Top 10 Things to Pack for a Rabbie’s Trip

Phil
Posted on 27 Jan 2017

Congratulations! Your small-group tour is booked and your about to embark on a trip to one of the best locations. But it’s just dawned on you...what do you need to pack for a trip? There’s no need to stress because we’re on hand to guide you so that you have everything you need without having to try and fit in the kitchen sink. So let’s give you our top 10 things to bring which will cover you for every aspect of your trip.

Coming up in this article: 

• 10 Things to Bring on Your Rabbie’s Tour 
  • Suitable Footwear 
  • USB Charger for UK Ports  
  • Padlocks for Lockers 
  • Suitable Clothing (Seasonal) 
  • Water 
  • Appropriate Luggage 
  • Small Amount of Cash 
  • A Good Book 
  • Sandwich Bags 
  • Enthusiasm  

10 Things to Bring on Your Rabbie’s Tour 

The countdown is on until your feet are stepping up on one of our mini-bus fleets to take you to your chosen destination. Will it be a tour of Scotland in search of the mystical water monsters, washed down with a whisky tasting? Maybe the lyrical tunes of Ireland are calling for a visit this year. Let's not forget the royal heritage across England yearning to be toured. All we can say is while the destinations are a focal point, we truly believe there is more a small-group tour can offer you. It's the friendships formed, the jokes shared, and let's not forget trying local foods that sound crazy but are some of the best dishes we’ve ever had. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, let's take a step back and share the top 10 things we think you should bring on tour.   

1. Suitable Footwear

Image by Driver / Guide Jamie

Footwear can make of break your trip. Brand new and not worn in? Blister central. Open toes in the middle of winter? Too cold and potentially border lining frostbite. Our best advice is to choose something that is comfortable to you and will keep your feet dry. The weather while touring the UK and Ireland can be so unpredictable, it's possible to experience all four seasons in one day. And that's not us exaggerating.

While many of our tours venture off the beaten track, you’ll never need hundreds of pounds worth of hiking gear. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes, which can provide you in good grip, depending on the weather.  

2. USB charger suitable for UK

As much as we all need a digital detox we understand you may need to get online. And there’s nothing worse than running out of power just when you want to post the perfect picture. Chargers come in all shapes and sizes but one with a USB connection is great, just make sure you have a three pin British adapter.

Extra tip - many of Rabbie’s buses have USB charger points built in so you can charge as you travel!

3. A Padlock for Lockers

Image by Driver / Guide Jamie F

A padlock is handy if your chosen travel accommodation is a hostel dorm rather than B&B or hotel accommodation. To save you taking everything on the bus with you, you can often use the hostel’s lockers to secure your belongings with your own padlock. Everywhere we visit is safe, but you can’t be too careful.

4. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes

Image by Driver / Gill B

There’s no escaping the fact that the weather in the UK can be a little wet: sometimes you experience four seasons in just a few hours. It makes packing harder but, as long as you think ahead, you can pack light and pack clever. The key is layers. Think long sleave tops, thin fleeces, waterproof pakamacs.

You’ll not be climbing Everest, but warm and dry layers will help you adapt to the conditions and make your trip much more enjoyable.

And kilts aren’t mandatory!

5. Water

This seems silly and obvious but it does make a difference. If you’re on a Rabbie’s tour, then you’re going to spend time on their lovely mini-coaches. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for comfort breaks and rest stops, but staying hydrated will help make the trip much more enjoyable. Tap water is perfectly drinkable so just keep filling up your reusable water bottle!

6. Appropriate Luggage

Image by Driver / Gill B

The temptation when you travel is to pack for every single eventuality - a great idea.

But sadly Rabbie’s can only let you bring one medium sized bag (maximum 15 kilos) and one carry-on bag per person.

Although you’ll be off the beaten track you’ll still be in the civilised world, so there’s no need to bring loads of food or a ball gown in case you meet the King!

Pack for the days you’re away with warm layers and waterproofs in case the sun doesn’t make an appearance. As for meeting the King, a Highland coo is far more likely!

7. Bring a little cash

Not everywhere you visit will accept debit and credit cards; including your accommodation. Bringing a little cash with you means you don’t have to try and find an ATM to pay for a gift or a night’s stay.

If you do need one, mention it to your Driver / Guide and they’ll be happy to help you find one.

It’s also worth checking the currency needed before you arrive too. 

• UK & Northern Ireland = Great British Pounds (GBP) 
• Ireland = Euros  
• Our range of Europe tours (Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy) = Euros 

8. A good book

Image by Driver / Gill B

You won’t need this on tour as Rabbie’s lovely driver / guides have enough enthusiasm, stories and chat to keep you entertained! But staying in new places can sometimes mean a restless night, so grab a book set in the area you’re exploring and add to your experience.

Maybe you can opt for one which relates to your chosen destination. Pride and Prejudice for tours of Bath, the Outlander series for your trip to Scotland, or maybe Normal People when visiting Ireland?

9. Plastic sandwich bags.

Ok this one is a little weird, but hear us out for a life hack. When you have a small bag, it pays to put your liquids and toiletries in plastic bags so leaks don’t affect the rest of your clothes and electrics. Especially important once you’ve opened the bottles and don’t full trust the seals! It’s a boringly practical life saver! 

10. Enthusiasm

Image by Driver / Gill B

Assumptions can be one of the hardest ones to leave at home; but it’s worth it.

A Rabbie’s tour will take you to places you’ve never been but always dreamed of. Pre-conceived ideas and assumptions often mean you don’t enjoy your actual experience as much as you could.

The communities, people, and sights we visit are what make the tours special so relish discovering them.

The joy of a tour and travel is finding yourself in a place you never quite believed you’d see but will remember forever.

So, try not to make your memories in advance, just let them happen and bring your enthusiasm along instead.

Welcome Onboard

Hopefully this handful of suggestions will help make packing for your time on your Rabbie’s tour a little easier. We know that we like to pack those ‘just in case’ items, but believe us, you won’t need them. No seriously, take it out of your packing pile now... 

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