What not to forget to pack. (10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you)

Member Name: Krystles

Product:	10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you
Date:	27/03/09 (269 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Life is easier with these items.

Disadvantages: It can be a real pain if you forget something.

Most of these items have made it onto my list because at various times I have inevitably forgotten them, and depending on where you are some are easier to get in foreign countries than others. It's easier to just remember in the first place.

PASSPORT
Well this one goes without saying, you won't get far without it. When issued with my passport, I also got a range of useful leaflets which I keep in my passport holder, as they contain phone numbers for Australian embassies, what to do if caught in various situations such as emergencies, how to make reverse charge phonecalls from abroad and what to do if your passport is lost or stolen. Thankfully I have never needed any of these details, but I regularly refresh my memory by reading through the leaflets whilst waiting in airports.

ELECTRONICS + ADAPTERS
This category largely depends on where you're going, but most people take a camera regardless. Remember to take batteries, and memory cards for said camera. I also like to take my iPod, and if room permits my portable iPod speakers which also act as a charger. Sometimes for longer trips I also take my laptop, and for most of the above items it's vital to take a relevant power adapter.

FOREIGN CURRENCY OR CARDS
I've been caught out without money before and it really turns into a stressful situation. Basically my husband and I got to Stansted Airport, he thought I'd grabbed our ATM cards, and I thought he had grabbed them. We were off to Spain for the weekend, didn't have time to go home and get the cards, and only had limited Euros (about 40 from memory), and an Australian credit card that you cannot withdraw cash advances from. We got to Spain and didn't have enough cash to get return tickets on the bus from the airport to the city, so we hired a car on the credit card. We were lucky that we had booked and paid for accommodation, but we had to ensure restaurants accepted credit cards, and had very limited spending money. The weekend ended up costing us a lot more than we had planned, but it was nice all the same.

HAIR BANDS
I hate being somewhere hot only to realise I've forgotten hair bands. It's not always easy to find a chemist either so another item that's just easier to remember.

BOTTLE WATER
Bottled water is a must have of mine for on flights, particularly long haul. I find it makes a big difference in how I feel once I've arrived at my destination if I'm well hydrated. Bottled water can also be a big must have for countries where the tap water is not to the standard I'm used to. It's not worth getting sick whilst on holidays just from brushing your teeth with dodgy tap water.

MAPS/PHRASEBOOK
My husband and I arrived in France for the first time a couple of years ago, and both realised at the train station that although we'd booked somewhere to stay, and got to Paris, neither of us had any kind of plan for how we were getting from the train station to our hotel. It dawned on us whilst standing outside the train station that a map might have been handy, or at very least some basic French or a phrasebook. We live, we learn, we now pack maps!

DEODORANT
This one's fairly basic. You don't want to stink out fellow holidayers, nor do you want to waste time finding a chemist or supermarket. Always remember deodorant.

PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS
Plastic bags are a great item to pack that won't take up too much room in a suitcase. I find they're useful for shoes, and dirty clothing, but they've also come in handy for leaky shampoo bottles, wet swimming costumes etc. They don't cost anything, and it's a good habit to reuse them when possible.

A GOOD BOOK
A must have for me is a good holiday read. Half the time I don't end up having time to read, but there's nothing better than relaxing by a pool or beach with a good book.

SUNCREAM/COAT
Sun burn is almost as bad as being freezing for an entire holiday. I've forgotten to pack my coat before and it's a mistake I'll only make once. Likewise with forgetting suncream. There's nothing worse than getting burnt to a crisp the first day on holidays because it can make you a bit miserable for coming days.

Anyway, there's my top 10, lots of which I've learnt about the hard way. One of these day's I'll perfect the art of packing, as I cannot think of a single trip where I haven't forgotten something.

Summary: My must-packs!