I’m not saying anything new to seasoned travellers: the first-aid kit is a central piece of your equipment, if not the most important thing in your suitcase. But what must go with you?
I’ve unpacked my travel kit for you to give you some insight on which items you shouldn’t leave behind while on holiday.
1. The ultimate must-have for a travel kit: painkillers
Oh, how many times I’ve experienced this! After a long flight, I finally arrive at the hotel and this stinging pain spreads between my eyes. Headaches, probably triggered by flight stress. Even on an otherwise relaxed trip, headaches can be an unpleasant companion. For such moments, I always have a few painkillers in my first-aid kit and I advise you to pack some before the trip.
2. Finally peace… Earplugs in, world out
Earplugs are a useful ally, not only on long, overnight flights. When I travel, I always have a small pack of them in my first-aid kit, and so far I’ve been able to use it almost every time. The noise-muffling is especially helpful in full trains or buses, but also for peaceful sleep in the hotel room. So you can start the new day relaxed, even with loud neighbors!
3. Everything for the stomach
Even if I have a strong stomach, I still have a fast-acting remedy for diarrhea. Especially with foreign, exotic destinations, you can’t always be sure how seriously hygiene is taken. Foods that are unknown or too spicy can also make your stomach rumble. That’s why I recommend you play it safe. Additionally, you should pack a remedy for heartburn just in case. Especially on holiday, I tend to eat at least one serving too much and I’m sure one or two of you are doing the same 😉
4. Relief for insect bites, sunburn, etc.
Everyone knows: After the first night in a holiday destination, I always wake up with mosquito bites and the itchy spots stay with me the whole day. Pretty annoying! I find relief in some special ointments that cool the sting and at the same time have a decongestant effect. The products from the pharmacy not only work against mosquito bites, but also jellyfish stings, sunburn, and general skin irritations.
5. Stay on the safe side with sunscreen
If, like me, you have more of the Nordic skin type, you must always provide adequate protection for your skin. Too quickly, the skin can be overwhelmed by strong sunlight and react with a painful sunburn. Also, be sure to use a higher SPF for the face, as the skin around the eyes is much more sensitive than the rest of the body. A little tip from me: For final care, I also have Après Sun with moisturising aloe vera in my first-aid kit.
6. An important issue: Disinfection
You should observe a certain level of hygiene, and not only in exotic countries. Disinfection prevents the transmission of pathogens, which can lurk, for example, on public toilets or the handrails in the bus. Most of the germs are transmitted through the hands by touching things and then touching the face. A small travel vial with hand sanitiser will help you protect your holiday and shouldn’t be missing from any travel kit.
7. Cold and sore throat
Have you ever arrived on holiday and gone to bed the same evening with a slight cold? This is unfortunately quite common! Often, on holiday, a cold happens because the body has to adapt first. Frequently, viruses are spread in aircraft, and your body must fight against that. To help with the process, you can take an antipyretic drug and also a few zinc and vitamin tablets that you can get at the pharmacy. Since I always get a sore throat first, I also have a few bags of warm lemon and sage lozenges in my first-aid kit.
8. Bandages, bandages
In every travel first-aid kit, a variety of bandages should be present, because if you like hiking as much as I do, you can get scratches of all sizes. If you want to go swimming on holiday, you should also have a selection of waterproof bandages. In drugstores or pharmacies, there are usually small, prepackaged bandage sets available with assorted shapes and sizes.
9. …and again bandages!
Bandages for blisters are another point for me, because these useful helpers have already saved some of my holidays. You don’t just blister when you wear new shoes on holiday. Water and sweat softens the skin and makes it more sensitive. So even comfortable hiking boots or the old sandals can become a torture chamber for the feet. Therefore, a clear recommendation from me: pack enough blister bandages.
10. Other useful travel companions
Last but not least, I recommend you pack some utensils in your first-aid kit that can prove to be useful helpers during your holiday. For example, I always have tweezers on hand for pulling out annoying thorns. Even insect stingers can be removed easily. A small pair of scissors always proves useful on my travels too, as does a nail file.
One last tip
As a final tip, I recommend that you check your first-aid kit before each new trip. Check if the medications are still good and if there are enough products like bandages. So you have enough time to replenish your stock.
Do you now have a well-stocked first-aid kit and don’t know where to go? I recommend you one of the TUI BLUE hotels, where you’ll most likely need a remedy for bloating because you won’t be able to get enough of the delicious food 😉
This is very informative! This surely helps a lot of people. Thanks a lot