Travel expert shares 3 essential items they would never leave the country without

With the holidays around the corner, and the not far behind, it's likely that many of us are beginning to pack for trips that we might have planned, or at least think about what we need to bring along for them.

Making sure you've packed all the essentials for your trip requires some planning, and there's nothing worse than arriving only to realise you've forgotten a swimsuit. Passport, suncream and a good pair of shoes that won't give you blisters, whether you're simply strolling along the beach or tapping into your adventurous side, these are some of the items you might have already ticked off your checklist, but there's a few more you should consider bringing along. experts at Which? have shared the items they never go away without, and it's likely they're things that many of us forget to actually pack.

Knowing what to bring away with you also saves the hassle of trying to find these last-minute items in the airport, where things are often much more expensive.

The first item you should never travel without is a sleep mask, with Which?'s expert explaining that they always bring this away with them "so that I can sleep on a plane, a train" and even "my hotel room".

While the lights are generally dimmed during long-haul flights, for short-haul flights, the lights are usually kept on even if your flight is at night.

If you've decided to get the most out of a European weekend trip by booking a 5am flight, bringing an eye mask with you means you can catch up on some missed sleep on the plane, and get the most out of your day once you land.

The same goes for hotel rooms, where curtains can often be a hit-and-miss, and there's nothing worse than being woken up early on your holiday because of thin or non-existent curtains.

Next up, the item you should never go away without is a battery pack, which is essential if you want to avoid your phone running out of battery.

Even if you can go a whole day without charging your phone at home, taking photos, using Google Maps and Google Translate can "absolutely rinse" your phone's battery, and it's often difficult to get by without using these.

Finally, Which?'s travel experts always take mosquito repellent with DEET away with them. Often found in countries with warmer climates and near water, mosquitoes can ruin a holiday.

DEET actually repels mosquitoes, making it more effective at protecting you from mosquito bites.

Mosquitos can pass on a number of viral diseases including dengue fever, yellow fever and even malaria depending on where you travel, so repellent should always be brought along to any country where there's risk of this.