KNOWING what to pack and leave behind when you go on vacation is always difficult.
But the Sun's travel experts have compiled a list of their favourite budget items that they never travel without.
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From handy gadgets to smart gadgets applicationsThere are some things that will really make your travels better.
And here are some of the best – and most affordable – products that, once you buy them, you'll wonder how you ever traveled without them.
Bluetooth headset adapter
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If, like me, cheap airplane headphones just aren't up to the task, you'll be pleased to know that there are ways to use your Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment.
The very simple and affordable solution is a Bluetooth transmitter, which connects the seatback entertainment system to your own headphones.
Learn more about travel items
For me this is a real boon as it means I can use my noise-cancelling headphones, block out cabin noise and really concentrate on the movie.
I now take my adapter on every long haul flight I take and it has really saved me from some sticky situations.
This includes a flight seated behind a row of babiesall competing to see who could scream the loudest.
I simply plugged in my adapter, put on my headphones and watched movies in peace until I landed.
The adapter is available on Amazon from £5.98
Vomit bags
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My five year old is prone to motion sickness, but these K brands
Vomit bags have transformed our vacation.
They come in packs of 24, which works out at around 50p each.
They are stackable and have sturdy plastic rings around the edge so the child can hold it themselves, then you remove the ring and tie it when they are done.
I carry them in a bag every time we go anywhere now.
Disposable sick bags are available on Amazon from £13.99
Sun Travel Team's Vacation Essentials
WITH decades of experience and hundreds of countries under their belt, the Sun Travel team have shared some of the essential items they always pack when travelling.
Here are some of the game-changing items we always carry—and some will cost you next to nothing.
- Lisa Minot, Travel Manager – Universal Travel Plug with USB (£64)
- Caroline McGuire, Travel Editor – Hotel Slippers
- Sophie Swietochowski, Deputy Travel Editor – Pack of 40 earplugs (£40)
- Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor – 1 Litre Water Bottle (£8.99)
- Ryan Gray, Travel Journalist – Bluetooth Eye Mask (£16.50)
- Giuli Graziano, travel writer – AirTag Luggage Tracker (£29.99).
Cabin baggage for children
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Caroline McGuire, Travel Manager – Digital
I travel with my child on many flights and we often use hand aids.
luggage only – this way he can wheel his own bag.
By far the best value version I've found on the market is the IT Luggage 'Half Time' 2 Piece Set – Kids Eco – currently on sale for £50.
The larger suitcase meets overhead bin requirements for almost all airlines and the smaller suitcase meets under seat requirements for airlines like easyJet.
I managed to fit enough stuff into these two bags for a week-long vacation with two stops. Türkiye then Cornwall… no mean feat.
The exterior looks just as rugged and the interior has all the features
side zip and small pockets like some of the more expensive suitcases
Available from IT Luggage from £25
- Caroline McGuire, Travel Manager – Digital
Too good to leave
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The Too Good to Go app is a great way to find cheap eats in the UK and beyond.
Thousands of restaurants and supermarkets across the UK have signed up to the app – where you can buy food at great prices and prevent it from going to waste.
Founded in DenmarkThe smart app now works not only here in the UK, but across Europe, the US and Canada.
You can buy everything from breakfast pastries to ready-made meals that are barcode-cancelled, and you can bid on specific items or opt for a mystery bag.
It's a great way to keep a family happy while on holiday in the UK and I've found that using it abroad has helped me find fantastic shops and restaurants that I might never have discovered.
Frog Seat
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Treat yourself to a first class upgrade on your next train journey with SeatFrog.
The app sells discounted train tickets, but also has a great bidding system for first class upgrades if you've already booked your ticket.
With upgrades starting from £10, it's a great way to treat yourself to a little extra space, a comfy seat and even some free amenities. Food and drink.
The app itself is relatively easy to use and I've had excellent improvements in recent years on trains from London to Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh.
- Lisa Minot, Travel Manager
Phone suction cups
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Watching movies and TV shows on your phone on budget flights is now a rite of passage, but I've discovered that you need to prop your device up properly to avoid ending up with a horrible crick in the neck.
To avoid aches and pains, I use my silicone suction cup to secure my phone to the seat in front of me, allowing me to watch my favorite TV shows at eye level and create my entertainment system on short-haul flights.
Available on Amazon from £4.99
Mini Sudacrem
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It's a running joke that I refuse to check a suitcase – which means I've learned to carry very few liquids in my bag.
One item I swear by is a little jar of My Little Sudacrem, which isn't just for kids.
As someone who regularly suffers from heat rash on my arms and legs, as well as sunburn, this has saved me on more than one occasion.
And another solution to solve this problem is my solid stick of sunscreen, rather than buying a huge bottle at the airport.
It lasts a long time and doesn't need to be put in my liquid bag – a double benefit.
Available since Sainsbury's from £3.
Narwey sports bag
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If you hate spending money When it comes to carry-on luggage, it's time to put your trust and your belongings in the small but roomy underseat bag.
Not only does it meet the strict personal items requirements set by airlines as RyanairWizz Air and easyJet are also a good deal at £13.99.
Last year, I put my deceptive black bag to the test on a five-day trip to Bratislava and Vienna.
I managed to pack items like a microfiber towel, two dresses, three t-shirts, a pair of pants, pajamas, underwear, a well-stocked liquids bag, a make up a bag, a curling iron, a Kindle, a power bank, an adapter, charging cables, my travel wallet and a small black purse.
I can safely say that I was pleased to see that it fit easily into the overhead compartment, and I have since avoided paying carry-on fees.
Available on Amazon from £13.99
W7 Makeup Remover Biscuit
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Maintain a strict skin care Routines during the holidays can be difficult, especially when you are travelling with just hand luggage where liquids are limited to less than 100 ml.
But W7's reusable cleansing pad is a solution. Simply add a little warm water to the small microfiber pad to remove makeup at the end of the day, eliminating the need to carry a cleanser or a bottle of micellar water.
I was shocked to see that the pad effortlessly removed my foundation, waterproof mascara and lipstick. This meant I could have a good night's sleep sleep without worrying about whether my skin was clean and makeup-free.
While I wouldn't recommend it for long term use, it's great for city breaks and short jaunts when luggage space is limited.
It is also machine washable, making it easy to clean. Travel with the bag in an empty liquids bag to keep it clean from other luggage.
Available on Amazon from £3.75
- Hope Brotherton, travel journalist
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