Expert names vital holiday items Brits always pack wrong when going abroad
You may consider yourself well-versed in baggage restrictions, but many Brits still make avoidable packing mistakes. These small but glaring mistakes can lead to longer airport security queues and - at worst - can lead would-be travellers from flying altogether.
Markus Lindblad from the tobacco-free nicotine product company, Northerner, has broken down the most common packing mistakes Brits are making in 2025 - including how they travel with vapes. Knowing these rules before you travel might save you time and trouble on your next journey.
Travelling with vapes
Markus' first flag is about carrying vapes on aeroplanes. While you are permitted to carry vapes onto a plane, they must be stored in your carry-on luggage, not your checked baggage.
Additionally, passengers are not permitted to use the vape while on an aeroplane. Vaping or smoking on a flight is illegal and could see you facing hefty fines and flight restrictions. Some fines can even reach up to £5000.
For those likely to crave nicotine mid-flight, Markus recommends carrying nicotine pouches. They are allowed both in carry-on and checked luggage and can be used safely on planes. Nicotine pouches are regulated in some countries however, so always make sure you dispose of them when you land if you're unsure of the local laws.
Bringing disposable vapes back into the UK is a slightly different story. While the sale of disposable vapes is banned in the UK, they are still perfectly legal in many countries, so Brits can purchase these devices while abroad.
Entering the UK with a disposable vape is only an offence if you intend to sell it, so as long as it's for personal use, then you're not breaking any laws according to Markus. If you're not returning to the UK and carrying disposable vapes elsewhere, check the banned items list for each country before re-packing your luggage, as some other countries have banned vapes.
Travelling with portable chargers
A global shift across worldwide airlines has seen rules tightened over the carrying of power banks onto flights.
Early in 2025, an incident that left three people injured on a major Asian airline led to a crackdown of portable power banks in checked baggage. After an Air Busan plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport on January 28, the airline announced it would be enforcing stricter regulations around power banks.
According to Markus, the lithium-ion batteries commonly found inside power banks pose a fire risk to aircraft and confined cabin spaces if damaged. Most airlines allow portable chargers packed in your carry-on luggage, but not in checked luggage.
Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways also prohibit the use of power banks to charge personal devices during a flight. Check the specific guidelines surrounding power banks before packing.
100ml liquid limit
While some UK airports including Gatwick, Birmingham and Newcastle no longer require passengers to remove liquids at security, the 100ml limit still applies. That said, medications and baby food are exempt from this 100ml restriction.
UK restrictions v foreign restrictions
Different countries may have completely different travel rules, which affects how you should pack. For example, Dubai has introduced new rules on medication, only allowing items in checked baggage. Whereas Mexico has a total ban on vapes, making packing them in your luggage illegal.
While the UK rules may be different, you do not want to get into trouble when you arrive at your holiday destination. Speak to a staff member at the airport check-in desk and seek their advice on what is and is not permissible.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Crete issues urgent warning for TODAY in Brit holiday hotspot
Brits in the popular holiday location of Crete, Greece, have been warned of a "very high risk" of wildfires today with emergency services mobilised and a list of banned activities Brit holidaymakers have been warned that there is a 'very high risk' of fires in Crete today with emergency services mobilised. Greece has been grappling with massive wildfires following a week-long heatwave that saw temperatures skyrocket above 45C, leading to thousands being forced to abandon their homes as flames engulfed villages near Athens and several Greek islands. Now a map has been issued by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection showing the areas of Greece which are most at danger. And Crete has been marked in orange which is category four and means that there is a forecast of a very high risk of fire. Under this category it means that a special civil protection mechanism has been put in place while there is a list of banned activities. The action plan means that all resources will be diverted to tackling the risk and there is a list of six banned actions. the burning and use of fire on crop residues, grasslands or other of smoking in beehives the performance of hot work (welding, cutting wheel, etc.) the use of outdoor barbecues the use of "Sky Lanterns" (airborne flying lanterns or balloons) the use of pyrotechnics Meanwhile, a significant fire ripped through a northern suburb of the Greek capital on Saturday, triggering urgent evacuation orders, as confirmed by the country's Fire Service. Residents in Kryoneri, situated about 12 miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS alerts urging them to relocate to safer areas, while the nearby village of Drosopigi was shrouded in smoke as explosions reverberated from factories storing combustible materials. Helicopters were dispatched to douse the area with water as a team of 65 firefighters, supported by 26 vehicles and two aircraft, battled the blaze. A spokesperson for the fire department revealed that at least 52 wildfires had erupted across the nation in the past 24 hours, with strong winds exacerbating the situation and necessitating further evacuations. On Evia, a force of 115 firefighters and 24 vehicles, aided by six aircraft and seven helicopters, strived to get the fires under control. Residents in the Triada region were put on alert for potential evacuation as wind conditions deteriorated. While the villages of Aroniadika, Pitsinades and Aryoi on the island of Kythera were evacuated, alongside Kryoneri and Sellas in Messinia, to the west of Athens. Areas in Crete affected by fires Azilakodasos, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Vathi, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Thriptis, Municipality of Ierapetra Kalo Chorio, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos – Meseleri, Municipality of Ierapetra Selakano, Municipality of Ierapetra Cypress forest of Kritsa, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Krousta Forest, Municipality of Agios Nikolaos. Symi, Municipality of Viannos Rouva-Zaros, Municipality of Gortyna and Municipality of Phaistos Koudouma, Municipality of Gortyna Keris, Municipality of Malevizi, Fourni, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Yuuchta, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Reconstruction, Municipality of Archanes – Asterousia Evligia suburban forest Suburban forest of Prof. Elias Agios Ioannis suburban forest Reforestation area south of the Arkadi Monastery Alsilio area of Paradisos Armenoi Mills Gorge Kissos suburban forest Periurban forest of Agouseliana Periurban forest of Agios Ioannis
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
5 airport scams as experts are warning travellers
Around 22 million Brits (38%) have either fallen for a scam or know someone who has, while 13.4 million (20%) say they'd be more likely to click a suspicious link on holiday, and £2.7 billion was stolen through fraud and cybercrime in the past year. The average loss per victim was £7,596.34, enough to cover your entire trip. So, what should we be watching out for? Fake messages 'Scammers are hijacking the names of trusted brands like sending fake emails or texts claiming there's an urgent problem with your hotel booking," says Siobhan Blagbrough, Financial Crime Manager at Ocean Finance. "You'll be asked to re-enter your card details on a fake website. Once you do, the scammers charge your card and vanish. Even clicking a button, like 'accept cookies', can download malware to your device.' Flight Change Texts Posting a photo of your boarding pass on social media might seem harmless, but scammers can use those details to send fake flight updates just before check-in. You're told your flight's cancelled and sent a link to reconfirm. But it leads to a spoof site that drains your card. 'Delayed Baggage' Compensation 'You arrive at your destination, but your luggage hasn't," explains Siobhan. "Then comes a message from what looks like the airport or airline offering you instant compensation, just click the link. These scams target genuine airline mishaps to trick people into handing over banking details. No airline will text you compensation links without formal contact. Always go through an official website or app." Free Wi-Fi trap in airports and hotels This is a sneaky one, particularly as many people try to avoid costly data bills on holiday, so are more likely to use free wifi hotspots in airports and hotels. 'Join the wrong 'free Wi-Fi' at a café abroad and you could be connecting to a scammer's hotspot," says Siobhan. "Every password you type, every site you visit, they can see it all. If you're logging into banking apps, emails or payment sites, they've got everything they need to take over your accounts. Stick to mobile data or a trusted VPN.' Airport phone charging This is another one that's so tempting, particularly if your battery is running low, but beware free charging, as it can be a trap. 'Plugging your phone into a public USB port could unknowingly be allowing data to be hacked or malware to be installed," says Siobhan. "Bring your own plug and cable, and always use a standard wall socket, not a USB-only port.' She adds: 'Fraud used to mean a stolen wallet or dodgy market stall. Now it's emails, texts, calls, and even the plug socket at the airport. These scams are slick, fast and emotionally manipulative. They'll catch you off guard while you're in holiday mode, and before you know it, your money's gone. 'The most common trick is to pile on the pressure, scammers love using urgency to force quick decisions. If you notice something off, slow down, take a step back, and double check.' 3 smart ways to protect your money on holiday Don't click - go direct: Whether it's a fake message or dodgy baggage compensation, never click links in emails or texts. Go straight to the official app or website and log in there. If in doubt, assume it's a scam until your proven otherwise. Use credit cards for extra protection: Credit cards offer legal protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. That means if you pay for something between £100 and £30,000 and something goes wrong - the company goes bust or you don't receive what you pay for – you could get your money back. Even if you only pay part of the cost by credit card, the whole transaction might still be covered. Avoid public Wi-Fi and USB ports: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for anything sensitive like banking. And never charge your phone through random USB ports. Bring your own charger and plug it into a proper socket. What to do if you think you've been scammed 'If you think you've been scammed, act fast,' urges Siobhan. 'Contact your bank straight away - if the payment hasn't gone through yet, they might be able to stop it. If it has, they can talk you through what to do next. 'Always report the scam to Action Fraud, and if it came via email, forward it to report@ so it can be shut down before someone else falls for it.'
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
This is the only foreign language phrase half of Brits know
A poll of 2,000 adults found 30 per cent are likely to simply make up a word in another language when trying to converse with a local while on holiday. Otherwise, many resort to other tactics – with 54 per cent admitting to pointing wildly at menus. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) will rely on dramatic hand gestures, and 26 per cent choosing to speak English very slowly in the unlikely hope of being understood. But despite their best efforts, communication issues often get in the way – as a fifth (21 per cent) have ended up spending far longer than necessary trying to sort out something simple. While the same number have accidentally ordered the wrong food or drink. The research was commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of its Galaxy Z Flip7, which includes an AI-powered Live Translate and Interpreter feature – designed to help users translate phone calls in real time and break through awkward language barriers when travelling. It also emerged from the findings that some situations have been even more inconvenient for travellers – with 11 per cent confessing they've boarded the wrong train or bus after a misunderstood exchange. And it seems navigating menus is a particular point of stress, with 41 per cent going into full panic mode if there isn't an English version available. The study went on to find that half of Brits feel embarrassed about their lack of foreign language skills when abroad, according to the data. To get around this, 31 per cent have smiled and nodded through conversations, pretending to understand every word – even when they don't have a clue what's being said. And one in five (20 per cent) have attempted to speak the local language, only for the person they're speaking to respond in fluent English – leaving them red-faced. TOP 10 WAYS BRITS ABROAD HAVE TRIED TO CONVERSE WITH LOCALS
