Don’t forget your passport

The summer is almost upon us. Hurrah! For some of us it means travelling to near or far flung places for family gatherings, weekends away, holiday pleasure and some much needed rest and relaxation. Whether long haul or short haul, whatever you do, don’t leave home without bagging yourself the right bags for your trip.

CARRY ON & CARRY OFF

For special short breaks and for your carry-on, you need a cabin bag that’s super versatile and easy to get from A to B. First and foremost, each airline has their own set of size guidelines when it comes to cabin luggage. Get your dimensions wrong and you could end up with extra hassle at the airport and paying hefty charges for your luggage to go in the hold if it’s too big for the cabin.

To find the ideal hand luggage to take with you on your flight think about what you will be taking with you and compartmentalise your packing accordingly.

Make sure you have a telescopic and adjustable handle, side handles to make it easier to lift into the overhead locker and the more wheels the better as you’ll get better movement and stability.

IT Worlds Lightest Small Wheel Suitcase £29.99 Argos
American Tourister Wavebreaker 8 Wheel Small Suitcase £49.99 Argos
IT Luggage 4 Wheel Hard Cabin Case £39.99 Argos

If you’re taking a computer with you, then opt for an airline approved cabin bag with a built in laptop section. You’ll also want to consider whether you want a case that can fit under your seat for quick access.

Asaklitt 32 L Cabin Trolley Case £39.99 Clas Ohlson
Wenger Potomac Wheeled Laptop Case £89.99 Clas Ohlson

If aesthetic is more important to you than function then there are plenty of colourful cabin bags around at bargain prices. From stripes and florals to bold brights, the choice is endless.

Sovereign Suitcase 49cm in Teal or Floral £12.99 B&M
Excel Suitcase Foldable Cabin Trolley Bag in Black, Blue or Pink £9.99 B&M

EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK

When you’re escaping on holiday for a week or more, or just packing for every eventuality, you need a case that offers the space and features to get your stuff all the way to your destination, and all the way back again.

Make sure your case has straps inside to keep your belongings secure and in place for the duration of your journey. Pockets and compartments provide extra space and are perfect for keeping important stuff safe and expandable luggage gives you more space when you need it, especially if you’re planning on coming home with more than you left with. One other tip, if you’re trying to blag an upgrade then make sure you look the part. Why not choose an eye catching and chic luggage set to accompany you on your travels?

Tripp Chambray ‘World’ 4 wheel Suitcases from £49.00 at Debenhams
Tripp Holiday 5 Suitcases various Colours from £45.00 at Debenhams

FOR LITTLE PEOPLE & GROWN UP KIDS

Travelling with children, whatever their age can be stressful, but you can take away some of the hassle by choosing luggage that they’ll love.

Star Wars and Little Miss Sunshine Suitcases
55cm, 66cm, 76cm from £34.99 to £54.99 B&M Stores

Luggage designed specifically for children can have a dual purpose and help them beat the boredom of travelling. Flyte is a combination of a compact piece of luggage, a pull along trolley case and a scooter. It easily folds out from a travel case into a fun steer scooter to make running to the gate a breeze!

Designed to be used as hand luggage, kids can pack their Trunki with their favourite belongings, while you can keep them in tow, let them ride on next to you, or take a seat while waiting to board.

Flyte H20 Midi Case Scooter and Olivia The Owl Midi Flyte Case Scooter both £69.99
Trunki Frank the Firetruck and Trunki Una the Unicorn each £39.99 from Argos

Kid’s accessories can also be fun. From cute luggage tags and passport holders for babies to cool travel accessories for teenagers who want to retain their individuality.

Bambino My First Passport & luggage Tag £12.99 Argos
Watermelon Luggage Tag £3.99 New Look
Away We Go Travel Essentials Set £10.00 Claire’s

PACK & PROTECT

There is no such thing as too many bags to make your packing more streamlined. From bags to help you pack in a modular system, to bags specifically designed to protect your shoes, lingerie and swimwear in your suitcase, and bags dedicated to protecting your technology from beachside antics, seek and you shall find.

Asaklitt 6-Pack Luggage Organisers £8.99 Clas Ohlson
Travel Bags £1.00 Poundland

Pro-Tec CaseIt Active Universal Mobile Waterproof Pouch £9.99 EE Stores
Proporta Beachbuoy Large £12.49 Superdrug
Rugged waterproof Phone Pounch £14.99 Maplin
Travel Pouch £2.99 Superdrug

GET ORGANISED

A passport holder or a travel pouch is the one item you will be pleased you took as you’ll be able to put all your important travel documents in one place as well credit cards, certificates, passport, etc. From practical styles you can keep in your pocket or wear around your neck, to ones with funky prints that make a statement about who you are, whatever you choose it will help you stay organised.

Beauty Junky Passport and Ticket Holder £7.50 Boots
Trendz Map Passport Cover £13.00 Boots
Marvel Comics Passport And Luggage Tag Set £12.00 Clintons

Techy fans will love the revolutionary Hidentity Passport Plus Cover, it stops criminals from reading the data stored on the RFID chip in your passport or credit and debit card due to a protective foil embedded in the cover. It is so thin that very little bulk is added to your passport so will even fit in your coat pocket.

Asaklitt Neck Wallet in Turquoise, Pink or Black £5.99 Clas Ohlson
Asaklitt Travel Wallet £4.99 Clas Ohlson
Hidentity Passport Plus Cover £7.49 Maplin
Neon Passport Holders £1.00 Poundland

TAG IT

Finally, make sure you stand out in a crowd at the baggage carousel with brightly designed luggage tags and say goodbye to picking up the wrong case.

Slogan Luggage Tags £1.00 Poundworld
Not Your Bag Luggage Tags £7.99 Maplin
Askalit Owl Luggage Tag £2.49 Clas Ohlson
Glo Luggage ID Tag £2.49 Superdrug
Old-Fashioned Luggage Labels £7.71 WHSmith