Don't leave home without them! (10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you)

Member Name: excelsior81

Product:	10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you
Date:	19/08/09 (327 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Forward thinking makes for a better time

Disadvantages: Do I look like a killjoy!

I like to consider myself an experienced traveller. Not only in terms of going to exotic places, but also for short breaks around the United Kingdom, often visiting friends.

As a non car driver and a keen train and bus user, I have learnt how to pack things that are essntial, there is nothing worse than being on a packed train with a huge suitcase causing disruption to fellow commuters. It just becomes a chore that you could do without and makes what essentially, should be an enjoyable part of the experience, rather daunting.

I travel around the UK alot visiting friends and family, I am always amazed at how much of our country I have not seen and I enjoy looking and learning about new places. The choices I make for a short stay journey of up to four nights are somewhat different to those I would make for a longer haul trip. The items I choose also, have to fit into my 'man bag' An over the shoulder bag which is approximately forty cenimetres bu forty centimetres....it can be done!

Short trip indispensables:

1. My dongle! This allows me to access the internet just about anywhere in the UK, although I do find that the new trains tend to block the signal. Emergency internet access is great, particularly for last minute directions or assistance.

2 My filofax. I keep essential information in this, such as train times and ticket reference codes, which means I have easy access to it all.

3. Extra contact lenses. I never take just the right amount, you never know what is going to happen so I always carry at least four extra pairs.

4. Any medication I am on, but not the entire packet or container as this can be cumbersome. I will usually put them into a very small container (like a tic-tac box which is ideal for this).

5. Chargers. Essential in this day and age. I pack three of them. One for my phone, which fortunately is very small, one for my iPod, which is a USB one that goes into my laptop and my laptop one, which is the biggest, but again, highly essential. It is always however, worth checking in advance with friends who may have the same phone as you, which could then reduce what you need.

6. My mobile phone. I am sure I do not need to explain why this is important! I am amazed at just how much I depend on this. On a recent trip I was meant to meet a friend at the train station at a certain time and left my phone at home when I was ruching for a taxi...after an hour or two of trying to hypothesise what would be best to do in the circumstances, I then went home, only to find she had gone there ages ago...and I had a phone with about 48 missed calls on!

7. My laptop. I cannot live without this! It has music on, iPlayer from the BBC. Downloaded programmes, games....it really is an essential travel companion.

8. My ipod. Essential for when the battery runs out on the laptop! I have games and music on this too which means I am never far away from entertainment on short journeys.

9. My toothbrush. Apart from that I do not pack toiletries as they are too bulky. For a short stay my friends would never object to me using their toothpaste, deodorants and shower gels and it makes travelling so much easier.

10. Clothes. Now obviously I need to change them! So I carry for four days (as an example of the summer months) two t-shirts and a pair of shorts. My flip-flops. Two pairs of underwear and one pair of socks. I will always wear my bulkier clothes for the journey, such as jeans and trainers.

For longer haul journeys, the needs change slightly. Some things, do remain the same such as the need to have my laptop, contact lenses and so on, but there are things I do for longer journeys that ensure I feel safe and organised. If you are going to be away from home for a considerable amount of time, then the indispensible list has to change to consider your home as well as holiday destination.

Recently, I went to Australia for seven weeks and I will use this holiday as an example of what I needed. I stayed with friends, which meant certain items again (such as toiletries) I was able to minimise the need to take, I was also travelling with a weight allowance for my flight of twenty four kilograms.

1. Essential telephone numbers. Not only do I store these in my phone, but also in my filo-fax, on my email (which is web based so always accessible, if you do not have a web based email such as hotmail, consider setting one up before you go on holiday for peace of mind), in my suitcase on paper (what would happen if your hand luggage was stolen?) and also in the book that I am reading. I tend to write them on the blank pages you often find at the back of books which means I can then rip them out when I return from my holiday. Essential numbers are not ony for my destination, but also for home as well. What if on a seven week vacation, your pipes burst and you need a plumber? Do you know the telephone number of your bank in the UK if you are abroad? Thinking ahead can make an emergency less stressful.

2. Insurance details. These are not only for my stay, but also for my home. Again, I store them in similar ways to number one. I often too, email these details to my friends and also..my mum!

3. Flight details and itinerary. I store these too in similar ways to number one and two. I do try to complete as much detail for my booking as I possibly can prior to travelling though as this then minimises the amount of time it takes to check in. Most websites allow you to add passport details and visa codes in advance and also, complete the start of the check in process.

4. Currency. You may not realise, but using your cash point card in a machine abroad carries on average a two percent charge. This also applies to purchases you make on a card. After returning from Australia, I worked out how much of my money had been spent on charges for withdrawing cash and it was over seventy five pounds! A ridiculous waste of money. But travellers cheques (commission free from most places) prior to your journey. Store some in the suitcase and some in hand luggage. Cheques are usually covered for loss so do not panic..but again, make sure you store the receipt away from the cheques! DO NOT ever change money at a tourist place on in your destination. I changed some cheques initially in one of these places and it cost me about thirty dollars to do so. If I had gone next door to the bank (like I found out) they had a flat fee of SEVEN dollars to do this exchange! Currency exchange planning is an essential part of the holiday and it is in the UK a highly competative market. I visited four travel agents and made them fight for my money and also ensured I got the best deal!

5. A local map. Technology is great, but what if your battery runs out or you cannot get a GOS signal. I always invest in a good pocket sized map of where I am staying so that I can find my way about when I go off for an exploration day! They often include a good range of emergency numbers too or places of interest.

6. An all weather jacket. I had a great time in Australia, but each bit I went to had variable wetaher. I needed something waterproof, light, easily washable and not too dorky! I found a good jacket in a camping store that looked cool and ticked all the right boxes and did not make me feel like a geography teacher!

7. A strap for my suitcase. This was really important and I was glad I had this with me. It is inevitable that you will buy things and over seven weeks, I did a fair bit of shopping! Unfortunately this meant that when zipping up my case to return, I broke the zip and some of my luggage was exposed. An emergency strap meant that I could secure it all and this lasted (and stopped me fretting about dirty pants on the conveyor belt at the airport!!) It also helped me to identify my luggage easily.

8. Medication that you know you will not be able to get abroad. Some creams and pills you may only find at home, particularly those with sensitive skin. I always pack small tubes of creams I know I can cope with. it is though, worth checking prior to travel as some medications may not be legal in foreign countries.

9. A cushion! Really important for long haul econmy flights. The pillows they give you on the plane leave you feeling like the victim of a car crash, I do not want to spend my first few day son holiday with jet lag and also a neck brace on! I take a small cushion from my living room and take just the light inside of it, which can then be easily 'squished' into my travel on bag. I do not like th eblow up pillows you can buy either. Comfort when in cramped conditions is very important. I would also consider taking a small blanket for the flight too, better to be snug on the plane for twenty four hours than cold!

10. English chocolate. Surely I do not have to explain why!

Although my list may seem a bit sensible and cautionary, I have discovered after many years of travel that a good bit of forward thinking enables me to relax and enjoy my time away. The last thing I want to do when I am meant to be enjoying mysel fis be searching high and low for an emergency electrician in Watford and missing time on the beach!

A bit of forward thinking = A great relaxing holiday.

Summary: What I take to make my holidays brilliant!