WHAT TO PACK FOR
INSIDER TIPS FROM ONE OF OUR REGULAR TRAVEL WRITERS
PACKING CUBES
I wish I was one of those people who only take carry-on luggage but I’m not so packing cubes come in handy – especially when on a multi-stop holiday and you need to pack and unpack a number of times. While you can get some for just over €10 online, I have found the most reliable and durable are the ones from Antler given they have an extra strong compression zip so you can pack more in. They also come in different sizes and colours, helping clothes stay neat and organised.
€58.50, antler.co.uk
BANDOLIER CROSS BODY
One of the things I use the most when I’m travelling is a crossbody phone strap. It enables me to be hands-free, avoids the need to carry a handbag or rucksack, and the one I have at the moment from Bandolier includes a discreet wallet for credit cards, driver’s license and cash. I also have a clip-on pouch for in-ear headphones, which is a great time saver given
I’d be rummaging around in a bag trying to find them. They have a big celebrity following with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Blake Lively and Eva Longoria spotted wearing one. From €125, bandolierstyle.com
MINI CLEANERS AND SERUM
Liz Earle Mini Cleanse & Polish removes daily grime, pollutants and make-up, and is great for on the plane. With ingredients including cocoa butter to soften, smooth and moisturise, and rosemary, chamomile and eucalyptus to tone, soothe and purify, my skin always feel clean after using. On my next trip I’m also going to pack Liz Earle Skin Repair Hydrating Serum, which contains snow mushroom, an ultra-hydrating alternative to hyaluronic acid, I think my parched skin will thank me.
€12 and €34, boots.ie
MINI TOOTHBRUSHES
I first picked these up in Walgreens when on a trip to America – basically single use, mini pre-pasted toothbrushes. They are very handy for when on the move and can easily slot in a passport holder, backpack or handbag.
€11 for a pack of 24, amazon.ie
DROWSY SLEEP MASK
I have been lusting after one of these for a while and decided to take the plunge before a long-haul flight to Miami earlier this year. It’s the Rolls Royce of sleep masks, crafted from pure mulberry silk and, given the mask is completely padded, it feels like a duvet as soon as you put it on your face. The Drowsy has a wide, adjustable Velcro fastening which means you avoid horrible elastic strap marks and, most importantly, completely blocks out all light. It’s more expensive that an average sleep mask but definitely worth the investment.
€79, drowsy sleepco.com
BEATS STUDIO 3 WIRELESS
I love these – in fact I’m on my second set given I use them so much. The headphones are ergonomically designed, sit over the ears and are also really comfortable around the neck when not in use. I tend to wear mine on flights, especially the longer ones – they have up to 22 hours of listening time – when I don’t want something in my ears all the time. I also use them in hotel rooms and connect to the hotel’s smart TV as it enables me to watch the news or a movie without disturbing my husband or our children if they are asleep or reading.
€410, beatsbydre.com
CASHMERE SOCKS
I always seem to get cold on flights and like to pack a pair of cosy socks. The best are from The White Company – 100% cashmere, super soft and lightweight, and they last forever. Available in a range of colours.
€47, thewhitecompany.com
EARPLUGS
I’ve worked my way through a wide selection of earplugs on numerous flights and in hotel rooms to avoid being woken up by banging doors, overhead footsteps, traffic, noisy neighbours, excited children’s screams, and QuietOn are the ones I recommend as they are the most comfortable, especially for a side sleeper like me. The active noise-cancelling technology reduces the low frequency sounds that ordinary earplugs are not able to address and they’re optimised to cancel ambient noise and also snoring. With a long life battery – 28 hours in a single charge – they are perfect for travel as you don’t need to worry about them not working on a long flight.
€259, quieton.com
HEATRESISTANT MAKE-UP BAG
Taking make-up to the beach or pool is a risk I usually do not take, given the prospect of melted lipsticks and ruined foundations which destabilise in the heat. So when I discovered there was a heat-resistant make-up bag on the market I bought it straight away. Created by fashion designer Alana Hale, the technology takes inspiration from her family’s innovation in creating heat-protecting equipment for the world’s top race car drivers. The make-up bag’s Pristinium lining keeps its contents at room temperature, regardless of outdoor conditions. It’s great not only for make-up but also for storing skincare, sunscreen and medicines which need to be temperature-regulated. I also use mine for storing my mobile to stop it overheating. Available in three different styles and two colours, it’s so useful.
€84, otmcollection.com
TRAVEL CONDITIONER
Jo Hansford is the queen of colour when it comes to hair and I’ve been frequenting her salons for well over ten years. Whenever I go away, she reminds me to cover my hair given the sun and chlorine can play havoc with colour. One of her top tips is to pack a travel-size Jo Hansford conditioner in a beach bag and after a swim, rinse hair and then put the conditioner through it.
She also advises to wear a cap wherever possible as this ensures hair colour does not go lighter in the direct sun. €22.80, johansford. com
LENS WIPES
An optician recommended these to me for reading glasses but I always pack a few in my sunglasses case given my sunnies often have fingerprint marks and
TRAVEL LUXURIES
I’ve stayed in places where I’ve had the best and worst of amenities and like to travel with a few of my favourite luxury toiletries. My current go-to ones are Jo Loves Pomelo Travel Collection, which features bath & shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner in a really nifty clear travel bag which I then use for storing sunscreen when at a pool or beach. Another brilliant idea of Jo Loves is its travel-friendly and gorgeous fragrance hand sanitiser & lotion duo – great for keeping hands clean and moisturised.
€52.50 and €29, joloves.com
BOSE QUIET COMFORT EARBUDS II
I have a tendency to keep losing one of my airbuds, which often results in me scrambling around on the floor in a hotel room or on an aeroplane, with my phone light switched on, trying to locate it. The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds II have soft eartips and stability bands (which come in three different sizes), and help to avoid the lost airpod scenario. They have a choice of different modes including quiet, aware, music, run and so on. Great for travel, given they have six hours of battery life in a single charge and a charging case that holds three additional charges. €299.95, bose.ie