[Our pick: large hard-shell case]
Four spinner wheels and a light shell. On a 23 kg allowance, every kilo the case saves is a kilo of pasalubong.
Pack lighter, travel calmer
A packing checklist you can tick off, a luggage weight planner, the gear that makes long trips easier, and reminders for the day you fly, whether you're travelling solo or wrangling the kids through the airport.
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Packing checklist
Tick it off as you pack
Your ticks are saved on this device, so you can come back to it. ·
Documents and money
Hand luggage
Clothes and toiletries
For the kids
Free tool
Luggage weight planner
Going home with heavy bags? Type in your airline's allowance and what each bag weighs. It shows what you have left, and flags any bag over the per-bag limit, before you get to the check-in desk.
Find these on your booking or the airline's baggage page. Some airlines count kilos, others count bags (for example 2 × 23 kg).
Weigh bags at home with a luggage scale and leave a kilo spare: airport scales can differ. Nothing you type here leaves your device.
Our picks
Luggage
Light cases leave more of your allowance for what goes inside.
[Our pick: cabin case]
Check it fits your airline's cabin size before you buy. Budget airlines are stricter than long-haul ones.
[Our pick: packing cubes]
One cube per person or per type. Repacking at security or in a hotel takes seconds, not a full unpack.
[Our pick: digital luggage scale]
Weigh at home and avoid repacking on the check-in floor or paying excess baggage fees.
[Our pick: luggage tracker]
A small tag in each checked bag shows on your phone where it is if it doesn't come off the carousel.
[Our pick: luggage straps and covers]
A bright strap helps you spot your case fast and keeps it shut if a zip gives way.
Our picks
Footwear
Comfort first: airports and city days mean a lot of walking.
[Our pick: everyday walking shoes]
Cushioned, broken in before the trip, and good for a full day on your feet.
[Our pick: slip-on shoes]
Quick to take off and put on at security, and comfy on a long flight.
[Our pick: sliders or sandals]
For the beach, the hotel and the heat back home. Light enough to pack in a side pocket.
[Our pick: waterproof shoes]
For UK rain on the way to the airport, or the rainy season when you land.
Our picks
Travel clothes
Comfy layers for long flights: planes get cold, and you land somewhere warm. Some are from Positivo, our own brand, so we earn when you buy those.
[Our pick: joggers]
Soft, stretchy and easy through security. You can sleep in them and still look put together when you land.
[Our pick: relaxed top]
A loose, breathable top that works on the plane and in the heat when you arrive.
[Our pick: zip-up hoodie]
Easy on and off as the cabin warms and cools, and a pillow when you need one.
[Our pick: beanie]
For chilly cabins, cold UK mornings on the way to the airport, and bad hair after a long flight.
Our picks
Bags and accessories
Keep the things you need on the move close and easy to reach.
[Our pick: travel backpack]
Fits under the seat, opens wide, and has a laptop sleeve and a pocket for passports.
[Our pick: crossbody or belt bag]
Phone, passports and cards on your front, where you can see them in crowds.
[Our pick: family passport holder]
All the family's passports, boarding passes and a pen in one zip wallet.
[Our pick: clear toiletry bags and bottles]
Reusable, airport-ready bags and small bottles, so security is quick.
Our picks
Tech and comfort
Small things that make a 14-hour journey feel shorter.
[Our pick: universal travel adapter]
The Philippines uses flat two-pin sockets, the UK three-pin. One adapter with USB ports covers both.
[Our pick: airline-friendly power bank]
Hand luggage only, never in the hold. Check your airline's rules: some no longer let you use them on board.
[Our pick: neck pillow and eye mask]
For overnight flights and long layovers.
[Our pick: noise-cancelling headphones]
Cut the engine hum and arrive less tired.
Our picks
Kids' travel kit
What helps when you're travelling with little ones.
[Our pick: airline-approved foldable pram]
Folds small and light, and many airlines let you use it up to the aircraft door. Check your airline's size rules.
[Our pick: kids' ride-on suitcase]
They carry their own things and get a seat when little legs are tired.
[Our pick: volume-limited kids' headphones]
Safe volume for small ears, for audiobooks and music. Screens? For mayhem moments only.
[Our pick: travel activity pack]
Sticker books, magnetic games and mess-free colouring. New things hold attention longest.
[Our pick: snack cups and a water bottle]
Spill-proof cups and a bottle to fill after security. Something safe to chew or sip at take-off and landing helps their ears pop.
[Our pick: kids' flight earplugs]
Pressure-easing earplugs sized for children, for take-off and landing when ears hurt most.
[Our pick: baby carrier]
For queues, boarding and the walk to the gate, while the pram is folded away.
[Our pick: kids' ID wristbands]
Your phone number on their wrist, just in case, in a busy airport or theme park.
Travel day reminders
Solo, or with the whole family
The week before
- Check in online as soon as it opens
- Register on eTravel within 72 hours of landing
- Tell your bank you're travelling and check card fees abroad
- Turn on roaming or buy an eSIM
At the airport
- Arrive 3 hours before a long-haul flight
- Keep passport and boarding pass in one pocket
- Liquids and laptop out before your turn at security
- Fill your water bottle after security
On the plane
- Drink water, go easy on coffee and alcohol
- Walk the aisle and stretch every couple of hours
- Set your watch to the destination time
When you land
- Have your eTravel QR code ready at immigration
- Use official taxis or a ride-hailing app
- Get daylight and stay up until local bedtime
The week before
- Request bassinet or family seats when you book
- Check every child's passport date
- Register everyone on eTravel within 72 hours of landing
- Pack a separate hand-luggage bag just for the kids
At the airport
- Arrive early and look for family lanes at security
- Put ID wristbands on the little ones
- Let them burn energy before boarding
- Gate-check the pram if your airline allows
On the plane
- Earplugs in, and something safe to chew or sip at take-off and landing
- Bring out one new activity at a time; save screens for mayhem moments
- Keep a spare top for you too
When you land
- Hold hands through the arrivals crowd
- Keep snacks and water handy for the wait
- Ease into the new time zone over a few days
Rules change: check eTravel on etravel.gov.ph (it's free, so avoid look-alike sites that charge) and your airline's baggage and power bank rules before you fly.
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Free checklist
Moving abroad? Get Before You Fly
My free 8-page checklist for the big move: documents, money, the first weeks abroad and what to pack, from someone who's done it.
General travel tips, not legal or immigration advice. Airline and entry rules change, so check with your airline and the official sites before you travel.