It’s vacation time! I’m always so excited to plan our vacations, but when it comes to packing, I seemed to always be forgetting something. I needed a new way to organize my packing for vacations, so here are a few tips I’ve learned for staying organized:
- Make a list! I always think that I’ll remember everything, but having a list and crossing things off as I go saves me time and gives me the reassurance that nothing is being forgotten. I saved a general list on my computer to use each time, and then I add things based on the destination, whether we need swimsuits or snow gear! Having a list helps enable the kids to pack on their own, which takes some of the stress off of me.
- Layout an outfit for each day. Pick outfits that can mix and match in case something that gets dirty before the end of the day. I have the kids lay everything out with socks and underwear before they pack it.
- Pack each day’s outfit in a bag for convenience. My kids are notorious for dumping out their bag when we arrive at the hotel to find a swimsuit or something buried at the bottom and making a mess of all their clothes. I now label a bag for each day and they pack the full outfit in the bag. In the morning, the kids open their new bag and can easily get dressed in clean clothes without any hassle.
- Limit the shoes. Our rule of thumb is one pair of walking shoes and one pair of sandals/water shoes. With airport baggage rules and/or minimal car space, limiting shoes is a great way to allow room for everything in the bag.
- Post a reminder for last minute items. Tape a note to the door with items that you need to pack at the last minute. Cell phone chargers, baby blankets, medications, pillows, make-up, are all last minute items that I have forgotten at one point or another. My list on the door helps me remember to check all these things before walking out the door.
- Unpack when you arrive. We unpack before we do anything else at the hotel. The kids put their bags of daily outfits into the drawers, and at the end of the day, they put their dirty clothes back into their duffle bags for convenience.
Staying organized while packing will help give you peace of mind and make for a better vacation! So get those wheels turning and visit our Macaroni Kid Travel site for ideas on where to take your next family trip!
