No matter how often you travel, there's always something that's easy to forget when packing for a holiday. Usually, it's not the big things like clothes or shoes, but the smaller essentials such as a phone charger that's still plugged in beside the bed, a toothbrush you've used that morning or the travel adapter you were convinced you'd already packed.
We travel quite regularly, often with just backpacks, even when all six of us go away together. Over the years, it's actually my husband who's been the worst for forgetting things. He always insists he's perfectly capable of packing his own bag, yet somehow it's usually his boxer shorts or swimming trunks that get left behind. We then end up hunting around for somewhere selling replacements, which inevitably seem to cost twice as much as they would at home!
I've put together this list of 20 commonly forgotten travel items, covering everything from toiletries and travel documents to those little extras that are easy to overlook. Whether you're packing for a weekend city break or a two-week family holiday, it's worth having a quick check through before leaving home.
I've also created a free printable holiday packing checklist that you can download and tick off as you pack, hopefully avoiding a last-minute shopping trip when you arrive!
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The most commonly forgotten holiday essentials tend to be the smaller everyday items, particularly things used right up until leaving home.
Tech essentials: Phone charger, travel adapter, power bank and headphones.
Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, sun cream and lip balm.
Travel essentials: Travel insurance details, important documents, medication and glasses or contact lenses.
Clothing: Underwear, socks and swimwear.
Handy extras: Reusable water bottle, first aid supplies, snacks and a laundry bag.
Below, I've covered 20 commonly forgotten travel items in more detail, including a few tips to avoid leaving them behind.
Phone chargers are particularly easy to forget because they're often still plugged in beside the bed on the morning you're travelling. With so many of us relying on our phones for boarding passes, directions, booking confirmations and taking photos, it's one of those things that's worth double-checking before leaving.
If you travel regularly, I'd recommend keeping a spare charging cable in your travel bag so there's one less thing to remember when packing.
Remembering your phone charger is one thing, but forgetting the plug adapter needed to use it abroad is just as frustrating.
Always check which type of plug sockets your destination uses before travelling, particularly if you're visiting several countries in one trip. A compact adapter with multiple USB ports can also be handy when travelling as a family, especially when everyone seems to need to charge their devices at once.
These are probably two of the easiest toiletries to forget, simply because they're usually among the last things we use before leaving home.
I actually keep spare toothbrushes and a small tube of toothpaste in my travel bag permanently, which saves having to remember them every time we go away. It's such a simple thing, but it makes packing for a last-minute break much easier.
You'd think underwear and socks would be some of the first things to go into a suitcase, but they're surprisingly easy to overlook, particularly when you're concentrating on planning outfits.
I always think it's worth packing an extra pair or two, especially if there's going to be lots of walking or outdoor activities. They're small enough that they won't take up much room, even when travelling with just hand luggage.
Swimwear isn't just something to remember for a beach holiday. It's also worth checking whether your hotel has a swimming pool, spa or sauna, even if you're heading away on a city break.
It's particularly annoying to forget when you've booked somewhere specifically because of its pool facilities. Buying replacement swimwear abroad can also be surprisingly expensive, especially in hotel shops or tourist areas.
Deodorant is another everyday essential that's surprisingly easy to leave behind, especially if you've used it while getting ready on the morning of your flight.
I find keeping a small collection of travel-sized toiletries together makes packing much easier. It's also worth checking the liquid restrictions at your departure airport if you're travelling with hand luggage only.
Sun cream is something most people remember for a beach holiday, but it's just as important when spending long days sightseeing or exploring somewhere warm.
It's particularly easy to forget when travelling outside the summer months or heading somewhere that isn't traditionally considered a sunny destination. Buying sun cream in tourist resorts can also be expensive, so it's worth packing before leaving home.
Forgetting prescription medication can be far more inconvenient than leaving behind toiletries or clothing, particularly if it's something that needs to be taken every day.
Always check that you've packed enough medication for your entire trip, along with any required prescriptions or supporting documents. Some countries have restrictions on certain medications, so it's worth checking the rules before travelling.
I'd also recommend keeping essential medication in your hand luggage rather than your checked suitcase, so it's easily accessible throughout the journey.
Travel insurance is usually arranged before a holiday, but it's easy to forget to save the actual policy details somewhere accessible.
Before travelling, download a copy of your insurance documents and save the emergency assistance number in your phone. It's also worth making sure you can access the information without an internet connection, just in case you need it while you're away.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, these are definitely worth adding to your packing checklist. Forgetting them could make exploring somewhere new rather difficult, particularly if you rely on them for reading signs or getting around.
Remember to pack contact lens solution and a case if needed, along with a spare pair of glasses if you have one. It's often the smaller accessories that get forgotten rather than the glasses or lenses themselves.
A power bank is one of those things that's easy to overlook until your phone battery is running low and you're nowhere near somewhere to charge it.
We use our phones for everything when travelling, from navigating unfamiliar cities to checking train times and accessing booking confirmations. If you're planning a full day of sightseeing, having a portable charger can be particularly useful.
Just remember that power banks generally need to be packed in your hand luggage rather than checked baggage, and it's worth checking your airline's rules before flying.
Whether it's for listening to music on a flight, watching something during a long journey or blocking out noise in your accommodation, headphones are worth remembering.
Earplugs are another handy addition, particularly if you're staying in a busy city centre or somewhere with thin walls. They take up hardly any room, so they're easy to tuck into a small pocket of your bag.
Taking a reusable water bottle can save quite a bit of money, particularly when travelling as a family. Buying drinks for six people every time we're out exploring soon adds up!
If you're flying, an empty bottle can usually be taken through airport security and filled afterwards where drinking water facilities are available.
It's also useful for sightseeing, hiking and long train journeys, although it's worth checking whether the tap water is safe to drink at your destination.
You don't necessarily need a large first aid kit for every holiday, but packing a few basics can be really useful.
Plasters, blister plasters and any suitable pain relief are worth considering, particularly if you're planning lots of walking. I find blister plasters especially handy for city breaks, when we can easily spend most of the day on our feet.
Remember to check any restrictions on medicines before travelling abroad.
Lip balm might seem like a small thing to include on a holiday packing list, but it's something that's easily forgotten and can be surprisingly useful.
Long flights, cold weather and spending lots of time outdoors can all leave your lips feeling dry. It's worth keeping one in your handbag or backpack, particularly if you're heading somewhere with a colder climate.
Forgetting your passport is probably one of the biggest packing disasters, particularly when you're heading to the airport and there's no time to turn around!
Before travelling, check that your passport is valid for your destination and that you've arranged any visas or entry documents required. It's also worth downloading your boarding passes and accommodation confirmations so they're accessible without an internet connection.
I always prefer having everything saved on my phone before we leave, rather than trying to find booking emails while standing at airport check-in.
Hand sanitiser and wet wipes are particularly useful when travelling with children, although I still find them handy even when I'm away on my own.
Whether it's cleaning sticky hands after eating, freshening up during a long journey or dealing with an unexpected spill, they're worth having somewhere easily accessible.
A small packet of wipes takes up hardly any space, so it's an easy addition to your hand luggage.
A laundry bag might not seem particularly important when you're packing, but it's one of those things that's really useful once you're away.
Having somewhere to separate dirty clothes from clean ones makes packing up at the end of a holiday much easier, especially when several people are sharing luggage.
You don't need anything fancy either. A lightweight drawstring bag or even a spare carrier bag will do the job without taking up much room.
I always think it's worth packing a few snacks for travelling, particularly when we're flying with the children or have a long journey ahead.
Airport food can be expensive, and there's nothing worse than everyone deciding they're hungry just after you've boarded a flight or set off on a long transfer.
Cereal bars, crackers and other individually wrapped snacks are easy to fit into a backpack. Just remember to check the rules on bringing food into your destination, particularly when travelling internationally.
Hairbrushes are another everyday item that can easily get left behind, especially when you've used one while getting ready to leave.
Hair ties are even easier to forget, and they're surprisingly annoying to be without when it's hot, windy or you're spending the day outdoors.
I usually find that keeping a few spare hair ties tucked into my toiletries bag saves having to buy more while we're away.
Even after years of travelling, I still find that having a packing checklist makes life much easier, particularly when we're going away as a family. Here are a few things that have helped us avoid leaving essentials behind.
If you travel regularly, keeping a small toiletries bag stocked with spare essentials can save quite a bit of time. I keep things like toothbrushes, toothpaste and other travel-sized toiletries together, so they're ready whenever we're heading away.
It's particularly handy for short breaks when we're travelling with just backpacks and don't want to spend ages sorting everything out.
I always prefer to have our bags packed the evening before travelling, especially when we've got an early flight. It makes the morning much less stressful and gives us time to check that everything fits within the airline's baggage allowance.
The only things left to pack should be essentials we're still using, such as phone chargers, medication and toothbrushes. I find it helps to leave a reminder on my phone for anything that can't go into the bag until the morning.
If you're getting organised for your next holiday, I've got a few more guides that might come in handy.
Caravan Packing Checklist: Everything worth packing for a caravan holiday, including those little extras that are easy to forget.
What to Wear in Lapland: A practical guide to packing for freezing temperatures, including clothing and layers for the whole family.
Keeping Children Entertained While Travelling: Ideas for keeping younger travellers occupied on flights, road trips and longer journeys.
Whenever I spot great-value flights and accommodation for DIY breaks to Europe from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club, with links to book each part independently.
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