Before you arrive: toiletries, UK vs Walmart
Should you fill your case with sun cream and shower gel, or buy it all when you land? We priced common holiday toiletries at Tesco and Superdrug and at Walmart.com, then converted the dollars into pounds. Some things are cheaper in Orlando and some aren't.
Quick version
- Buy on arrival: sun cream (yours and the kids'), after-sun, insect repellent and toothpaste. They're the same price or cheaper at Walmart, there's no Florida sales tax on them, and your case is lighter.
- Bring from the UK: shower gel, plasters and a small pack of paracetamol or ibuprofen. They're cheap at home and light to pack.
- Toss-up: shampoo, conditioner and deodorant cost about the same in both places. Pack them if you have the room.
- Hand luggage only? Liquid limits make full-size bottles a pain. Buying full sizes at Walmart solves that.
- Always pack any medicine you rely on, and the first day's sun cream in a 100ml bottle.
UK vs Walmart: what things cost (checked 20 Oct 2026)
UK prices are Tesco's online prices (not Clubcard deals) and Superdrug's. Walmart prices are walmart.com online prices "sold and shipped by Walmart.com". In-store prices at an Orlando Walmart can be slightly different. We've converted dollars at $1 = £0.749 (so £1 ≈ $1.33), the European Central Bank reference rate for 20 Oct 2026 ECB rate via Frankfurter. Your card's rate will be a little different. Walmart prices don't include Florida sales tax (see below).
| Item | UK price (shop) | Walmart price | Cheaper where? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun cream, own brand (SPF 30 or 50 lotion) | Tesco Soleil Moisturising SPF50+ or SPF30, 200ml: £3.40 (£1.70 per 100ml) Tesco | Equate Sport SPF 50 or SPF 30, 8 fl oz (237ml): $4.88 (≈ £3.66, £1.55 per 100ml). No sales tax. Walmart SPF 50 Walmart SPF 30 | About the same. Walmart is a touch cheaper per ml, and you don't have to pack it. |
| Sun cream, big brand (SPF 50 lotion) | NIVEA SUN Protect & Moisture SPF50+, 200ml: £7.70 (£3.85 per 100ml) Tesco | Banana Boat Sport SPF 50, 8 fl oz (237ml): $8.97 (≈ £6.72, £2.84 per 100ml). No sales tax. Walmart | Walmart, by about a quarter per ml. |
| Kids' sun cream (SPF 50 lotion) | Tesco Soleil Kids SPF50+, 200ml: £4.50. NIVEA SUN Kids Protect & Care SPF50+, 200ml: £7.70 Tesco Soleil Tesco NIVEA | Equate Kids SPF 50, 8 fl oz (237ml): $4.88 (≈ £3.66). No sales tax. Walmart | Walmart: a bigger bottle for less. |
| After-sun / aloe | Tesco Soleil After Sun Lotion Aloe Vera, 200ml: £3.00 (£1.50 per 100ml) Tesco | Equate After Sun Soothing Gel with Aloe, 20 oz (about 590ml): $4.72 (≈ £3.54, £0.60 per 100ml) Walmart | Walmart, easily. Nearly three times the gel for a few pence more. |
| Insect repellent (DEET) | Jungle Formula insect repellent spray with DEET (50% DEET), 125ml: £9.15 Superdrug | OFF! Deep Woods (25% DEET), two 6 oz cans: $12.68 (≈ £9.50, so about £4.75 a can). No sales tax. Walmart | Walmart per can. They're different strengths, so read the label for how long each one lasts. |
| Shampoo | Head & Shoulders Classic Clean, 400ml: £5.00 (£1.25 per 100ml). The 750ml is £5.95 Tesco | Head & Shoulders Classic Clean, 8.45 fl oz (250ml): $3.97 (≈ £2.97, or £3.17 with 6.5% tax: £1.27 per 100ml) Walmart | About the same. The big UK bottle is cheapest, but it's heavy. |
| Conditioner | Pantene Pro-V Active Nutri-Plex, 350ml: £6.50. The 500ml Smooth & Sleek is £4.45 Tesco | Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal, 9 fl oz (266ml): $5.12 (≈ £3.84, or £4.09 with tax) Walmart | Depends on the bottle. The 500ml UK bottle wins per ml. |
| Shower gel / body wash | Dove Nourishing Body Wash, 720ml: £3.60 (£0.50 per 100ml). The 450ml is £3.75 Tesco | Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash, 20 oz (about 590ml): $8.97 (≈ £6.72, or £7.16 with tax) Walmart | UK, by a mile. If you need body wash and have the room, bring it. |
| Toothpaste | Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection, 125ml: £2.50 Tesco | Colgate Cavity Protection, 6 oz tube (170g): $1.97 (≈ £1.48). No sales tax. A 2.5 oz travel tube is $1.00 Walmart Walmart travel size | Walmart. US tubes are sold by weight, not ml, but it's still cheaper. |
| Deodorant (antiperspirant stick) | Sure Men Nonstop Protection 72h stick, 50ml: £3.50 Tesco | Degree Men Original Protection stick, 2.7 oz: $3.97 (≈ £2.97, or £3.17 with tax) Walmart | About the same. Degree is the US name for Sure. US shelves are mostly sticks, so bring your spray if you prefer one. |
| Travel-size shampoo (100ml or under) | Pantene Repair & Protect shampoo, 90ml: £2.15 Tesco | Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal shampoo, 3.38 fl oz (100ml): $2.24 (≈ £1.68, or £1.79 with tax) Walmart | About the same. Only worth buying if you're flying hand luggage only. |
| Plasters (US: "bandages" or "Band-Aids") | Tesco Health Light Fabric Assorted Plasters, 40: £1.40 (3.5p each) Tesco | Equate Flexible Fabric Bandages, 30: $2.12 (≈ £1.59, about 5.3p each). No sales tax. Walmart | UK. They're light, so pop a pack in your bag. |
| Paracetamol (US: "acetaminophen", sold as Tylenol) | Tesco Health Paracetamol 500mg, 16 tablets: £0.35 Tesco | Equate Extra Strength Acetaminophen 500mg, 100 caplets: $1.98 (≈ £1.48). No sales tax. Walmart | UK for a small pack. Walmart is cheaper per tablet, but you probably don't need 100. |
| Ibuprofen (US brands: Advil, Motrin) | Tesco Health Ibuprofen 200mg, 16 tablets: £0.35 Tesco | Equate Ibuprofen 200mg, 100 tablets: $2.08 (≈ £1.56). No sales tax. Walmart | UK for a small pack. It's the same 200mg strength. |
Brands and bottle sizes don't match exactly, so we've given prices per 100ml where that helps. US bottles are labelled in fluid ounces (1 fl oz is about 30ml). Prices change often, so treat these as a guide.
Florida sales tax: some toiletries are tax-free
US shelf prices don't include sales tax, which is added at the till. In Orange County (Orlando, I-Drive and the Disney area) it's 6.5%: Florida's 6% plus Orange County's 0.5% surtax Florida DOR surtax rates. Some holiday essentials are tax-free, though. Florida's official list of untaxed items includes sunscreen, insect repellent, sunburn treatments, plasters, pain relievers and toothpaste. Shampoo, deodorant and soap are taxed Florida DOR list DR-46NT.
Skint tip: the things you need most in Florida (sun cream, after-sun and bug spray) are the ones with no sales tax. Even more reason to buy them there.
The 100ml hand luggage rule (it depends on the airport)
- Leaving the UK: GOV.UK says the liquid rules now depend on the airport. At most airports you still can't take containers bigger than 100ml through security, but some airports allow containers up to 2 litres. Check the airport you're flying from before you pack GOV.UK.
- What counts as a liquid: creams, lotions, sprays, gels and toothpaste all count GOV.UK. So sun cream and after-sun count too.
- Flying home from Orlando: US security (TSA) limits hand luggage liquids to 3.4oz (100ml) per container in one quart-sized bag. Anything bigger goes in your hold bag TSA. Finish the big bottles before you go, or pack them in the hold.
- Liquid medicines are exempt. UK airports allow up to 2 litres for essential medical purposes GOV.UK, and TSA exempts medications TSA.
Skint tip: full-size bottles of sun cream and after-sun are heavy. If your baggage allowance is tight, buying them at Walmart on day one leaves more space and weight for shopping to bring home.
US sun cream labels look different
UK sun creams show an SPF number and a UVA star rating (or "UVA" in a circle). The NHS says to choose at least SPF 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection NHS. US bottles don't use stars. Instead, look for "Broad Spectrum", which the US Food and Drug Administration says means it helps protect against both UVA and UVB FDA. In practice, pick a Broad Spectrum SPF 30 or 50. The Equate and Banana Boat lotions in our table are both labelled Broad Spectrum.
There's no such thing as waterproof sun cream. US bottles labelled "water resistant" must say whether they last 40 or 80 minutes when you're swimming or sweating FDA. Reapply straight after swimming and towelling off, whatever the label says NHS.
Where to buy it in Orlando
- Walmart Supercenter, 8990 Turkey Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819 (store 4332). It's a short drive west of International Drive and open 6am to 11:59pm every day Walmart store page. It has a pharmacy, too.
- Order ahead for pickup. You can order on the Walmart app or website and collect at the store. We're checking the minimum order for free pickup and whether a UK card and address work in the app.
- Pharmacies near your hotel can be dearer. CVS and Walgreens are handy, but compare the price. On 20 Oct 2026, Walgreens.com had Banana Boat Sport Ultra SPF 50 at $19.99 for two 6 oz bottles ($1.67 per oz) Walgreens. Walmart had an 8 oz bottle for $8.97 ($1.12 per oz) Walmart.
- No car? See getting around without a car for rideshare and trolley tips. A grocery run on the way from the airport saves a trip.
Medicines: bring what you rely on
- Paracetamol is called acetaminophen in the US (Tylenol is the big brand). Walmart's own-brand Extra Strength is 500mg, the same as a UK tablet Walmart. Ibuprofen keeps its name and is sold as 200mg tablets (brands include Advil and Motrin) Walmart. Always follow the dose on the US pack, and ask the pharmacist if you're not sure, especially for children.
- Why US packs are so big: in UK shops, pain relief packs are capped at 16 tablets (up to 32 from a pharmacy) MHRA guidance. Walmart sells bottles of 100. A small UK pack in your bag is usually all a holiday needs.
- Prescriptions and anything you can't do without: bring enough for the whole trip plus a few spare days, in the original packaging, in your hand luggage. US brand names and pack sizes are different, so don't count on finding exactly what you use at home.
- Travel insurance with proper medical cover matters far more than the price of plasters. See our before you fly checklist.
Spotted a cheaper price, or a Walmart closer to I-Drive? Email us at [email protected].
Last checked: 20 Oct 2026