Counting down until your next getaway? We thought so. It’s peak holiday season, so to help you get in the mood (and get a head start on packing), we asked you for the essentials that always make it into your suitcase.
From tried-and-tested luggage and day-to-night sandals to long-journey entertainment for kids, our reader recommendations and Filter favourites will provide lots of inspiration for your next trip.
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The holiday heroes that go the distance
Stripe linen throw
£135 at ToastMorwenna Ferrier opts for a linen throw over a towel for the beach. Towels are “too bulky and slow to dry”, she says in our guide to summer style and beauty tips. “I also carry an extra baby muslin for drying myself.”
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Kids’ anti-UV sun top
£6.99 at DecathlonRash vests: always pack these as they can be expensive to buy at the beach. Decathlon’s are great. Ali Payne
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UE Wonderboom 4 waterproof portable speaker
£55.59 at Amazon From £57.16 at John LewisA waterproof speaker: we love to put music on around the pool (if we’re in a private villa) or in the room. We’ve had one for years, and it still works perfectly. AP
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Bodyboard fins
£24.99 at DecathlonSimple open-heel fins. I use them for most unspectacular bodysurfing or just any fun in the water. Mark
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Nescafé instant cappuccino, 12 sachets
£2.40 at Amazon £2.50 at AsdaOn my last holiday in Greece, the most useful thing I remembered to take was a few sachets of instant cappuccino. I cannot do without a coffee when I wake up, so sachets were handy. Sylvia
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Pop-up laundry basket
£4 at ArgosA pop-up laundry basket flattens down and keeps the hotel room tidy from piles of washing. Essential when you have small children going through three-plus outfit changes a day. Anna
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Bicycle waterproof playing cards
£15.99 at Amazon £12.99 at John LewisWaterproof cards were a great investment for a Cyprus holiday so hot we didn’t want to get out of the pool. They kept happily us entertained for hours. Monica Horridge
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Stokke CloudSleeper inflatable travel bed
£89 at John Lewis £89 at StokkeFor children who are “too big for a travel cot but too small for a single bed with no rails”, Rose Stokes recommends this inflatable travel bed for kids. “It packs up small and inflates in less than a minute with its built-in pump, plus it comes in prints that kids are bound to love,” she says in her roundup of everything you need for travelling with kids.
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Journey essentials
KeepCup Commuter travel mug, 340ml
£32 at Amazon £32 at KeepCupAny long journey is greatly improved by a hot (or cold) beverage. Avoid single-use cups by investing in a travel mug you’ll reach for time and again. Pete Wise rated the KeepCup Commuter the best overall in his test of the best travel mugs, thanks to its “impressive temperature control”, easy-to-use design and spill-proofing.
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Infinity travel pillow
£42 at Infinity PillowIf you want to get some shut-eye on the journey, a travel pillow will be a godsend. But which ones actually help you get comfortable? Pete Wise found the answer in his review of the best travel pillows. The Infinity pillow came out on top after his comprehensive tests on buses, trains and … arcade machines.
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Microfibre pillowcase
£2 at DunelmAn empty pillowcase: you can stuff it with extra clothes for a pillow on the plane or a spare pillow on holiday. KH
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MyHalos blackout sleep mask
£9.99 at Amazon £9.99 at MyHalosSleep masks aren’t just handy for the journey but at the final destination too (when you may be at the mercy of an ineffective blind). This blackout mask received top marks from Jane Hoskyn in her trial of the best sleep aids, helping her to achieve nine hours of blissful shut-eye.
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Ikea Istad kitchen bags, 50
£3.50 at IkeaBose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones
£209 at Currys From £209 at John LewisPrepack snacks for kids on the plane. Clear bags give the kids ownership of their snacks, so they don’t disturb you as much! Speaking of which: noise-cancelling headphones! AP
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Anker Nano power bank
£19.99 at Amazon £19.99 at AnkerDon’t risk finding yourself stranded on holiday with no phone battery and no idea how to get home. Pete Wise rated the Nano best for portability in his test of the best power banks, making it ideal for taking on the go.
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Kindle Paperwhite
£159.99 at Amazon £159.99 at John LewisIf you plan on devouring multiple books while away, save space in your luggage with an ebook reader. Kindle’s Paperwhite model has a 7in screen, water resistance and is a “beautiful canvas for novels”, all of which landed it in the top spot for Andrew Williams’s review of the best ebook readers.
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Melissa & Doug reusable sticker pad
£3.99 at Amazon £3.99 at John LewisHeading on a long journey with kids? This reusable sticker pad is a portable activity to keep them occupied and out of trouble. Rebecca Goodman’s guide to surviving long family car journeys is filled with tips and tricks for avoiding meltdowns, mess and madness.
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Quechua 20l cooler backpack
£25 at Argos £24.99 at DecathlonAlways have an emergency picnic with you – this could be a baguette, or crackers and some picky bits you can eat without too much mess. This is handy on long journeys, and it’s also a lot cheaper than the train cafe or service station. Rachel Stirling
For more, read our guide to the best cool boxes and bags
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Lego Classic creative suitcase
£17.99 at Lego £14.99 at John Lewis“A travel Lego suitcase is a brilliant addition to your parenting arsenal when you’re far from home,” says Rose Stokes in her guide to everything you need for travelling with kids.
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Luggage
Tripp Holiday 8 cabin suitcase
£49.50 at Amazon £42 at TrippWhen Pete Wise put the best cabin bags through their paces (including a highly scientific assault course test), this affordable option from Tripp was his favourite budget option. “The Holiday 8 is my top pick for solo travellers who need to pick up a decent cabin bag for a good price,” he says.
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Tripp Holiday 8 Large
£69.50 at Amazon £75 at NextOr if you need something bigger, Tripp’s Holiday 8 Large suitcase not only survived Pete Wise’s brutal drop test, but also impressed him enough to give it a top spot in his guide to the best suitcases. “The Large is a lovely suitcase to use in every respect, from adjusting its glossy compression straps to wheeling it around on its nimble casters,” he says.
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Antler overnight travel bag
£125 at John Lewis £125 at AntlerJess Cartner-Morley says this overnight bag has strangers stopping her in the street. “The clever thing about this bag is the integral back strap, which allows it to slide over the pop-up handle of your wheeled suitcase. This keeps it sitting securely on top of your luggage without everything falling over in chaos when you try to buy a coffee or get on to a train,” she says.
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Stubble & Co travel bag
From £77 at Stubble & Co“It’s time to swap your cross-body for a shoulder bag,” says Peter Bevan in his 51 men’s spring wardrobe updates. This has “enough space for your laptop, your gym gear and a couple of essential toiletries (such as an aftershave and a lip balm)” or your travel essentials for long journeys.
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Eagle Creek packing cubes
£35 at RohanWhen Les Shu put packing cubes to the test for the Filter US, this “near perfect” set from Eagle Creek was his favourite. Lucky for us, they’re also available in the UK.
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Eastpak Tranverz suitcase
From £89.95 at Amazon £99 at EastpakI love my Eastpak bag for travelling. The two compartments inside make it easy to fit packing cubes. AP
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Trunki suitcase
From £38.99 at Amazon £49.99 at Argos“This ride-on Trunki suitcase is a favourite among all the small kids I know (and their parents) for good reason,” says Rose Stokes in her guide to everything you need to travel with children. “I mean, who among us has never had to get somewhere on time with an uncooperative small person?”
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Toiletries
Jo Malone London fragrance set, 5 x 1.5ml
£20 at Lookfantastic £20 at John LewisThis Jo Malone London discovery set has “something for every destination”, says Anita Bhagwandas in her guide to the best travel toiletries. Jo Malone scents are unisex, but if you’re after something distinctly masculine, then Peter Bevan recommended this Le Père discovery set in his 50 men’s summer fashion updates. The smaller bottles are ideal for taking on the go.
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Every Drop spatula
£13.36 at AmazonAnita Bhagwandas also recommends using a spatula, like this one, to transfer the contents of your full-size products into more convenient travel pots. This not only saves you from the inflated prices (and packaging waste) of travel minis. “It’s also useful for getting the last smears of product out of a jar,” she says.
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Flat foundation brush
£2.97 at AmazonUse a basic foundation brush for the never-ending task of applying sun cream to children. KH
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Solar Buddies refillable sun cream applicator
£8 at Ocado £7.98 at BootsOr why not let them apply it themselves (with supervision) with a Solar Buddies applicator? “Not only does this help get an even spread, but my son actually enjoys it so much, he asks to do it himself,” says Rose Stokes in her guide to everything you need to travel with children.
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Beauty of Joseon relief sun rice + probiotics SPF50, 50ml
£12.40 at Lookfantastic £12.40 at Cult BeautyDaily SPF is essential, so make it easy with one that’s a joy to apply. This “sinks in quickly, leaving a soft, natural finish that’s neither too oily nor too matt. Skin looks healthy and is perfectly primed for makeup,” says Sarah Matthews, who rated it the best overall in her test of the best face SPFs.
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Naked Sundays hydrating glow face mist, 75ml
£25.20 at Boots £24 at Cult BeautyThis Naked Sundays setting spray is “perfect for SPF top-ups, while the skincare actives will keep you glowing all day”, says Sarah Matthews. The spray bottle makes it easy to apply on the go, and the mist is so fine that it can be used over makeup without causing separation. You can see why Sarah rated it the best spray in her pick of face SPFs.
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Horace face and body sunscreen SPF50+, 100ml
£19 at HoraceFor low-fuss protection, use an SPF made for both your face and body, such as this one from men’s self-care brand Horace. It “protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays but isn’t chalky like the factor 50s of old – it feels more like a moisturiser”, says Charlie Allenby.
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Dyson Supersonic Travel
£250 at Dyson £249.99 at John LewisDon’t settle for a lousy hotel hairdryer. Dyson’s new model is “a smaller, lighter, travel-friendly dryer offering the same powerful airflow and heat-control technology as its full-size sibling”, says Lise Smith in her Dyson Supersonic Travel review.
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Suri 2.0 toothbrush and charging travel case
£105 at Boots £105 at SuriSuri’s electric toothbrush comes with a travel case that not only charges the toothbrush but also cleans it with a UV light, making it ideal for travel. “If you care about sustainability in any way, it’s the best choice” of toothbrush, says Alan Martin in his Suri 2.0 review.
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Women’s holiday accessories
Oas camel brim canvas hat
£80 at Oas“If you’re planning to find yourself on a windy island this summer, swap your baseball cap for a canvas sun hat, like this one from Oas,” says Chloe Mac Donnell in our guide to summer style.
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Le Specs oval sunglasses
£44 at John Lewis £38.50 at Le Specs“No mere mortal can make 1990s minimalism look as good as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy,” says Jess Cartner-Morley. But if you do want to look as effortlessly chic as CBK on your holiday, she recommends these classic black sunnies.
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Clarks Ravina sandals
£38 at Debenhams £38 at Clarks“Holiday sandals need to be comfy enough for a hot walk but nice enough to wear with your going-out-for-dinner dress,” says Jess Cartner-Morley. These Clarks sandals from her 52 women’s summer wardrobe updates fit the bill perfectly.
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Twist front swimsuit
£45 at John LewisIn our roundup of the best bikinis, swimsuits and men’s trunks, this John Lewis swimsuit was highlighted as a great option for bigger busts. The eye-catching blue and tasteful twist detail are beautiful.
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Archie’s arch support flip-flops
£35 at Amazon £35 at Archies“Archies – as the name suggests – makes flip-flops with proper arch support, something you’d normally only get from a chunkier shoe,” says Charlotte Gornall in her guide to the best summer sandals. Much comfier than your usual flat-soled flip-flops, Archies are an Australian cult favourite for a reason.
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Pro11 flip-flop toe posts, one pair
£4.99 at AmazonOr make a pair of flip-flops you already own comfier to wear. “Try a pair of toe posts, which fit around the toes to protect the more tender skin there,” says Morwenna Ferrier in our 51 genius fashion and beauty tips for summer.
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Men’s holiday accessories
Bold square sunglasses
£19.90 at UniqloMake a statement with these yellow-lensed square sunglasses. “Bold designs are still in vogue this summer, and the tinted lenses of this Uniqlo pair will evoke the 90s,” says Charlie Allenby.
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Carhartt WIP canvas hat
£50 at Size £27.50 at AsosA baseball cap is the only hat you’ll ever really need, or so says Peter Bevan in his 50 men’s summer wardrobe updates. “It protects your face from UV rays and stops you from squinting. Plus, it looks cool – even when your hair’s not playing ball.”
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Marks & Spencer quick-dry patterned swim trunks
£20 at M&SHighlighted in our roundup of the best swimwear, these trunks are quick-drying and have a fun tropical pattern.
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Autograph leather flip-flops
£32 at M&SFor a more stylish and dressy take on flip-flops, opt for leather. “They’ll look great with a pair of tailored trousers come holiday season,” says Peter Bevan in his men’s summer fashion roundup.
