Do you have an essential travel gadget?

I wouldn't use a door wedge - what if there's a fire? Can't you just lock the door?

Kindle
Neck cushion for plane journeys
Whiz freedom if travelling to the Far East. It is a very clever gadget that enables you to wee anywhere standing up ( my knees can't cope with squat toilets)

I've introduced myself elsewhere so this is my first contribution. We cruise and I take a length of string to secure small items to a chair on the balcony when drying them. Wouldn't want my cozzie going overboard.

loving the door wedge idea i will defo take one of those with me on my trips.

My husband bought me an international travel, power surge, adapter with USB connections in it for phones, tablets etc.. What a godsend. Instead of taking forever to charge items, it is so fast. It is the size of small purse,so takes up so little room.

Door wedges (most important when travelling alone) Phone charger. First aid kit.

I always take a door wedge if staying in a hotel, once it is place no-one can open the door whilst you are asleep

Emergency dental kit. Antibiotics. Solar charger. Some of the places I go are a bit basic!
Inflatable footstool for long haul.

I will be packing a spare set of glasses when i go on holiday later this year as i am as blind as a bat without them!!! I always have a set in the car as well incase i break mine, otherwise how would i drive home.

A glasses repair kit. The sort with a mini screwdriver, spare screws of different sizes and a few other bits that I'm not too sure about. I bought an excellent kit in a tiny shop in America after my lens fell out. It even had a mini magnifying glass so that I could see to pop a new screw in. I always keep a kit in the car now as well.

My favourite tea (earl grey), travel pillow and my kindle, multi adaptor and a good sense of humour lol!

I bought a travel kettle to go to Berlin recently and took tea bags. Took 4 mugs too. It was great and not provided in hotel room. Good to have mugs of tea whenever we wanted especially first thing in morning. Also saved quite a lot of money. There was a fridge to put fresh milk in.

If we're off somewhere hot I like to be sure of bringing a bottle of Boots foot refresher spray. Just a quick skoosh on my ankles always cools me down.
Limoncello? Yum!

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I always take a little torch when on holiday (in a hotel) so in the middle of the night I can find the bathroom for a wee without waking up my sleeping husband

Don' t bother roaring around sourcing limoncello... as annieinfrance says make it yourself. Easy peasy and no waiting for it to mature for several years like sloe gin (lol). Google James Martin's recipe. Just don't bring a bottle out when friends are round... it will disappear in the blink of an eye... take my word for it!

Its not so much a gadget and an item of luggage. They are called 'Soft Cell' and are neoprene zipped bags for putting toiletries, medicines, jewellery or tech stuff in and then putting in suitcase. They protect anything that could be damaged by shoddy luggage handling. They come in different sizes - weve bought them over the years from Rohan....but always wait around for the sales. Not especially cheap but the ones we have seem pretty indestructible.

Does one need adapter for multisocket?

Of all the threads about packing to go away (and there were many on Gransnet once the summer was here) I found this thread the most useful.

I followed the advice given and took a few wire hangers on holiday, but wasn't too happy about them. They were horrible to pack and we didn't need any at any of the hotels we stayed at. Occasionally they were used to hang up washing in the shower over night, but I was worried I'd get rust stains on the wet clothes.

Worth a try, but won't be taking them again.

Just before we left, I packed my hand luggage into a backpack I had got ready, but it was a tiny bit too small. So I transferred everything to another bag, but forgot to transfer the little towel and the tissues I had in the side pockets. I was cross with myself several times for forgetting those. I improvised with a small cotton square scarf for drying my hands on when there were only those awful blow-dry things available.

So - what would you not pack again, and which advice were you glad you took?

I travell rarely but when I do I take as little as possible. I went to Spain only with 3 tops and 2 skirts, no make up certainly nonjewellery. My luggage space went mainly on stuff for DD. My travel essentials would be plenty of knickers.

Luckygirl another one with OH lists ! It drives me mad. We have different lists for UK and abroad , mainly his stuff which always includes a tool kit . Unfortunately as we always self cater he often has a use for it and is full of " told you so" looks . Always take tea bags, travel kettle and milk in a flask when we go abroad and stay overnight in a B&B on our way to our destination as there is rarely such a thing in the room .

I can't be without a hairdryer and nowadays my Kindle which saves carrying books. I haven't yet got into reading on my phone. I'm currently packing for a caravan holiday with grandchildren but without car. The two towels each that we need take masses of space but I only take bath towels, not bath sheets and half of them are very old and will be left behind. I take pegs and tea towel which will also stay behind. I leave most of the toiletries as well. This means the heavy luggage is not so bad on return and does not cost too much in comparison with the saving on heavy lifting.

I've just tried out my new Microfibre towel I bought for our sneaky wee " hand luggage only" trips. It was quite weird to use, but very efficient.. I'll use it a lot, I think.

Kindle paperwhite. serves so many purposes.

Gillybob limoncello is SO easy to make. Look it up on line, there are lots of recipes. yes, keep it in the freezer. Doesn't last long but you can then go and make some more. I also make Cassis from our own blackcurrants, yummy, and likewise framboise. trying apricot brandy this year. I like making my own as I can alter the amount of sugar I put in as neither of us like things too sweet.

I collect small bottles and use them with artistic filly bits on the top and pretty labels. very useful as small presents, stocking fillers etc.

Just making loads of tomato ketchup from kilos and kilos of tomatoes coming in daily - again small jars etc for prezzies.

Sorry lost the plot/thread.

whats linoncello, I gather you can eat it and cook with it and it comes from lidl, is it an additive like lemon juice, the name limoncello sounds lemony.

Always take my charger in hand luggage, when going abroad, in case luggage is delayed or lost, same with medicines, my luggage was delayed for two days once and I hadnt any medicine, since then I NEVER pack important things in checked in luggage.
A torch is a must, and luggage scales are brilliant.