from the GO PAC team

The Journal.

UK travel tips, packing guides and destination inspiration

Where to go. What to do. What to pack. Honest recommendations from real travellers, including yours.

Honest, practical advice grounded in actual experience, not affiliate fluff. We publish packing guides, gear reviews and destination write-ups from real travellers who actually go.

Person carefully packing a carry-on suitcase for a two-week trip
Packing Tips

How to Pack a Carry-On for a Two-Week Holiday (Without Checking a Bag)

5 May 2026 · 8 min read

The single most complained-about part of modern travel is the bag-drop queue. We asked 12 seasoned travellers what's actually in their carry-on, and built a foolproof system that means you never check a bag again.

Read the guide →
Hiker with travel backpack walking through a sunlit forest path Kit Reviews

Osprey Farpoint 40 Review: Tested Across 6 Trips

11 May 2026 · 8 min

An honest UK review after three years of actual travel. What works, what doesn't, and who the Farpoint 40 is actually for.

Read more →
Laptop open on a hotel desk with city view, traveller working remotely Travel Tech

Best VPN for Travel in 2026 (and Why You Actually Need One)

11 May 2026 · 9 min

A practical guide to why a VPN matters abroad and which one we use after testing on hotel WiFi, airport networks, and harder destinations.

Read more →
Traveller with a small cabin bag at an airport terminal Luggage

Best Budget Cabin Bags UK 2026 — All Under £70, All Airline-Approved

15 May 2026 · 7 min

IT Luggage, Cabin Max, Aerolite and more — the best affordable cabin bags for Ryanair and easyJet in 2026. None over £70.

Read more →
Smartphone displaying mobile data signal abroad with city skyline Travel Tech

How to Get Internet Abroad Without Roaming Charges (eSIM Guide 2026)

11 May 2026 · 6 min

A no-fluff UK guide to eSIMs in 2026. What they are, why they replace roaming, which app to use, and the gotchas nobody mentions.

Read more →
Single packed carry-on backpack and travel essentials on a wooden floor Kit Reviews

The Ultimate One-Bag Travel Kit for 2026 (10 Items, One Carry-On)

11 May 2026 · 7 min

Ten items that turn a regular carry-on into a complete one-bag setup. Tested, opinionated, chosen for people who refuse to check a bag.

Read more →
Woman organising travel accessories before a trip Kit Reviews

The 10 Best Travel Accessories of 2026 (Tested & Honest)

28 Apr 2026 · 6 min

We tested everything so you don't have to. From inflatable footrests to memory foam pillows, here's what actually earned its place in our bags.

Read more →
Smiling mother and daughter at airport with a suitcase, ready for a family holiday Family Travel

The Ultimate Family Holiday Packing Guide: What You Always Forget

14 Apr 2026 · 7 min

Kids have a talent for needing exactly the thing you left at home. Here's the definitive packing checklist, built with parents, for parents.

Read more →
Grayscale view of an airplane window and seat, context for long-haul flight sleep tips Packing Tips

How to Actually Sleep on a Long-Haul Flight: 9 Tricks That Work

2 Apr 2026 · 5 min

Crossing time zones without sleeping is miserable. A flight attendant with 11 years of long-haul routes tells us what the crew actually does to sleep on shifts.

Read more →
Railway tracks stretching into the distance, symbolising European rail travel Destinations

Packing for a Europe by Train Trip: Everything That Fits in One Bag

18 Mar 2026 · 6 min

Five countries, twelve days, one carry-on. We took the Interrail route from London to Istanbul and documented every item we were glad we packed, and every one we weren't.

Read more →
Deckchairs and colourful beach umbrellas on a sandy shore Destinations

The Perfect Beach Holiday Kit: What to Pack and What to Leave at Home

5 Mar 2026 · 5 min

Sun cream and a towel, that's the advice your mum gives. Here's everything else that makes a beach day genuinely good, from waterproof phone cases to towel clips that actually grip.

Read more →
Woman with backpack exploring a mountain trail, capturing solo female travel Solo Travel

Solo Female Travel Essentials: What 8 Women Who Travel Alone Swear By

20 Feb 2026 · 7 min

We asked eight women who travel solo regularly what's non-negotiable in their bag. The answers were surprisingly practical.

Read more →
Man packing electronics and cables into a suitcase before an international trip Kit Reviews

Universal Travel Adapter Guide: Do You Really Need One?

10 Feb 2026 · 4 min

The short answer: yes. The long answer involves 150 countries, four socket types, and the specific kind of hotel-room panic that only happens at 1am when your phone's on 3%.

Read more →
Man organising clothes into a suitcase, testing whether packing cubes make a difference Kit Reviews

Are Packing Cubes Actually Worth It? We Used Them for 3 Months to Find Out

28 Jan 2026 · 5 min

Every travel blogger says yes. We decided to test that properly, with and without packing cubes, and the results were more interesting than we expected.

Read more →
Budapest city lights at night, the Chain Bridge illuminated over the Danube Destinations

Budapest Travel Guide: What to See, Do, Eat and Pack

21 May 2024 · 6 min

Ruin bars, thermal baths, the best sunset in Central Europe, and a packing list that actually suits the city. The GO PAC team's Budapest guide.

Read more →
Prague Old Town with Gothic spires and red rooftops at golden hour Destinations

Prague: A Thousand Spires, Very Cheap Beer, and What to Actually Pack

30 Apr 2024 · 6 min

Gothic castles, a restaurant where trains bring your food, a beer spa (yes, really), and the gold dog on Charles Bridge. The GO PAC Prague guide.

Read more →
✈️

No articles match that search.

Try a different keyword or clear the filter to see everything.