A celebrity touches down flanked by two assistants, one bodyguard and ten suitcases, whilst a team of personal assistants has covered everything else like insurance and transfers well in advance.
For most of us though, one or two bags have to do, whilst scrabbling around last minute for everything else as we’re just too busy. Bearing in mind that most airlines have decreased baggage allowances, packing smartly is critical. If you’ve left your packing to the last minute, here’s how to make a manic task a little more manageable.
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Insurance
Hopefully, your travel insurance is the one thing you’ve already got in the bag, though it’s likely you’ve just not found time to do it yet. Luckily there are a wealth of comparison sites available to use which will allow you to book travel insurance valid from as soon as the following day.
Travel insurance is fully tailorable to your needs, whether you’re travelling all inclusive to a sunny resort in Spain, or going skiing in Switzerland, and you’ll easily be able to cover the value of your luggage and potential risks quickly.
If you have a European Health Insurance Card you can also benefit from reduced, or even FREE, health care in EEA countries. Also, some bank and building societies offer free insurance with their accounts, you could already qualify for this too.
Sunglasses
What is the climate in the destination country like? What kind of trip am I taking? This dictates what kind of eyewear you will need for your trip – not forgetting that winter sports trips will also require eye protection of course.
If you’re travelling outside of the usual holiday season, you may be able to find last minute reductions in many high street outlets, it could be worth a quick browse to see, this stock is usually at the front of the store, or most visible to everyone so they can sell it. Peak season may be a bit tougher however, perhaps a quick search online could tell you when your next retailer is having a sale? After all, nobody wants to be paying airport prices for such a staple accessory!
Just because your destination is sunny doesn’t mean you should neglect your general eyecare however – retailers like Vision Direct offer the facility of ordering contact lenses with no prescription at short notice, allowing you to plan this last minute purchase around your last frantic days at work before your holiday. You can actually order by 8pm to receive by tomorrow, so you have plenty of time to forget before remembering again last minute.
Health and pharmaceuticals
This is an important but often overlooked category. If you’re not comfortable on your trip, it’s money wasted. Did you pack your prescription and allergy medication? If not, have you mailed a copy of the prescription to yourself? What about your energy supplements, painkillers, your contraceptives and feminine hygiene products? This is when online stores come in handy, so you can get a toothbrush, moisturizer, sunblock, mosquito repellent and other must-haves in a hurry.
Clothing
Bearing in mind the climate and intended activities, dress yourself mentally from the bottom up. That way, you can’t forget socks or T-shirts. Multifunctional clothing is best and sensible made-for-walking shoes are mandatory. If you’re going to a cold place, layers of clothing rather than big, bulky jackets that take up space and don’t allow you to undress as it gets warmer are best.
Packing the practical items
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In most cases, these include a torch, water bottle, extra pair of cheap sunglasses, your camera with a spare battery if needed, your charger, voltage adaptor and extra memory cards. Also, buy a phrasebook or download a language app for your host country, a universal charger, clear sealable bags and waterproof anything as required.
Food
YWhen you’ve remembered again that you needed to buy travel insurance and have finished buying clothes and other essentialslenses online, but what about food and snacks? Are there any staples you can’t dispense with? If you’re gluten-free, have you packed dried fruit and your favourite crisps?
There’s no need to panic if you’re packing last minute – categorize what you need, spend a few minutes researching the practicalities of your destination online and remember the virtues of online shopping.
