The thought of vacation makes us all cheery, but getting prepared with the "to-dos" prior to leaving can leave us with major anxiety and regardless of all the lists you make I guarantee you once you're out your driveway you will still have that "I think I forgot something" feeling...here's some tips and tricks to making both pre and post vacation a breeze!
Packing can be both fun and aggravating at the same time. You're excited because the trip has now come closer and you get to prepare your outfits, but on the other hand, you have to prepare your outfits...it's really a win/lose situation. First it depends on your location. Since we're going to somewhere warm and sunny my tips will be based accordingly, but if you're going somewhere chilly just do these steps in reverse. You'll read more below on how I pack, but the number one thing we do when travelling for longer then a weekend is put our folded, clean clothes in a laundry basket. When we arrive in our hotel we sort the clothes away in the drawers and stash the basket in the corner, voila...you have your dirty clothes hamper. This way when it's time to leave, you throw that dirty clothes basket in the back of your car and when you get home you don't have tons of sorting to do throughout your suitcase. This is such a breeze when your vacation has come to an end.
This time of year with Fall approaching, the weather can change in an instant. Whether it be rain and muggy one second and then chilly and dry the next. When travelling you have to be prepared depending on the time you travel. If you're travelling in summer then obviously no coats are needed, if you're travelling in winter you obviously don't need to pack shorts. Get my drift? With us travelling during the Fall transition we will pack mainly summer clothes (shorts, t-shirts) because it is Florida and still warm. However we will pack a light jacket because at night, when the sun goes down, it can sometimes get chilly. Nothing heavy, but just a nice light jacket or cardigan. Just remember to always look at the weather a week and then daily before you travel. The weather changes every day and you don't want to leave home without a jacket to have to go and buy one while on vacation.
Say it with me, lists are our friend. Without a list I would forget my head if it wasn't attached. That's just me. Even if you have the best memory in the world, I still suggest this step because you always have that possibility of forgetting something. This too depends on the type of vacation you are going on. If you're going to an all inclusive resort, you really only need a packing list. Arrive and enjoy. If you're going somewhere to sight see (New York, Paris) make sure to have a sight see list handy, whether it be in the Notes app on your phone or a hand written one. With the excitement of a huge "bucket list" trip you can often forget something special. My NY list is a solid page long, front and back! If ever I get the chance to travel to NYC I would hate to miss one thing off my list so I will make sure and bring it and tuck it in my pocket. The most obvious list is your packing and I make one by the day. With Disney and the Florida heat sweat is inevitable, so we will change daily before dinner, so I have a day list and night list. This makes it easier when I go to pack to know exactly which outfit to throw into the bag verses..."what am I going to wear?!" I also have a to-do list of things to do prior to leaving (dog sitter, cat sitter, make sure everything in the house is turned off, etc.) I also make a cleaning list prior to leaving. There's just something so nice about returning to a super clean house. I clean throughout the week, each day having a chore. You leave the items that get the dirtiest quick for the last few days (accumulating dust and obviously your floors). On Monday I'll clean the bathrooms. On Tuesday I will catch up on all laundry. The only laundry we will wear from Tuesday - Thursday until we leave on Friday will be work and school clothes which will not go with us to Disney. On Wednesday I dust the entire house, and on Thursday I will sweep, mop and finish packing.
It's so easy to take a 2 gallon Ziploc bag, write the day of your trip on it and tuck that outfit in. This also alleviates dirt and stains from getting on your clothes. Since our clothes aren't coordinated like Cadence we'll skip this step for us, but her Disney clothes are already Ziplocked and put away in the suitcase.
Make sure your gas tank is filled and you have your snacks ready to go. By the time your vacation has arrived it seems like every second takes longer than the last. You're so ready to leave that the thought of spending 15 minutes at a gas station filling up and getting snacks is aggravating. If you're like us you're ready to get on the road. Make sure you get your snacks and gas the night before, this way when y'all are ready to hit the road, you can!
These are the important things you don't think much of on a daily basis, however when you need them, you need them! Do not forget these. Think phone charger, camera, medicine, etc. No one wants to get sick, ever, but especially not on vacation. However vacation destinations are some of the germiest places in the world. Make sure you're prepared if this happens. Pack all the medicine you would need as if you were at home and got ill.
Packing
Packing can be both fun and aggravating at the same time. You're excited because the trip has now come closer and you get to prepare your outfits, but on the other hand, you have to prepare your outfits...it's really a win/lose situation. First it depends on your location. Since we're going to somewhere warm and sunny my tips will be based accordingly, but if you're going somewhere chilly just do these steps in reverse. You'll read more below on how I pack, but the number one thing we do when travelling for longer then a weekend is put our folded, clean clothes in a laundry basket. When we arrive in our hotel we sort the clothes away in the drawers and stash the basket in the corner, voila...you have your dirty clothes hamper. This way when it's time to leave, you throw that dirty clothes basket in the back of your car and when you get home you don't have tons of sorting to do throughout your suitcase. This is such a breeze when your vacation has come to an end.
Look at the weather!
Lists, lists and you guessed it, more lists!
Say it with me, lists are our friend. Without a list I would forget my head if it wasn't attached. That's just me. Even if you have the best memory in the world, I still suggest this step because you always have that possibility of forgetting something. This too depends on the type of vacation you are going on. If you're going to an all inclusive resort, you really only need a packing list. Arrive and enjoy. If you're going somewhere to sight see (New York, Paris) make sure to have a sight see list handy, whether it be in the Notes app on your phone or a hand written one. With the excitement of a huge "bucket list" trip you can often forget something special. My NY list is a solid page long, front and back! If ever I get the chance to travel to NYC I would hate to miss one thing off my list so I will make sure and bring it and tuck it in my pocket. The most obvious list is your packing and I make one by the day. With Disney and the Florida heat sweat is inevitable, so we will change daily before dinner, so I have a day list and night list. This makes it easier when I go to pack to know exactly which outfit to throw into the bag verses..."what am I going to wear?!" I also have a to-do list of things to do prior to leaving (dog sitter, cat sitter, make sure everything in the house is turned off, etc.) I also make a cleaning list prior to leaving. There's just something so nice about returning to a super clean house. I clean throughout the week, each day having a chore. You leave the items that get the dirtiest quick for the last few days (accumulating dust and obviously your floors). On Monday I'll clean the bathrooms. On Tuesday I will catch up on all laundry. The only laundry we will wear from Tuesday - Thursday until we leave on Friday will be work and school clothes which will not go with us to Disney. On Wednesday I dust the entire house, and on Thursday I will sweep, mop and finish packing.
Ziploc Bags
It's so easy to take a 2 gallon Ziploc bag, write the day of your trip on it and tuck that outfit in. This also alleviates dirt and stains from getting on your clothes. Since our clothes aren't coordinated like Cadence we'll skip this step for us, but her Disney clothes are already Ziplocked and put away in the suitcase.
Stock Before You Leave
Make sure your gas tank is filled and you have your snacks ready to go. By the time your vacation has arrived it seems like every second takes longer than the last. You're so ready to leave that the thought of spending 15 minutes at a gas station filling up and getting snacks is aggravating. If you're like us you're ready to get on the road. Make sure you get your snacks and gas the night before, this way when y'all are ready to hit the road, you can!
Necessities
These are the important things you don't think much of on a daily basis, however when you need them, you need them! Do not forget these. Think phone charger, camera, medicine, etc. No one wants to get sick, ever, but especially not on vacation. However vacation destinations are some of the germiest places in the world. Make sure you're prepared if this happens. Pack all the medicine you would need as if you were at home and got ill.
Do you have any vacation prep tips?
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