Most people have a few home comforts which they carry religiously with them wherever they go. Apart from the obvious – passport, tickets, money and clothing – here are a few other tips for items which can make a holiday so much more comfortable.

For some, a blow-up pillow for overnight travel on buses, trains and airplanes ensures a reasonable night's sleep which is something one cannot put a price on. Ear plugs or a blindfold, once provided complimentary to passengers, now need to be tucked into hand luggage. For long journeys, flight travel socks are a must to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. The health benefits far outweigh the struggle to put them on and they make great slippers when walking around the plane. 

A photocopy of your passport ID page kept separately in case of loss will make getting a replacement passport much easier. Also lay out all your wallet items and credit cards and photocopy them too. That way you know which credit card companies need to be contacted if lost. If you photocopy the back of the cards they usually have the emergency contact numbers on them – not much use once they have disappeared. Scan the copies into your laptop if you are taking it with you, or carry the copies separately. It is also worth carrying confirmation faxes with you for hotel bookings. Occasionally rooms are booked in a wrongly spelt name but producing the confirmation will prove your booking and also the length of your stay.

Rather than relying on an iron, try Downey wrinkle release which also freshens clothes with a pleasant scent. It helps creases drop out of clothing more easily upon arrival. This is particularly important if you are travelling to a wedding or special event.

Hand sanitizer in a travel size is ideal for using before you eat, especially fast food. After handling all those banister rails, escalators, door handles, money etc, your hands may have picked up a host of germs.

Ziplocs are great for wet items, dirty items or just for keeping things together. Receipts, toiletries, makeup, pop socks and other small items are far easy to find in Ziplocs. For the return journey, carry a fold-up duffle bag to hold all those souvenirs. It can also be useful if your luggage exceeds the maximum weight. Transferring a few items into an extra bag can save nasty surcharges on overweight luggage.

Finally clearly put your name and contact details inside each suitcase and bag. Putting it on a tag which is clearly visible is advertising to sharp-eyed thieves that your home is vacant, which is not the return home you would wish for.

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