Vacation Packing Essentials

Any proper packing job involves two crucial parts: remembering everything you need to take and making sure it's all accessible throughout the trip. 

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Packing made easy

The most important part of packing is knowing what items you will need during which legs of your journey, and then making those items the most accessible at the times you will need them. To do this, you’ll need to compartmentalize your journey into stages and then pack for each stage. If this sounds daunting to you, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we lay out each part of the journey to plan for and how to pack accordingly.

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Beginning your journey

Packing done wrong
Many travellers make the mistake of using the carry-on bag for smaller travel items. Beginners will often shove last-minute items into a backpack or carry-on suitcase because these items won’t fit in the already overstuffed luggage that takes two people to zip closed.         

    Packing done right
Items that you’ll need access to for a cab ride, purchases, and airport customs need to be placed in the front pockets of your backpack or carry on bag, if not in your pocket or purse. These items include:

Personal Bag
Drivers license
Passport
Airline ticket
Cash
Banking card

Carry-on case


The bigger pockets in your backpack or carry on should hold items you might want to use in the airport or on the plane. Some suggestions are:

Earbuds
Book
Pillow
Drink
Snacks
Leg hammock
Phone charger
        

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Arriving at your destination

One great way to plan for each day of your trip is to separate each day’s necessities into giant zip-lock bags that are labeled for the individual day. For instance, if day two includes hiking, Label one large bag “Day 2 Hiking,” and then include hiking related items such as mole skin, bug repellent, sunscreen, extra water, a small emergency kit, and wool socks.
If day 5 of your trip involves extended travel time, such as a four-hour train ride, you may want to pack comfort items like soft pants, an eye mask, earbuds and an audiobook, a neck pillow, and a leg hammock.
Each ziplock bag can be stuffed or poured out into your travel backpack for carrying convenience, and then switched out each day as necessary.

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Things to have on hand every day

Some items are common for use every day of your travel, and should be staple items in your backback or on your person so they are never left behind at the hotel. These items can include:


Bank Card
Extra money hidden in your socks or shoes
Money belt hidden under your shirt
Maps
Guide Pamphlets
Language Guides
External Battery Pack for phone/camera/tablet
Power adapters

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Ending your journey

Because humans have a tendency to shove everything in the suitcase at the end of the trip, the journey home is often less comfortable than the trip to your destination. It is well worth taking an extra 15 minutes the night before leaving to pack well. How often do we get home from a vacation and spend several moments in frustration the next morning trying to dig out a toothbrush, deodorant, a clean pair of socks or undies for work, or a charger for the cell phone that is now in the red? To avoid all of this, take some time to make sure the items you need are accessible when you need them. Remember the items you’ll want on your flight to make it more comfortable, and pack accordingly.

Finally, make sure that the items you will need first upon arriving home are the most accessible. These items may include:

Toiletries
Deoderant
A clean pair of clothes. (Please include sock and underwear)
Cell Phone Charger
Pajamas

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