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Travelling can be stressful, but by preparing it can make things run more smoothly and help you relax a bit more. One way to prepare is by planning what to pack in your hand luggage. Sometimes a good list helps with planning, so here is a list of my favourites or must-have items I pack in my hand luggage when I travel with the family and have checked luggage for the rest of our stuff.
My basic essential packing list for hand luggage is below, feel free to copy & paste to your phone notes and tick off as you pack. I’ll also include links to some of my recommended items if you wanted to add them to your Amazon basket (these are affiliate links and mean I may receive a commission if you decide to buy, at no extra cost)
For quick & easy access, I carry a few items in a bum bag / fanny pack, but you can have these in your main hand luggage if you’d prefer:
- Phone - because most travel paperwork is now accessible on our phones, to take photos with and to access money/payment apps.
- Passport - ID and to board the plane!
- Money - a bit of cash (for tipping) and a couple of credit cards, I tend to pay using my Revolut card on Apple Pay where I can.
- Lip Balm - Palmer's is my absolute fave & has SPF in
In my main hand luggage I carry the following:
- Phone charger/cord - there's USB charging points conveniently popping up all over the place nowadays.
- Snacks - I like to bring along a few cereal bars just in case I get peckish plus some sweets for take off/landing.
- Headphones
- A pen
- Digital luggage scales - to prevent any surprises of overweight luggage at the airport these ones are ideal
- A spare lightweight outfit - in case luggage goes awol
- A swimsuit if we plan on hitting up a beach or pool before we can check-in to our room
- ’Squeezy squash’ - a small bottle of diluting juice/cordial to add to the kids water. We stock up on Robinson's mini's which also helps avoid lots of soda drinks and saves money and having to buy drinks when out and about.
I'll also throw in a small toiletry bag with the following:
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste & brush
- Biodegradable wipes
- Plasters
- Paracetemol
- Calpol Melts (less messy & lighter than liquid calpol)
- Motion Sickness patches (my daughter gets travel sick)
- A couple of sick bags (for said daughter)
- Pack of tissues
- Any other medications required
If travelling with children you may also be thinking what should I pack in my kids hand luggage? If they're like my children they could fill their bags with all sorts and be loaded down, but I tell them that they'll be carrying whatever they take so they do reign it in so their bag is not too heavy. Usually, my children's hand luggage contains things to entertain them during the flight and periods of waiting around to make family travel more relaxing:
- Spare outfit - we've had spilt drinks on the flight before!
- Swimsuit (if we're heading to a warmer climate)
- Headphones - our children both have these headphones
- Nintendo Switch
- Book
- A notebook/journal and pen
- Card games (one child normally takes Uno & the other picks Dobble)
- A soft toy also gets zipped up too!
- A refillable water bottle - fill up after security, most airports have filtered water stations
Whether you’re travelling for pleasure or business, having the right items packed in your hand luggage can make all the difference when the unexpected happens, for example a spilt drink, an episode of sickness or a delayed flight. With this list of essentials in mind you will no longer have to worry about forgetting those last minute items before flying off into the clouds! Happy travels!
You can shop some of these items from my recommended Amazon buys.