As spring break quickly approaches, the suitcases have all been pulled down for the attic, dusted off, and are now ready for packing. My son’s is sitting just outside his bedroom door and I wonder if he’s even noticed it. My husband’s came home from a work trip last week with one wheel missing, a sacrifice to the Delta gods. Mine? Okay, my suitcase has been out of the attic since January, living on our college daughter’s bed with piles of Disney-specific packing items ready to be re-packed.
Yes, this is my third Disney trip this year (and the second that includes a sailing on the Wish) but each one has required a few tweaks on items to be included. As this trip is our family’s spring break, I pack knowing that, should anything be forgotten, it will be me my travel party looks to for the hero shot.
We are scheduled to leave in six days. My son’s suitcase will sit empty until just under an hour before go-time at which point he will toss a bunch of random shit in there that he thinks he’ll need. All clothes will be a wrinkled mess upon arrival and if one of those things he “thinks he’ll need” is a toothbrush…well, glory, glory, hallelujah. My husband has a travel bug-out-bag at the ready which will allow him to simply swap out his Garanimals from business to casual.
For me? I tend to pack as if I may never see a store again and for any unexpected invite while traveling. At home, I often wear the same leggings and T-shirt until asked if I’m ever going to change outfits. When prepping for vacation? Suddenly the closet is my oyster as I add anything from work-out wear to ballgowns to the packing pile as if a Grammy invite might pop up.
Not to toot my own horn (because I’ve probably packed that as well), but as I have started to travel more frequently, I am learning to leave the thirteen pairs of shoes at home to make room for some essential, out-of-the-box items that can truly end up saving the day.
What are some of my favorites? A portable fan, water bottle, cute crossbody…think comfort and convenience. I asked my team at Any Adventure Vacations if they had favorite must-brings and, jeepers, my Amazon cart is overflowing.
If you’re a traveler (or just like nifty things), this list is a great guide:
Getting There:
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes are a great way to organize luggage and often open up more space as items are neatly tucked in. The key? Use them coming and going rather than simply squishing all your clothes on top of them while stuffing your suitcase for the return trip.
- Hanging Travel Cubes: Take your packing cubes to the next level by including this Hanging Travel Cube. For those spaces that are short of shelving or drawers, this is a lifesaver and easily fits into suitcases. I don’t really need this. I will buy it anyway.
- Pop-Up Hamper/Packable Laundry Bag: Having a designated spot for clothes that have vacationed too hard is a great way to keep rooms clean while traveling. If you’ve booked multiple rooms, bring one for each! Do not expect your younger travelers to notice this until they are packing to go home and find it under their bed.
- Handheld Luggage Scale: Perhaps the best parts of vacation are the goodies picked up along the way. Pack a handheld luggage scale to make sure suitcases still meet airline weight restrictions. Knowing your luggage’s weight beforehand allows it to be redistributed in the comfort of your room rather than in a panic at the airport while your husband is rolling his eyes and saying “I told you so.”
Comfort Plus:
- Portable Fan: Hotel rooms are often stuffy and havens for strange noises. A portable fan can make sleepless nights a thing of the past as it provides both a lovely breeze and dream-inducing white noise. And for those of us enjoying the temperature fluctuations f menopause? This is a MUST HAVE. My favorite can be found here! Sidenote: Cruise ships are not a fan of fans…check before packing if you’re heading out to sea.
- Neck Fan and/or Cooling Towels: Theme Park Warriors know how quickly one can become overheated. Protect your health and memories by bringing a neck fan and/or cooling towels.
- Disposable Ponchos/Stroller Covers: A surprise round of liquid sunshine can derail a terrific day, so be prepared. Disposable ponchos and stroller covers are the small but mighty trick to saving the day and avoiding a washout. You’ll be happy you packed them as you watch fellow travelers sprint for cover!
Hydration Hints:
- Reusable Water Bottles: In the age of overpriced water, do not leave home without a reusable bottle. Prefer cold water? Grab a stainless steel bottle (warning: it will be heavier). Purchase a reusable bottle for each member of your traveling party and store them with your suitcases in the off-season to avoid forgetting them on the next adventure!
- Filtered Water Jug: Faced with funny-tasting water? If you have kids, you know that the second they are spending your vacation budget, they need the clearest water on the planet, only available in a $6 bottle. Filter it for them with our favorite travel-friendly water jug. It’s small enough to toss in a suitcase (and can serve as sock storage) and easily fits into most hotel or cabin refrigerators.
Sharing the Load:
- Stroller/Bag Hooks: If tasked with pushing strollers on vacation, make it easier with stroller hooks. These Mickey Mouse hooks are the star of our team! Hooks are also terrific for those who carry a smaller bag as they also can be used to secure water bottles, hand sanitizer, and more.
- Magnetic Hooks: Did you know that cruise cabin walls and doors are magnetic? Bring magnetic hooks along to hang jackets, towels, or bags, saving valuable storage space for purchases!
- Towel Hooks or Bands: There’s nothing like the lowkey panic that occurs when witnessing beach towels flying from your chairs while you’re out enjoying the water. Do you attempt a sandy sprint to catch them or stay on your float and hope for the best? Bring along towel hooks or bands to keep them secured to your preferred spot.
Electronic Essentials:
- Motion Activated Nightlight: Tuck a nightlight in your packing pile to use in the bathroom. This allows the rest of the room to stay sound asleep by reducing the shock of a bright bathroom light found after noisy fumbling for a light switch.
- Cord/Battery Organizer: There is nothing worse than arriving on vacation without the proper chargers. Invest in a set designated for your adventures and store them in this convenient carrier. Another must-bring? An extension cord! You may think you’ll never need it, but when you do…you’ll be a hero!
- Battery Packs: The days of a separation between our cameras and phones are long gone causing many travelers to run short of power mid-way through a glorious day. Bring along a portable power pack for your phone so no memories are missed. Don’t forget to pack the appropriate cord and charge it each night! We love this one as its cords are built in!
Miscellaneous Musts:
- Ziploc Bags: Many are experts at packing liquids to go, but what about the return trip? Whether your plastic bag springs a leak or you need to pack wet swimsuits in your suitcase, throwing a few extra Ziplocs in your luggage is a must-do.
- Scissors: While scissors will likely be confiscated from carry-on bags that doesn’t mean you can’t bring them along. While they must be packed in checked luggage, a small pair of scissors is essential when buying souvenirs that tend to be more packaging than product.
- First Aid: Think beyond the bandaid when packing and bring along the things you hope never to need, including extra prescription medications, packed in your carry-on. For your suitcase, pack blister patches, first-aid cream, cold medicine, gauze pads/tape, heartburn tablets, pain relievers, loratadine, and loperamide should all be included. Does that sound like a lot? There is likely no need to pack full bottles or boxes of each, but do bring enough to get you to the next planned stop.
Once you’ve got your vacation planned, the packing list begins. For me, there are lots of tough calls to be made as I decide which of those thirteen pairs of shoes will make the cut. We have an unwritten rule (which is my husband’s and I mostly ignore) that we have to wear everything we take on our trips. So, if traveling with us, you may notice endless outfit changes on our last day as I play along.