So…yesterday we talked about what clothes to bring on a trip. What about all the other things you need? Here are some of my tips for bringing everything you might need (and nothing you don’t) on your next trip.
- Think about the things you absolutely have to bring on this trip. Are you bringing hostess gifts? Gifts or cards for a wedding? Be sure to put them on the list.
- If I’m going away for less than a week and especially if I’m flying, I usually bring trial size shampoo, body wash, etc. The whole secret to not wasting money on those adorable trial size products is to only buy ones you’ll use – when you get back, you can just finish them up. Unless you’re a frequent traveler, in which case you probably don’t need to read this, don’t put them aside for the next trip – they take up space in your house and will be yucky by the next time you need them. There are also the 3 ounce travel bottles you can buy and just fill with your regular products (be sure to label them).
- No matter where or how you’re going, put your toiletries in zip-top bags! You don’t want to take a chance on something opening up or exploding in transit so you end up having to (a) find a laundromat and (b) replace all your products!
- If you’re visiting people with pets or going somewhere like a wedding (or funeral) where you’re going to want to look your best, a small lint brush is a good idea. Remember, it’s not going to go bad, so you can always use it when you get home too.
- If you’re staying in a hotel, check to see if they have a hairdryer (most do) and iron (at least in the US, most do, and if you’re not an ironing person, of course you don’t need to worry about that). No sense lugging a hairdryer or travel iron around when you don’t need it!
- If you take prescription drugs, be sure to put them on the list and bring them – in their original packaging – in your carry-on. You don’t want to be stopped by the TSA or the local PD with random pills in a baggie, and you certainly don’t want to lose them.
- If there are any non-prescription drugs or vitamins you take daily, be sure to put them on the list. I usually bring a few trial-size medications with me wherever I go. I realize if you’re going to New York City, there are 24-hour drugstores all over, but do you want to go find one if you have a splitting headache at midnight? And maybe you’re staying with friends or family, but what if they don’t have the only thing that relieves your heartburn? For the two of us, I usually bring a pain reliever, heartburn medication, something for diarrhea, and an allergy medication, as well as a very small first aid kit with some band-aids. If you wear glasses, one of those tiny glasses repair kits is a good idea too. Obviously, your family may have different needs, but I find those cover the most likely issues and the ones that are really going to interfere with having fun on my trip. If you’re traveling abroad or somewhere truly remote, you may want to bring more.
- If you (and/or your daughter(s)) get your period, bring your feminine products of choice (you can often find these in trial size packages too), especially if you’re going out of the country. Even if you’re usually regular, travel can throw your schedule off, and you don’t want to have to run “where are the tampons” through Google Translate in your time of need!
- Don’t forget chargers, and if more than one of you uses the same type of charger, pack at least one more than you think you’ll need! If you want to see everyone’s battery run out simultaneously, just pack one charger for three iPhones and two iPads!
- If you’re staying at a rental house, you’ll need to think about food. Again, go day by day and make a list (this is very similar to menu planning for when people are coming to visit) – who’s staying, who’s visiting for a day or a meal, what meals have you promised to make, and where are you staying – is there a regular grocery store nearby or are you at a beach with one tiny, overpriced store with no selection (can we tell I’ve done that?) No matter where you’re staying, if you’re driving there, buying your food in advance is usually going to be cheaper than shopping in a vacation destination.
- Also, if you’re renting a house, be sure to find out what’s included as far as linens and cookware and plan accordingly. It would be awful to promise 10 people pancakes, remember to bring the ingredients and syrup, and find out you have one small frying pan and no griddle!
- Speaking of food, if you’re driving, you can save time, money (and possibly your waistline and digestion) by bringing some snacks for the car. It’s just the two of us, so we don’t need a lot, but a small cooler with some drinks and fruit and maybe some granola bars or nuts can do a lot to avoid getting hangry or having to stop for some rest stop food that costs a ton and usually doesn’t taste that good! Now, there are some places we love to stop at, and if that’s true for you, I’m not saying to avoid the annual trip to the Cracker Barrel off the interstate in favor of celery and water from your handy cooler, but if you’re stuck in traffic an hour away from that Cracker Barrel, you’ll be happy to have something to snack on! If you’re flying, obviously you can’t bring beverages, but especially for kids, having something to eat that you know they like can make a big difference.
- Also, if you’re driving and staying at a hotel, bring your own bottled water. This may sound super-cheap, but I like a bottle of water and I don’t like paying hotel prices for a bottle of water. Pop a few of your own in the in-room fridge and you’re good to go!
Once you’ve gotten your clothes list and your “things” list in order, print it out and check each item off as you put it in the suitcase. Don’t check things off until you’ve actually put them in the bag – you may think that of course you’ll remember your hairbrush only to show up at your destination without it!
Tomorrow we’ll discuss unpacking…always a fun project, but there are a few tips to make it easier!
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