The Sun’s travel writers reveal the items they NEVER pack: as they waste money and even get flagged at airport security
IF you find yourself struggling to squeeze your belongings into your suitcase, then we might be able to help.
The Sun’s team of travel writers have revealed the items we never pack in our suitcases from essential toiletries and foreign currency to cupboard staples and travel gadgets.
Shampoo and body wash – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
AS A hand luggage only traveller, my liquid decisions are always carefully considered.
And two items that I’ve never needed are shampoo and body wash – just hear me out.
Unless you are staying at a cheap hostel, nearly every hotel will have them, even budget chains like Travelodge often have a 2-in-1 option.
While they might not be as nice as the ones at home, they do the job well enough while on holiday. I mean, they get the chlorine and sand out of your locks.
What I never use, however? The hotel conditioner.
No matter how fancy they pretend it is, it’s never as good as my mini Aussie conditioner I always pack, without fail.
Tea bags – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
YOU won’t see a single tea bag in my suitcase when I head off on my trips. No marmite or baked beans either.
Millions of us prefer to bring the comforts of home with us when we jet away – and that’s fine.
But for me, there’s nothing more exciting than wandering the aisles of a strange supermarket.
I love to investigate the local specialities – be they cucumber-flavoured crisps or a chilli sauce that will strip the tastebuds off my tongue.
Dipping into not just local restaurants but the shops gives you a different dimension on a place and it’s always been one of my starting points in a new destination.
Mind you, it sadly works in reverse as well. That saussison I adored in the sunshine never tastes the same once you’re back home and staring out the window into the rain!
Straighteners and curling wand – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
I’LL admit it, I’m a chronic overpacker who is essentially always prepared for every eventuality.
That being said, I hate paying extra for luggage, which means I have become well-versed in knowing what I need to pack to get by.
Once two of my essential items, I’ve been ditching my curling wand and hair straightener in recent years.
Not only have I stopped using them and learnt to embrace my natural waves, they also take up so much space.
However, I do pack my heatless hair curler for when I want to look nice and have some defined curls.
However, on a recent trip back from Vienna, my heatless hair curler caused a bit of a stir going through security.
Airport security staff couldn’t work out exactly what it was on the scanner, so my bag had to undergo additional screening.
This won’t deter me from taking my heatless curler away on my next trip, I’ll just pop it in a Ziploc bag in future.
Cash – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
NOTHING frustrates me more than coming home from holiday with a wad of foreign cash.
There’s no point exchanging it back to British pounds – you’d just be losing money. And what are the chances of me visiting that same country again in the coming years? Quite slim.
I live an almost entirely cashless life at home and I’ve never had a problem going cash-free on my travels abroad, too.
Just remember to bring your travel debit or credit cards. Here are some of the best ones.
If you think you’ll need some moola for public transport or a taxi, there’s almost always a cash point at the airport (although many taxis, particularly in popular European getaway spots, accept card now).
And what about tips? Many restaurants let you tip by card these days and I never let hotel staff take my bag to the room. It’s a waste of time and tip, in my opinion.
The only exception to the rule is Japan, where cash is King. Who would’ve thought that a country we associate with forward-thinking technology would rely so heavily on coins and paper?
Passport Holder – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital
FANCY, leather passport holders completely baffle me. You often end up having to wrestle the passport out of its tight, posh jacket at inopportune times in the airport, risking the one thing they’re supposed to prevent – a tear.
Monogrammed versions seem to cost upwards of £30 and often retail for about £60 – but there’s a much cheaper and roomier option that I have opted for.
Instead, I have a cheap, waterproof travel wallet that I bought for £8 on Amazon 15 years ago and is still working despite the fact that I take around numerous trips abroad every year, as a travel writer.
This wallet holds all my family’s passports (and they are easy to slip out at a minute’s notice), our GHIC cards, and documents I need for my son’s travel and some spare euros.
Items banned from planes
WHILE lots of unusual items like human remains and animal horns are allowed to be taken onto a plane, some items are banned from the skies.
- Accessories that convert seats to beds are banned by some airlines such as Qantas and British Airways.
- Any toys that imitate weapons are banned – even if it’s unlikely that they will cause any injury. They can also get flagged at security checks.
- Additional inhaler canisters must be packed into the hold.
- Airlines such as easyJet have banned the sale of all nuts on their flights, with passengers asked not to bring them onboard.
- Even though, snow globes are harmless souvenirs, you shouldn’t try to take them on a flight. It’s all because it’s impossible for airport security to tell how much liquid is in them.
Earlier this year, Sun Travel revealed their favourite quaint villages, pretty towns and city breaks to visit.
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