Guide to all the holiday essentials we can’t live without
17th Aug 2026
Reading Time: 9 minutes
Whether you’re jetting off for two weeks in the sun, planning a UK staycation or heading away for a long weekend, a little preparation can make all the difference. The right holiday essentials don’t just make travelling easier, they can save you money, help you avoid common travel mishaps and make your time away far more enjoyable.
From clever luggage and space-saving packing gadgets to travel-friendly toiletries, must-have tech and beach bag basics, we’ve rounded up the products that are genuinely worth finding a place for in your suitcase. Some are designed to solve problems you didn’t even know you’d have until you’re on holiday, while others are tried-and-tested favourites that seasoned travellers swear by.
So before you zip up your suitcase, take a look through our guide to the holiday essentials you’ll wonder how you ever travelled without.
Click the item title to go to the product’s website/stockists
Sea Band Nausea Relief Acupressure Bands £7.47 for Pack of 2
If you’re prone to motion sickness and want a simple, natural way to reduce nausea while travelling, acupressure bands are definitely worth a try. Worn like a sweatband around the wrist, the pressure stud presses against and stimulates the P6 (or Nei-Kuan) acupressure point on the inside of your wrist, helping to relieve queasiness. Smaller bands are also available for younger travellers.
Tielle Luxury Supersize Travel Pillow and Pillowcases £90.00
Whether you’re flying for a few hours or crossing time zones, instead of battling a stiff neck or awkward head positions why not fly in comfort. Tielle’s luxury travel pillow is filled with 80% duck down and 20% duck feather, giving a lovely soft feel without being completely flat. With a pair of 600tc Smooth and Silky pillowcases and handy cotton carry bag, it’s larger than a typical travel pillow but still compact enough to take away with you.
Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack £75.00
This 28-litre backpack has plenty of room without being oversized. The water-resistant material will protect your belongings from unpredictable weather and the padded straps provide a supportive fit making it easy on the shoulders and comfortable enough to carry around all day. Simple, practical, stylish and available in five different colourways, it’s ideal for both travelling and sightseeing.
Life360 Tile Starter Pack – Mickey Mouse £39.99
When you’re travelling with children, keeping track of bags and important belongings can be one less thing to worry about. The Disney Mickey Mouse Tile Starter Pack is a handy way to keep tabs on luggage, backpacks, keys and other essentials. The Tile can be attached to belongings and located using the Life360 app, making it particularly useful when you’re navigating busy airports, hotels or days out.
Yvonne Ellen Packing Cubes £40.00
Unlock your hidden Dilly Carter and get organised in your suitcase with this chic and beautifully designed packing cubes.
Comes with…
1 x small cube
1 x medium cube
1 x large cube
1 x drawstring bag
Was an absolute godsend when returning from holiday and separating dirties and shoes.
Love Mushroom Reishi Liquid Drops £15.99
If travelling tends to disrupt your body’s natural rhythm, Love Mushrooms Calm Reishi Drops are a brilliant addition to your carry-on and an effective way to enhance your daily wellbeing and natural sense of calm. Take 2ml directly under your tongue or mix into your favourite drink for quick, hassle-free stress support whether you’re navigating a busy airport, settling into a long-haul flight or unwinding after a day of exploring.
CuddleDry Bamboo Fun Towels £31.99
For water-loving toddlers, Cuddledry character towels are a fun and practical addition to your holiday bag. Made from bamboo and cotton towelling, featuring adorable character-inspired styles CuddleBunny, CuddlerRoar and CuddlePenguin, they are incredibly soft making them ideal for young, delicate skin. Available in 3 designs in sizes 1-3 years or 3-6 years, there will definitely be smiles all round after swimming, bath time or a day at the beach.
Thermos Disney Pixar Toy Story Stainless Steel Drinks Bottle, 470ml, Buzz £24.00
Keeping little ones hydrated while you’re out and about is always a holiday essential. This Toy Story Buzz Lightyear bottle combines a fun, colourful design with a practical stainless-steel construction, a kid-friendly flip lid and easy-carry handle. At 470ml, it’s a useful size for days at the beach, sightseeing or keeping in a hand luggage bag.
Paladone Disney Lilo & Stitch Waterproof Playing Cards £9.23
If you’re looking for something to keep the family entertained between swims or while relaxing by the pool, these Lilo & Stitch waterproof playing cards are a fun addition to your holiday bag. Their waterproof design makes them particularly practical for holidays, whether you’re playing around the pool, on the beach or simply looking for an easy game to enjoy together.
Sweet Dreamers Luna Dream Machine £29.99
For those familiar with Sweet Dreamers Ewan the Dream Sheep, the Luna Dream Machine is brilliant for travelling with a baby, particularly when their usual routine can be disrupted by new surroundings or busy journeys. Its clever smart cry sensor means Luna automatically responds with one of ten soothing sounds when your little one begins to stir, giving parents one less thing to worry about when travelling.
NETGEAR Nighthawk M3 Router £349.00
We all know reliable WiFi isn’t always easy to find when you’re travelling. This compact 5G mobile router creates your own WiFi network, supports WiFi 6 and can connect up to 32 devices in more than 125 countries. It’s also a great option for families who regularly travel together, as everyone can share the same connection on their phones, tablets and laptops instead of paying for separate data plans.
Road Angel Halo Play 4K Dual Dash Cam £179.99 (save £120.00 off RRP)
Car Stereo With 7″ Touch Screen Display £299.99 (save £100.00 off RRP)
While you’re navigating your way through unknown territories, experience vibrant visuals on a high-response capacitive touchscreen. Whether you’re navigating complex city streets or picking the perfect playlist, the bright, edge-to-edge glass provides a premium tablet-like feel with zero lag. With Wireless Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®, your smartphone syncs instantly the moment you step inside. Access Waze, Google Maps, Spotify & Apple Music without ever reaching for a cable.
Silva Rugged Dry Bag 3L £19.99
Silva Dry Bags are made from durable, transparent TPU material that keeps your items easily visible and protected from the elements. The 3L is compact enough for everyday essentials such as mobiles, wallet or power banks without taking up much room in a backpack or bag. Great for kayaking, sailing and other water-based adventures, just roll it down, clip it shut and you’re good to go. Available in five sizes for different packing needs.
WearTwo Jump-Set £208.00
The Atherna wide leg ‘jump set’ by WearTwo is an outfit with travel in mind. A coordinated two-piece designed to give you the effortless look of a jumpsuit, but also having the option of wearing each piece separately so you can mix and match, making it easy to create different looks without overpacking. Made from a modal-blend, the fabric is soft, lightweight and breathable, perfect for long journeys allowing you to travel in comfort from start to finish.
Pillar AM/PM – Twice Daily Organiser £17.99
The Pillar AM/PM keeps morning and evening supplements neatly separated with days embossed into each section making it simple to see what you’ve taken. The compartments simply slide open, making the whole routine quick, neat and fuss-free. Pill organisers don’t have to look clinical or boring and unlike most, this definately doesn’t scream “medicine cabinet”. Availble in Sage Green, Soft Pink, Off-White, Powder Blue, Slate Grey and Lavender
Small, colourful and ridiculously cute, CARMEX Minis are made for slipping into your holiday bag, beach tote or pocket. The miniature lip balms come in three summery flavours – Strawberry, Cherry and Pineapple Mint – and each contains SPF 15 protection. They’re designed to moisturise, nourish and soothe dry, chapped lips, which can be particularly welcome after days spent in the sunshine, wind or air conditioning. We love the tiny size, as they take up virtually no precious luggage space and are easy to keep close at hand. A simple, affordable summer essential that’s as practical as it is cute.
Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten & Defend SPF50+ Serum – £20, Boots
A brilliant addition to your holiday beauty bag, this feather-light SPF50+ serum combines serious sun protection with skincare benefits. The broad-spectrum SPF helps defend skin against damaging UV exposure, while 1% Vitamin C helps give your complexion that fresh, radiant holiday glow. We particularly like the silky, fast-absorbing formula, which feels lightweight rather than heavy or sticky in hot weather. It also contains hyaluronic acid and leaves an invisible finish, making it easy to wear every day. Better still, it’s fragrance-free, vegan-friendly and PETA Approved – ideal for protecting your face while you’re away.
REHAB Sunshine Spritz Hair Oil is a handy holiday essential for hot, sunny destinations. Designed to nourish and protect dry, sun-exposed hair, it helps keep your locks looking glossy and healthy after days spent by the pool or beach. It’s an easy suitcase addition for taming holiday frizz and dryness.
Delph Sun Lotion SPF 30 & Aftersun Lotion £8.99 / £3.99
A reliable SPF and soothing aftersun are two of the biggest suitcase essentials for any summer getaway, helping you protect and care for your skin whether you’re relaxing on the beach, exploring a city, or spending the day outdoors. Designed to support your skin before, during and after time in the sun, the SPF 30 Sun Lotion gives protection with lasting moisture in a water-resistant formula, while the Aftersun Lotion helps cool, hydrate and comfort skin.
We love these W7 holiday beauty heroes for adding a little glamour without overloading the suitcase. Lumina Face Filter gives skin a gorgeous holiday glow, while the Cool Jelly Primer Stick is a handy, compact way to prep skin on the go. Skin Quench Body Mist, in Dark Amber and Sweetpea, is perfect for a refreshing spritz from beach to bar. Lash-Out! Waterproof Mascara is an obvious poolside essential, while Honolulu Bronzin’ Dayz Bronzing Cream keeps that sun-kissed look going. These are some of our W7 favourites, but there are lots more affordable holiday-friendly beauty finds to discover too.
WE.ARE.REGULAR Perfect Poos Starter Pack – £15
Because nothing kills holiday vibes faster than airport bloat and long-haul constipation. The beloved formula in a convenient seven-day stick pack designed specifically for summer escapes and keeping holiday digestion drama-free. Inside, 10 bioavailable vitamins, minerals and natural botanicals work synergistically to support digestion, relieve bloating, and keep things moving. Simply take one sachet daily. Just tear open a stick, pop the powder into a glass, fill it with 300ml of water or your preferred juice/smoothie and stir to mix.
Including: Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin C, Peppermint, Ginger, Rosehip & Grapeseed Extracts
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