Vacations are a time to relax, renew and enjoy life, right? Try telling yourself that while you are madly packing the night before! I mean, who hasn’t run around at the last minute like a crazy person hoping you remember everything and still leaving the house the next day with the nagging suspicion that you forgot something important (and finding out all too soon that you did)!
No one wants to spend part of their precious vacation bouncing around from store to store replacing things they meant to bring with them. We can all recount experiences like that…perhaps it’s your favorite sandals for walking going to the beach, the only sunscreen that won’t irritate your skin, your sunglasses, or your evening clutch so you don’t have to carry your big black tote bag with you everywhere. Aggravating doesn’t even begin to describe it!
Each time this happens you vow that the next time you’ll make a packing list so you can check things off as you pack them thereby reducing the chance of leaving some important detail out. But, once you’re back from vacation the urgency is gone, and it doesn’t return until the next trip. Somehow the list never gets made.
If this sounds familiar, I can help. Years ago I made this packing list (because I’m a Virgo and mildly obsessive about things, and because I cannot stand feeling stressed the night before my vacation begins). And, I just used it on my trip to New York City. After the last time I posted this I got some very useful suggestions to add to it so here is the revised edition (and I welcome more!).
Use it as a guide and personalize it for the next time you travel. It will make your life easier, your packing more efficient, and your departure worry-free!
Have a great summer and happy vacationing!
MY PACKING LIST
Underwear
Shoes
Nightgown
Robe
Slippers
Socks/Stockings
Belts
Jewelry/Accessories
Handbags (evening, casual)
Wrap or Sweater
Hair Brush/Comb
Hair dryer
Haircare products
Toothbrush & floss
Deodorant
Nail Polish for touch ups
Makeup
Skincare
Perfume
Tampons & Pads
Vitamins & Prescriptions
Camera (for those who don’t have one in their phone)
Contact lenses and solution
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Hat
Bathing Suit
Gift (if staying with friends)
Dirty Laundry Bag
Exercise Clothing
Sneakers & Socks
Cell Phone Charger
Computer Nightlight (if staying in a dark hotel!)
Ear plugs (if staying in a noisy hotel!)
Airline/Train Tickets/Itinerary
Directions to where you’re going
Passport (remember to check expiration date!)
Mp3 player
Books to Read
Neck Pillow
Snacks for plane
Kids’ Stuff (not my area of expertise, so you’re on your own here)
THINGS TO DO BEFORE LEAVING
Lower Heat/AC
Unplug toaster oven and TV
Note to petsitter
Stop mail/newspaper if necessary
9 Responses
Great list, but… more people today probably have computers than toasters. It’s *really* important to shut down and unplug laptops (they can overheat and catch fire, sometimes without warning). Printers, too. We’ve also been advised to unplug chargers from outlets since they apparently have a life of their own, eat electricity even when not connected to their matching appliance, and can misbehave badly (occasionally starting fires). Same goes for power strips.
I bought a large, well-configured cosmetics travel bag that was large enough to hold a few pairs of underwear, socks, bras, tee shirt and other essentials. I keep it pre-packed an ready to go. It travels in my carry-on luggage *just in case*. I slip a small, notched hanger (the kind they give for free when you purchase underpants) in the side pocket so I can wash and dry any of those items. Worst case scenario, I could live off those supplies alone for at least a week.
I also use scarves as an “instant outfit” technique. They are practically weightless and pack flat, so I slip a couple in a plastic travel envelope. I also collect them when I travel. Picked up a fabulous shawl on the street in Madrid for about $4, a spectacular sheer metallic scarf in Istanbul for about $6, etc. Great memories, and a useful collectible.
That’s my rant for now! As you can guess, I love to travel, and I prefer to do it in style. Thanks, Ginger, for some great inspiration and support.
I would eliminate hairdryer…all hotels have them, as do most friends. Add: plastic baggie to cover the hotel remote. They are the most germ-infested item in a hotel room. Bon Voyage!
LOVE this article, not only do I love the list but I had a laugh too – my last trip, I took two contact boxes of the SAME prescription because I was running around like a nut the night before. Will absolutely use your list for next trip. Thank you.
Don’t forget the ziplock bags if your traveling by air.
Additional things from my list:
Small umbrella that will fit in my tote
Ziplock bags – used for airplace restrictions plus a gallon size in case I have something damp or dirty.
Small manicure set (at least a nail clipper and file)
Bandaids (for blisters and cuts)
Babywipes (tavel size pack – for less than pristine conditions)
Chargers (I invested in a universal type so I can charge phone, camera, etc)
Thank you, all! This is fabulous. I love ALL of your suggestions, Kim, Karen, Jerri & Hollis. I do keep the hair dryer on my list only because occasionally I go to a B&B where they don’t have hair dryers in the room and I vacillated on whether to add an umbrella so you answered my question. Before I begin to pack I customize my list for that particular trip so I can eliminate anything I don’t need to think about.
Ooooh, I hadn’t thought about TV remotes…yuck! I think I’ll add packets of alcohol or hand sanitizer to the list for sure. I love the suggestion about unplugging chargers. I never leave any of mine plugged in even when I’m home so I hadn’t thought of that one. And, scarves are a great addition. Thank you to all of you!
We haven’t done any “major” traveling. But we do travel to see family quite often. My husband is an engineer and over the years he has developed a habit of “things that must be done before leaving the house”. First and foremost – unplug things. We turn off and unplug – computers, stereos, televisions, radios, toasters… if there is a bad storm while you’re gone or a brown out of electricity – you won’t come home to dead electronics. We also turn off the water – at the very least the water to the washing machine and ice maker if you must leave it on for other reasons. (we knew a family once who had their entire first floor and finished basement ruined when the water tube to the icemaker on the refrigerator broke while they were on vacation!) I really need to make all these a checklist because even after years of doing this – he still worries when we leave the house – LOL.
I also picked up an app for my ipod called packing pro. I have not used it yet (just found it) but it basically has everything you might need – you pick and choose what to put on your list to take.
My last thing – if you buy those small deodorant stick things (the solid ones small enough to go through the checkpoint) that you use only for vacation. Check them before leaving if you don’t travel often – they dry out and then fall apart when you try to use them.
More fabulous suggestions, Teresa. Thank you! (And, yes a checklist for your husband will really help — it made all the difference for me.)
This is the only task which i don’t like “Packing”. It difficult to nchoose what we take or not. Thanks for this packing list, its really nhelp to choose.
This is the only task which i don’t like “Packing”. It difficult to
choose what we take or not. Thanks for this packing list, its really
help to choose.