Vacation time: Six tips for enjoying a vacation that I learned on my recent trip.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday: Six tips for enjoying a vacation that I learned on my recent trip.

One of my goals for my Happiness Project is to do a better job of learning from experience. How can I do things better, next time? Also, one of my Twelve Commandments is to “Identify the problem,” so I’m trying to be more mindful as I have experiences, so I can take steps to make myself happier, in the moment.

Here are some tips from my recent family trip to Denmark:

1. Start packing early. I made the odious task of packing for myself and my two daughters easier by starting a week in advance (the Big Man packed at 10 pm the night before we left). I brought the big suitcase into my bedroom, and whenever I thought of something (sunscreen, passports, adapter) I put it in. However, if you start packing early, you must…

2. Keep a list. I didn’t, and that was a mistake. Because I was packing over the course of the week, by the end, I’d forgotten what I’d already put in. Had I packed the bathing suits, or not? In the end, I forgot to pack any socks for myself. I’d thought about doing it so many times, but I’d never actually done it. So make a list and check things off. This is a good idea, anyway.

3. Spend money where it helps. I was in utter bliss because I bought a new large backpack to use as my plane bag, which, because I was traveling with my kids, weighed about 100 pounds. Several years ago, my mother gave me a large, attractive bag to use as a plane bag, and I’ve used it ever since. But on my last trip, I realized: I would much prefer to use a backpack, that I could wear comfortably on my back, than to carry a heavy bag that pulls on one shoulder. I looked a bit silly, but I didn’t care.

4. Pack almonds. Several months ago, on a family trip with my in-laws, I realized that my periodic bouts of crabbiness were related to hunger. I seem to get hungry much more often than most adults, and I’m also a very picky eater. For this trip, I packed a bag of almonds, and it made a huge difference in being able to maintain my mood. Almonds made a great travel snack, because they’re light, don’t crumble, don’t stain, don’t need preparation, and are filling and nutritious. The one downside: it’s tempting to eat the entire bag at one sitting. I had to use some self-control to keep the bag going for the whole trip.

5. Return a day early. When I was growing up, we always returned from trips at the last minute, to eke out as much time as possible at whatever place we were visiting. But my in-laws plan their trips differently, and I’ve converted to their approach: they build in a re-entry day. On this trip, we came back on Saturday, so we had a day to sleep late, do errands, catch up on mail and email, re-stock the fridge, etc. The re-entry day made the trip shorter, but it made the overall vacation experience more enjoyable. It’s no fun to go away for a relaxing week, but then find yourself stressed out again a few hours after you’re back at home.

6. Unpack right away. The Big Man is adamant about this. The last thing I felt like doing when we arrived home from a week away was to tackle the unpacking, but he was right, we both felt much better when we’d put that task behind us. It made it a lot easier to unwind and enjoy being home.

What else? What have you learned about how to approach trips so that they’re more fun?

*
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Comments

[Jeri Dansky]

Some of the things I learned from MY last trip are here:
http://www.jdorganizer.com/2008-08newsletter.html

I'm not much of an almond eater; my equivalent of your #4 was "Pack Luna Bars."

[Pete]

Great advice. I use the same 're-entry' day myself. The only thing I can't do is eat almonds (I have Crohn's disease).

Maybe I'll try pretzels instead.

http://yinvsyang.com/

[Trish]

I second the almond tip. Trader Joe's has these big bags of almonds wrapped in to single servings (a bunch of little bags in a big bag). I absolutely love them. Although all that packaging isn't very environmentally friendly, it does help with portion control and portability.

[Jason]

I think this is a great list. I especially like # 5 and 6. Something that my wife really likes is to make sure the house is clean when we leave so that upon return you are coming home to a nice clean home. Our last vacation we didn't get home until late in the evening and it was very nice to step into a nice clean home instead of a mess.

[Corporette]

Regarding the first two items -- a friend of mine showed me a drawing a while ago: it was graphic list of everything she was going to pack on a trip to Paris. It had whimsical drawings of tights, underwear, socks, and specific items from her closet. The drawing was adorable, and I told her she ought to try to have it made into a t-shirt on Threadless.

I've since picked up the practice of graphically drawing what I'm going to pack. I'm not a very talented artist, but I have great fun doing my stick-figure drawings of different outfits. I don't actually start packing until the night before the trip -- not enough space in my apartment -- but I start the list, the mental packing, about a week ahead of time. It works surprisingly well in terms of keeping me organized and efficient in my packing; I think something about the visual nature of it also helps me put together outfits, figure out what can be worn again, etc.

[Gayle]

These tips came at the perfect time for me. We are going on vacation very soon and in recent years I have gotten out of my usual habit of preparing early. Leaving things to the last minute definitely adds to pre-vacation stress for me. Thank you for the reminder!

[Bill of Contours Express Ladies Fitness]

Gretchen,

Great advice! I just want to remind everyone that even though they are on vacation, it makes sense to try and add in a small workout each day they are gone. It doesn't have to be full scale; something as simple as jumping jacks or pushups before the morning shower will give you extra energy and make the vacation that much more enjoyable. It also makes the transition back to the normal workout schedule upon returning much easier!

[Fit Bottomed Girl]

All good tips! I have found that making a list on the computer is even better. You can make the list, save it, and then print it out each time you travel. I have lists saved for common trips I take for work, camping, to see family, etc. Saves time and energy! Plus, I rarely forget anything!

[Ruth]

As an adult, I'm a word person, so I write out my packing list. But when we were kids, my mom would draw our packing lists for us. We'd have pictures of things like a pair of pants or a shirt and a number next to it for the number of them we needed to pack.

[Donna]

I also have a problem with hunger affecting my moods, particularly if I'm low on protein. I've found the same thing with my daughters--if they breakfast on fruit, cereal and toast, they often get crabby later on, I need to be sure they have some protein as well.

[Gillian]

When I make my list, I use at least three columns: tops, bottoms, other. If there is something that have a part in another column to go with it, I know I have to make a correction.

[Matin]

Great article, One other thing I would add is to clean the house before leaving for vacation. Nothing better than returning to a clean house:-)
X M

[Matin]

Great article, One other thing I would add is to clean the house before leaving for vacation. Nothing better than returning to a clean house:-)
X M

[Chris]

Really helpful article. I always try to plan both a pre-takeoff day and a re-entry day - makes vacations so much more enjoyable if you have a whole day before the vacation actually begins to pack, do last-minute errands, etc.

As for cleaning the house, I agree - coming home to a clean house is divine - instead of giving myself yet another task,I arrange with a wonderful domestic goddess to clean the house while we're away - I figure it as part of the cost of the vacation.

[Tracey]

All great tips- but I cannot pack that early! I wouldn't have enough clean wash to go around! A tip that I will add for the tech people- my husband travels with every gadget known to man, so to keep all those cords confined with the right gadget- I put the item and the cord in a Ziploc together and voila', no more scrambling the night before we leave.

[Peggy Payne]

My added tip: Remember that there are drugstores in other cities, states, and countries. Forgetting to pack a toothbrush isn't a disaster; it's an opportunity for a little field trip to a local emporium.

This is a wonderfully useful site. I just posted about it on my Boldness Blog.

[pkzcass]

I couldn't agree more about the reentry day; it's crucial for us. And cleaning the house before leaving is a must. We usually change the bed sheets, vacuum, put everything where it belongs, clean the bathrooms, and put toilet bowl cleaner in the toilets and just let it sit there the whole time we're gone. There's nothing better than coming home from a vacation (especially one involving alot of travel) to a freshly made bed and a clean home. It's like going on vacation all over again.

[sharyn]

One of my favorite travel tips is to convert some of my travel cash so that I have twenty one dollar bills, at least four fives, and several tens. I also get maybe $5 worth of quarters. This is especially helpful if you are going anywhere where you may need to tip or have cab fare, and also for vending machines. I usually try to wear something with pockets, and I will have some ones, a five and quarters in my pockets - great for not digging in your purse in an airport or cab.
Also, I carry a dirty clothes duffel in each of our suitcases (a plastic garbage bag would do) to keep dirty clothes separated from clean, and to toss into the laundry room as soon as we unpack.
I keep a toiletry kit ready to go at all times, stocked with travel sized items I use regularly (including OTC medicines and first aid stuff) - all I have to add is make-up. I buy items (on sale!) to replace used-up ones after I get home, so it stays ready for next time.
I, too, always leave a neat and reasonably clean house to come home to and, if at all possible, plan for a re-entry day. That can be unexpectedly helpful if you get a flight cancellation or some serious delay on the way home, too.

[Dawn]

We are adopting this Fall and already have packing lists. My ? ~ Did you have any issues with the large backpack? Was it your carry-on? Personal bag? Any issue with it being too big if it was your personal bag and NOT your carry-on?

[Dakota]

Re-entry day...yes!...been doing that for years. Essential!
Here's a tip I learned while traveling to NYC alone with a 20 month old: I've always been an 'overpacker' because I need choices to build outfits, but with the car seat and child's suitcase, I couldn't afford to overpack this time. I learned something funny from 'The Fabulous Life of Kimora Lee Simmons'...her stylists took polaroids of all of her planned outfits for her trips!...so I did the same and put the day of the week on the white part at the bottom. It worked! Now, I've heard that polaroid film isn't going to be produced anymore :(...but I'm sure you could do the same with digital photos printed as a thumbnail sheet.

[Ana]

The almonds is something I hadn't thought about... I second the Luna and Clark bars, they have been a major help while traveling although I know some locals won't let you bring food / candy through (good to check first).

Redbook magazine had a packing list by Samantha Brown which has proven to be extremly helpful. I'm one of those people who always packs way too much nonsense.

*My tip* is to bring along a first aid kit of some sort stocked with items such as daily vitamins, green tea, mini Disinfecting Spray and so on to help prevent colds. I was forced to do this in earnest this year as I had a packed travel log and, ever since I was a child, I would literally get sick everytime I slept in a hotel room. It got so bad I actually had to turn down trip invites.

[Alex Fayle]

When it comes to packing I'm a mix of you and the Big Man. I will start pulling together things long before I go (to make sure they're clean and that I don't need to buy something for the trip), but then I do the actual final pack the night before and check it off against my life, thus making sure I haven't forgotten something I'd only thought about.

[HuntGrunt]

In terms of the packing list:
Write up a master packing list when you return/unpack. This way it will be ready for the next trip and you won't forget stuff, because -- during your trip -- you will have written in all the stuff you wished you took but didn't. It also helps to have seasonal variations on your packing list. A business trip or summer holiday might require different things than a vacation or winter holiday.

[Michael]

I used to experience a lot of anxiety regarding packing, until finally I made a master packing list that I store on my computer. I use it to guide my packing (so that I only have to say "yes" or "no" for a particular trip, but not actually think) AND I pack a couple of them so that I can quickly repack when moving from place to place and not have anxiety about leaving things behind.

This year, I'm trying a bold new step -- I do an audit after I return from a trip and write down what I actually wore and didn't wear. It yields some interesting learnings. Apparently I benefit from having lots of shirts but all I need is a pair of jeans and one pair of alternate pants. No shorts required (this was France).

[Michael Melcher]

I also have a kit of over-the-counter meds that I always take with me on airplane flights, primarily consisting of remedies for headaches, stomach troubles, and allergies, along with earplugs and a sleep mask. I adopted this after being coiled into a fetal position for 11 hours on a flight from New York to Tel Aviv 9 years ago without anything to soothe my stomach. Never again.

While it's fun to shop for little doo-dads at foreign stores, keep in mind that it can be really difficult in many countries to find OTC remedies at airports. They are frequently sold only at pharmacies which keep odd hours.

I did learn that if you really need meds and haven't packed them, just ask any middle-aged American female if they have what you are looking for. In my experience, our gals travel with EVERYTHING and are happy to share.

www.thecreativelawyer.com

[Jane]

:) Hi, absolutely all of these things I do on on a trip be it small, ie driving or large flying / cruising etc.

I write a list for all family members of what is needed to take on the trip. Not just clothes and shoes and toiletries but things like Cameras , medicines etc
I make sure to start getting things organized at least 2-3 weeks ahead. Not to pack necessarily at that stage but to get suitcases/travel bags out and dusted out etc
Ensure that you have dentist check up and even a doctors appt before going abroad. Get pets organized well and truly in advance staying with family / friends or kennels. Ensure all vaccinations are up to date.

I always make a list of what I will be doing. An itinerary even if its not regimen tally stuck too gives a more structured and lest *wasteful* feel to a holiday. Even if its a very generalized one

Also write a list of who to buy presents for

Some people like to just take it as it comes but those that are not that way inclined will benefit from lists...

Lists for everything

[Jane]

Oh and I absolutely have recharge days when returning from, a holdiday.
Holidays can be exhausting !
So always take a few days even to recharge

[Mary]

Great list - we do all of these things. Re-entry day is a must. Also try to clean the house before you leave - wash your sheets and make your bed, too - so you come home to a nice clean house. It makes a huge difference!

[Susan]

I've made a checklist of things to do before a trip, like booking the petsitter, returning library books, looking online for coupons for places we'll be visiting, etc. I've got it divided into "two weeks before," "week before," "day before," and "day of departure."

I agree with everyone who likes to come home to a clean house and always try to have a re-entry day if possible. Before we leave, I also make a short shopping list for that first run to the grocery store when we get back.

I, too, have a toiletry bag and a medicine bag packed all the time. I refill it as needed after a trip and then it's always ready. For some reason, filling all those travel bottles seems to take more time when you're trying to get packed than it does when you have lots of time.

[Rosanne]

I put clean linens on my bed right before I leave, so I have the enjoyment of a clean cool bed when I return -- prolonging that holiday feeling.

[The Healthy Librarian]

Loved your tip about coming home 1 day early. It makes re-entry so much easier. And unpacking right away--another gem. But, I sure hate to do it!

I'm a real over-planner when it comes to travel. Sometimes it's a good thing--when is insures I take along everything I need.

Here's the list of the must-haves in my travel bag:

http://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healthy_long_life/2008/04/i-dont-leave--1.html

But sometimes it's best to be able to switch gears, and make yourself open to the changes that travel presents. Not so easy for me to do.

Here's what happened on a recent impromptu trip I made to St. Louis with my son:

http://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healthy_long_life/2008/07/stretching-in-st-louis---try-something-new-build-new-cells-at-the-same-time.html

And sometimes travel is just plain stressful, no matter what you do. Like the 3 back-to-back trips that begin tomorrow:

http://www.happyhealthylonglife.com/happy_healthy_long_life/2008/08/on-the-road-again-more-stretching-in-st-louis-family-in-florida-nuptials-in-nyc-im-going-to-try-out-lemon-balm-valer.html

[James Hanley]

These are all good tips. Here's one I would add: If doing a driving vacation, take the longest leg of the trip first, then work your way back slowly. Many people work through the trip slowly, then zoom back on the last day. Coming back bit by bit, even driving only 3 hours on your last day, instead of pushing through the day before, leaves you much more refreshed upon your return home,

[missbossy]

When I pack, I put a small inflatable rubber ring into my suitcase to fill up the extra space. When I travel, I invariably collect goodies along the way and I simply need to deflate the rubber ring to make space for them.

It also means I don't need so many pieces of luggage because I can use the same bag for short trips without things swimming around in the case.

[apikoros]

In terms of backpacks, I recommend the Rick Steves convertible style. I heard him talking on one of his shows and bought one and I've used that style ever since. I wore out the (expensive) original, and have since purchased an aftermarket one of similar design (no name, of course, but cheaper). I love having the option of top handle, side handle, shoulder strap, or backpack... whatever you want, it's got! And I have a strict rule... if you can't fit it in the pack, leave it home! I know this will not be possible for a lot of people, but as an old solitary male (one of my "friends" calls me a "feral bachelor" :-), one piece of luggage is all I allow myself. I have not regretted that resolution on trips lasting up to a month, honest!

[The Happiness Workshop]

I always like to see how other people interpret things different or similarly to myself.

Here I was thinking I was in a minority because I take almonds with me.

An interesting post.

Thanks,
Dr Andrew Power

[Zigman]

As a frequent traveller, I agree with most of your great tips. However, I usually pack late without a list. The trick is to do it in one go, going methodically through closet and drawers while calculating ho much of each item I need. Once I've finished raiding each drawer and closet section, I am reasonably sure I got everything. You do nee to have a stable organization in your closet and drawers for that, of course. But the really crucial thing to remember is the holy trinity of travel: Money (incl. credit cards) - passport - tickets. Most of the other stuff you might forget can usually be bought easily.

[Linda]

Yes, especially the last one. If you don't unpack right away, your stuff is misplaced and your home is a wreck till it's done. And Jason's tip is good, too. When I came home last time, it was to a *clean* house, and made me feel much better after hectic air travel and a big trip through the airport delayed my getting home for an hour or so later than I thought.

[Fsh]

I've got a couple.
I have a few 'sets' of things that I keep packed at all times to just throw into the suitcase. I have a toiletries set that doesn't get touched until I get to my destination and remains stocked all the time. I have a beach set with bathingsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen and towel. I have a camping set, etc.
I pack the night before I leave and then leave the bag open overnight - but I always leave a pad of paper beside the bed so that I can scrawl down my last -minute panic ideas and go round them up in the morning, chuck'em in and then don't worry about forgetting things.

[Debbie M]

Great tips.

I do every one of them with the exception of returning a day early. I do try to at least leave myself a few hours before bedtime now though, so I guess I’m using 1/3 of that tip! And I also do like Jason’s wife and Matin and leave the house clean and (if possible) the refrigerator stocked to minimize the stress on return.

I’ve started trying to learn from my packing lists, too. I check off each thing as I pack it. Then after the trip, I put another check next to things I actually used, and I add to the bottom of the list things that I wished I had brought.

Then I file the list so that next time I go on a similar trip I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. (I’ve never thought of a master list. Interesting. I wonder if that would work for me. I certainly have a master resume, from which I delete irrelevant things when I’m making a resume for a specific job. I suppose that should work. Thanks, Michael!)

I also second Sharon’s ideas for plastic bags (they can be used for more things than dirty clothes, too) and a toiletry kit. Note—you must refill the toiletry kit when you get back or one day you will be out of shampoo on your trip. Also, I’m finally learning to remember that even though I have a toiletry kit, I still need to also remember to bring a hairbrush.

I sort of do Ana’s idea about the first aid kit. Actually more like Michael Melcher’s. Mine is in my purse and has things I always need like ibuprofen and earplugs. (Apparently I am overly sensitive to loud noises.) Also, tweezers have come in handy on desert trips. I hate that pocket knives are no longer allowed on planes unless you check your baggage.

Other things I’ve learned:

1) Planning is half the fun. I love researching my destination for weeks or months before I go. Not only do I get good deals, but I enjoy learning interesting things about the new place. I also like to find maps and make lists of things to do. If there are too many things to do, I try to prioritize the list. There’s still plenty of random walking around and stuff, but it’s fun to also look forward to specific attractions (even though some of them will turn out to be closed or whatever).

2) If the place is in any way alien (a different country, a different part of the country, or anything else), spend some time in ordinary places to see what’s different. Things that are boring at home, like grocery shopping, can be quite fun in a different area.

3) Take pictures and write a journal. I’d rather stay up late and not have enough sleep than to not record the day’s activities before I forget. Later, if I’m good, I make an album from my pictures and notes, and I love looking through my albums later. Looking through my albums lets me re-live many of the fun bits without having to re-live the icky bits. If I'm not good, it's still fun to look at my journal later.

4) If I learn anything cool at all, I like to throw a related party when I get back to share some of the fun with my friends. For example, after visiting Carlsbad Caverns, I had a party with silly signs on the stairwell about danger like they had in the cave, I taped fangs (made of cones of paper) to my stuffed pig and made a display about javalinas, and of course I made paper bats and hung them from the ceiling. I also tape maps and pictures to the wall and leave brochures out. Related foods and drink make good party snacks, too. Related music is fun, too. And sometimes this makes the trip more fun, too. Like I’ll save the ingredients list on a sandwich I bought so it can help me re-create the recipe for my party.

5) It’s okay to pay a lot of money for things you will love that are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Duh. For exmaple, I didn’t pay to go to the top of the Arch d’Triomphe, but there really is an amazing view up there, not to mention the bragging rights of climbing all those steps, and I really wish I had done it.

[Stephen]

Great list. I'd only add two things:

1) Revised and keep the packing list for future trips. I print mine out and check off the items when they're packed and then check them off as I'm packing to return to make sure I didn't leave anything.

2) Give yourself a day off BEFORE and after trip.

[Krissi]

Your blog is so inspiring.

[C.S.]

There's a whole bunch of things that you need on vacation that you can't pack until the last minute: cosmetics, toothpaste, hair curling equipment, shaving things, basically the stuff you need every anyway. Everyone's always forgetting something from this list. So here's what you need to do:

Get a double of everything you need in the way of toiletries, put it all in a travel case, and leave it in your otherwise empty suitcase, ready for your as-yet-unplanned next trip. That way, all you need to think about is clothes and what you'll read on the plane.

[Leitrim]

When you get home from a trip, instead of just unpacking, take all laundry straight to a wash and fold laundry and pay to have it done. It might cost a few bucks, but it ends your trip with all the laundry done and you don't have to deal with it. Believe me, it's great

[Leitrim]

When you get home from a trip, instead of just unpacking, take all laundry straight to a wash and fold laundry and pay to have it done. It might cost a few bucks, but it ends your trip with all the laundry done and you don't have to deal with it. Believe me, it's great

[tasterspoon]

Pack earphones. Sometimes they charge you to rent them, but you can use your own.

This only works domestically, but when I travel from California to anywhere else (particularly for athletic events), I pack...produce! Like oranges or pomegranates, or even broccoli.

When I'm in a vacation town with only tired iceberg salads or at the whim of meat & pancakes family, I find it soothing to know I'm getting my five a day.

I also pack a constant stream of snacks for the airplane, and share them with my seatmates. Full tummies = happy fliers.

[billyjoe]

Coffee achievers know to pack a small portable water heater, coffee filter/filter cup, portable mug, and 8 oz of good strong French Roast with (optional) packets of cream and sugar. Im a morning person no matter where I am; I relish being able to stay in my room and enjoy a cuppa Joe, especially when there's a view of the ocean, mountains, etc. If you know your accommodations include coffee-making tools, at least remember to bring your favorite grind.

[June]

Glad to see I am doing things right! On our last trip a few weeks ago I couldn't believe how "easy" it all was! I solved my latest bugaboo of what to do with all the printed sheets of boarding passes, hotel info etc. that didn't fit into any envelopes. I didn't want a big brown envelope in my purse so I made an envelope bigger than the standard business size envelope out of heavy paper. It's my new favorite thing for travel.

[Mauimom]

Depending on where you're going [I used this on a trip to Egypt], pack "older" clothes, especially t-shirts & underwear. Underwear I just throw away at the end of the trip; t-shirts I leave with a note for hotel staff, guides, etc. Ditto re socks, half-full toiletry bottles, older tennis shoes, etc. I then have LOTS of room to bring home the BOOKS that I'm usually picking up along the way. [I'm not a big souvenir person, but there'd be room for them if you were.]

[Mauimom]

Depending on where you're going [I used this on a trip to Egypt], pack "older" clothes, especially t-shirts & underwear. Underwear I just throw away at the end of the trip; t-shirts I leave with a note for hotel staff, guides, etc. Ditto re socks, half-full toiletry bottles, older tennis shoes, etc. I then have LOTS of room to bring home the BOOKS that I'm usually picking up along the way. [I'm not a big souvenir person, but there'd be room for them if you were.]

[carol stanleyc]

I liked your article...The packing thing..It is really simple..the big list...and keep it open so you can add...and also be sure you already have what you need. carol stanley author of FOr Kids 59.99 and Over

[Melissa]

Yes! These are all fabulous travel tips, and I religiously abide by every single one of them myself!

To echo several readers' comments, my husband and I also ALWAYS return to a clean house; and we have learned the hard way that we should ALWAYS travel with cash.

One fun thing I've been doing lately is packing toiletry samples that I receive free -- shampoo, lotion, toothpaste... I am constantly signing up for free samples online (i.e. at mysavings.com), and I save it for upcoming trips. This may not work for everyone, but it's saved us lots of money and space in our toiletry bag over the past couple years!

[Rob Williams]

Great tips! I can tell that you do a lot of traveling, I do also. We have almost all the same habits! Haha. I’m an ambassador for Hampton Inns, I had some info that it seems like you'd be interested in, I thought I’d let you know about it.

Hampton Inn is offering 10% off the best available rate until September 1st. We’re also giving away bikes, vacations and a lot of other stuff for the Olympic Games!

Check it out here: http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/ en/hp/promotions/hx_su mmerpromo08/index.jhtm l?cid=OM,HX,Dreams,Specials&it=Specials,Dreams

Check out this video also and let me know what you think! Hope I didn’t bother or cross any boundaries by contacting you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=D2Y0jf-BKpI

Best,
Rob Williams
Official Hampton Inn Ambassador
naturalhouse302@gmail.com

[Gary]

We have a checklist on an Excel spreadsheet that lists all the things we need to do before leaving on vacation and all the stuff we need to pack. We developed it originally for a two-month sabbatical with lots of hiking and other outdoor activities so it's pretty complete and helps assure that all our bases are covered.

[Jay]

Hi Gretchen,

Welcome home, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. I am in the travel and hospitality industry, and agree with all your suggestions.

I would add another that I learned traveling with a spouse, kids, or significant others.

Remember that in new and unfamiliar places some underlying fears of getting lost, appearing ignorant, etc. often escalate into needless arguments that can spoil the vacation attitude. When I expect a little discomfort in new surroundings, and communicate this to my supportive 'sig. others', it clears the air to just have fun with it, rather than getting all peeved, if things weren't exactly as expected.

[Nan]

I do many of the things listed above including clean the house, change sheets, laundry is all done, an extra day to re-acclimate, pre-packed bag with OTC products used regularly and one more tip. I have gone to Travel-Smith and purchased plastic bags in different sizes that will hold specific types of items like bras & underwear, folded tops, socks. Each pack is easily pulled out of my luggage and placed in a drawer when I reach my destination. I've bought different colors and they velcro shut so as to keep items snug.

I'm going on a short trip soon and have promised myself that I'll remember to bring the dollars for tips and change. Perhaps I'll finally make out a master travel list once and for all!

When coordinating outfits, I lay out piles of tops, pants/shorts & sweaters so that I can visualize outfits and have learned that more tops are necessary by 3 to 1.

[Vacation Condo]

Wow thanks for sharing this helpful tips,it will help me a lot for my next vacation summer
in St.Martin.Planning to take my vacation in this great place.

-Sarah

[yachtcharter griechenland]

Wow, I never knew that Vacation time: Six tips for enjoying a vacation that I learned on my recent trip.. That's pretty interesting...

[yacht charter greece]

I was just thinking aboutStart packing early. I made the odious task of packing for myself and my two daughters easier by starting a week in advance and you've really helped out. Thanks!

[Michelle]

Don't forget to pack a variety of books! Stop by the library and pick up a "destination" book - one whose topic or location coincides with your vacation activities or spot. Also, bring along several titles, in case your mindset shifts during your time off - in addition to the heavy biography, don't forget the brain candy.