Packing for your domestic travel

Travel packing list

When packing for a trip we always keep three things:

1. Our destination and the weather.  Watch the ten day forecast and follow the trend of the weather.  Many times google will give you an idea of what the weather could be like but you do not want to get stuck on a beach without a swimsuit or in the mountains in a rain storm without a jacket.  In order to not over pack watch your favorite weather app or two.  

2.  Know your itinerary.  Will you need that suit for dinner more than once or can you get away with wearing a dressier shirt?  Do you need those four pair of sexy heels or will you only need comfortable shoes?  Remember every pound counts when you are moving around on your adventures.  

3.  Air plane weight can play a big role in your travels.  Many of our trip itineraries have us moving around from place to place for two weeks.  We may stay in 4 or 5 hotels along the way.  We know the easier the better when it comes to packing.  We try to stay as compact as we can without losing the things we really need.  

If you can master the packing, the rest will be easy.    

We each own a large suitcase and a carry on roller suitcase.  As well as a backpack we can use in either the mountains or city.  My purse is a small cross body bag that I can store in my backpack until we get to our destination.  I do not want that to count as my personal item.  We also bring our empty water bottle with us through security and fill it up at the fill station.  This helps with the dehydration from flying.  We do not want a headache from flying.  TSA liquids rules Make sure you look into the new TSA rules before you pack.  

The most important things to pack first are the things you cannot live without and should be in your carry on.  

• Sunglasses
• Wallet (this should be first in your pocket / Purse before you leave.) 
• Cash  ( Some out of the way places still use only cash) 
• Passports / License / Vaccine Card (We use our Passport for all travel.  Get a plastic passport holder that has a pocket for you Vaccine card.  This keeps it all together.) 

The rest on the list can be replaced if you have your wallet and some cash.  Not that you want to but you can still have a nice break from normal life it you forget everything else.  That vacation everyone wants.  

Don't forget snacks for the plane.  You can get your coffee and snacks at the airport but many times we are running to the gate and can't get anything before.  So plan accordingly.  You can always eat your snacks on the line for your rental car. 

The following is a guide for the things we may bring on most of our trips.  The numbers of things we pack may change according to the trip we may be going on.  

 

• Dress Shirt depending on destination 
• Pants/ Shorts
• Swimsuit
• Long-sleeved shirt/ hoodie (we always bring one of these regardless of the destination.  You never know how cold it may get in the evening.  We also tend to stay out into the later hours enjoying the sunset.  
• Clothes (enough for the days going.  This also depends on the destination)  Check the weather and make sure to mix and match as much as you can so you can have several outfits and can pack lighter.  
• Sleep clothes
• Socks (If your significant other likes the air to be down to blizzard temp than you know socks are a must) 
• Under clothes (extra in case you extend your trip or can't find a place to wash clothes if that was in the plans.) 
• gym / running shoes gym clothes

Beach/Pool/lake/river

• Beach Towels (some hotels may provide them)
• Small packable tote bag ( Shoppers Tote This can be packed small) 
• Sunscreen  (small size to bring on pane) 
• Water Shoes/ flip flips/crocs (I bring flip flops usually because going barefoot in a hotel sometimes is not ideal) 

We are in the age of Technology.  With only two travelers we have at least ten things charging at all times.  For a family of four it could be so much more.  We have two computers an iPad, phones, watches, camera gear, and much more.  We bought a travel power strip.  

Technology

• Potable charger for phone
• Power bank
• Laptop/ iPad
• Cell Phone
• Ipass / blue tooth toll box
• Surge Protector for the Hotel or Car
• watch for Fitbit/Apple Watch
• Camera I have a bigger camera but you can use your phone or smaller camera
• Camera Backpack (if you do not use a bigger camera omit this) 
• Tripod ( no camera no Tripod) 
• Selfie stick or remote for camera / Phone (This is a must in out of the way areas)
• Portable Power Strip  This is the one we have.  There are many like this. 
• Headphones (Bluetooth are the rage but don't get caught with no power.  Make sure you have a backup)
• Foldable lunch box / cooler ( we bring this to put our daily lunch in as we travel. This folds up into our suitcase) 

Travel 

Car/ Plane

• Neck pillow / Travel
• Travel water bottles (reusable for the trip, might be able to hang on your backpack)
• Book/Magazine
• Hand sanitizer
• Lysol wipes

Medications 

Make sure these are in your personal item.  Many times they will have your bags put under the plane due to space.  You do not want to lose your medicine.  

• Advil/Motrin
• Medications you use daily
• Water ear drops (My husband suffers from ear aches from swimming)

We find the nearest grocery store to our hotel or rental home.  Before we leave we research to find out if there is a refrigerator or microwave.  This will dictate our grocery list.  If we stay longer than 2 nights in a place we may get more but we tend to place hop and get small amounts at each stop.  This is why we bring a small cooler.  Many times we will buy a cheap 5 dollar Styrofoam cooler and use that as we travel.  We will then find someone at the last hotel that will need it.  There are also many places that you stay that will take the last of your water bottles, unopened snacks or unopened beverages and donate them to someone who may need them.  

Grocery list ideas 

We tend to get up before breakfast at hotels to get going so we always make sure we have fast no cook breakfast ideas.  

• Oatmeal (overnight oats)
• Protein Shakes
• Protein Bars

Snack and lunch

• Apples
• Bananas
• Nuts/Dried fruit
• Lunch meat 
• Bread / Lunch Wrap 
• Sliced Cheese

Dinner

During our research we try to look at the food choices and plan our meals accordingly.  If it is a foodie town then Dinner will be at a local restaurant.  We ask the locals at the many places we visit for their recommendations and usually it is amazing.  Ask the cleaning people down the hall or the gas station attendant where they eat.  We have not been disappointed.  

Extra purchases

Many times we are in an area that is in the woods or high humidity, which means mosquitos.  This is when we will purchase smaller sizes of things that are considered extra. We will also need things to put our food in or clean up.   

• insect repellent (smaller version)
• Baggies (These are a must have since they are pliable and you can stuff the bags anywhere they may fit.  There are reusable ones and that is good too but remember you have to bring them back with you.  Sometimes we will use the same ones over again many times through our trip) 
• Small package of tissue for napkins

Be creative with what you get and how it can be used in many different ways. We know that if you get a protein shake we can add some granola for a tastier crunch to our shake with more fiber and protein when we are going on a long walk either through town or on a longer trail.  

Souvenirs 

We travel so much we try to only bring back photos or the occasional T-shirt for my mom who watches our cat but if you do not go often make sure you have extra room in room before you leave if you are someone who likes to buy things when you are traveling places.  If you are in a car then you do not have to worry but if you are traveling by plane that is a different story.  Pack lighter or plan to get some of your wardrobe there.  Weight can be a big cost issue.  Make sure you bring a hand held suitcase scale to help keep your suitcase underweight.  

* Suitcase scale Here is a link to a good one.  

                                  

*None of my links are affiliate or paid.  They are just to help guide you.  Change anything here to suit your needs.  This is just we do, and it changes somewhat to fit our current journey.