We are so happy you’re visiting today! If this is your first time here, make sure to check us out on Instagram and Facebook so you can stay up to date on all the amazing things happening here on the the Space Coast! And don’t forget to download our Ultimate Packing Checklist at the bottom of this post so you won’t forget a single thing on your next vacay!
You're Going on Vacation!
You put in for time off, bought your tickets and made all your reservations. You’ve been impatiently counting down the days until you leave for your long-awaited vacation and now the time has come!
As you stand in front of your closet, you are gripped with indecision. One week, right? (brain: crickets) That’s seven days. (brain: probably) Okay…start with my favorites. No, wait…what are we doing during the week…beach, parks, shopping, fishing, lounging…right, so that’s…Oh, what about going out to dinner? are we going anywhere nice? Do I need to look nice? Better grab a dress…dress means jewelry, nice shoes, makeup…better grab that purse that goes with the dress. Oh yeah, Underwear that’s seven pairs of underwear (brain: what if you crap your pants?) Umm…better grab an extra pair.
When you’ve collected all the items you think you need and laid it all out next to your suitcase, you come to the startling realization that unless your suitcase is the Tardis, this is not going to work.
If this sound familiar, you are not alone!
We here at the Space Coast Experience do a lot of traveling. I mean, a lot! We have this whole packing for a trip thing down to a science and we are here to help!
So before you even start packing, keep reading to learn how to travel stress-free: top 10 tips to pack like a pro!
Travel Stress-Free: Top 10 Tips to Pack Like a Pro
1 | Plan According to Your Plans!
Simple enough, right? Right! Take a look at the plans you’ve made for your vacation. Are you going to the beach? Hiking? Skiing? Cruising? Knowing your plans helps you categorize what you need! If you’re going to the beach, you can probably leave the puffy down coat at home! And if you’re headed on a cruise, you’ll want to grab a semi-formal look because there’s usually one formal dinner where that will be required! Hiking? Ditch the gown and grab layers and your sneakers! You get the idea!
2 | Think Color
One thing I absolutely always do when packing for a trip is pack according to a simple color palette and here’s why: because everything goes with everything else! Now all my accessories and shoes match all my clothes AND I can mix and match my outfits to fit different occasions! A lot of times, I start with the best shoes for my vacation and then choose clothes that go with those shoes! If I choose neutrals for the bottom, say jeans, white shorts, tan joggers…every top I bring will go with any of those and I can dress it up or down with accessories and a change of shoe! It’s easier than you think and a huge space saver!
3 | Do an Edit
Once you have all your things laid out, take a good long hard look at what you’ve assembled. It is no doubt a work of art, but do you actually need all of it? There’s no need to strip it down to the bare essentials, just see if there’s something you could do without. Maybe I don’t need 4 extra tees and 3 extra pairs of underwear “just in case”. This is also a good time to check the availability of laundry services where you’re going. Most hotels offer laundry service and it can be cheaper than paying to check a larger bag!
4 | Get Organized!
I’m telling you right now, that this revolutionized my packing game. I was a hard core roller. And don’t get me wrong, rolling works, but my stuff was always wrinkled, and I don’t love that! Then I discovered the glory that is the packing cube, and brothers and sisters, I can pack 2 1/2 weeks worth of clothes in my backpack AND they’re not wrinkled! Can somebody testify!? Me! I can! They’re also really easy for kids to use, and it keeps all their itty bitty tiny things contained. Now, combine the cube and the roll…mind blown! Get them, they work.
5 | Go Tiny
Now we enter the dangerous and overpopulated toiletry zone. There isn’t a whole lot to edit from here. When I need it, I need it! But I don’t need the full size bottle! That is why I use travel size bottles and jars and fill them with my products. Check the travel section at the Dollar Tree, Target, or my favorite Amazon to find these bottles and other travel-size products for your trip. Quick tip: if you can’t find the little jars, use contact lens cases for your face creams and moisturizers and use a sharpie to label them! Quick tip 2: check the amenities listed where you’re staying. Chances are, they have a blow dryer! I almost never pack one!
6 | Travel with Drugs
Check out this amazing one on Amazon! You will be stocked for anything you could ever need! It comes in loads of colors and won’t take up too much space!
No. Not that kind. I’m talking about the prescription and OTC variety. I travel with a full miniature medicine cabinet because this stuff’s expensive! I have a few of those weekly pill organizers and I fill those up with everything I could ever need! I use one for my prescriptions and the others for pain meds, allergy meds, antacids, etc. Simply fill up one of the sections with your ibuprofen and then label the lid and write the dose on the bottom! For meds in blister packs, I grab 1 full sheet and cut the back of the box off with the dosing info and put it in a ziploc bag. When my daughter was little, I also made sure to have the dissolvable children’s varieties!
7 | Chargers
I have a spare 10 foot long phone charger that stays in my travel backpack so I never have to think about it. I also have a 10′ HDMI cable in there so I can connect my laptop to the TV in the hotel to watch Netflix or Disney+ or any other subscription streaming service. And while we’re here, make sure you have all the other chargers you need for the 5 other devices you’re probably bringing! (Try to edit these too! I don’t need my laptop and my tablet, do I?)
8 | Backup Your Important Stuff!
If you’ve ever been in a foreign country and lost your passport, you will understand the abject terror that cartwheels through your body. Scan everything into your phone: your Drivers’ License, Passport, Visas, Birth Certificates, Insurance Cards, Vaccination Cards. I have seen this save someone’s vacation! And keep passports and birth certificates in a ziploc to keep them protected and together.
9 | Size is Everything!
If you are flying, make sure you check the airlines’ guidelines for under-seat and overhead bags. And get the biggest one that will fit! My all-time favorite thing to pack for a vacation is a backpack. They are lightweight, easy to carry, hands-free, there are special compartments for electronics…the list goes on. Also, I loathe paying for my bags when I fly which is why I usually only travel with my backpack that fits under the seat. I’m not exaggerating when I say I can fit 2 1/2 weeks worth in that backpack. That’s everything! Clothes, meds, electronics, toiletries, everything! (If you’d like a special post about how I pack my backpack for a trip, drop me a note in the comments!) I also have a purse I can wear around my waist because a fanny pack doesn’t typically count as a personal item because you’re wearing it. Food for thought!
10 | Munchies
Speaking of food, whether you are traveling by plane, train, or automobile, you need snacks. You just need them! You may as well save some $$$ and pick them up at the grocery store before you leave. Because that $4 bag of Doritos is gonna cost you $9 at the gas station or airport! If you’re going by car, stock up on drinks too! And as a coffee addict, I travel with emergency sachets of instant coffee. They are permanently in my travel backpack so I never have to think about it. It has saved me. It’s also worth nothing that you can take a plastic grocery bag with snacks through TSA and onto the plane and it doesn’t count as a personal item. Just saying!
Bonus Travel Tip
So, it’s not a packing tip, but it is a good one. If you think you will fly at least 2 times in the next 5 years, get TSA Pre-Check. TSA Pre-Check gives you access to shorter lines at airport security, and you don’t have to take off your shoes and coats or remove liquids and electronics from your bag. As of 2/8/2023 it’s only $78 and it’s good for 5 years! I’m up for my renewal this year and that’s on $70 for the next 5 years! 100% worth it! There are also other services like Clear, Global Entry, and Fasttrack. Check your most frequented airports and find the one that works the best for you! (But it’s probably TSA Pre-Check!
You are Ready for Takeoff!
These tips never let me down, but I know there are loads more out there! Drop a comment below with your favorite packing tip! And download our FREE Ultimate Packing Checklist to make sure you never leave anything behind!
And if you’re looking for a place to stay for your next trip to the Space Coast, check out The Little Black House and The Courtyard by Marriott Titusville.
