What To Pack (UK Spring Edition)

So you’re going to the UK? Yipee! While you may know Scotland and Northern Ireland are world famous for all things Harry Potter, Outlander and Game of Thrones, you might be totally confused on how to pack for it’s fickle weather. Not to worry, we’ve got your back!

Since we are heading there ourselves this spring, I’m going to focus this packing list on spring travel in the UK. The weather is all over the place regardless of the time of year, but you can expect spring in the UK to involve cooler temps and rain.

When tackling a large task like packing, remember to pack light. Bring along layers versus large bulkier outerwear. Also keep in mind that you’ll be hauling your luggage all over the place, not just on the plane, so keep it simple!

My suggestion is always to condense your necessary items into a carry-on size bag if possible. This lowers the risk of your bag getting lost or delayed. You will just want to make sure the bag meets the dimension requirements for the airline you’re traveling with.

If you are traveling with us, you can read up on Delta’s dimension requirements here.

It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on their entry requirements. You can find the latest details here.

Here is a list of essential items you won’t want to forget to pack.

Travel Aids

·         Chewing Gum

·         Meds for motion sickness and sleep

·         Travel Pillow

·         (The airplane will likely supply earplugs, headphones, and a sleep mask so you can leave those at home unless you are partial to your own).

Clothing and Accessories

·         Comfortable walking shoes

·         Shirts (short and long sleeved) Think layers!

·         Socks and underwear/bras (thermals too!)

·         Watch

·         Jewelry

·         Pants/jeans

·         Pajamas

·         Glasses/contacts

·         Sunglasses

·         Belts

·         Dressier outfit

·         Raincoat and/or umbrella 

·         Warm waterproof jacket/fleece

·         Jackets/Gloves/Scarves

·         Collapsible tote/duffel bag for dirty clothes, souvenirs (if only using a carry-on)

·         Luggage tags

·         Journal (if planning to document your trip)

·         Backpack or day bag

Toiletries

·         Toothbrush

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Mouthwash

·         Shampoo/conditioner

·         Soap

·         Deodorant

·         Hairbrush/comb

·         Straightener/curling iron (If you have wattage converter-the UK uses 240 Voltz)

·         Hair styling products

·         Hair accessories

·         Cleanser

·         Moisturizer

·         Shaving Cream

·         Razor

·         Perfume/Cologne

·         Makeup

·         Makeup Remover

·         Feminine Hygiene Products (if applicable)

·         Nail clippers

·         Nail File

·         Hand wipes

·         Tweezers

·         Cotton swabs

·         Tissues

·         Lint Roller

·         First Aid Kit/Band Aids

·         Lip Balm

·         Washcloths (not standard in European hotels)

·         Any medications (in addition to a copy of any prescription)

·         Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)

·         Saline Solution (if applicable)

Money

·         ATM card (Call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip; foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts.)

·         Personal credit card (also make sure to notify lender of your travel plans)

·         At least $50 converted to the currency of the first country that you’re visiting (The UK is on the Pound)

·         Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing

Electronics/Technology

·         An alarm clock (Many hotel rooms won't have one.)

·         An adaptor/converter (The UK uses type G outlet plugs. More info here)

·         Camera with extra batteries or charger

·         Cell phone and charger (external chargers are worth the investment too!)   

Documents

·         Passport—(Remember to leave one copy of it at home and bring a couple more copies on tour, in case your passport gets lost.)

·         Emergency contact information

·         A copy of your medical insurance card (and trip insurance if you’ve purchased it)

·         A copy of the tour itinerary

·         A list of important phone numbers 

·         Addresses to send postcards home

·         Copy of any prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container's contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in its original container.)

·         List of medications/prescriptions

Carry-on bag

Here’s a short list of things travelers might need on the first day of the trip. These should be packed in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is delayed:

·         Passport/Vaccine Card

·         Money

·         Money Belt

·         Airline boarding pass

·         Toothbrush and toothpaste (Check tsa.gov for current security requirements.)

·         Hairbrush

·         Contact lens case/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the plane)

·         A change of clothes (in case luggage is delayed)

·         Medication

·         Any valuables

Covid-19 Essentials

·         Vaccine Card (you will be asked to show it several times so keep it handy)

·         Disposable masks

·         Hand Sanitizer

·         A copy of your testing reservations (if testing upon arrival/on return)

* If traveling with Land + See, we will do a full day of touring when we first arrive in Northern Ireland, so pack anything in your carry-on that you might need for that first day. We won’t check into the hotel until late in the evening.

Hopefully this helps ease the burden of knowing exactly what to pack. You know yourself and what you need so if you see something on the list you know you just won't need, skip it! Now that you're done packing, let's get back to our countdown! If you're like me, you've got this itinerary pinned already and you check it daily, but I'll throw it on here anyway so you can get in the groove! Northern Ireland + Scotland

Let the countdown begin!

Irish Etiquette Tips

Heading to the Emerald Isle for the first time? While the Irish culture is very much immersed in American culture, there are a few stark contrasts that might cause you to unknowingly insult a local and cause some uncomfortable social blunders if you aren’t careful. To help avoid any mishaps, here are a few etiquette tips to keep in mind when traveling in Ireland:

Humor

The Irish certainly have a reputation for their quick wit, called having ‘the craic’. Sometimes their humor can be both self-deprecating and ironic. The Irish often trade insults with one another too. If you find yourself getting teased, just go with it. The Irish love to rag one another. “Slagging,” as it’s called, is rarely personal and they mean no harm.

Swearing

Be prepared to hear lots of colorful language while in Ireland. The Irish are known for their ‘gift-of-the-gab’ and this includes a multitude of creative four-letter-words. While this can be shocking to Americans, it is rarely meant as an insult or to shock you. It’s just an Irish thing.

Avoid clichés

There are several Irish clichés that have made their way into our American culture. It’s hard to imagine Ireland at all without phrases like “Top o’ the Morning” and “May the Road Rise to Meet You.” They are, however, very cliché and very unlikely to be used by locals. It can even be considered quite rude to use these phrases in Ireland, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. And while we are avoiding things, make no mention of leprechauns or lucky charms or pots of gold, tempting though it may be.

Don’t Imitate the Irish Accent

Another item the Irish consider quite rude is imitating their accents. It’s seen as condescending and impolite. No matter how cute you think it is, try your best to avoid mimicking it, as it will not likely be appreciated by the locals.  

Handshakes

Handshakes are an important part of communicating in Ireland. A good solid handshake is expected at the beginning and end of most conversations, along with eye-contact and use of first names (whether you know the person well or not).

Religion and Politics

Two touchy subjects that are best to avoid in conversations in Ireland are religion and politics. Ireland has suffered a rocky past and locals tend to be sensitive about religion and past invasions of their country. Tread lightly and apologize if you overstep in this area.

Pub Rounds

Pubs are such a key part of the Irish culture and bring in both young and old. It is a place to unwind, to communicate, gossip, listen to music, etc. One key pub etiquette rule is the concept of rounds. You may have heard of the ‘round system’ in Ireland. It is essentially an unspoken code consisting of buying drinks for those in your group at the pub. If you aren’t a drinker or don’t want to buy rounds for the group, it is perfectly acceptable to decline. If you accept the offer of a drink from someone else however, just know, you are in the round and you will be expected to purchase a round before the first person buys again.

Tipping

There isn’t as strong a tipping culture in the food industry in Ireland as there is in America. Tips aren’t expected in pubs, for example. Likewise, restaurants will usually already include a service fee in the bill. Tipping of 10-15% above this is seen as a reward for exceptional service. Be advised that tipping a bell hop, taxi driver or tour guide however, is customary and expected for good service. 

Be Reserved

The Irish don’t appreciate loud, obnoxious behavior. Anything seen as aggressive and boisterous is likely to be met with distain, so try your best to avoid being over-the-top and loud.