Travel essentials: useful apps, a light bag and a backup plan

Katerina Galkina · EN · 04/10/2026

The most useful travel essentials are usually simple: a charged phone, comfortable shoes, a clear route and a way home if your plans change. This checklist works for London, British weekends, coastal walks, Lisbon and other European city breaks. Adapt it to your day rather than buying everything labelled as travel gear.

Apps with a clear purpose

Use Google Maps ↗ to save your accommodation, stations, restaurants, viewpoints and backup stops. Create a separate trip list and check what is available offline. For trails, add a map showing terrain and footpaths, such as OS Maps ↗.

Citymapper ↗ helps compare urban routes; TfL ↗ is the official London journey-planning source. Recheck your chosen service before leaving. For British trains, use National Rail ↗ and the operator's website. Trainline ↗ can be convenient for comparisons, but inspect the final total before payment.

Too Good To Go ↗ can be useful when you are flexible about available food bags and collection times. Do not make a chance offer your only lunch plan, and check ingredients and allergen information with the venue.

Assess restaurant-discount apps, including EatClub ↗, by their actual coverage and conditions. An offer on its Australian website is not evidence of a London or Lisbon discount. Check the city, restaurant, time, minimum spend and payment requirements first.

ClassPass ↗ may help with a workout, yoga, pilates or other class where participating studios are available. Before subscribing, check pricing, credits, cancellation, late-arrival and renewal rules. For a short trip, compare a direct single-visit studio booking too.

Before booking anything

Check location first. A cheap room can create awkward daily journeys; the restaurant with the perfect menu may be nowhere near your evening walk. Confirm kitchen hours, opening days and booking rules. For a tour, check language, meeting point, duration, accessibility and cancellation; our tours guide ↗ covers the details.

Organise connectivity at home. Read your mobile-plan conditions and the eSIM checklist ↗, then save tickets, addresses and essential contacts so they open without a connection. Check the plug adapter and charger compatibility your devices need.

A small day bag

• A power bank, the right cable and an overnight charger if staying away.

• Water and a snack, especially for early departures or countryside walks.

• Shoes that work on cobbles, hills and long station platforms, with suitable grip for trails.

• A waterproof layer for Britain, sun protection and seasonal extra clothing. Heat and sun need planning in Portugal too.

• A light tote or small backpack for layers, food and purchases.

• Your own necessary medication and documents, without putting copies into public chats.

• Saved tickets, your route and a way to pay if your phone battery dies.

Keep the backup nearby

For a long walk, save a shorter version, a cafe or pub along the way and a route home. For a city day, choose a museum or another indoor option in the same area. A backup on the opposite side of town rarely helps when you are already tired.

Check the forecast and return journey before setting off; the train guide ↗ can help. Buy only what solves a specific problem. An unused subscription or an unnecessarily heavy “perfect” bag will not make the trip easier.

If your plan needs a timed ticket, compare options on Tiqets ↗ with the venue's own website. This is an affiliate link: Tell Me UK may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Save the booking confirmation before leaving.