When we go on holiday, we love a good checklist. They ensure you don't miss out on that mountain because you have the wrong shoes, or end up without any photos because you forgot a charger. The following list serves as a guide for what to bring on our tours, but it's not comprehensive. You may find some items are irrelevant or others are missing. So simply use this list as a starting point and adapt it to create your own checklist that matches your personal tastes.
On the road since 1993
Packing List
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What to bring on tour
Travel Documents
- Passport
- Visa* (Check if you need one here for the UK and here for Ireland)
- Travel insurance documents
- Phone number of your 24h emergency contact
- Rabbie’s Tours confirmation email – you’ll receive this automatically after booking. If not, drop us an email and we’ll be happy to help.
- Copies of important documents – one copy printed and another emailed to yourself is a good idea
- Driving licence (a useful form of ID for buying delicious whisky)
- Student/senior card for travel discounts
If you're travelling to Europe, check the official tourism website of the country you’re visiting for up-to-date and reliable information.
Luggage
We have either a 14kg (31lb) or a 20kg (44lbs) of luggage limit per person on our tours. If you have excessive luggage, please read this page about storage facilities.
You should always pack as light as you can, so you can carry your luggage easily to your accommodation.
Holdall, backpack or suitcase - remember that a soft bag is often lighter
Padlocks for added security
Smaller bag for carrying your day-to-day things, e.g. refillable water bottle, camera and snacks.
Health and Protection
A little bit of preparation can help you avoid health issues which might impact your holiday.
- Prescriptive medicine
- Eye care – prescription glasses/contact lenses with solution
- High-factor sunscreen - you can burn in our European destinations and in the UK in summer without protection
- After-sun moisturiser
- Antihistamine
- Lip balm and moisturiser
- Antibacterial wipes
- Insect repellent (midges in Scotland!)
- Aspirin/paracetamol
- Toiletries (this is personal, so we can’t advise what to take. Just try to remember everything you need!)
Money
Cash is handy as many of our tour stops are in smaller villages where credit card use can be limited. A few coins in your pocket can also be handy because public toilets may charge £0.20 or £0.50.
Also, when you're touring around Europe, remember that it's good to have coins to pay your tourist tax. You usually pay these at the accommodation suppliers, and cost between 1€ and 5€ per night.
- UK - £ in cash
- Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy - € in cash
- Switzerland - Swiss Frank in cash
- Credit card
- Travellers’ cheques
- Money belt/pouch
Appropriate Clothing
The UK and Ireland have distinct seasons, so it’s a good idea to pack appropriately. The weather can also change quite quickly from sunshine to rain. The UK climate is mild with temperatures not much lower than 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter, and not much higher than 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer. For multi-day tours, you’ll need enough clean clothes to cover all the days because it’s unlikely you’ll be able to wash clothes during your tour.
- Waterproof jacket/winter jacket
- Sunglasses
- Hat, gloves and scarf
- Outdoor/hiking shoes
- Shorts (in summer)
Europe is more diverse. Depending which country you're visiting with us and which region you're going to, get prepared for various temperatures. In general, the south of Europe can get very hot in the summer, but remember you can still get some cooler nights higher in the mountains or by the Atlantic Ocean.
So for your European tour you may also add:
- Swimwear
- Travel towel
- Sun hat
- Sandals
- Various summer clothes
- Something for the cooler days and evenings
Being a Tourist
- Camera – including spare batteries, lenses, case etc. You’ll never forgive yourself if your battery dies and you miss a beautiful shot
- Mobile phone charger – our mini-coaches provide USB charging
- Refillable water bottle – the tap water in the UK is safe to drink and by avoiding plastic bottles you’re preserving our natural environment
- Plug adapters - depending where you come from and where you want to travel, make sure to have a look at what plug adapters you need. Have a look at this link.
Extras
- Umbrella
- A smile. Please don’t forget this one! You’ll share your tour with a friendly bunch of people from all over the world, so a smile goes a long way
Other useful links