I'm a TUI travel agent – the clever sticky note hack I use when packing that's a gamechanger
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A TRAVEL agent has revealed her genius sticky note hack, that will help you to have a stress-free holiday.
With just a few weeks left of the school summer holidays, many families are likely making plans to jet off and make the most of the summer sun.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Packing for holidays can be extremely stressful
Credit: Getty
And while holidays can give us some of our most treasured memories, getting everything organised for the trip can be incredibly stressful.
Claire Le Moigne has been working for TUI for 35 years, and in that time has booked over 6,000 holidays for loyal customers.
During her long career, the travel agent has picked up countless helpful tips, and swears by her simple sticky note hack.
Sticky note hack
Ever got to your hotel and realised you've forgotten your travel adaptor, toothbrush or favourite bikini?
In the mad rush to get everything packed, it is incredibly common for people to forget to pack essentials.
To prevent this, Claire recommends writing a checklist on a sticky note, and placing it on your door, to help jog your memory whilst you're packing.
'The week before I travel, I write a list of things I need to buy; the essentials like sun cream and insect repellent", she told National World.
"It keeps me super relaxed on the way to the airport knowing everything is already in my case.'
The travel whizz added that before you zip up your case, you should read through everything on your sticky note, and physically check it off.
Don't overpack
Claire revealed that 88% of Brits pack clothes that they don't end up wearing on holiday.
Stacey Solomon shows off hack she swears by to make packing for holiday much easier - & you can nab it from Ikea for £6
These clothes take up space that could be used for vital essentials, and may mean you end up paying for extra baggage you don't need.
To avoid falling in to this trap, Claire recommends planning out the exact outfits you will wear each day.
"Take a quick picture and then you'll be able to remember exactly which options you have", she added.
Ditch folding
Although you may be tempted to use the same technique when packing your bag as when you're folding laundry, Claire revealed that this will leave your clothes creased - and nobody wants to be ironing on holiday!
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list.
'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.'
3. Try a hack or two
She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip.
"Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver.
'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
"These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
"I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived."
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
"Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
Instead, the travel agent shared that she likes to roll up her clothes, which leaves them crease free, and is also a great space saver.
"If you need that extra bit of compression you can try the 'bundle method' where you wrap larger items around smaller ones", she advised.
Downsize toileteries
Many people take the whole bathroom cabinet with them when packing for holidays, but most hotels have shampoo and shower gel in the rooms.
If you can't bear to part with your favourite shampoo, it's a good idea to get some tiny reusable bottles to decant a week's worth in to, to help you save space.
"Make-up wipes and solid toiletries like shampoo bars can also save space and prevent leaks", she added.
"If in doubt, it's worth wrapping up a bottle in a plastic bag to prevent any spillages in transit.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Small Scottish town listed among ‘most boring in UK' defended by locals who call it ‘a wee gem'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOCALS living in "Scotland's most boring town" have lept to its defence after it received the scathing title. Alloa was branded "culturally devoid and one of the most deprived places in Scotland" in the brutal review. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Alloa residents have defended their home Credit: Alamy 4 Alloa was named Scotland's most boring town Credit: Michael Schofield 4 The Clackmannanshire town was third in the UK list Credit: Andrew Barr - The Sun Glasgow 4 Locals have leapt to its defence Credit: Alamy The Clackmannanshire town came third in The Telegraph's most dull places in Britain. But locals in the town were quick to defend their home, even describing it as a "wee gem". Former MP John Nicholson blasted the list as "mean-spirited" when it was released. He told the Alloa Advertiser: "I love Alloa. With its cute wynds, grand merchant houses, and majestic civic architecture, it is a sometimes-overlooked wee gem. "Like any fine gem, Alloa could benefit from a polish too at the hands of the descendants of the skills craftsmen who built and enhanced it." The Scottish Sun visited Alloa when it's brutal brand was published, and even then locals were looking on the bright side. Miko Bylinka told our reporter: "We still have some interesting things going on in town, especially the old brewery, and the nature here is wonderful." Business owner Robert Marshall reckons the town is also one of Scotland's cheapest. He said: "We're cheap, and we do things cheaper than most other places. "We do a lot of promotions. We do a lot of meal deals, and I think Alloa is one of the cheapest towns." We live in Scotland's ugliest town - critics are right, it's a dump that should be demolished Another local added: "It's obviously someone who doesn't live here or care about people [who said it's boring], because one great thing about Alloa, and I've lived here since 1976, is it's friendly." But it could be worse for the Clacks town, as another one further south was branded the WORST in Scotland. It was hailed as a vision of the future when it was built in the years after the second world war. But it has repeatedly been handed the title of Scotland's worst eyesore due to its "spirit-sapping" brutalist architecture. It was voted "most dismal" town centre in the 2001 and 2005 Carbuncle awards, which were scrapped in 2017.
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The unexpected foods Brits won't fly without this summer
Sometimes when travelling overseas a little home comfort is needed, whether that's in the form of clothing or a favourite blanket. But some tourists can't seem to jet off without certain food items – and many of the choice are unexpected. Millions of Brits have been heading off on holiday this summer, and their cases might be full of a range of snacks and even beverages from home. An analysis of 10,000 UK Google searches from travellers asking if they could bring certain foods and drinks on planes, or through airport security, revealed what tourists leaving the UK want to bring with them. Several nostalgic British staples cropped up, though they are surprising items to take abroad. Chocolate topped the list, with 840 monthly searches about taking it overseas. Though other, far more unusual, items cropped up too, including mince pies, which placed seventh. It appears that Brits can't leave the classic Christmas staple behind, as 40 monthly searches were made about the festive treat. An analysis of 10,000 UK Google searches from travellers asking if they could bring certain foods and drinks on planes, or through airport security, revealed what tourists leaving the UK want to bring with them Jelly came eighth and is apparently an essential sweet treat for many travellers, racking up 30 monthly searches, according to the analysis by UK grocery exporters, Britsuperstore. Forget trying the local cuisine, gravy granules was the ninth most searched for food item, with 10 enquiries Googled. While another strange snack - pork pies - came tenth and had ten searches. Other, more understandable enquiries that appeared on the list include tea, with 740 Googles, and crisps with 330. Biscuits was also researched 220 times, as well as cheese which cropped up in 400 searches. Meanwhile, KPMG found the cost-of-living crisis was also impacting the food habits of British tourists abroad. The research revealed 75% of travellers try to cut costs and 19% choose self-catering accommodation to do so. Elsewhere, Barclays found 71% of consumers purchase more products that were 'Made in Britain'. While 40% look for UK-made alternatives to items they usually buy from abroad, suggesting people are staying loyal to British products even when travelling, and are cost-conscious at the same time. Brits are bringing other wild items on holiday with them, too, including air fryers. One in five have said they've taken their favourite appliance for a trip abroad, according to AO. To address the market, AO have even released a new air fryer suitcase to transport the beloved cooker to a hot and sunny destination.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The 3 holiday hotspots with highest risk of deadly ‘suitcase viruses' that attack organs and cause ‘debilitating' pain
Plus, how to protect yourself against the viruses CASE EXPLOSION The 3 holiday hotspots with highest risk of deadly 'suitcase viruses' that attack organs and cause 'debilitating' pain Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH 'suitcase viruses' making a comeback in recent years, experts are urging Brits travelling abroad to take extra precautions. Holidaymakers travelling to three popular European destinations could be at risk of two deadly viruses. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Cases of mosquito-borne viruses like chikunyunga and dengue fever have been on the rise in recent years Credit: Getty Mosquitoes carrying viruses can travel in suitcases, often unnoticed, and pose a risk of introducing diseases to new areas. Two mosquito-borne viruses most prevalent at the moment, particularly for travellers returning to the UK, are dengue fever and chikungunya. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently warned of a "worrying increase in chikunyunga cases" among travellers returning to the UK. Chikungunya virus is primarily spread to humans through the bite of infected aedes mosquitoes. Described as a "nasty disease", it causes severe joint and muscle pain, headaches, sensitivity to light and skin rashes. While Chikungunya is generally not considered fatal, it can be in very rare cases, particularly among vulnerable populations like the very young, elderly, or those with pre-existing health conditions. Most recently, there's been an outbreak in China, with 7,000 cases reported, mostly across the city of Foshan, in the southern province of Guangdong, sparking global fears. In 2024, 904 dengue cases were recorded in returning travellers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland - up from 631 in 2023 - with all cases linked to travel abroad. Like chikungunya, dengue fever is spread through the bite of infected aedes mosquitoes. In its mild form, dengue fever causes fever and a rash and lasts about a week. What is Chikungunya Severe dengue can cause shock, internal bleeding, and death. About one out of 20 people with dengue will develop severe dengue within a few hours after symptoms start. To stop the number of cases of chikunyunga and dengue fever increasing, UK health officials recommend keeping up-to-date on health risks in different countries. And a new report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has revealed the holiday hotspots in Europe with the highest number cases of chikunyunga and dengue fever currently. Chikunyunga Since the beginning of 2025, and as of August 13, two countries in Europe have reported cases of chikungunya - France and Italy. So far, France has reported 111 cases of locally-acquired chikungunya in 22 different clusters. And compared to the previous week, the number of cases has increased by 48 cases. Areas in France where cases have been reported include Charente (five cases in one cluster), Côte-d'Or (one case in one cluster), and Haute-Corse (two cases in one cluster). Two new cases were reported in two new clusters in Alpes-Maritime and a one new case in a new cluster in Isère. The largest clusters are located in Vitrolles, with an increase of 20 cases in the last week, Grosseto-Prugna, Salon-de-Provence, Grans, and Lambesc, Castries, Poulx and Caveirac. In the last week, Italy has reported five new cases in three new clusters - three cases in Modena and two cases in Verona province. Dengue fever Since the beginning of this year up until now, dengue fever has also been reported in France and Italy - 11 cases in France, and four in Italy. But Portugal has also reported two. The are currently six clusters reported in France, located in Aubagne, and Bouches-du-Rhône. In the last week, a new case has been reported in Vicenza province in Italy. And the cases in Portugal, reported in January, were in Madeira, and probably transmitted in 2024, says the ECDC. Is it safe to travel to these countries? 2 Preventing mosquito bites is one of the best ways to protect yourself from chikunyunga and dengue fever Credit: Getty It's considered safe to travel to Europe, including areas with reported chikungunya and dengue fever cases. Most reported cases of the viruses in Europe are imported, meaning they are contracted by travellers returning from affected areas outside of Europe. However, local transmission is increasing due to the spread of mosquitoes like the aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito). So when travelling abroad it's crucial to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Follow the tips below...
