Style, Decor & More: The Ultimate Vacation Packing List!

The Ultimate Vacation Packing List!


It’s that time of the year again, Spring Break! Time to take that long-awaited vacation, lie on a pristine beach beneath a clear blue sky, and take one week of relaxation away from school and work. But even when everything is beautiful, the smallest imperfection can make one yearn for home and normality. To make your trip more enjoyable, you will want to make sure you pack your warm weather essentials. 

Our family has used a 15-year, tried and true vacation packing list for our travels. While it has evolved over the years, every year it remains our go-to, warm weather packing list. As it currently stands, it is tailored toward families with a mom, dad, and two teenagers (a boy and a girl). If you have a baby in tow you will, of course, need to add your baby necessities to the list. It is a general checklist and some items may need to be removed if you are flying and/or driving. Simply cross off the items that don't apply.  

As you will see from the packing list, my hubby is quite detailed and meticulous. While I don't always appreciate his crossing the t's and dotting the i's on everything we do and plan together, his packing list is proof in the pudding his prudent persona pays off - we never forget anything when we travel.

Please feel free to right click, copy, and save this checklist for your next vacation. A few weeks before your trip, you will want to refer to the "Things To Do Before Leaving" section and schedule a mail hold and/or search for other items you can check off your list. If you are traveling out of the country, you will definitely want to let your credit card companies know. Mexico, for example, takes VISA and MasterCard almost everywhere. Informing the credit card companies will save you trouble when you are on vacation. Other things to consider prior to your trip...Who will be watching your house? Who will be caring for pets and plants? Did you notify your local police department that you will be away? Did you stop delivery of the newspaper? If the children will miss school, did you notify the office?

Some of the checklist items that may not make sense are the plastic bags and small refrigerator. We bring a few plastic grocery bags to pack dirty/wet clothes on the way home from our trip. Your hotel may have laundry bags you can use instead. The small fridge is a battery-operated fridge we use for long road trips in our vehicle. It is compact and plugs into our lighter and keeps a few beverages and snacks cold. 

TRAVEL TIP: DON'T OVERPACK! The airlines are imposing weight limits for a reason. The heavier the luggage, the more fuel you use. This is true for road trips, too. Plan your wardrobe in advance and use shoes, jewelry, etc., that are versatile and can be worn with many outfits throughout the week. When flying to a warmer climate, we layer clothing and wear wind-breakers. Leave behind the heavy jacket or packable down coat. 

While you have the list in front of you, skim the checklist to see if everybody has the items they may need. Have the children outgrown their flip-flops from last year? Even small things can be stressful if discovered the day before leaving on your trip.

When you begin packing, have the list on hand and check off items as you add them to your bag(s). This list may appear lengthy, but it makes packing painless, super easy, and best of all, saves you time, money, and trouble in the long run.






The printable version of the vacation checklist is HERE!

Did we forget anything on the list? Do you have any travel tips to share? Please leave a comment and let us know. 
  Safe travels!
  xoxo, 


21 comments :

  1. Good tip to bring plastic grocery bags for dirty/wet clothing or use hotel dry cleaning bags.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda. We always use the bags. Even though I wash everything we pack anyway, I hate mixing dirty or wet clothes with clean clothes.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. This checklist will be very useful when packing for my next trip. We were just thinking about where we should go this spring break as it is fast approaching!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you find it helpful. It's always worked well for us. I'm happy to share my hubby's masterpiece! lol
      Thanks for stopping by!
      nancy

      Delete
  3. Such a great list. We have a ton of travel coming up and this will be super handy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm happy to finally share my hubby's masterpiece (aka vacation checklist)! lol
      Thanks for stopping by!
      nancy

      Delete
  4. This is a great list! I will have to save this for summer. It looks really complete.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think hubby has covered everything in this vacation list and more! lol
      Thanks for stopping by!
      nancy

      Delete
  5. This is a great vacation packing list! We try to go on vacation as a family once a year, so this will be helpful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love taking at least one family vacation per year, too!
      Thanks for stopping by, Chit Chat Mom!

      Delete
  6. We always make sure to pack Ibuprofen. You never know when something will happen and you need some type of minor pain killer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great tip, Scott. I couldn't agree more. Ibuprofen is great for pain relief.

      Delete
  7. The aftercare bus...I used to forget to notify them if my son was sick. He isn't in that program anymore, but I needed a bow around my finger for that one back then. I like your tips here on who to contact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great one, Rosey! Definitely a must-add to your list! I forgot to call the school office once when my child was home sick. Not good, but it happens to all of us.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  8. I've been scrambling on vacation, having forgotten essentials before. A packing checklist has become my norm. This looks like a thorough list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Crystal, A packing checklist can save time and aggravation. Yes, hubby is very structured and plans everything. :)
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  9. I am downloading and printing your travel packing list. It sure looks like you got everything pretty much covered. Sharing this with my friends and family too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you find the packing list useful. It's nothing fancy, but it is what we use and it works for us.
      Thanks for stopping by Annemarie, and thank you for sharing it with your friends and family, also!

      Delete
  10. I'm going to have to print and save this for our next family trip! I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to pack something lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marielle,
      I hope the list helps. I used to think my hubby was too detailed, but it does pay off when you have everything you need on vacation.
      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  11. It is not always cost-effective, but I do like to pack sample/travel sized items when I pack. I keep them stashed away for the next trip.

    ReplyDelete

I LOVE hearing from you!! Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts! :)