Every year for a lot of people there is the same palaver of remembering what to take with them on holiday. A lot of it is obvious stuff, but there is always the temptation to not worry about it as you can always pick up what you need when you get there.
Most caravan holiday parks these days have a great range of facilities including shops and restaurants, so you may be tempted to quickly pack your bag without much thought and throw it in the car.
But, do you really need to buy a new pair of sunglasses when you’ve already got a good pair at home? So, we thought we’d put together a ‘what to take guide’ or checklist for a caravan holiday. It is not ‘fully comprehensive’ as everyone has different needs, but at the very least it will prompt you to create your own list and stick it somewhere safe. These lists can save time and a lot of grief, especially if you are taking children with you (once you’re on that motorway you can’t turn back!).
Medicines: If you have any ailments that need treating with specific medications make sure you stock up before you go as you may not be able to get hold of your preferred brand.
Child’s favourite toys: and most importantly stories so you can get them to sleep and have some chill time. Kids love the excitement of going somewhere different and will tend to play up when it comes to bedtime. But, if you give them their favourite teddy, and read them their favourite story it will go some way to restoring the routine of home, and hopefully get them to sleep earlier.
Small children: if you have a toddler then you probably already have this down to pat, but having a list of everything you need may save a bit of time. You probably know off the top of your head everything you need to take, but creating a list (and maybe laminating it) will cut down a little bit on the stress and time.
The beach: Make sure you’ve got your swimwear, suncream, shades, and don’t forget to look in the shed/garage to see if you’ve still got beach stuff left over from last year.
Technology: if you are going to take an iPad or whatever, make sure you’ve got your charger, and the same goes for digital cameras iPods etc.
Pac-a-mac, yes you can still get those shower jackets that fold up into the size of not much more than a pair of socks!
The list could go on forever, but as noted above, this is not about us advising you what you need to take, but reminding you to sit down with a cup of tea, a pen and paper, and creating a list that you can use every time you go away, stick it on the boiler with a fridge magnet!
By: Gareth Whieldon
