Miss.tiff.travels

When we first started to go on our road trips, this is something that I googled so many times, looking for all of those special hacks and tips that others had previously discovered. You know ‘just in case’ there was something lifesaving that I had missed, then it is safe to say that I might have gone a little overboard with my organisation packing everything but the kitchen sink!

But over time I have now discovered what my must haves are for any trip. Things that make life more comfortable, more streamlined and more efficient.

Packing cubes

This is at the top of my list without question. My family always laugh at me because I really don’t like to wear the same outfit twice when we go on holiday…I like the variety in my photos, though I do have a few staple pieces that I never leave home without.

So this lead me to packing cubes. There are so many different options available on the market now and at pretty reasonable prices. But…read the reviews before you buy. We have been through quite a few sets now over the years as Michael is a little ‘heavy handed’ and has broken a number of zips. So my last set are Michael proof and have really stood the test of time and numerous road trips.

They come in all different sizes and are perfect for dividing up your clothes – perfect for those of us who love things to be organised. I sort by style personally, t-shirts, shorts, dresses and underwear in different cubes, but on a short trip I pack the smaller cubes by outfit and this saves so much time! They make packing the suitcase really easy, it’s easy to find everything without turning your beautifully packed case upside down and great for all those little bits too including travel adapters, chargers, plasters…

Power Bar (4 bar)

This for me was life changing! Take a 4 bar or (more if you really need) but plug in all of your chargers before you go. This for me means a phone charger, camera charger, kindle or table charger and Fitbit charger (you need to count those steps!) Then all you need is one travel adapter and you are ready to go. How many times have you stayed in a hotel where the plug is hidden away in awkward places and you need your phone for the alarm in the morning – problem solved.

Destination labels

This one is a completely personal choice but something I make before all of my road trips. I print off small labels with the name of the country, the city, the hotel and the dates we are staying there. Then when we arrive I take a photo of it before I start exploring, so when I look back through my thousands of holiday snaps (please tell me I’m not the only one!) it is so much easier and helps to remind me of where we were, what we were doing and helps to make them really easy to organise.

Scarf

I always pack a scarf now where ever we go. There are so many reasons why you might need or want to wear a scarf when travelling and is so much lighter and versatile than just a jacket. There are a number of religious sites that require arms, shoulders, or knees to be covered and without ever meaning to there are days when my outfit did not quite meet these standards – but no fear the trusty scarf will save the day, with the benefit of not causing you to overheat in the middle of summer.

If you are prepared to pay a little bit more then a cashmere scarf would be my ultimate recommendation. The lightweight material resists those annoying creases far easier and will also help to keep you warm during those cooler evenings.

Raincoat

This being said…a raincoat has come in handy more times than I would ever like to admit, especially during our European road trips. I once visited the Colosseum in Rome in the middle of August during a thunder storm! So like all things there are so many options, I’m lucky because Mick always carries a backpack for us to take the days essentials whilst I carry the camera. So, I don’t always need to pack the smallest or lightest jacket as ‘muscles’ has it, but with suitcase space always being a consideration I do try to pack smart.

For many years I took a pack a mac and this was ok and held up to the usual light showers and if the weather worsened then I would just take refuge in a café for the compulsory tea and cake! But in preparing to go on our Scandinavia Road trip I upgraded to my Regatta raincoat (which you will see in so many of my photos) and I love it, it’s light, windproof and waterproof and rolls up so small that I’m always able to pack it for those infamous ‘just in case’ days.

Collapsible cups

So as a budget savvy traveller and a true bargain hunter I love anything that saves money. This travel hack though has the added benefit of being good for the environment which is something that I am becoming increasingly aware of. These simple collapsible cups fit into my handbag (usually in one of the many pockets, I love a bag with loads of pockets!)

We all know how important it is to drink enough, especially during hot weather, but stopping at a café can start to add up and we all know how bad it is to keep buying single use plastics from the shop. So this for me has been such a simple but effective change. When travelling there are so many water fountains, taps and refill stations for you to be able to get a quick drink on the go, but the beauty of the cup is that you can get a full drink and not just a mouth full, but you are also able to move away from the tap quicker and free it up for your fellow travellers.

• 

• 

Mosi spray!

This is something that so many people dismiss or overlook or think it won’t happen to them. Well I’m here to tell you – it is not worth the risk! As someone who regularly gets bitten I have worked my way through all of the hacks and after care remedies, both over the counter and herbal. And after all of this, the one thing I have learnt. Prevention is better than cure. I know that’s what they all say, but after you’ve had 14 bites all down one leg and they’ve swollen and itched all night long, you might just listen. There are so many options to choose from and after one particular trip I tried them all! But my winner is Avon’s skin so soft. Spray away as much as you want or need to, its light on your skin, not greasy and doesn’t have that overpowering smell. I transfer mine into a small travel sized spray bottle and carry it with me wherever we go.

Backpack

So before I start I will admit again, it’s not me that carries the backpack. So this has had an impact on the choices we have made over the years, with Mick being able to carry and willing to carry far more than I would. But it still isn’t always fun to wear a heavy bag all day, so we are always mindful of this when choosing a new bag. We always choose a sturdy fabric with strong zips (as I mentioned before Mick is heavy handed) but I also like to have pockets where we can store things we need to get to quickly, like masks and hand gel. But also space to keep things safe and secure when travelling.

My key requirements when choosing a new backpack (for day to day use)

• Pockets
• Sturdy fabric and zips
• Padded shoulder straps
• Breathable back support

Our last backpack has enjoyed many trips all over the world and ticks all of these boxes. It has a large main compartment that can be split so you can store wet clothes or shoes in the bottom without it touching the rain coat in the top. But it also has a mesh brace along the spine that keeps the main part of the backpack away from the body, which really helps to make it more comfortable to wear. This helps to not only keep him cooler on hot days, but it also spreads the weight more evenly. On the very rare occasion where I have needed to carry the bag, I can say that it is still a comfortable size for me and I’m only 5’3 and the waist straps add an extra level of support which I really appreciated.

Phone/tablet/kindle

This has helped fight off the boredom of many hours in the car, the train, the plane or at the airport. I know we would all love to say that travelling is exciting all day every day, but any traveller will tell you that this is not the case and its not always as glamourous as it looks. But fear not with the help of your phone, tablet or kindle it is easy to pass these in between moments with ease. We often save movies on Netflix to watch when we can’t connect to Wi-Fi too – game changer!

Now I was quite late to the game when it comes to having a kindle and for years, I preferred to read a ‘real’ book. Why?! The space I now save when travelling is amazing. I’m a really quick reader so I would often have to take multiple books to keep me going, and now when I think about that and the impact on the suitcase weight limit I cringe, but we live and learn.

Comfortable shoes!

This is an easy one for me, anyone that has ever met me will know that I love my Skechers! I have them in every style, every colour and for every occasion. But my key message is to find the shoes that work for you and run with it. When we travel, we travel well clocking up many miles a day, whether this is during a city break or exploring new landscapes and the last thing you want is to be thinking about your feet. I don’t know about you guys but once my feet have started to ache this takes over everything and it is very hard to ignore, so it is very rare that you will find me without a trusty pair of memory foam Skechers.

So this has been ‘Tiff’s Travel must haves’ and I know I could go on with the things that I pack and how this might vary depending on the type of trip I’m going on. I would love you to know what your travel must haves are, what can you not live without?