My Travel Checklist

Here's the little section where I let you know what I pack, it'll vary from solo to family travel but the general basics are the same.

This won't be exhaustive, and I know  plenty of people will be able to add and improve the lists. 

So with that said, the categories below are, hopefully helpful for your planning phase.

check out the links for more information

The Online Bits

  • VISA - essential to check what the entry requirements are. Especially now and even for travelers coming to the UK make sure your ETA is valid (£16). I find the best place for travel requirements when traveling from the UK Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK  
  • NordVPN - Not really a packable but as this comes everywhere with me whilst traveling, I use it on the Laptop and Phone. both home and abroad  the protection it provides on wireless networks is brilliant. I like to make sure it's updated before I leave and It's easy to setup. 
  • Travel Insurance - These days you can get this anywhere, personally I use Revolut metal, as it covers worldwide and the whole family. Alternatively, check your bank, I'm with Barclays and also get travel insurance with them that covers breakdown as well, with an added bonus of giving me free lounge access (5 passes a year). It comes in handy for long transfer times especially in Turkey where the lounge access was 110euros pp! 
  • eSim - Don't get caught with huge data roaming bills whilst away, some countries this can end up being quite expensive. Get an eSim for either the Region or Country you are heading too.  

The Extra Reminders

  • always take a bit of cash, not a lot just enough for the just in-case's. some countries taxis still only take cash
  • place spare clothes in your backpack/hand luggage, it may never happen but if the suitcase gets lost, you'll be glad of a clean pair of underwear. 
  • copy of your passport 
  • make sure your vaccinations are current for the destination
  • where possible print a copy or two of your visa  
  • Sign up for rewards. Even if you don't travel a lot these can still add up, the one's I use:

       Expedia/Hotels.com for what is now "OneKey Cash"                           rewards vary depending on member level (free to join) but you get hotel cash back to use on future stays.

       British Airways Tier points and Avios - Collect Tier points to         increase your membership level. Avios save and spend on flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, car hire or use them to reduce the price of your next trip

      Check Individual Hotel Groups, for me it's Marriott hotels, it's free to sign up. Once registered you can collect nights on each stay to increase your membership level, once you reach Gold you then start to get the room upgrade options and lounge access

The Carry-Ons

  • Backpack - Now I know this seems an obvious choice, but its on my list it's mainly for the Laptop as I walk back and fourth to the hangar/office and it does come in handy for carrying shopping as well.
  • Travel Plug  - This is the one I use, it works in over 200 countries, I'm yet to test them all but it's worked everywhere I've been so far!
  • Charger! - Be it Laptop or Phone. I usually just take my Laptop power pack as it has a USB connector, as does the Travel Plug 
  • Power Bank - Again something I don't leave without, it's a comfort knowing that if your phone battery is running low you have this in the bag. 
  • Electronics Organiser - Sits nicely in the backpack and just keeps all the cables tidy in one place, I've been there searching the bottom pulling out cable after cable.
  • Luggage Scale - This I don't leave home without, especially on the family holidays. Just gives me that piece of mind that I'm not going to be over the baggage weight limit, which as we know varies depending on the airline operator.