It’s all set – the tickets have been bought, the hotel has been booked, everyone knows you will be away, and both you and your boss are happy you will not see each other for a while. Your dream vacation is just around the corner, the only thing left to be done is packing your suitcase, and you will be ready to go. Oh-oh, if only things were as simple as that! What will you take with you?! When you look around the room you see at least a hundred things that could be useful to you on your trip, but there is no way they will all fit into your suddenly-so-small small suitcase! What can you do?
Lists are your friends
Relax and take a few deep breaths, no need to panic and lose your mind over something as insignificant as packing. One thing I’ve learned over the years about packing and traveling (and many mistakes have been made along the way) is that you always leave something behind unless you make a list. This way, you will write everything down and you can tick item by item off as you pack it, making sure you don’t forget anything. With my Bahamas trip approaching, here’s what (and how) I will carry.
Clothes
You have to be smart and make sure you don’t over-pack. Surely you will buy some souvenirs and not have the place to put them because of all those clothes you brought and haven’t worn once. Pack smartly and choose clothes which can be layered and combined easily. Three dresses, two pairs of shorts, one pair of jeans, and three tees or tank tops and you are ready to go. Also, don’t fold, but roll your clothes, it will give you more space. Don’t forget swimsuits, beach kaftans, slippers, and a nice pair of walking shoes. Pack underwear separately and bring two or three effective accessories.
Toiletries
I cannot live without my shampoo, so I make sure I pour some into a smaller bottle and secure it with plastic wrap over the top to prevent accidental leaking and spilling. I am horrified that I will forget my razors or my toothbrush, so I put these in my bag first, and later I just pile things up. I don’t like to wear too much makeup because of all the sun and swimming, but I do have my mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick on at all times (girls will be girls at all times, even on vacations).
Protecting valuables
I always have an empty Labello or deodorant stick which I use to hide money and jewelry in while I’m at the beach. Nobody notices and touches your deodorant, so I’m safe. Also, when I pack, I use a soap case to store my camera so it doesn’t break, and a Tic-Tac case for my bobby pins. There are dozens of cool tips online, and I’ve recently started using old sun-glass cases to store my chargers and cables. This way I always know where they are and I don’t have to untangle them when I arrive at my destination.
Remember that the place where you are going to probably has a store and that even if you forget something, you will be able to buy it there or survive without it for a couple of days. After all, vacation is a time when you should step away from your everyday life and habits and do something different instead, like relax and not worry.
