Are Your Bags Properly Packed? Travel Tips For Packing

Taking a trip can be a wonderful opportunity to get away from all of the stress that you have to deal with in modern life. Of course, that can be kind of difficult when the act of actually going away can cause such a huge amount of stress by itself! Especially, when traveling with small children. Trying to get you and your family organised, getting to places on time, and having all of the right stuff with you can be a total nightmare, especially when it feels like you’re the only one actually doing anything. Of course, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that you can do to make the whole process just a little bit easier. One of the best things to do is to make sure that you have your bags properly packed. With that in mind, here are some ways to make sure that your bags are properly packed for your trip in advance.

Make a list

If you want to be sure that you’ve got everything that you need, you need to start writing it down. Never assume that you’re going to be able to remember everything that you need. If you do that, then you’re just going to end up forgetting something obvious. If you’re a mum like me, and you are the one who packs for the whole family – making a list is even more beneficial. Make lists of the kinds of things that you need, clothes, toiletries, emergency supplies etc., then break those lists down even further. By doing that you can make sure that you keep track of everything that you need as well as everything that you’ve already packed.

Think about what you really need

All too often, people end up not thinking properly about what they need to pack and then throwing things into their suitcase willy-nilly. Not only does this end up filling your luggage with stuff that you need, but it increases the chance that stuff that you do need is going to get left behind. Think about new things that you need to buy as well as stuff that just needs packing. Heading off for a ski vacation? Then you’re going to need to buy thermal clothes and any equipment that you can’t get while you’re there. Taking a trip to the beach? Then you need some Billabong swimwear, towels, and plenty of sunscreen! Again, making lists can make this whole process a lot easier, but by thinking about the kind of trip that you’re taking then you’re much more likely only to pack the things that you really need.

Put people in charge of their own luggage

Trying to deal with packing up an entire family by yourself can be completely exhausting. And yet, that’s so often what ends up happening. People assume that you’re going to do it and so they can just sit back and enjoy a relaxing few days in the run-up to the vacation. Well, it’s time to put an end to that. Make it clear to everyone in your family, if they aren’t going to pack the things that they need, then it’s not getting packed at all. Sure, that might sound a little harsh, but that way you can focus on all of the other things that you need to worry about, rather than making sure that everyone else has their bags properly packed.

Pack spares

You will always need spares. If you think that you don’t, you’re just tempting fate. Whether its clothes, chargers for electronics, toiletries, or just about anything else, make sure that you pack at least one extra of everything. This won’t actually take up as much room in your suitcases as you think and it can make life a whole lot easier. You might just assume that all you need to do is to get spares when you arrive but not only can that be incredibly inconvenient, it can also be seriously expensive as well. It’s a good idea to limit how much you have to buy when you’re actually on vacation as much as possible.

Of course, this isn’t going to take all of the stress out of trying to take a trip. You’re still going to have to deal with getting people to certain places on time, frustrating travel times, delays, and all of the other things that come with trying to travel anywhere. But by getting the packing out of the way in advance, at least you can be sure that you’ve got everything you need when you arrive. That way, you can finally start to relax once you and your family have reached your destination.

This is a collaborative post.