Who doesn’t love going on vacation? Whether it’s a girls weekend or a month-long family trip to a cabin in the mountains, there’s something about getting away that’s just good for us!
However…many people get stressed out by the packing process…deciding what to bring, over-packing, under-packing, and then dealing with unpacking it all! It’s enough to make you want to just stay home!
To make sure you can go away without all that aggravation, here are some of my favorite packing tips:
- Make a clothing list! I bet you knew that was coming! Seriously, though, I generally avoid either over- or under-packing by scheduling out each day. Make a list of the days you’re away and what you expect to do each day (including the days you’ll be traveling). Then fill in the clothes you will need for those activities, including shoes, jewelry, and any other accessories you might need. Do the same for each person traveling with you.
- Depending on the ages and disposition of your children, you can get them involved. Obviously, you’re probably going to want to look over their lists to make sure they haven’t forgotten anything and that they have a realistic view of what they’ll need where you’re going. When I was a kid, I always thought I’d be going to many more fancy places than I ever did – I have no idea why, but I was always convinced a dinner party would pop up in the middle of a camping trip! 🙂
- It’s easiest if you can wear the same colors for your whole trip, if for no other reason than to cut down on the number of shoes you need. That being said, I brought four pairs of shoes on a five-day trip earlier this year, so do as I say, not as I do (there were extenuating circumstances on that trip, but I still could have gotten away with three pairs).
- Before you decide on the clothes, check the weather where you’re going. I know way too many people who go away with the contents of their entire closet “just in case” – they toss everything from sweaters to tank tops in their suitcase, which just leads to bringing back lots of extra unworn clothes! I’ve also learned that the hard way – I once planned a trip to Florida in March and didn’t check the weather – there was a cold snap and I ended up buying several sweaters!
- Don’t forget pajamas and extra underwear/socks for everyone. One extra pair of underwear and socks can save you a lot of aggravation!
- I like to pack a garbage bag to stash dirty clothes. It keeps them all in one place and holds more than the little bags you sometimes find in hotels. Depending on the size of your family and the length of your trip, you should probably pack more than one. They’re garbage bags – when you get home, you can use them for trash!
This sounds like a lot to remember, but bear in mind, a lot of it doesn’t change, so if you save one packing list to your computer, you can just update the activities and clothes and remove the things that don’t apply, so it gets easier the next time you go away.
Tomorrow, we’ll move on from clothes to all those other things you need to remember to bring!