Bring a foam sit pad (thus making everything a seat) – they are especially good for hiking but also work in cities. Carry a bottle of Tabasco (or Maggi seasoning), especially if hiking. It’s small and makes every snack better. And binoculars. I always carry a small set – you never know what wildlife is going to turn up.
Stuart Kenny, travel writer
You can never have enough travel snacks. Yumbox leakproof lunch boxes are worth the investment. And we always pack at least one small card game, perfect for killing time pretty much anywhere. Dobble is brilliant and can be played across language barriers with new friends, as can Uno. I’m obsessed with saving places on Google Maps. It’s the best way to store the places you want to visit and restaurant recommendations, and you can instantly see what’s nearby as you move around. Finally: all the best souvenirs come from supermarkets. Who doesn’t want some French saucisson or real hot sauce from Mexico?
Fiona Kerr, travel writer
I always take a Nalgene water bottle, which can double up as a hot water bottle when camping (even in summer in the UK it can get cold at night). Fill it with boiling water and put it in your sleeping bag before you get in, so it’s nice and cosy. It will keep you warm all night.
Jane Dunford, deputy travel editor
One key learning from holidaying with teenagers is that the middle-of-nowhere isolation that feels blissful to middle-aged parents is essentially torture to teenagers. Teenagers are addicted to other teenagers. This doesn’t mean you have to take your family hols in Faliraki, but it does mean it’s worth thinking about a location where the kids can walk to a local beach or village by themselves when they fancy a break from the olds. A little bit of freedom goes a long way to keeping teenage spirits up.
Jess Cartner-Morley, associate editor (fashion)
My sleeper train essentials include an eye mask, ear plugs, bed socks, towelling slippers (you can swipe these from hotels) or flip-flops for trips to the loo, and a small bottle of hand soap. Always carry cash in case the wifi is down and card payments aren’t working, and don’t wear anything loose or swishy that will wipe the floor around you – leggings or yoga-style pants are ideal. Before you sleep, make sure to rattle-proof the compartment: take down coat hangers and lay bottles flat. And finally, if you even wonder for a moment if you need the loo … go! You won’t sleep until you do.
Monisha Rajesh, author and journalist
It is an immutable law of adventurous travel that all bags will be filled to bursting and your shoes will fall apart. That’s certainly true for my kind of far-flung trips, but even on a weekend away in Barcelona a wheel can detach from the wheelie bag at the worst possible moment. So now I take one sturdy rucksack that falls within budget airline restrictions and wear the sturdiest of hiking boots. It might raise eyebrows when you check in at a chateau or country house hotel, but you will swan past the baggage carousel and still be able to yomp into town during the taxi strike. The hard-shell wheelie bag I once bought remains in the attic, awaiting spare parts.
Kevin Rushby, travel writer
You only need two lipsticks/glosses/balms. One nude and something bolder, like red, will work for any occasion. The best way to cleanse is with a warm flannel, but not all holiday accommodation provides them, so I take a few flannels with me, plus a waterproof pouch to bring them home in. No one wears enough SPF. Best practice is at least two finger-lengths (index and middle finger) for face and neck. Take a dedicated facial SPF rather than just SPF makeup – you’d have to cake yourself in it to be safe (by all means take it, but adopt a belt-and-braces approach by putting it on top of your sun protection). And pack an SPF mist so you can top up without removing your makeup.
Sali Hughes, beauty columnist
I’ve taken some of the stress out of travelling by using an Apple AirTag, which I leave in my checked luggage. It makes the wait at the baggage carousel less stressful, as I’ll know by then if the luggage has got lost along the way. They’re useful things to have – keep one in your handbag, rucksack or hire car. I just wish I’d also left one in our own car, which was stolen recently while I was away.
Mary Novakovich, travel writer
If you have babies or toddlers, you may already own a small inflatable paddling pool. Take it on your beach holiday. It may sound crazy when you have the actual sea to play in, but hear me out. Babies love to crawl away, and eat sand, and go dangerously near the waves. Plonk them in a paddling pool with some toys and they’re safe and happy. You might even get to read your book for five minutes. Suzanne Lemon, art director
Recently, in The Passenger Press, a wonderful shop in Glasgow, I discovered Papier d’Arménie, scented papers that you can set alight to remove unfortunate odours. They are tiny and can be carried in a purse or wallet, have 36 strips and come in three scents.
Audrey Gillan, journalist and broadcaster
Going for a swim is a brilliant way to calm frazzled senses when you’re on the road, particularly when travelling with children. It really helps them to unravel after being cramped up and bombarded with new noises, sights and smells. I recently had a few hours’ stopover in Paris after an overnight bus and, instead of racing around the sights, I found a cheap local hammam for a soak in a hot pool and a steam. I felt much more human when I got home than if I’d spent the morning walking up the Champs-Élysées.
Rhiannon Batten, travel writer
Pack a travel cosmetics kit for your beauty and health items, then pop it on a hook in your hotel bathroom. The best one I have found is Bagsmart’s Space Saver toiletry bag – it isn’t bulky, unlike lots of travel beauty cases, and it’s wipe-clean. Holidays are a good chance to try something new and break beauty habits. So if you feel like you “need” makeup every day when you’re at home, try easing up on it when you’re on holiday, to feel more comfortable in your own skin. Conversely, if you find wearing makeup daunting, try experimenting with it on holiday, when you’re more relaxed and care less about the judgment of strangers.
Anita Bhagwandas, beauty columnist
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Make a playlist as you go. Ask people you meet for recommendations; listen out for the music playing around you in cafes, bars and hotel dining rooms; search for local bands. You’ll end up with a musical memory of the trip – an eclectic selection that will whisk you back there whenever you play it. It’s an especially good thing for solo travellers to do – asking for suggestions is a great conversation starter.
Sarah Louise Baxter, travel writer
When you’re about to head to a country where you don’t speak the language, rather than simply memorising the usual “Hello. Goodbye. Excuse me. Sorry. Thank you”, try to learn 100 nouns (or 200-300 if you’ve the time). It may sound daunting, but with apps and phrase books it takes less time than you’d think. Even if I’m heading for a country where the locals speak great English, I find it really helpful when reading signs, menus etc.
Dixe Wills, travel writer
Try the 3-3-3 packing method. Essentially, it means choosing three tops, three bottoms and three pairs of shoes to create multiple looks. You can tweak it according to the type of holiday and your own style. TikTok has loads of videos with suggestions of what to take on various trips, and you’d be surprised how many looks you can make out of nine core pieces. Get a long strap for your phone. That way, you can wear it crossbody and avoid stressing about it getting snatched out of your hand when taking photos in tourist/pickpocket hotspots. For mooching around a gallery or day trips, think about whether you really need a bag. Instead of carrying a wallet, I use Apple Pay and download e-tickets. If you need a physical cards try a magnetic wallet that attaches to the back of your phone. You can fit cash in the back of it too. If you’re dining at your hotel, ask for dessert to be brought to your room, so you can pop on a comfy robe and eat it in bed while watching Netflix.
Chloe Mac Donnell, deputy fashion editor
Packing blister plasters may sound OTT but there is nothing worse than developing a blister on day one of a minibreak when day two is going to require a high step count. So Compeed yourself in advance – you know the problem spots; there is probably still an echo of a blister from the last time you explored a new city – and avoid developing a bigger problem when you’re just hitting your stride.
Ellie Bramley, acting fashion editor
You never know what types of tea will be available when you arrive at self-catering accommodation: I pack a handful of my favourite teabags (breakfast, decaf, peppermint). If it’s a fairly local destination, I’ll also take an insulated bottle with some cold milk in, so we can have a cuppa when we arrive, and unpack before worrying about where to do the big shop (or waiting for it to be delivered, if we’ve managed to be so organised).
Ruth Lewy, deputy editor
