Have you ever been in a hotel room digging into multiple suitcases, backpacks and purses trying to find something while scolding yourself for not even attempting to organize your luggage? I mean it can't be just me... right??
Step one of a stress-free vacation starts with the way you pack. Not only because it will be easier to access your stuff once you get to your destination, but also to avoid those "I think I forgot..." moments. Also, you don't want to be the one digging through your clothes in front of everyone when TSA tells you to pull out your laptop (yep, been there).
Before You Start
Before you even get your empty suitcases from the garage, you need to plan what you're packing. Think about how many tops, PJ sets, and shoes you'll need. Are you going skiing and need to pack multiple winter coats? Will you be wearing nothing but a swim suit everyday on your beach vacation? When you're thinking about what you need, it's also a great time to find those holes in your wardrobe. You might need to buy some new winter gloves or a sun hat for this vacation. (Read my blog on overbuying to avoid adding unnecessary things to your list).
Once you've got a good idea of what you'll need, start a list. List out the basics like how many outfits you're bringing, any accessories and the things you tend to forget like PJ's or toothpaste. Once you've got your list, go grab those suitcases! Your list will also help determine how many/ which bags you should bring. Don't freak out if you don't think all of your stuff won't fit in a carry on, I'll tell you some hacks later so you can make the most of your space.
Bring Out The Bags
Once you've got your luggage, decide how you want to sort your things. One example is packing for each room by including everyones stuff in a room in one suitcase. If you're bringing your kids would it be easier to give them their own suitcase or having one for the boys and one for the girls? This could also include mom and dad's things. There are several ways to pack so you need to decide what will work best for you.
Making it fit
Now it's time to pack yourself as efficiently as possible so you don't end up having to sit on your suitcase to close it. My first and most important tip, PACKING CUBES. I cannot stress my love for these things enough. They save SO much space and organize your stuff so well! Any set of packing cubes will do, even the cheap ones on Amazon. Along with packing cubes, folding your clothes is just as important. The way that you should fold depends on what you're packing. If you're packing summer clothes, fold them Marie Kondo style. I find it easier to group shirts, pants, under garments, and swimsuits in 4 separate packing cubes for summer vacations. Of course you could also pack by outfit but I tend to do that more with bulkier winter clothes. Let me show you exactly how I pack my winter vacation outfits. First I layout the entire outfit, underwear and all. Now I fold it all together and roll it up. Because winter wear is so heavy, it usually won't fold nicely so you have to roll it. This is where your packing cube will really come in handy. Shove that thing in there and zip it up and boom, you've got one outfit completely ready to go.
Toiletries
Your toiletries will depend on the type of travel you are taking and length of your stay. A 7 day road trip worth of toiletries will be much different than a weekend flight out of town. But there is one tip I can give you that is the same for every trip. Group your toiletries by where they are used. If you have stuff specifically use only in the shower, pack it together, Stuff to do your hair? Put it in its own pouch. Skincare that will only be used at night? Pack it separately from your makeup you will use in the morning. It will make your stay a lot easier when you can grab one bag and take it to the shower or mirror in stead of digging through everything to find what you need or even worse, take your entire toiletry bag into the tiny little hotel bathroom.
Hopefully these tips will make your next vacation a breeze. A good vacation always starts with an organized suitcase. It make take a little extra effort but it will be more than worthwhile when you're able to pull things out of your suitcase with ease. It'll also make it easier to pack back up when you head out.
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