packing lists Archives - Mom's Guide To Travel

Mar 31 2016

Travel Tips: Packing For Spring Break and Packing Lists

Spring is in the air which means that Spring Break travel is here. Thankfully the snow has melted for most of us. As we start packing for spring break, lists are void of bulky items such as winter socks, turtlenecks and long johns. Unless of course, you are traveling to the slopes for Spring Break.

Either way, the true savvy traveler knows that packing is hassle-free given the right tools. Aside from a great bag, the most important tool in your packing routine is your packing list.

Why a packing list?

In a nutshell, lists help to keep us organized. It doesn’t matter what type of list it is or what the list is for, lists help us to get stuff done. Our eyes and our brains love lists.

Why? According to neuroscience, most people can’t hold more than four things in their mind at a time.

Lists serve as a quick way for us to get important information.
They provide order to our thoughts.
They keep us on task (productive).
They allow us to remember things.

See what I just did? I wrote a list. It was a not-so subliminal way of reinforcing the information.

Lists in Everyday Life

Think about the last time you went to the grocery store without a list. Did you remember to pick up everything or did you forget something? Chances are you forgot something.

It’s okay to admit it. It doesn’t mean that you’re getting old.

Even the youngest of organized grocery shopping moms carries a list. That many superstar organizers can’t be wrong. If they use lists as their weekly routine, you probably should too.

Now let’s apply this idea to packing. The average traveler takes two to three trips per year. Routine travelers are on the road almost weekly. If you are in the former group, travel is occasional. It isn’t a constant. For habitual travelers, activities like packing are a constant and become part of a routine.

In general, if something isn’t routine for us, 98% of the time we forget one of the actions in the sequence. Packing lists help us to remember particular actions.

Lists help with efficiency

Lists also help us avoid over-packing. If we go through the motion of writing down everything we need by “seeing” our items on a piece of paper, we’re more likely to self-edit and pack less.

When we just “throw n’ go” (aimlessly throwing items in our bags) we tend to forget what’s already in our luggage. Inevitably we pack more than what we need.

Writing items down and checking them off as you go is a sure-fire way to pack efficiently.

So what should you pack for Spring Break?

What you pack for Spring Break really depends on where you go. Your Spring Break packing list for the slopes is going to look much different than your Spring Break packing list for the beach. However, here is a list (there goes that word again) of some essential items:

ID, insurance cards, camera,

batteries, charges, cash/ credit card,

umbrella, hair products, styling tools,

toothbrush/paste, deodorant, body wash,

lotions, face cleansers, vitamins,

socks, undergarments, pajamas,

clothes, sunglasses, shoes/ flip flops/ boots, swimwear, insect repellent, sunscreen,

makeup, perfume/cologne, razors,

goggles, plastic baggies

You can either write down this list or if you want to make your life easier order a pre-designed packing list, especially if you are traveling with family. Family packing lists like the one below are convenient and are itemized for each member: mom, dad, son/daughter, and an infant.

Now everyone can join in on the fun. Aside from the baby, these types of lists allow each person to pack for themselves.

Whenever you decide to travel, whether it is for Spring Break or for a casual getaway, employ lists to take the hassle out of packing. You will stay organized, remember things, and pack more efficiently. As a bonus, you might even pack a little faster.

Buy Your Set Today!

Jun 29 2015

Packing Tips: How To Pack For Your Next Trip

This video originally aired on WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore on Sunday June 28th. You can also watch it on the WBAL-TV site here. In the segment I share some packing tips and give pointers on how to pack your luggage.

Video Transcript
(courtesy of WBAL-TV 11)
WELCOME BACK. TAWANNA BROWNE SMITH IS GOING TO SHARE HOW TO PACK.
I’M GOING TO SHARE PACKING TIPS. IT IS ABOUT ORGANIZATION AND EFFICIENCY. DON’T JUST THROW IT IN. YOU WANT IT TO BE NEAT. WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR DESTINATION AND YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING, YOU WANT IT TO BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. I ALWAYS LOOK FOR PRODUCTS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE MY LIFE EASIER WHEN IT COMES TO PACKING.

FIRST OFF, LET’S TALK ABOUT ORGANIZATION. I LIKE TO USE PACKING LIST CARDS. YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND ALWAYS WANTED ME TO PACK HIS SUITCASE FOR HIM AS WELL. I HAD MY TWO KIDS TO PACK FOR. I CREATED THESE FOR MY FAMILY. HERE’S THE DAD PACKING LIST CARD.

THAT’S ALL OF YOUR STUFF. ON THE BACK, WRITE IN WHATEVER YOU NEED.

BARRY: DAD’S PACKING LIST. THEN I HAVE MY OWN.

YES, I LEAVE THEM IN THE LUGGAGE. YOU CAN ALSO USE AN APP. I PERSONALLY LIKE TO CHECK THINGS OFF. I’M A LIST TYPE OF PERSON.

YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR LUGGAGE OR BAGGAGE THAT HAS COMPARTMENTS. THIS IS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL SIDE OF THINGS. THIS LUGGAGE IS FROM THE SAME PEOPLE THAT MAKE SWISS ARMY KNIVES. HERE IT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU CAN PUT INSIDE THIS LUGGAGE.

BARRY: LITTLE POCKETS HERE. DEEP POCKETS THERE.

EXACTLY. HERE YOU PUT YOUR SMALL GADGETS LIKE A SMALL PHONE. THEN YOU HAVE YOUR IPAD. THE OTHER COMPARTMENT IS WHERE YOU WOULD PUT YOUR CLOTHING.

IN THIS, I’LL SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF USING PACKING CUBES. THESE ARE LITTLE WONDERFUL BAGS TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR CLOTHING ORGANIZED. IF YOU ARE SHARING LUGGAGE WITH SOMEONE, THIS IS GREAT. THIS IS A CARRY ON SO YOU MIGHT NOT.

BUT YOU CAN KEEP YOUR STUFF SEPARATE BY USING DIFFERENT COLORS. THIS EXAMPLE — I’LL USE MY KIDS. I GIVE THEM A BLACK PACKING CUBE. IN MINE, I USE A GREEN COLOR. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT COLOR THEY HAVE. I HAVE SOCKS IN THIS. THESE ARE CLOTHING. LOOK. FITS NEATLY IN THERE. I’M MAXIMIZING THE SPACE. I ROLL CLOTHES IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE SPACE.

BARRY: YOU GOT TO GET IT IN.

I GOT TO GET IT IN. I’M A WOMAN. I DON’T LIKE TO FORGET THINGS.

BARRY: YOU TALK ABOUT THIS BEING A CARRY-ON BAG. THIS IS ENOUGH FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS?

THIS IS A WEEK’S WORTH OF CLOTHING.

BARRY: HOW MANY PEOPLE?

ME AND A 7-YEAR-OLD. EAGLE CREEK IS A WONDERFUL COMPANY FOR THE PACKING CUBES. THEY COME IN DIFFERENT COLORS. SOME PEOPLE JUST USE ZIP LOCK BAGS. IF DEPENDS IF YOU WANT TO SPEND MONEY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT SELL THE PACKING CUBES. IT IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS COMPACT. IT GIVES YOU COMPRESSION TO FIT MORE IN. YOU DON’T NEED THEM IF YOU KNOW HOW TO ROLL THINGS. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE EASY ACCESSIBILITY.

IF YOU GO TO THE HOTEL ROOM AND YOU WANT TO PUT YOURSELF INSIDE THE DRAWER, TAKE THIS. I DON’T LIKE TO PUT MY CLOTHES IN THE DRAWER. BARRY: JUST LEAVE THEM IN THERE.

BARRY: OTHER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FOLDING.

IF THE MILITARY HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS — IFS THE CORRECT WAY. SOME PEOPLE ARE METICULOUS. THIS IS PERFECT. ROLL THE CLOTHES. DON’T FOLD THEM.

BARRY: WHAT ABOUT THIS? THIS SECTION HERE — YES. I’M TELLING YOU I LOVE. I HAVE TWO MORE BAGS IN HERE. THIS IS MY TOILETRY BAG. WHEN I HAVE TO GO THROUGH TSA, IT IS A QUICK BAG, THEY CAN SEE THROUGH IT, I PUT IT THROUGH THERE.

BARRY: ON WITH THE BAG, YOU HAVE TO PULL OUT LAPTOPS .

I HAVE PRE-CHECK. SO NO. YOU JUST HAVE TO PULL THIS OUT AND YOUR LAPTOP. THAT’S WHY YOU WANT TO GET A CLEAR BAG OR A ZIPLOCK BAG.

BARRY: THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED, YOU CAN GO TO THIS SECTION.

YOU WOULD KEEP ALL THE THINGS IN THE FRONT SECTION. THIS BAG AS IT STANDS UP, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS UNZIP IT A LITTLE BIT TO PULL AND GRAB WHAT YOU NEED.

BARRY: ALL RIGHT. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND SHARING THE TIPS. ESPECIALLY THE PACKING TIPS.

Jul 05 2013

Packing Light Vs. Packing Not-So-Light: Two Types Of Travelers

I recently read a Huffington Post article by Rick Steves on how he lived out of two carry on bags for two months and I was amazed. And then, I was resolved. I concluded that we are in no way alike. On average, I’m not someone who subscribes to packing light.

Steves remarks, “there are two kinds of people you meet on the road in Europe: those who pack light, and those who wish they’d packed light.” To be more of a generalist, I’d say that there are two types of travelers, ones who pack light and ones who don’t have a problem not packing light!

I. Don’t. Pack. Light. This is who I am.

I’m totally adept at packing light. I’ve done it before. Depending on the circumstances and the nature of the trip, I’ll most likely do it again. Like Steves says, I take a look at my itinerary to see how mobile I’m going to be. Steves notes, “if I’m going to be changing cities every couple of days and using public transportation (trains and buses) rather than a car, I get serious about mobility and packing light.”

I totally get that. Last November, when I traveled to London, I had to take the Tube to a bus to my accommodations, which were located in a neighborhood called Greenwich. It was on the complete opposite side of town from Heathrow airport. One-way cab fare would have cost me $100. With my luggage, a cab seemed like my only option and I almost kicked myself in the foot for not looking at the journey before I packed. And then, I got over it. My bags weren’t oppressively heavy, just a little cumbersome for public transportation. I wasn’t the only one on the train pulling check-in sized luggage pieces.

Here’s the bottom line: I don’t like forgetting ish! It irks me to no end. I don’t like being on a vacation or a trip wishing that I had packed something that I talked myself out of taking. I’m cool with having extras. It makes me feel more secure – secure that I have everything that I need; secure that I don’t have to run to the store to spend extra money buying something that I already own.

I pack just enough to make weight at the airport (if I decide to check in my bags), but leave a little room in my luggage for things that I pick up along the way.

I never know what I want to wear because I don’t know what the journey is going to bring me. I can plan for the basics like walking, swimming, dancing, and dining – mind you, all of these events need totally different outfits – but I don’t know what adventures lay before me. It might rain – I need specific clothes for that. It might be hotter than I expected – I need to change clothes twice a day for that. I might meet some dignitary – I most certainly need a nice dress for that. Okay, okay, so maybe the last one is a bit of a stretch but hey, you never know. I travel with slight excess. I know it. I love it. And I don’t mind it.

If I’m traveling with my kids, forget about it! If I could fit their bathtub in my luggage, I’d take it. And to be honest, when they were babies, I always traveled with a blow-up tub to bathe them in while we stayed at hotels. Oddly enough, “bathing a baby while traveling” is a common search on my site.

When we traveled to the Cayman Islands as a family, I even used Space Bags To Go so that I could get more stuff in our suitcase. It was a great way to keep the boys’ clothes compartmentalized and allowed room for me to pack other items in the bag.

Even though I might take an outfit or two more than I may need, I don’t see myself as an over-packer. I count out my outfits for my days and pack miniature toiletries that I can finish up and throw away.

I’m so meticulous about my packing, that I created packing list cards for the family. There’s a card for baby, a card for mommy, a card for kiddo, and a card for daddy. I’m sure Rick Steves’ packing list looks nothing like the one I created for dads.

I get it. He’s a simple guy. His needs are minimal when he’s on the road and has to switch cities often. Even still, I’m not sure I’d be okay with only two pairs of shoes. Guess he’s not going out dancing while he’s in Europe.

Two types of travelers: the light packer and the leave-nothing-behind packer. There’s nothing wrong with either traveler – They’re just different.

So, what type of traveler are you?

Dec 13 2011

Making The Case for Travel Packing Lists – The Science Behind Lists

For a while now I’ve been mentioning the importance of lists. I’ve even created a product to help parents out when they travel as a family, which is a packing list. This time of year, lists are even more relevant in our lives – there’s just so much going on, it’s hard to keep track of everything. After having a Twitter volley with two other moms about how lists are life-savers, I thought I’d write a post about it, focusing on exactly why they are so relevant.

It’s the act of writing things down that is more significant than the actual list itself. Lists just look better and are a form of visual organization. I often walk around my house with notes to myself written on my hand if my mind is extra active that day or I write it on a sticky note. From mid-December until mid-January, you will see an over-abundance of lists and notes around the house keeping me on target for Christmas presents, class parties, my oldest son’s friends’ birthday parties, my 3 y.o.’s, my 7 y.o.’s, and my hub’s birthdays (January 3rd, 6th, and 12th, respectively), travel plans, New Year’s goals, chores, bills, and everything else in between. I try not to dwell on how anything gets done. Day by day, I just do it.

So what is it about lists or writing things down that makes them so significant and allow us to be more productive when we use them? After doing a little bit of research, I found out that writing things down is more scientific than I thought. According to research, writing things down stimulates cells at the base of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). This system acts as a filter for what the brain needs for processing. When the RAS is triggered (by the writing), it sends a signal to the cerebral cortex to focus on what you’ve deemed as most important at the moment. Hence, and there forth, what you wrote down is what gets done. Hmm! Good stuff. Did you know that?

Point of this post: To keep stress at bay, get things done, and be on your merry way – Write it down and make a list!

Lists in Everyday Life

Lists help with efficiency

So what should you pack for Spring Break?

Connect with Tawanna