Going on holiday can often be a stressful experience, especially if you’re the one in charge of packing. Making sure that you and your group have everything can be daunting. The last thing you want is to forget something crucial or lose an item while travelling. As such, it’s never a bad idea to make spares or backups with you whenever possible. In this article, we’re going to talk about some of the most important backup items that you should always pack on a holiday.

Adapter plugs

If you plan to bring any kind of electronic device, you’re going to want to bring a spare plug or two. This will ensure that you’ve always got a way to charge your devices. Many hotel rooms and Airbnbs will have USB connections for you to charge your devices. However, there are times where you might have a very specific plug, such as a laptop charger. In times like this, you’ll always want to have an adapter ready.

Glasses and sunglasses

If you wear glasses or sunglasses, then it’s important to bring a spare pair with you. This might sound expensive, but you can get much cheaper prescription sunglasses if you know your prescription and buy from independent stores instead of from your optometrist. At the very least, you’ll want to bring some tools to help you maintain your glasses while you’re abroad. The last thing you want is to lose a screw or be unable to replace a lense if it cracks or is damaged while on holiday.

Bag

An extra bag will always be handy for carrying things. Ideally, it should be something that can collapse so that it doesn’t take much space. You can use this if you misplace your bag or if you need a bag that can carry more things. It’s also worth carrying bags of different sizes to ensure you always have something to use.

Medication

Specific medication can be hard to find overseas. That’s why it’s important for you to take spare boxes of medication in the event you lose it somehow. This is especially important if the medication you take is crucial for your health. You may want to speak to your doctor in advance so you can request a much larger prescription temporarily. Keeping it in a separate bag will help ensure that you always have your medication should one of your bags be stolen or lost.

Shoes

Many people only take a single pair of shoes with them on holiday. It’s always a good idea to have a spare pair in the event that you get them dirty. You might also make your shoes smell bad if you walk a lot in them. Switching between at least two pairs is ideal to keep your feet fresh and free from bad smells. You could also have different shoes for different occasions, such as a casual pair of sneakers and a formal pair of boots.

Phone

A spare phone is never a bad idea. You can keep it with your luggage in the event that your usual phone or bag is stolen. You should keep some kind of international sim on it and give the number to loved ones should they need to contact you in an emergency. It can also serve as a map or internet device if your main phone is lost.

Headphones

While you can always buy a new pair of headphones at your holiday destination, you ideally always want to have a backup if you plan to listen to music, podcasts or watch films while you travel. A good pair of headphones is great since they’re comfortable and large enough not to lose. However, there’s a chance they could break or suffer damage while in use. This is why a backup pair of small earphones is a great spare to have. It doesn’t take up much space and they’ll make travel easier if your prized headphones fail for some reason.

Wallet

It’s becoming popular to carry an extra wallet with you when you go on holiday. This backup wallet usually contains important documents and contact information. It’s kept with your luggage so that if your main wallet is stolen, you still have a backup with money and important documents to use.

Paperwork

In addition to your wallet, it’s a good idea to pack additional copies of your paperwork. This doesn’t take much space but it does provide extra security in the event you need to submit some documents.