I think we can all agree, one of the only downsides to holidays is the packing.

Getting all the washing ready, making sure you haven’t forgotten something like your passport or socks, it’s a pain.

And living in the good old UK, packing for a sunshine trip can feel even more alien.

Fine, this summer was unusually bright and sunny but our usual rainy and grey skies mean we’re not always as well equipped as we could be for a week in the sunshine.

However, I have to admit I’m one of the ‘prepared’ packers. I start ‘gathering’ things together weeks before any trip (mainly because I’m so very excited).

I have lists galore with every possible thing I could need – blister plasters, check, painkillers, tick, enough T-shirts to sink a ship, check, so many swimsuits I’d need to change them at least twice a day, check.

So, when I set off for a week in the stunning town of Tropea in the Calabrian region of southern Italy I was confident there was nothing I’d forgotten – oh, how wrong I was.

This stunning region of Italy is largely undiscovered. It has miles of gorgeous coastline with turquoise water, golden and white sands and is dotted with historic, quaint and beautiful villages of towns.

One thing I didn’t expect is Calabria is also incredibly lush.

The landscape is filled with soft green fields, flowers in colours so vivid you almost can’t believe they’re real, olive groves, vineyards and huge shrubs, trees and bushes all reaching towards the golden sun.

In a busy week, packed with visits to towns like Pizzo, Reggio Calabria, Scilla and, obviously Tropea itself, I also ventured to a wine tasting at a vineyard and spent a dreamy afternoon wandering amongst the trees in an olive grove.

No trip to the southern coast of Italy would be complete with several dips into the azure blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea either.

And while I was fully stocked and ready with suncream – both factor 30 and 50, I’m a pale traveller – one absolutely vital thing I didn’t take was… insect repellent.

I grew up in Cumbria, home to hoards of midges, and was never really bothered by them but it seems that luck didn’t follow me to Italy.

Several, very itchy, insect bites later I did manage to get some spray from a very helpful pharmacist but my advice would be if you’re heading to Calabria (and I definitely recommend you do) take insect spray.