It's official, my holiday countdown is on! I have approximately (well, exactly) 13 days before I pop my out of office on and hop on a flight to Spain and yes, I cannot wait.
In the run up to the occasion, I've naturally been thinking about what to pack. I pride myself on excellent organisational and prep skills, and so as soon as I'm two weeks out from the big day, I bring out my notepad and start jotting down what I need to pack and what still needs purchasing. And as I started this very process last night (I'm nothing if not punctual), I realised that most of my essential holiday items over the years have all come from one unlikely destination: Amazon.
Now, in my day-to-day life I don't normally shop on Amazon, but pre-holiday it becomes my go-to for everything from last-minute luggage (last year I had to buy an extra case the day before my trip when the wheels came off my trusty, 10-year-old bag), hot-weather beauty heroes, beach-ready accessories and practical pieces that make travelling so much easier. I'm one of those people who likes routine and to have their things around them, and so I rely on a roster of essentials that I bring out year after year to make me feel relaxed and in the holiday mood.
Shop my must-have holiday heroes below, all of which are available on Amazon and I'm hoping are available in the October Prime Day sale, which is rumoured to take place on the 11th and 12th of October 2023. Because who doesn't want to save a few pennies right now?
Head directly to Amazon's best deals here.
Shop My Amazon Holiday Essentials:
Antler's luggage is some of the best out there, so I was thrilled to see this stylish cabin bag on offer this Prime Day. There are a few colours available, including black, pale pink and navy, but this stone hue is my favourite.
If, like me, you've managed to lose just one AirPod (down the gap between the tube and the platform), or even if you're just looking to invest in a new pair of headphones, allow me to draw attention to this great deal. Headphones are a must for me all year round, holiday or no holiday.
Sun Bum is one of my go-to brands for SPF products. I love the haircare range, but I'll also be stocking up on this suncream now that is has 40% off this week!
I will finally be investing in a set of packing cubes this week. This one comes with six cubes in various sizes, one shoe bag, a toiletry bag, toothbrush cup, laundry bag and secure flat bag for small items or electronics. What's not to love?
I'm not lying when I say I read a book a day when I'm on holiday. Last summer my partner and I went away for 14 days and I had to take at least 15 books with me (one spare, just in case), leading to him get very annoyed about the weight of the cabin bags! So, this year, I will be investing in a kindle to save both my hand luggage allowance and relationship!
My hair gets very dry on holiday, so I always like to take a good mask with me for a pamper session mid-way through. This Ouai one is just gorgeous and always leaves my hair feeling smoother and softer.
We're still limited to 100mls for hand luggage, so a good set of reusable travel bottles are an essential, in my eyes. This four-pack comes in a little travel bag to help avoid any spillages leaking into your luggage.
This one is self-explanatory! I like how this adapter also has phone and USB ports, too.
My ride or die after sun lotion. I'll be a Piz Buin fan for life.
I think a great speaker is a must on holiday, whether to play music whilst cooking, when getting ready for a night out or relaxing around the pool. The Echo Studio has tonnes of great reviews and is pretty compact too, making it easy to travel with.
I straight up refuse to use any hairbrush other than a Tangle Teezer.
As I mentioned earlier, when I go away I like to have a lot of my things with me. I'm afraid I'm just not, and never will be, a lightweight packer. This portable scale comes in handy to ensure I don't go over that pesky weight limit.
It takes me a few days to build up a good tan, so I like to fake it for the first part of my holiday. St. Tropez will always be a brand I come back to.
Also an essential for any UK heatwaves.
The WWW beauty team love these cordless GHDs, and now so do I.
How chic are these sandals from Amazon's own brand, The Drop?! They'll go with everything from shorts to maxi dresses.
I love a dress, but I do not love a creased dress. So, I take a little steamer with me on holiday to ensure I can quickly iron out any obvious wrinkles.
This set comes with a neck pillow, ear plugs and a sleep mask. I think it's a great choice if you're heading on a long-haul flight or train journey this summer.
I always get a little anxious on the first few nights of a trip, so I like to take my go-to pillow spray to help me relax and get a good night's sleep. This one is under 100ml, so it's hand-luggage friendly, too.
This handy atomiser lets you decant your favourite scent into a hand-luggage-friendly bottle, meaning you don't need to worry about taking a big bottle away with you or forgoing your perfume altogether.
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