The 5 Cost-Effective Essentials Every Brit Needs for a Last-Minute Summer Holiday

Moneymagpie Team 5th Aug 2026 No Comments

Reading Time: 3 minutes

With summer holidays in full swing and many Brits still booking last-minute getaways, travellers are looking for simple ways to make their money go further without compromising on convenience. From avoiding costly roaming charges and baggage fees to staying connected and beating airport stress, a handful of smart travel essentials are becoming increasingly popular among savvy holidaymakers. Here are five affordable travel must-haves that can help save money, reduce hassle and make any summer trip run more smoothly.

Kolet eSIM: The Roaming Bill Antidote
Portable Power Bank
Reusable Water Bottle with Built-In Filter
Packing Cubes
Airport Lounge Access Pass

1. Kolet eSIM: The Roaming Bill Antidote

Unexpected roaming charges can quickly eat into a holiday budget, which is why eSIMs have become one of the fastest-growing travel essentials. Offering affordable mobile data in more than 190 countries, Kolet helps travellers get online instantly without swapping SIM cards or relying on airport Wi-Fi. Reflecting the growing demand for seamless connectivity, Thomas Cook has partnered with Kolet to offer package holiday customers 1GB of complimentary mobile data, making it easy to book a taxi, find a hotel or message home as soon as you land.

Kolet eSIM

Avoid expensive roaming charges and connect instantly in more than 190 countries without swapping SIM cards. Thomas Cook package holiday customers also receive 1GB of complimentary data to stay connected from touchdown.

2. Portable Power Bank

From digital boarding passes and hotel check-ins to maps and restaurant bookings, today’s holiday experience lives on your phone. With airlines increasingly encouraging digital travel documents, a compact power bank has become a travel essential. Social media is full of horror stories from travellers stranded with dead batteries at airports, making portable chargers one of the most recommended pre-holiday purchases this summer.

ANKER Power Banks
A reliable power bank capable of charging most smartphones multiple times – ideal for long travel days and digital boarding passes.

3. Reusable Water Bottle with Built-In Filter

As travellers become more budget-conscious and environmentally aware, refillable water bottles are surging in popularity. Many European airports and destinations now offer free refill stations, helping holidaymakers avoid spending £2-£5 per bottle while reducing plastic waste. Filtered bottles are especially popular among adventure travellers and city breakers looking to save money throughout their trip.

Brita Water Filter Bottles
A budget-friendly way to stay hydrated abroad while reducing single-use plastic and avoiding inflated tourist prices for bottled water.

4. Packing Cubes

Packing cubes have become a viral travel accessory across TikTok, with millions of views under organisation and travel-hack hashtags. They allow travellers to fit more into cabin bags, stay organised, and potentially avoid checked luggage fees, which is an increasingly important consideration as airlines continue to tighten baggage allowances and charge for extras.

BAGSMART Compression Packing Cubes
The TikTok-famous organisation hack helping travellers maximise cabin baggage allowances and avoid checked luggage fees.

5. Airport Lounge Access Pass

With ongoing conversations around airport delays, overcrowding and peak-season travel stress, lounge access is increasingly being viewed as an affordable luxury rather than an extravagance. Many travellers are opting for one-off lounge passes or membership schemes that provide complimentary food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a quieter space to wait, often for less than the cost of buying airport meals and refreshments separately.

Priority Pass
Offers access to airport lounges worldwide, helping travellers escape crowded terminals and often save on food and drink costs.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.