As some of you may know, I've just come back from Spain. Here's a list of my top ten essential holiday items for taking to any hot country.

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1. PASSPORT

At number one, a passport is the most important thing that you need to take with you. For obvious reasons.

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2. MONEY

You'll need some cash in the same currrency of the country you're going to. However, also take some money from your home country to spend in the airport of departure. With all the waiting around, you're bound to get hungry or realise you've forgotten a couple of things.

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3. CURRENCY CARD

With some countries such as France, it's fairly easy to work out roughly how many francs there are to x pounds in your head. However it's not that easy with pesetas. Before going to Spain I took a card with me based on the exchange rates before I left saying how much various amounts of pesetas were worth in pounds.

I could refer to this card when browsing in shops to figure out approximately how much the items I wanted to purchase would cost me. It stopped me from getting ripped off and allowed me to keep to spending only so much per day.

Since you're on Dooyoo right now, you've got access to a computer with the internet. Use it to find out the exchange rates for the country you're holidaying to and make a currency card. Print one out. It'll fit into a pocket or the next item in this top ten.

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4. MONEY BELT

Barcelona is supposed to be a pickpocket hotspot. I wasn't sure what to make of this, but took a money belt anyway. (I don't like bumbags and money belts are a great alternative.)

When walking through the capital with friends, I saw a woman with h
er backpack open. My first reaction was to think 'how stupid' but then I realised that she'd probably already had her belongings stolen. At that point I was grateful for the pickpocket warning and the money that was safely located at my waist.

I recommend the money belt sold by Next. If you wanted to you could hide it under a t-shirt since it's very flat. At only £4.99, it's an essential holiday buy.

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5. SUNBLOCK AND AFTERSUN

Even if you don't usually burn, in some countries you will. One of my friends is Korean and so has some natural immunity to burning. She was therefore quite shocked when in Spain I pointed out that her shoulders were going pink.

Take some Aftersun in case you do turn a lovely shade of lobster red. BTW, if you have put on your sunblock properly and you still burn, then it's a big hint that you're not using a high enough SPF. Always remember to reapply it every so often and try to stay out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day.

By the way, another friend of mine swears that her Aftersun turns burn to tan. Obviously you shouldn't get red on purpose, but it's reassuring to know that there is a remedy afterwards. Aftersun soothes your very painful burnt skin giving you some relief.

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6. POCKET FAN (and spare batteries)

You can buy one for around £5 in most shops or even at the airport. When you're walking around in hot weather and there isn't a shop with air conditioning in sight, then a pocket fan can seem heaven sent.

(BTW, Marks & Spencer in Barcelona has *the* best air con around.)

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7. DISPOSABLE CAMERA

Depending on where you're going, it's not always a good idea to take a fabulously expensive camera with you. If you lose it then yo
u're considerably out of pocket. Disposable cameras from Boots only cost around £8 and come in a variety of colours.

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8. SHORTS

If you bring a pair of trousers, you'll end up wanting to hack the legs off in order to fashion a pair of shorts. Save yourself the hassle by bringing a couple of pairs with you.

If you wear shorts, then don't forget to put sun protection on your legs. It won't stop you from getting a tan, but it will stop you from burning. Shops such as New Look have some great 2 for 1 offers for girls.

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9. MINERAL WATER

Not to be packed in your suitcase, but to be bought when you get there. Since I've been raised on British water, it's not recommended for me to live on water from other countries. The different mineral composition of tap water can be bad for you.

It can cost anything from 25 pesetas upwards for a bottle of water.

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10. LIP SALVE

When I first swam in the sea on holiday it was great, but it did dry out my lips. Take a Nivea Lip Care stick with you - if you're going to a country where it's too hot to wear make-up, then the rose one is particularly nice. The pink sheen is the closest you'll get to lipstick.

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That's it folks. Have fun on your holidays:)