You’ve booked the time off, snapped up the plane tickets and secured your luxury hotel, but you’ve left packing to the last minute and there’s some essentials that you need - STAT.
Some say that if your passport’s in date, you have your wallet, phone and keys then you have the basics covered. While that may be true, it always helps to be more prepared - whether that’s an outfit for every sun-soaked occassion, a wash bag filled with the toiletries to nourish and soothe your hair, skin and body during your vacay and the right holdall to make jetting through airports a breeze.
When it comes to your holiday packing check list, it helps to categorise the items you need by section.
Start with your ensembles. For a beach break, you’ll need some swimwear, something to throw over it for the day - think a sarong or linen shirt - and outfit for the evening for each day of your trip.
When you’re exploring new territory on a city break, be practical. Pay close attention to securing comfortable shoes for those higher daily step counts and a crossbody bag to stash the essentials with room for a few souvenirs.
If you like to spend your OOO time adventuring, the mantra ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ runs ever true. Pack for every eventuality including a raincoat and as many blister plasters as you can stash in your bag. Sunglasses are so often forgotten.
That brings us nicely to: toiletries. Some hotels will supply the likes of shampoo, conditioner and body wash - although you may find that if you have a brand you can’t live without even for a matter of days or you’re lodging in an Airbnb, it never helps to bring at least the first two. SPF is crucial, as is mosquito repellents and after bite for most destinations. There are minis from just about every brand under the sun to bide the time until 2024 where major airports will scrap the 100ml rule (hallelujah).
Last but certainly not least: electricals. We mean phone, camera, electric toothbrush as well as chargers for all the aforementioned. Fun extras include disposable cameras to give your holiday snaps a nostalgic edge, handheld fans to keep you cool as a cucumber, and power banks so you’re always juiced up.
Best of all, if you’ve misplaced or not had the chance to pick up any of the above, we have you covered with the items below - all available to arrive at your house the same, next or in a couple of days time. This is your ultimate packing hack guide.
Clothing
Whether your swimwear collection has seen better days, you need that basic white tee to tie your whole outfit together or you’re missing essential pieces in your carefully curated holiday wardrobe, here are the clothing brands you need to know.
The clothing brands offering same day delivery:
Amazon - included with Prime or £5.99
Net-A-Porter / Mr Porter - £15 when order placed by 10am (daytime) or 2pm (evening)
Matches Fashion - 90 minute delivery available
Selfridges - place order by midday for 7-10pm delivery
ASOS Instant Delivery - place order by midday for 6-10pm delivery
Next - order ready to pick up in store in one hour
Zara - on orders before 2pm
Farfetch - 90 minute and same day on orders by 11am
Karen Millen - on orders before 11am
The clothing brands offering next day delivery:
H&M - £5.99 on orders before 7pm
New Look - £5.99 on orders before 8pm
M&S - £4.99 on orders before 8pm
Reiss - £5.95 on orders before 11pm
Office - £5.99 on orders before 6pm
size? - £5.99 or £6.99 on orders before 6pm
Schuh - £4.99 order by midnight
John Lewis - £7.50 on orders by 8pm
Arket - express one to day days delivery on orders before 4pm
Nobody’s Child - £5.99 for delivery in one to three days
Toiletries
For that all important SPF top up, refills of your favourite products or minis to see you through your travels, these are the online beauty retailers with speedy delivery times.
The beauty retailers offering same day delivery:
Cult Beauty - £9.95 when palced by 11.30am
Boots - Order and Collect to airport stores
Net-A-Porter / Mr Porter - £15 when order placed by 10am (daytime) or 2pm (evening)
Selfridges - place order by midday for 7-10pm delivery
The beauty retailers offering next day delivery:
Sephora- £4.95 on orders before 6pm
lookfantastic- £5.99 on orders before 12am
Space NK- £5 on orders before 8pm
Beauty Bay- £4.95 on orders before 11,30pm
Escentual - £5.95
Electricals
Do you need new headphones? A camera? An adapter? Or simply a charger? Get it delivered straight to your house in a matter of hours.
The tech retailers offering same day delivery:
Amazon - included with Prime or £5.99
Selfridges - place order by midday for 7-10pm delivery
Currys - free order and collected in an hour or next day on orders before 9pm
Argos - £5.95 on orders before 5pm
The tech retailers offering next day delivery:
John Lewis - £7.50 on orders by 8pm
100 Pairs of Howard Leight Laser Lite Individually Wrapped Ear Plugs
While these ear plugs are not completely one use, you will find that they will only stay firmly in place for a few nights on the trot before slipping out and finding them on your pillow the next morning. Luckily they come in a pack of 100 but if you are concerned about wastage, stick to a reusable option.
Twist the polyurethane foam and place inside your ears. They will expand and fill your ear canal to block out any disruptive noise. The plugs are individually wrapped so can easily be slipped into your hand luggage for use while travelling or taken with to your local spin class if you find it’s just a touch too loud.
Buy now £15.49, Amazon
Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth High Resolution Audio Over-Ear Headphones
Elevate the audio experience with this game-changing set of headphones from Sony. This wireless design have some of the best noise-cancelling on the market so whether you’re next to a crying baby on the plane or a loud chewer on the train, there is nothing that is going to get in the way of enjoying your playlist or podcast to the max.
The same is true for the microphones, in which there are four on each cup and they feature an Auto NC Optimizer to automatically optimise it based on your environment. The sound is impeccable, they’re attractive and they are some of the most comfortable you’ll ever wear. The WH-1000XM5s boast 40 hours of playback.
Buy now £299.00, John Lewis
Hand sanitiser: Cuticura Original Anti Bacterial Hand Gel 50ml – Floral & Fruity
When faced with a row of portaloos, hand sanitiser is an essential. They rarely include a working tap, which is why you’ll want a hand sani on hand for the peace of mind and hygiene. Turn the unpleasant experience into a (slightly) more enjoyable thing with Cuticura’s floral and fruity infused formulation.
Top tip: Boots Click & Collect service means you can collect your order from a train or rail station on the way, saving you lugging heavy bottles all the way from home.
Buy now £1.00, Boots
Chilly’s Series 2 Water Bottle
Best for: a tried and tested classic with style to boot
Make your water bottle an enviable fashion accessory with Chilly’s latest Tate Collection – inspired by artists including Wassily Kandinsky, John Piper and David Bomberg to bring eccentric, colourful designs. The bottles feature a built-in o-ring seal within the lid to ensure 100 per cent leakproof protection and a soft rubbered base to keep any movement pretty silent. Pour in your water and keep it cool for up to 24 hours, or your hot drinks hot for 12 hours.
Buy now £36.00, John Lewis
JEFDIEE Inflatable Travel Pillow
When attempting to catch Z’s on flights, our bodies have a way of contorting in unusual and unnatural ways, leading to back pain and uncomfort as you try to click your body back into place. No longer. This travel pillow rests on the tray table or your lap to keep your head supported throughout the flight and with space for your arms too. It’s ergonomically designed to position it in at a 45 degree angle to relieve pressure on the spine. It’s inflatable and comes with an eye mask and ear plugs too.
Buy now £50.53, Amazon
Smythson Luggage Tag in Panama
What better way to make your luggage appear both noticeable and unique than with a gorgeous, neon leather accessory? Though available in a range of colourways, we think opting for a distinctive, bright and beautiful hue is sure to make your luggage stand out from the rest.
Buy now £85.00, Smythson
Aspinal of London Travel Wallet with Removable Inserts
A travel wallet that adapts to each trip, Aspinal’s design comes with removable inserts so you never need to take anything unless it’s completely necessary.
All sections are clear thanks to markers stamped with ‘Tickets’, ‘Passport’, ‘Documents’, ‘Currency’ and ‘Boarding Pass’ in gold foil lettering, and there’s also a handy ‘Other’ section for miscellaneous things like receipts and small family pictures.
Personalisation is available as well as luxury gift wrapping if you intend to give this as a gift to your favourite globetrotter.
Buy now £135.00, Aspinal of London
Lixada Hiking Backpack 60L
There’s no danger of missing this backpack on the luggage carousel: the bright orange will scream for attention from miles away.
The large capacity backpack is light at 1.12kg empty, leaving more space for all your stuff, but it’s a strong bag too with details like breathable mesh padding, a wide hip belt with zipped pockets and adjustable straps to keep things comfortable when you’re on the move.
There are zips and pockets galore, with the one on the top able to expand overall capacity. There’s even a rain cover to protect your things in case of a downpour. As well as backpacking, it’s an excellent option for camping, hiking and festivals too.
Also available in the less exciting colours of black, blue and green.
Buy now £35.98, Amazon
Longchamp Le Pliage Original Large Shoulder Bag
The Longchamp Le Pliage is legendary in the travel community for its foldable form and many different size options. Little, original, large and XL, the possibilities are endless - and if you’re looking for more comfort than a shoulder strap may provide, there’s even a backpack option too.
Each style offers the origami four-way folding capabilities that have earned the silhouette its cult status, a lightweight design and durable construction achieved through the combination of nylon and Russian leather and a rainbow array of colourways to suit your travelling aesthetic.
Buy now £110.00, John Lewis
Away F.A.R Messenger 16L
From the travel expert Away comes this messenger bag with a slick, sophisticated look that packs an impressive 16L capacity inside. The hard-wearing accessory is created with a high-strength polyester that should be able to withstand the knocks and bumps of a globe-trotter, while also being sourced from recycled materials.
Whether you’re hopping around art galleries in a European capital or reaching new heights literally on a hike, it will stash away all the essentials to hand - think your phone, camera, wallet or water bottle with zipped interior pockets for the most precious. It can fit a laptop of 15” within the designated laptop pocket and there’s an exterior pocket too for speedy access.
Buy now £70.00, Away
A.P.C. Grace mini leather cross-body bag
A.P.C.’s collections are defined by an effortlessly stylish Parisian nonchalance.
With smooth clean lines and pared-back design details, the Grace exudes the kind of quiet sophistication that’s at the heart of French-girl chic. Constructed using supple leather and glossy hardware, it radiates luxury.
Buy now £650.00, MatchesFashion
Uniqlo Keith Haring Round Mini Shoulder Bag
This Uniqlo shoulder bag fits everything but the kitchen sink. We’ve long waxed lyrical over at ES Best on the miraculous powers of this accessory that really does fit everything you need for a day fest and beyond. It comes in an endless array of colourways, but the latest is part of a collaboration with Keith Haring that’s suitably fun and playful for a festival.
Buy now £14.90, Uniqlo
Antler Chelsea Overnight bag
A tiny bag, that, with the right packing methods, can see you through enough outfits for four days, Antler’s Chelsea Overnight bag is a pretty remarkable thing.
Yes, the £140 price tag is steep, but when you consider add-on baggage costs, it will quickly pay for itself. There are pockets inside for organisation and an adjustable carry-strap to allow you to wear it cross-body.
Measures 41.5 x 26 x 18cm and available in a variety of muted colours.
Buy now £140.00, Antler
Drowsy Sleep Co Silk Sleep Mask
Best for: a sound muffling and hypoallergenic
Material: 22 momme, pure mulberry silk
Strap: velcro
The Drowsy Sleep Co puts comfort at the forefront to make sleepless nights a thing of the past. This mask has a calming cloud-like feel with super soft padding over the eyes that acts as total black out to light pollution, while also muffling out sound. It is made from 22 momme pure mulberry silk - a fabric that is hypoallergenic, lightweight and breathable.
Buy now £69.00, Amazon
Anker PowerCore 5000 mAh External Battery Power Bank
A pocket-sized hero, Anker’s mini portable charger holds enough power to fully charge high power smartphones like an iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S9 and nearly two full charges for an iPhone 8 from the 5000mAh rating.
What’s great about this battery is that it facilitates high-speed charging thanks to PowerIQ, which delivers a super-fast charge speed of up to 2amp.
The device comes with a micro USB cable, travel pouch, welcome guide and an 18-month warranty. It’s a helpful bit of tech to keep charged up and in your bag, ready for when your phone needs a pick-me-up.
For the price, it can’t be beat.
Buy now £22.99, Amazon
Portable Neck Fan with 78 Ventilation Holes
Best for: effortlessly cool
This bladeless fan has been doing the rounds on social media, and no wonder. They look like headphones but have a sole purpose: to cool the worst of your sweat before those beads have a chance to drip.
Reasonably priced and with three wind speeds to help you battle the heatwave, it projects enough air to keep neck, face and head at a comfortable temperature, even in the human soup that is the London Underground in the summertime. It charges with a USB port, so you can wear it at work and plug it into your computer to charge up for the journey back home. Mind you, it's not just for the commute; the hands-free design makes it perfect for using while cooking up a storm in the kitchen as well as strenuous outdoor sports.
Buy now £28.04, Amazon
HandFan Handheld Fan Misting
Best for: misting and cooling
Converting water into mist for an immediately cooling effect, this fan makes an ideal sidekick for scorching summer days. Three settings include fan only, mist only or a combination of both.
The large hole also makes this fan very easy to hang. Available in three colours.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
Deodorant: Mitchum Men Triple Odor Defense Ice Fresh 48HR Protection Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Aerosol
This one may be self-explanatory based on the above but stay cool, collected and odour free as you hit the festival field with a mini deo always on hand.
Buy now £1.50, Boots
First aid: Compeed Blister Hydrocolloid - Medium
The single most important item you need to pack in your festival bag is Compeed. With elevated step count and stylish shoes not designed for that level of walking, keep your tootsies in good nick with the best on the market. It is also helpful to have ordinary plasters in different sizes as well as a travel-ready first aid kit.
Buy now £4.50, Boots
Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract
Best for: a beautifully scented, lightweight cream
From the herbaceous aroma to the lightweight texture, this high factor suncream from Supergoop! turns traditional formulations on its head. Never has the creaming up process been so easy with the quickly-absorbed, seemingly invisible nature of this product. It’s almost gel-like in its consistency but much thinner and yet still boasts a hard-working shielding effect from UVA, UVB and infrared rays. The scent comes from the infusion of rosemary, while there’s also sunflower and rice antioxidants to reinforce the protection against pollution and the sun’s rays.
Buy now £20.00, Cult Beauty
Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent
It doesn’t matter where you’re going in the world: mosquitos are no match for the power of Jungle Formula’s Maximum Strength spray. As its name suggests, this is one of the strongest mosquito sprays around with a 4/4 insect repellent factor and a heavy dose of 50 per cent DEET to match.
You’ll want to use this repellent outdoors because its fresh, citrus smell is almost as strong as its power. If you’re someone who regularly gets bitten on holidays, this is an essential purchase. Would rather avoid a spray? It’s also available in pump spray and roll-on formats.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Amazon Basics Packing Cubes - Medium (4-Piece Set)
Save space, minimise weight and have all your travel must-haves organised in a pleasingly orderly fashion with packing cubes from eBags. The clue is in the name; these are super light compartments made from a siliconised nylon that is renowned for its lightweight nature and durability. This set includes one slim, two small and two large cubes.
Buy now £22.79, Amazon
Kodak Fun Saver Disposable Camera
Snap up 27 shots on Kodak’s classic disposable camera – it’s been around for years for a reason. With a fixed-focus lens, it will produce high-quality results and can be used in low-level lighting thanks to its optional flash feature. A reliable design for inside and out.
Buy now £21.99, Amazon
Nikon Coolpix P1000
Best for: extreme convenience
The widest zoom range available on a fixed-lens camera belongs to the P1000. It can go from a 24mm-equivalent wide angle view to an incredible 3000mm - a 125x difference.
That makes it ideal for travel. You can carry it with you wherever you go knowing that you’ll never need to change the lens. In fact, you can’t - this may look like a DSLR or MILC, but the lens is fixed in place making it more of a bridge camera.
The size and weight are a disadvantage for travel - you really could take a DSLR and a single lens and not notice the difference - and the small (barely larger than those in phone cameras) 16MP sensor isn’t the greatest once the light begins to fade, but for sheer convenience it’s hard to beat.
Buy now £1049.00, Amazon
Babyliss 5344BU Travel Hair Dryer
Not only is the Babyliss 5344BU Travel Hair Dryer small enough to throw in your hand luggage and forget about until you arrive at your destination, it’s also cheap enough that you won’t feel too concerned about any over-zealous luggage staff who may happen to throw your bag around more cheerfully than anticipated.
This budget friendly travel hairdryer brings together everything you need for salon-worthy locks no matter how much humidity is in the air. With 2000W of power and a dual-voltage feature, it’s one of the best options for quick drying power without taking up too much space.
Buy now £20.00, Boots
John Lewis Travel Steam Iron
With its sleek grey and black design, this John Lewis Travel Steam Iron is easy to use and easy to store, making it ideal for those often on the move. Designed to make ironing quick and easy when you’re on the go, the John Lewis & Partners travel iron lets you choose between dry or steam settings, or a vertical burst of steam when you need it. Plus, its soft grip handle, ultra lightweight design and ceramic soleplate make it effortless to use even for those who don’t quite have the natural gift for ironing.
Buy now £10.00, John Lewis
PWRHUB Portable Travel Steamer
With its super-fast 30-second heat-up, you can save time and de-wrinkle your clothes even on the shortest of notice when you buy PWRHUB’s portable steamer. This steamer is one of the most powerful travel steamers on the market, with its 1450 watts power and 150ml detachable water tank, giving you up to 10 minutes of continuous steam without the need to refill. It has a foldable design for more convenient storage and comes with a heat-protective storage bag, so you can easily carry it in your luggage worry-free.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
