The Great Hunt: What's on your get-before-you-go holiday checklist?

nwc389

Home bargains - nivea suncream 3.99
Home bargains/ b&m / £ shops for adaptors , case straps and other travel stuff. Also plenty of paracetamols , plasters , sudafed & small pot of sudacrem .
Take my own travel kettle , mugs , tea bags & coffee.
I do tend to buy my mossie stuff locally as I have found that it to be (for me) the most effective.

gloriouslyhappy

My essential first aid kit - a tube of Savlon, a pack of sticking plasters, some Ibuprofen and a jar of Marmite - you can drink it if you've a dicky tum, flavour bland food with it and even use it to stick notes to the door if necessary!
A sarong or two, which I put in my hand luggage along with my swimming costume to avoid the nightmare of trying to find a decent cozzie abroad if the big bag doesn't make it - the sarong is a towel, shawl, dress, skirt, sun shelter, blanket and if you knot it properly, makes a great Buddha bag! Would not leave home without one.

calso555

I always take a small bottle of T Tree oil as this serves multiple tasks from insect bites to mouth wash

lincoln_dj

Doshwaster wrote: »

My list is: passport, credit card... and that's it.

pretty much this (except use cash before credit card). unless you're off the beaten track you can buy everything abroad - just avoid the beach-front shops selling sun cream for 10 euros+!

I mean, where do you think the locals buy their loo roll/paracetamol/etc from...?

Also, 99% of airports have taxis waiting outside. They are usually cheaper than getting the tour operators transfer coach. You get to go direct to your own hotel without stopping at 6 others first, and potentially avoid the embarrassing situation of being dropped off outside a complete dive (it looked fine in the brochure!) in front of a packed coach! lol

spiritdancers

If you are travelling with someone, split everything.
Give them half your clothes, copies of all your documents etc etc.

I was mugged some years ago :mad: and I was really grateful that I had been "paranoid". This is especially important for any time when you are not at a "base" e.g backpacking, travelling to your hotel.

Savvytraveller_3

gaffer tape-mends anything
If travelling with only hand luggage, 'old' underwear which I leave behind (not very glam., I know but I have been married for 32 years)
Anti-bacterial hand wash(and Immodium) . Spent three weeks in India with no stomach upsets .
my Kindle

zagfles

lincoln_dj wrote: »

pretty much this (except use cash before credit card). unless you're off the beaten track you can buy everything abroad - just avoid the beach-front shops selling sun cream for 10 euros+!

I mean, where do you think the locals buy their loo roll/paracetamol/etc from...?

Suncream seems generally to be a lot more expensive abroad than in the UK for some reason, even in supermarkets away from tourist areas. Other stuff is often cheaper.

lea2012

Depends where we are going really. I am lucky enough to have in laws who live in Spain so when I go there I literally only need my passport and a few clothes as everything else is there but if we go on a proper holiday elsewhere then we needed a little more!!

My list is usually sun cream, insect repellent, make up (including eyelash curlers as I can't go anywhere without them!), far more clothes than I would ever need, a fully loaded kindle, and millions of pairs of shoes!

My last minute dash usually involves making sure everything is charged up for the journey rather than what's in the suitcase!

picassosmum

Boots meal deals once you have passed through security are not to be missed ! Far cheaper than airline food . If you travel with more than one person -or buy two if you have missed a meal travelling- look out for the little bottles of milk included in the deal . They can be a life saver when you get a cup of tea after arriving if you can't stand the horrible milk they use. cw:j

System

Buy a USB adapter for Euro plugs. I had two and charged up my iPhone, iPod and tablet with them.