Travelling can be stressful, especially if you’ve planned a trip that falls during peak holiday season this summer. While a week spent by the beach in August might sound heavenly, it’s also the worst month to fly, with crowded airports and long queues often making for a less relaxing start to a holiday than you might have hoped for. But there’s nothing worse than arriving at the airport only to realise you forgot to pack any swimsuits or a book to keep you entertained on the flight.

Packing light and sticking to hand luggage is one way to ensure you don’t forget any holiday essentials, and there are plenty of tips when it comes to getting the most from your suitcase, but there are probably a few items you might not think of bringing that could save you from any mishaps. While it’s generally advised to keep essentials like medication in your hand luggage so they’re readily accessible, there are a few more items that a travel expert has urged Brits to keep in there too.

Delays, lost luggage, or even an unexpected illness can disrupt a holiday, so it’s always important to be prepared to avoid any major mishaps. Dawn Morwood, the co-director of Cheap Deals Away, has shared the five essential items everyone should pack in their hand luggage to ensure they’re “comfortable, safe and stress-free during their summer adventures”.

Five essential hand luggage items to pack

1. Portable Charger

Keeping your phone fully charged while travelling is essential, especially as many of us use it to carry our boarding passes. Dawn recommends buying one with a capacity of 10,000mAh to ensure your phone doesn’t run out of battery.

“Always pack a fully charged portable power bank,” says Dawn. “Airport charging points are often occupied or broken, and the last thing you want is a dead phone when you’re trying to navigate a foreign airport or contact your hotel.”

2. Clothes

With thousands of passengers losing their suitcases every summer, if you’ve checked in luggage, it’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage too. “You’ll be grateful for fresh clothes if your suitcase decides to take a detour to a different continent,” says Dawn.

3. Documents Folder

Although many of us keep important documents like our boarding passes and hotel confirmation on our phones or tablets, it’s important to have backups in case anything gets lost. Dawn recommends making copies of your passport, travel insurance, booking confirmations and emergency contact numbers to keep in a folder.

4. Tracking Device

Popping an Apple AirTag or similar device into your hand luggage means you’ll know exactly where it is at all times. saving you from “waiting helplessly at the baggage carousel” in case it fails to turn up. Costing around £30, it’s a small price to pay for “peace of mind” when travelling through busy airports.

5. Wellness Kit

While many of us will keep medication in our hand luggage, Dawn also advises packing a complete kit with hand sanitiser, pain killers, tissues, lip balm, moisturiser and even an eye mask to make travelling more comfortable.

“Long flights and airport delays can take a toll on your body and mood. A small comfort kit can make uncomfortable situations much more bearable, especially in the case of unexpected delays.”

Being prepared means you’re more likely to be able to enjoy a well-deserved break without any hiccups, and these items take up minimal space in hand luggage.