If you can't take it all, what should you include apart from the obvious? (10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you)

Member Name: thriftyminx13

Product:	10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you
Date:	17/01/09 (176 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a few different items

Disadvantages: you still need passport et al.

My list of top ten things to take on holiday.

To be honest I have decided to write this as all the reviews included passport, suncream, chargers, adaptors and travel doctuments as part of their top ten items, so I'm taking these for granted. Although having just written that I do remember turning up to Belfast International for a flight back to Glasgow only to discover I was an entire 24 hours too late!! So it does help to check and re-check your details.


1. For women - a large shoulder bag and for men - a small rucksack.

These are essential. Not only for the otubound journey to store the necessary sunglasses once off the plane, but for holding all reading material, drinks etc. Once on holiday these are great to carry around when site seeing, going to the pool or even going to the beach. I like to take ones with an internal zip rather than
just a flap for extra security.For men, make sure all valuables are kept at the bottom of the rucksack and not in the pockets facing out. Also, in these instances the small padlock can be used.

If you can face the embarrassment of being laughed at as a tourist why not go for a very brightly coloured
bag. Then if it is lifted you have more chance of spotting it from afar! It's a daytime essential.


2. Padlocks.

I always take a bevy of padlocks with me on holiday, not to practise my Houdini tricks but rather to lock everything
up. How often have you arrived at a hotel only to find that a large deposit is needed for the safe in your room, or that they have only a centrally placed one in reception. Now I never take that much cash, as can be seen from my other posts I am quite frugal, but you always have larger notes and your passport etc that you don't want to carry around. By putting a lock on even just one suitcase this will help warn off any thieves.

Similarly if its a small robust lock use it when you go to the beach etc.

3. 2 purses/wallets

One for the foreign currency and one for your own currency. On holiday you always spend a few pennies at the airport and juggle to put it back in with the bevy of foreign currency in your wallet or purse. Stop this by taking two purses. I actually take a small string purse for my foreign currency. this way it fits around my wrist and i'm able to take it to the pool area or when out walking without the need for the handbag. Then at the end of the holiday out of your padlocked suitcase you can retrieve your own currency to pay for the car parking fees!!


4. pen and notebook

A pen and notebook are useful for a variety of reasons. For the air, the pen and notebook are useful for the kids to play
games with, tic-tac-toe, hangman etc. or to fill in crosswords etc from your paper. The pen is always useful for filling in tourist visas when landing. The notebook also comes in handy for self-catering holidays for lists for the supermarket.

5. small first aid kit

This is a very cautionary first aid kit. I'm not talking about medicines although you could include paracetamol, but some
countries do not allow some medicines to be used in their country, always check. The first aid kit you take should include plasters, a couple of bandages, pins (always useful on low cut tops as well) and an antiseptic cream such as savlon to clean the wound. I stubbed my toe in Portugal and I wish I'd followed my own advise and taken a small kit, it would have saved me a fortune!


6. razor and tweezers

This is more the ladies. I'll not go into details but no-one wants to have their bikini line on display!! Tweezers can also be used if sterilised with a match to take out splinters etc. Just don't put them in your carry-on luggage.

7. A light mac jacket.

Why is it when we go on holiday, no matter where we are in the world we think it will stay rain-free? A simple solution is to buy a cheap mac for around £5-£10 and throw it in. It takes up very little room and will allow you to continue seeing the sites rain-free. Then when the rain end, throw it in a plastic bag and put in your rucksack or bag.

8. tea towel and dishcloth.

This may seem like a strange choice, however, I always use them and I know where they've come from and where they've been. Usually my partner and I go on self-catering holidays as we like to find our own little restaurants but are happy eating bowls of pasta bought from the local supermarket. One thing I like having in particular is a dishcloth, as you know it's clean. That sounds terrible but there is something reassuring about knowing what you're eating off has been cleaned by your own cloth.

9. vaseline and moisturiser

These for obvious reasons should only be used in the evenings and make sure to wash off the next morning to prevent burning in the sun. Post-sun to help cool the skin and develop tanning moisturise. Similarily the vaseline helps prevent the lips from drying out. I especially find this good for helping to prevent coldsores. Being quite prone, particularly in the sun, to coldsores
one of the factors identified is very dry lips. In addition if you don't wear much makeup, the vaseline can fix your eyebrows, substitute mascara and highlight your cheeks. Once again shower the next morning to prevent burning!!!


10. Ipod or MP3 player with speakers/docking station

Sometimes holidays can get a bit bland sometimes. I'm not usually one for sun holidays but every so often you just need to go soak up some vitamin D and replenish the bones. I find to break up this monotony music is a great way to pass the time at the pool. Usually on foreign package holidays there can be the entertainment team trying to do what their title says, entertain. I'm not knocking them I think they do a great job and I couldn't do it, but sometimes you just don't want to hear! My ipod shuffle is brilliant for helping me to ignore them all. Best of all if you are getting ready for the evening and aren't really fussed on watching the tv music is a great way to get you in the mood and start your evening. It also gives you a break from the other half. shhhhh.

I know they aren't rocket science and are common sense based but I thought they'd make a difference to some of the other reviews.

Enjoy and thanks for reading. Let's hope with the euro we get a holiday sometime in the next decade!!

Summary: To try and ease the mundane things so you can enjoy the rest of the holiday!