Vacation must-haves:
Sunscreen? Check. Favorite playlist? Of course. Passport, shorts, good vibes – all set. But what about the little things you won’t find on every travel blog – the ones that make all the difference when it gets hot, your circulation goes off track, or the mosquito party starts?
Vacation must-haves are more than just sunglasses and bikinis. Most importantly, they are small helpers with a big impact. Practical, compact, and cleverly designed – perfect for when you’re on the go and want to treat yourself well.
At medisana, we’ll help you pack and show you some travel essentials that bring you comfort, relaxation, and peace of mind. Whether you’re heading to the mountains, the sea, or a city trip – your vacation, your must-haves.
Behind the scenes of your trip – what vacation must-haves actually cushion
Vacations are great – no doubt. But for your body, getting there often means: mini-stress. Little movement, less sleep, different mealtimes, climate changes, and constant stimulation from morning to night. Eventually, you notice: it doesn’t really feel all that relaxing.
More changes than you think happen during travel – especially to your circulation, muscles, and skin reactions. Typical physical responses while traveling include:
- ✈️ Long sitting in a plane, car, or train impairs circulation, which can cause tension, heavy legs, or even circulatory problems.
- 🌡️ High temperatures push your body into cooling mode – blood pressure fluctuations, fatigue, or slight dizziness are common.
- 🦟 Skin reactions from insect bites are more frequent in warmer regions – and can quickly become uncomfortable.
- 🏔️ High altitudes or physical activities challenge your heart and lungs – especially if you’re sensitive to low oxygen or exertion.
If you know your body, you can support it on the road – with minimal effort. Smart, well-thought-out travel must-haves give you moments of recovery, health monitoring, and relief – whenever you need them.
Let’s take a closer look at these tools.
Hour-long journey, tense neck, no breaks?
You know the feeling: You haven’t set foot on the vacation floor yet – and yet your neck feels like you’ve been sleeping sitting down – you probably have. Especially on long journeys with little movement, the muscles quickly make themselves known – stiff, hardened, uncomfortable.
The NM 870 neck pillow is your mini reset for on the go: handy, soft and immediately ready for use – whether on the plane, on the train, on the passenger seat or in the evening in a slightly too hard hotel bed. It’s even more comfortable on the camping mat. The gentle vibration massage specifically relaxes the neck and shoulder muscles and ensures that you get a bit of a business class vibe even with an economy feeling.
Compact, cordless, cozy – your mobile must-have against neck pain for every vacation and every overnight stay.
Heat, altitude, circulation off track?
You arrive in the south, get off the plane – and suddenly you feel light-headed. Or you feel like your heart is beating louder than usual after a mountain hike. Especially on vacation, extensive swimming, unaccustomed altitude or sport in the heat can really get your circulation going. At best, you won’t even notice it – at worst, you’ll just want to keep an eye on it.
This is where a quick self-check with the BW 345 wrist blood pressure monitor can help: super-compact, quick to use and shows you at a glance how your body is currently ticking: Blood pressure, pulse and even irregular heartbeats – all clearly shown on the display. Ideal for anyone who wants to be on the safe side when out and about. And particularly practical for you if you measure regularly anyway – with this vacation must-have, you can stay reliably in your routine even when you’re away from home.
Active on the go? How to keep an eye on your pulse and breathing
High-altitude hikes, summit adventures or apnoea dives in crystal-clear water – on vacation, the body quickly comes under unusual strain. From around 2,000 meters, the oxygen content in the air drops noticeably – the body reacts with a faster pulse, increased breathing rate, blood pressure fluctuations or dizziness. It also makes sense to measure and keep an eye on your vital signs in the event of heat, endurance exercise or known pre-existing conditions such as asthma or cardiovascular problems.
This is exactly what the PM 180 pulse oximeter is made for: it measures your oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and your pulse in just a few seconds – easily using a finger sensor. Ideal for active holidaymakers, athletes, older people or simply anyone who likes to make sure they’re safe before things get strenuous. Small, light, quick to stow away – and for us, clearly one of the absolute vacation must-haves if you like to pack body awareness and adventure in the same suitcase.
Insect bites on vacation? Declare war on itching
Bites happen quickly – mosquitoes, horseflies or small tropical visitors don’t stop at any vacation destination. As soon as it happens, the skin reacts with redness and swelling. And at the latest when it itches, the reflex to scratch becomes almost irresistible – with the risk of inflammation or scratched areas. This can be particularly unpleasant for children or sensitive skin.
The IB 100 insect bite healer is a vacation must-have that provides you with quick relief – without any chemicals. Thanks to localized heat (approx. 50 °C) directly on the sting site, the release of histamine can be slowed down and the itching noticeably reduced. Swelling also goes down faster. Depending on the program, 3 or 6 seconds are sufficient – and the unpleasant reflex to scratch is reliably defused.
Incidentally, the IB 100 is suitable for the whole family – and is also available from medisana in a practical double pack. For at home, on the go, in your suitcase or on your bedside table – so you are fully prepared.
Health when traveling – these small essentials are among your vacation must-haves
In addition to the smart tools from medisana, there are a few basic travel must-haves that should not be missing in any suitcase – especially if you value your well-being. They take up hardly any space, but bring noticeably more safety and comfort when traveling. And that’s exactly why they are part of the basic equipment for every vacation:
| Must-have on vacation | Why is it useful? | Did you know …? |
| Sunscreen (SPF 30+) | Prevents sunburn, protects the skin barrier and prevents light-induced skin ageing. | … that a single sunburn in childhood can double the risk of skin cancer in adulthood? |
| Digital clinical thermometer | Detects temperature changes at an early stage – e.g. in the event of sunstroke, infections or after exposure to cold air conditioning. | … that air conditioning often triggers infections because it dries out the mucous membranes? |
| Headgear & sunglasses | Protects against overheating, circulatory problems and UV-induced eye irritation. | … that UV radiation also penetrates through clouds and can “blister” the cornea like a sunburn? |
| Electrolyte supplements | Supports the fluid and mineral balance – especially in the case of heavy sweating or gastrointestinal complaints caused by unfamiliar food. | … that even a 2% loss of fluid can reduce your ability to react by over 20%? |
| Disinfectant gel or hygiene wipes | Protects against germs on the go – e.g. when eating on the beach, after taking the bus or in public toilets. | … that up to 10 times more germs can be found on hotel remote controls than in public toilets? |
Extra tip for list fans: write your own little packing checklist with your personal vacation must-haves – saves nerves, time and the uneasy feeling of having forgotten something important.
Sunscreen, flip-flops – and your travel essentials
Of course, the joy of vacation, relaxation and spontaneity should be at the top of your packing list. But a little cleverness in your luggage never hurts – especially if you want to charmingly outsmart heatwaves, insect bites and neck tension.
So pack smart, feel prepared – and treat yourself to the good feeling of having an answer to everything with your vacation must-haves: They’ll calm you down when things get stressful. Help you when you’re in a pinch. And give you exactly what you often miss out on when you’re on the road – real me-time.
