WITH decades of experience and hundreds of countries under their belt, the Sun Travel team have shared some of the essential items they always pack on a trip.
Here are some of the game-changing items we always pack – and some will barely cost you a thing.
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Global travel plug with USB – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
With the amount of tech we own – and want to travel with – having a way to plug in and charge our devices is essential.
This worldwide compatible adaptor is the only one you’ll need, no matter where you are heading and crucially, can charge up to FIVE devices at once.
Removing the need to keep multiple adaptors for different countries and the need to take lots of them to charge each of your electronics, it’s a no brainer for me.
There are plenty of similar devices – often cheaper – but this is the first I have found that is sturdy enough to do the job and has over-voltage and fuse protection built in.
It can charge up to five different devices at once – think laptop, tablet, phone, USB mobile device AND AC appliances.
OneWorld 65 plug, from One Adaptr – £64 oneadaptr.com,
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Hotel slippers – Caroline McGuire, Travel Editor
If I’m in a fancy hotel that provides those free, throwaway slippers
then I’ll always take them home, because they’re super useful for
travelling.
Plane carpets are not clean and neither are the toilet floors, but I
don’t want to keep my shoes on during a long-haul flight, so I recycle
the slippers by taking them in my carry-on bag.
That way, I also have a pair of slippers to wear when I reach my
destination, whether that’s a holiday home, a caravan or in another
hotel room.
Yes, they eventually deteriorate, but I have managed to get at least
four trips out of a pair of freebie slippers.
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Earplugs – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
You just never know what you’re going to get from a hotel or holiday home and as a light-sleeper who is easily woken by the sound of a car in the distance or my neighbour making his morning cuppa, I need something that really muffles the noise.
Forget all those pricey earplugs out there, made from special materials with high-tech elements that make a song and dance out of their noise-cancelling abilities – these ultra-budget Amazon beauties are the best you can get.
Trust me. I’ve personally tried all of those fancy ones, yet these tiny pieces of foam have been helping me sleep better than any others for 12-odd years.
Made from a squishy, mouldable material, you squeeze the earplug to its smallest size, insert it into your ear and hold it in place while you wait for it to expand to the natural shape of your ear – and they work out to just 18p each.
Pack of 40 ear plugs on Amazon – £7.09
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1 litre water bottle – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
If you ever see me on a plane, you’ll see me guzzling water rather than ordering a glass of wine.
Boring I know, but I’ve found the only thing to prevent jet lag and feeling rough when landing is to throw back the water.
And with the tiny cups on planes, I always opt for my own 1 litre water bottle, which I fill at the airport.
And on long flights, flight crew never mind if I come down to the galley to fill it up myself – and land feeling refreshed and ready to go.
1l water bottle from Amazon – £8.99
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Bluetooth eye mask – Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter
I’m not lying when I say I take this absolutely everywhere, from short trips away in the UK, to long-haul destinations – I make sure it’s charged and the last thing I put in my bag, so it’s the easiest thing to find.
It’s perfect on planes when you want to drown out the sound of other passengers, as well as the blinding lights in the cabin.
It’s pretty much the only thing that really helps me sleep during long-haul journeys as well as at hotels.
The mask itself is very soft and comfortable, and the adjustable velcro strap means you can wear it as tightly, or as loosely, as you want, so it’s not obstructive while trying to sleep.
It’s the perfect travel product and, for less than £20, it’s one that is very affordable, especially considering how much of a difference it makes. I really can’t recommend it enough.
Bluetooth sleep mask from Amazon – £16.50
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Portable luggage scale – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
As a serial overpacker who never pays to put luggage in the hold, there’s one item I never travel without and that’s my portable luggage scale.
Several years ago, I was stung on a trip to Lapland when my carry-on luggage exceeded the weight limitations – and had to pay a hefty fine.
When I returned home, I spent less than a fiver on a portable luggage scale so I would always know the weight of my backpack on future trips.
Portable luggage scales are lightweight devices that you attach to the top of your suitcase to lift and weigh your luggage.
I’m not exaggerating when I say they’re a game-changing travel essential for the not-so-minimal packer who loves to do a bit of holiday shopping.
Digital luggage scale on Amazon – £4.99
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AirTag – Giuli Graziano, Travel Writer
If you’re like me and always lose track of your bag and keys, AirTags are an excellent investment – especially when travelling.
The thrifty location-tracking gadget is slightly larger than a £2 coin, so it fits into most items, including your checked luggage.
All you have to do is connect it to your mobile to see your item’s location in real-time – meaning no more lost luggage.
AirTag from Amazon – £29.99
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