Pack Like a Pro: 3 Ways to Think Ahead and Prep for Vacation

Picture this: You are about to go away on your dream vacation. You have been planning the perfect weekend getaway for months, and the day is almost here! You are so excited, it’s all that you’ve been thinking about the entire week. It’s so close you can practically see the sandy white beaches – or the vibrant city, or the snow-capped mountains.

The only problem?

You haven’t packed.

Your suitcase is lying wide open on your bedroom floor, your clothes and toiletries strewn across the carpet. It’s the night before you leave, and nothing is packed. You struggle to sort through the mess. What do you bring? What should you leave behind? When do you start panicking? You’re frantic. Questions race through your mind as you pack what you can, throwing anything and everything into your luggage.

Picking a vacation spot is the easy part. Packing for a vacation is another story. It can be tricky to plan out what to wear and what to bring for your vacation. How do you pack enough without packing too much? What if you forget something? What if there’s not enough room for your clothes? Packing may be overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to alleviate stress and enjoy your vacation. Here are three ways to pack for your trip!

1) Make a list… and check it twice!

Making a list is a great way to see everything you will need for your vacation. Think about all the necessities that you use on a daily basis: a stick of deodorant, a hairbrush, a razor, or any other toiletries and items that you use throughout your day. Walk yourself through your day and ask yourself which items you use during your morning and nighttime routines. Once you review all of these items, write them down to form a packing list. Whether it is your toothbrush, your facial soap, or your makeup, make sure all those toiletries are accounted for.

It is equally important to make a list of any items that help you survive, items that are crucial to get you through your day. Think about any medications and prescriptions you may use. Do you have pills that you have to take each day? If so, do you have enough to get you through your trip? Do you have a bottle, a pill box, or another safe place to put your medication in? Do you wear glasses or contacts? Do you have a case for your glasses? Do you have enough contact lenses for your trip? Is there a place in your luggage to store them correctly?

As tedious as it may be, these questions can make all the difference between a relaxing vacation and a total nightmare. Asking yourself questions, as well as accounting for each item, will help you develop a stronger, more complete packing list, and thereby, will create a more enjoyable, stress-free vacation. Making a packing list will leave you feeling more prepared when the day to leave for vacation rolls around.

2) Plan Out Outfits

It can be tempting to throw all your favorite clothes into a suitcase and call it a day. But realistically, you’re not going to wear your whole wardrobe on vacation. Not to mention that carrying your whole wardrobe in your luggage requires some serious heavy lifting. Planning out your outfits can combat this issue. Think about how many days you’ll be away – a day, a weekend, a week – and plan accordingly. Start with smaller clothes like socks and underwear and pack a pair of each for each day that you’re on vacation. From there, think about clothes, like sundresses, shorts, shirts, and other important articles of clothing.

The clothes you pack vary depending on where you are vacationing. If you are going to the beach, you’ll want to pack beach clothes, including bathing suits, sundresses, and shorts. If you are going to a mountain or a national park, pack shorts, tee-shirts, and other, more athletic clothing. Additionally, take a moment to think about not only where you’re going but also, what you’ll be doing every day. Will you be swimming? Hiking? Skiing? Are you going out to a nice dinner? Reflect on your vacation itinerary and pack your clothes according to what you’ll be doing.

It’s also important to think about which and how many shoes you should bring on vacation. Again, just like your clothes, the shoes that you pack vary depending on where you’re going. The beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks call for sandals and flip flops. Open toed shoes are a go! Hiking in Acadia National Park requires running sneakers or special hiking shoes. Leave the sandals and flip flops behind. Exploring cities like Rome require closed toed, comfortable shoes to avoid blisters and bruises. Be mindful of how many shoes you pack. While it’s important to pack one outfit per day, that’s not the case for shoes. Shoes are heavy, can weigh down your luggage, and unlike clothes, can be worn on a daily basis without having to wash them. Aim for 1-2 pairs of shoes. This will keep your luggage light and leave room for other important items.

Outfit planning can go along away in helping you think ahead and prepare yourself for your getaway.

3) Pack in Advance!

Making lists and planning your outfits are strategic, but when it comes down to it, what matters is that you are packed and ready for your vacation. Don’t wait until the night before to pack everything. If you want to make sure that all of your clothes, shoes, and toiletries fit into your luggage, pack ahead of time. Think about how you want to organize your belongings. Is there a pocket of your suitcase or backpack to pack your shoes? How about a pocket for your toiletries? How should you pack your clothes? Would it be better to roll them? Fold them? Both? These questions are important to think about. We can’t always predict how our belongings will fit and whether everything will fit into a single piece of luggage. What you can do is put your ideas to the test and to experiment with packing your clothes, so that way, you’re not wondering about how everything will fit. You know how everything will fit.

Packing for a vacation may be annoying, but it’s important.

If you want to have a truly relaxing vacation, don’t spend the night before frantically hovering over your suitcase. By following the steps above, you will be pushed to think ahead so that way, you can have the best vacation possible.