List of essentials to take away

Thank you so much for your message, a SheWee, what a good suggestion. Will look into it, and definitely the torch.

We tend to go on birding and safari type holidays and the thing I forgot to take when we went to India recently was my SheWee! I don't often need it but it can come in very handy and I missed having it with me. A small umbrella can be useful too - doubles as a sunshade. And a small torch for finding lights switches in strange hotel rooms.

Thank you Stansgran, that would be great.

S'pea I will PM my useful list . I stuck to one colour for everything and as my clothes are getting a bit vintage have found that my photos are all interchangeable. Most of my stuff comes from East or M&S as we have very little choice in durham . Blue linen,blue tencel and blue poly cotton trousers.two skirts for evening black and cream with linen jacket. Four long sleeved t shirts tunic style and four lawn loose kaftan type tops. Ten sets of underwear as we were moving around and I couldn't bank on laundry days. Large hospital size laundry bag!

Sorry, forgot to say - going in May for three weeks.

We are going to Ecuador, then a cruise round the Galapagos, any hints for clothing greatly appreciated. Getting conflicting advice from others!

Good idea, you never know if you might get delayed somewhere. Wet wipes, spare undies, although some airports have showers not all will have.

I've just bought a 48 hour mineral deodorant and I'm trying it out in the fervent hope I won't need it.

A small roll of those thin nappy bags? They are very small and very useful for all sorts of things. Wet swimsuits and so on.

I did think about trying the idea of taking old underwear to throw away on holiday but where would you throw it? I'd hate the hotel maid to come running after me with a grey bra and holey knickers because she thought I'd mistakenly thrown them out. Also in some countries they are very keen on recycling even in hotels so where would you put smelly socks? I decided it was too risky!

And I'm sure everyone does this anyway, but carry your medication in your hand luggage, if necessary with a letter from your doctor stating what it is and it is for your personal use.

I would probably not find anything to fit me or that I liked and would end up spending a fortune.

And always take a copy of your repeat prescription form in case your medication gets lost and needs replacing whilst away.

What a wonderful idea, margaretm74. A bit of a gamble, yes!

Hypochondriac's recommendations: I stock up on Boots' cheapest paracetamol. If you take over-the-counter medication, it's usually cheaper here and if you have a repeat prescription, be sure to ask your GP for as much as you need for the time you'll be away. And a bit extra - just in case. Definitely something for stomach 'upsets'.

SIL'S sister sat next to someone on the plane over from Canada who only had small hand luggage for a month's stay, she bought new knickers when she got here apparently, then visited the charity shop for the rest, sending them back when she left.

I like to plan in advance, not take pot luck like that!

My ex-MiL told me to take old knickers and bras and socks with me, and to throw them away instead of washing them. Any space they left could be filled with a new item of clothing.

'Don't stick stickers on my paper knickers' - remember Sarah Kennedy? That's set me off singing now!

Great idea for the plane journey.

When I travel I always take paper knickers from Boots maternity section. They are light and obviously disposable. It means I don't have to take many
other pairs.

I had a little handheld fan which I used when I got very hot.DD1's friend said "your Mum looks just like an Englishwoman on holiday" - I said that that was precisely what I was!

The fan was M&S battery operated and very useful

@janerowena I think I usually do terracotta browns creams for one lot of clothes and a denim to navy range. I was hoping just to take one lot. I'm also taking walking boots ,a goretex which fits in a small bag and an alpaca pashmina which folds to nothing but is warm as a blanket for planes and trains and an umbrella which acts as a sunshade as hats always end up blowing away. I would like to take something to wear in the evenings as I do like a change from sweaty day time wear. I'm printing this out and ticking off. @Galen the cruise is in Halong bay so I think it's quite busy and I would put too many people off their dinner if they saw me just wearing my pearls. I've joined the silver travel forum to see what they can come up with on Vietnam. Thank you all.

GK check out Sarasota if you have time - not that far from Tampa. The Ringling museum is lovely. We are on a boat we've just bought, just come through Lake Okeechobee and woke up this morning to find it's 7 degrees and condensation all over the windows! Brrr! Back to my thermal long sleeved top and fleece!
Enjoy the rest of your trip - I would love to go down to Key West at some point

Galen I think Phoenix is of Jane being in Florida not of your bloomers

But then again....

Sorry meant to post 're OP, I also travel light, also have to carry my own stuff mostly. Luckily I was a keen hiker when I was younger and I know I can carry most of what I need on my back.