Travel emergency kit: what to pack for trips across Europe

Why travel needs a different kit

A home emergency kit assumes you know the building, the neighbours and the nearest services. Travelling removes all of that, so a compact travel kit focuses on staying safe, informed and contactable in an unfamiliar place, whether you are delayed at an airport, stuck in traffic or affected by local severe weather.

What to pack

Keep this kit small enough for hand luggage or a car door pocket so you always have it with you.

• Printed copies of ID, travel insurance, bookings and any prescriptions.
• A basic first aid kit and enough personal medication for a few extra days.
• A power bank, charging cable and, for road trips, a car phone charger.
• A torch, a compact power adapter for the destination country and some local cash.
• A paper note of emergency contacts and the local emergency number.

Know the local emergency number

112 works as the emergency number across the whole European Union, alongside any national number, and call handlers can usually assist in English. Save it before you travel rather than searching for it under stress, and check whether your destination has region-specific advice, such as mountain rescue or coastguard numbers.

Plan for delays and separation

Agree a simple plan with anyone travelling with you: where to meet if you are separated, who carries which documents and how you will contact each other if a phone is lost or out of battery. For road trips, add a basic car emergency kit for breakdowns and check the destination country's specific road-safety requirements before you leave.