How to pack for a Vacation

So you've decided to take a few days or weeks off and go on a vacation. Have your ticket, passport if needed ready and thinking about packing. What to bring, what to leave behind.

There’s a lot to consider when determining what to bring such as the type and length of your trip, your itinerary, the weather, the size of your luggage, and any weight limits imposed by your mode of transportation. And with so many factors at play, it’s easy to over-pack or under-pack, especially if you’ve waited until the last minute.

When I go to Residence Resort in Nuevo Vallarta I still tend to overpack but I'm getting better since I started with a packing checklist. This way you'll be sure to take everything you need. And, it's a good reminder when going on your next trip. You can modify the list as you find there are items you really don't need on the trip.

Some people use packing cubes. These are pouches of different sizes that fit into your luggage and then directly into a drawer at the resort. These can be purchased at Walmart, Target, Amazon and a number of other stores.

There's been a question of whether to roll or fold the clothes. I find that rolling them keeps out more of the wrinkles.

Pack the items you want to use in-flight into a separate pouch. These could be your wallet, passport, e-buds, etc. Toss this onto your seat and then put the carry-on into the overhead bin.

Pack your clothes by outfit. Lay out the various items on the bed to see if you have all the pieces to make your outfit. If a special pair of shorts, what tops will go with it? Do you have the right sandals, jewelry, etc. Match your clothes so you can get double duty from an item. The classic top that can be worn with short, pants, or a skirt.

Travel size toiletries. We all have our favorites from shampoos to eye make-up. The travel size items will work just fine for the time of your vacation and take up a lot less room in the suitcase. Keep a kit handy for your next trip and replenish as needed so it's always ready to go when you are.

Lay everything out and then divide. I find that on my first trip I packed so many clothes and didn't wear half of them. When staying at a great casual resort, like www.GrandLuxxe-Vacation.com most of the time will be spent in a bathing suit, cover-up, shorts and shirt.

Pack your socks inside your shoes to save room. This will help to keep the shape of the shoes so they don't get squashed. No socks? Put other small items, even a pair of underwear inside the shoes. Pack your shoes into plastic bags to keep the rest of your clothes clean.

Have a small medical bag ready. Put in Band-aids, Neosporin, pain relievers, cold medicine, medicine for stomach trouble, itch relief ointment, etc. Keep this ready to go whenever you need it as well.

Pack your necklaces in small plastic bags to keep them from tangling. Be sure to fasten the clasp.

Throw a dryer sheet between items in your suitcase to keep them fresh.

Bring along a large plastic bag in case you have a wet bathing suit or other items so they won't dampen anything inside your suitcase.

If you have room, bring along a laundry bag that you can put your dirty clothes into. Then when you return home, you have them all together to go to the laundry room.