Affordable Hand Luggage Essentials For A Stress-free Trip

No matter which airline you fly, you have hand luggage. Admittedly some more than others – you can find out more here – but you have hand luggage all the same! When it comes to packing, you want to make sure that you make the most of your allowance. It really makes a difference, but if you are like me and always watching the pennies you need to make sure that you are spending money on something that is worth it. Read on to find out which affordable hand luggage essentials I recommend to make your trip as stress-free as possible, and to keep an eye on those pennies while you are at it too!

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Passport and Ticket Organiser/ Wallet

I cannot travel without it anymore. With 5 passports, boarding cards, GHIC cards etc to keep together, I need to have them somewhere to grab and know that they are safe. This BOACAY Family Passport Holder is ideal for that. It has slots for 5 passports, 5 Credit card slots (or if you are travelling from the UK to the EU, the GHIC cards will fit perfectly) a deep slot for boarding cards, a zipped pocket for coins and even a pen holder. It has Strong Metal Zipper Pulls and is Waterproof too.

Headphones

Whether you want to watch a film, listen to music or just drown out the noise, a pair of headphones is essential. A decent pair can last a long time, but they don’t have to break the bank. These Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Bluetooth Headphones have a 50-hour battery life, so plenty for even the longest flight! If your headphone battery runs low, a 3-minute quick charge can give you 1.5 hours of listening time. They swivel to take up less space in your bag too.

Cable Organiser Bag

I love being organised. If I’m not I just don’t feel like I can relax properly so this is ideal for people like me. This cable organiser bag is perfect to hold all of those little bits of tech and keep it all together and in easy reach. The compact Travel Gadget Bag with double layers, a middle compartment, and a zipper mesh pocket, offers secure and tidy space for a passport, boarding card, charger adapter, cable, etc. Made of outer odourless EVA and Oxford material and inner velvet part, UGREEN Portable Carry Organizer is good to protect electronic accessories against rain, water, scratch, and shock.

iPad

Ok, so an iPad isn’t the cheapest item on the list by a long way, but it’s one that will get its money’s worth of use. I do feel like it’s essential with kids when travelling. To use on the plane to watch TV, movies, listen to music or play games. Just all-around ways to keep the little ones occupied. Once you are at your destination it’s again a great way to distract the kids in those moments of need. I tend to pop a movie on in the late afternoon after a shower to help them wind down a bit before dinner.

However you use it for the kids, you’ll also have it handy for you. For me, it’s easier to edit those holiday pics on the iPad than the phone… win-win! If you are looking for any extra ways to entertain the kids with an iPad, subscribe to Amazon Kids+. it’s an All-in-one subscription that gives kids access to thousands of kid-friendly books, movies, TV shows, educational and games. Follow this link for a free trial.

Water Bottle

We all know that aeroplanes and airport drinks cost an absolute fortune. You are allowed to carry empty bottles through airport security and fill them once you are through. Most airports have water fountains that are adapted just for water bottles now so it’s handy as a money saver. This Chilly’s double-walled vacuum-insulated design keeps your drinks at the perfect temperature. Cold drinks for up to 24 hours or hot drinks for up to 12 hours. That means that your water will stay cold for the whole flight. And to use in the resort if you are somewhere hot, you’ll always have a nice cold drink to refresh you. Great to have especially when you’ve got the kids with you. Plus, these designs are gorgeous and we all deserve something pretty.

Travel Jewellery Case

Stop your necklaces getting tangled and arriving at your destination with an earring missing, keep them all together in a cute case. There are compartments for necklaces, earrings, rings, watches, and bracelets. It even has a little mirror too, which is a lovely addition. It won’t take up too much space either, it’s just the size of the palm of your hand.

Phone Tripod

So handy to have. I love taking photos of our trips, but sometimes it’s hard to get the right angle. Other times I use it to help take a decent photo of the 5 of us, there’s not always someone else around to ask. This Lamicall Mobile Phone Tripod is great and doesn’t take up much space. The highly flexible legs can be bent freely to any angle without fear of breakage, allowing you to capture shots from a wide range of perspectives. Easily wrap the legs around various objects, such as railings, fences, tree branches, or bicycle handlebars, for creative photography. A wireless remote control is included, allowing you to capture images from up to 10 metres away with ease.

Power Bank

A good power bank really is an asset. No matter what phone I’ve got, I can guarantee that some days on holiday it will run out of charge at some point and I’ll miss some of the best pictures. Or even worse, on a long flight or bus journey and the iPad runs out of battery with 3 squabbling kids. It’s worth paying a little extra for a decent one too. This one is perfect, it has 4 ports to charge 4 devices at once too. It’s compatible with most phones, so something that should suit most people. Great reviews about how many charges it gets and how it’s fast charging. Well worth adding to your packing list.

Hand Luggage Essentials I can’t live without

• My phone
• Lip Balm
• Hand Cream
• Anti-bacterial wipes
• Spare undies (you know, just in case of spilling something down me or my case goes missing, at least I’ll have clean undies!)
• Medication – Really important that this is in hand luggage, for exactly the same reason as the undies!
• Snacks – remember to keep them nut-free for flights though, but always handy, especially with the kids around.

I hope this helps with your packing! Have a fabulous trip.

Becky x

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