10 Most Forgotten Items When Packing for a Trip

We’ve all done it at one time or another; you’re on your way to your holiday destination or have just arrived and you realise with a feeling of dread that you’ve forgotten something essential for your trip (if not several things!) at home.

Funnily enough, it often seems to be those most frequently used daily items that go under the radar when packing- that’s probably because our brains are on automatic when we use them.

Chargers!

We live in a device addicted world, so to forget your phone, laptop, camera and/or iPod charger would be a disaster! It’s any easy one to forget though, as it makes sense to charge any devices the night before the trip to ensure a full charge- which may unfortunately result in leaving the charger plugged into the wall at home when you leave.

Undies!

Never underestimate how many undies you’ll need on your trip. After all, more undies equals less time enjoying your holiday and more frequent trips to the Laundromat – and keeping domestic tasks to a minimum while on holiday is a definite must! And while on the topic, it pays to take along a small bag of your own laundry powder- chances are you’ll pay at least double the price if you purchase it at the Laundromat.

Daily Toiletries!

Very commonly forgotten items fall under this category as they are probably things that you will need to use on the morning of your trip, and so have a high chance of leaving behind.

Toothpaste and toothbrush
Shaver
Deodorant
Hair brush and comb
Body Moisturiser
Make Up
Perfume
Hair Straightener/Curler
Hair Dryer
Eyebrow Plucker

Two other toiletries that are often forgotten but may prove to be needed on your trip are your nail clippers and an emery board.

Medication and Basic First Aid

The most important item here is your prescription medication- the fact that you require a prescription will make it very difficult to replace if you forget it at home.

When packing for a holiday, it pays to think of any likely scenarios and the required treatment to bring along. For example, hay fever sufferers should pack an anti-histamine. There’s also the stock standard items that may very well be required on your trip like paracetamol, baindaids and after-sun lotion.

Things to Avoid Sunburn

A commonly forgotten essential in this category is sunscreen lotion. But just as important is your hat and if you’re going to a beach destination, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to throw in your beach umbrella as well.

Swimming Items

While we’re on the topic of going to the beach- don’t forget your bathers! In fact, it would be a good idea to pack two sets so that you wash one- wear one, if you’re swimming every day.

Unseasonal Clothing

A lot of well intentioned holiday goers have been caught out by some unseasonal weather while at their holiday destination. So make sure you pack a couple of warmer items if you’re planning a summer holiday to ensure that you don’t end up freezing to death in your sundress while a freak storm moves in. And if a winter trip is on the agenda, pop a couple of top and a skirt in your bag to avoid sweltering in your winter woollies through an unexpected heat wave!

Home Addresses

It’s the typical scene, you’ve painstakingly selected the best postcards to depict the brilliant time you’re having on holiday, you’ve neatly written a short but witty account of your experiences so far on each postcard- only to realise that you don’t actually know the postal address of half the people on your postcard list!

Fancy Clothes

You might be planning to lie on a beach or hammock for the majority of your trip, but make sure you thrown in at least one snazzy outfit in case you get tempted to treat yourself to a fancy meal one night.

Sunglasses

It’s 5am when you leave for the airport and still dark outside, so it doesn’t occur to you for one minute to grab your sunglasses off the kitchen bench- but oh the pain- when the sun comes up and you realise in horror that you are on your way without your sunnies!

Do you have any other items that you commonly forget to pack when going on a holiday? If so, we’d love to hear about them!

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