idea but still stylish, hey you want to look good when you are posing by the pool!


3. Clear little plastic bags. This is quite a common thing now and most people remember to take them because customs at most UK airports still require you to put your cosmetics in clear plastic bags for inspection and if you don't have one some airports will charge you £1 for them, a rip-off in my opinion so it's best to bring some from home.


4. Sunscreen - ok so this is quite a common one but I am mentioning for the fact that you should take way more than one bottle. I'm fair and burn fairly easily so I generally always take a big bottle but when I was in Mauritius last year the sun was so fierce that I was having to reapply every ½ hour or so. I ran out quite quickly and had a bit of trouble getting some more. The gift shop did sell some but:
a) it was not the brand I really liked
b) It was not the strength I wanted and so my health was put at risk
c) It was very very expensive, captive market and all of that so I definitely recommend taking way more than you think you would use and not think that you can always pick some up wherever you are.



5. Bring something that will occupy your husband!! A bit of a funny one but I am really happy with lying on a sun lounger doing nothing but my husband gets bored after about ½ an hour or so and ends up pestering me until I start to pay him some attention which can get very annoying so bring some toys for big boys and you will be guaranteed a peaceful break


6. Make sure you also bring enough magazines and books for your stay. If you are on a beach holiday and lazing by the pool you will read things quickly and the gift shop often sells items like this but at really expensive prices so to save yourself spending a fortune I recommend bringing these items from home.


7. Your insurance papers and important emergency contact numbers. I t goes without saying that you need travel insurance, especially if you go somewhere like America that will want to see your insurance papers before then eve agree to let you set foot inside the hospital. It's no good having the insurance if you don't know who to call when you need it in an emergency. Also, be aware of your cover, especially for winter sports holidays, a lot of basic insurances do not cover ski accidents or the like and you could end up owing a lot of money.


8. A local guidebook is always something I take with me but make it a small one, so when you do carry it around it is not heavy and too big for your bag. It's always good to read about the history of a place before you visit it so you get a better understanding of what you are looking at and it can often give you suggestions of places to go that you had never thought about. They are also handy for giving you local advice on tipping, customs (so you don't annoy any traditionalists) etc, etc.


9. Antibacterial hand gel. This is a must. You've been out sightseeing all day, you grab a snack from the side of the street in a local market or something similar but there is nowhere to wash your hands and you know they are just full of germs. A little bottle of this antibacterial gel that fits easily in your bag is then a godsend!

10. Probably the most important thing you can take with you.......a positive attitude. There is nothing worse than Brits abroad who insist on chips with every meal and get annoyed if they don't stock The Sun Newspaper in the gift shop. Go to a different country with a positive attitude, eat the food, mix with the locals and have a fabulous time even if you do find yourself outside your comfort zone, you will have an amazing time!!

Summary: My holiday tips