Making Sense Of Cents

Learn how to make extra money, how to save money, how to start a blog, and more.

JOIN OVER 300,000
MONTHLY READERS!
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • About
  • Categories
    • SAVE MONEY
    • Side Job Ideas
    • Blogging Tips
    • Budget Tips
    • Career Advice
    • College
    • Pay Off Debt
    • Extra Income
    • My Life
    • Minimalism
    • Pet-Related
    • Real Estate Help
    • Retirement
    • Product Reviews
    • Self-Employment Tips
    • Travel
      • RV Life
    • Wedding
  • How To Start a Blog
  • FREE FB GROUP
  • Recommendations
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • How To Save Money
  • Make Extra Money
  • Blogging Courses
    • Affiliate Marketing Course
    • Making Sense of Sponsored Posts
  • Travel

Travel and Packing Tips

Last Updated: July 11, 2013 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 14 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

664shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Travel and Packing TipsToday I have a guest post from Becky over at House of Sykes! Enjoy. Be sure to check out her blog!

My husband and I are leaving next month to spend a week in Mexico. While daydreaming about our vacation since we booked it today, I started to compile a sample packing list for someone taking an all inclusive tropical vacation. Of course, the amount you pack is contingent on how many days you are staying, so adjust accordingly.

Here are a few of my suggestions (aside from obvious ones like a toothbrush and underoos):

  • 3-4 bathing suits: you live a bathing suits during the day in the tropics. they’re tiny and lightweight – perfect for carry on luggage.
  • Tervis tumblers: most all inclusive resorts will fill up your tumbler instead of the tiny plastic cups on the beach or by the pool. tumbler = more drinky drinky and no sweaty glass!
  • medicine: everything from Tylenol to Immodium and everything in between. be sure to also pack a small first aid kit.
  • electronics: some of you know that we LOVE to stay in touch with home while we’re away, so we take the laptop and cell phones with us. this also includes the DSLR camera and a point and shoot. having so many electronics with us also helps back up the photos we’ve taken. we keep them on the SD card, laptop, I-pod and smart phone. if we lose something, we’re sure to have the photos backed up somewhere!
  • snacks: we discovered on our last trip to Mexico that US Airways no longer provides complimentary snacks in flight. not to mention, food in the airport is crazy expensive. take your own snacks that are high in sugar – nabs, honey buns, granola, etc. to keep you energized while you’re traveling.
  • pens, passports, travel documents: when flying internationally, you will need these items with you in flight. take your own pens so you don’t have to borrow someone else’s to fill out your customs forms. this prevents the spread of germs too. (did you see “Contagion”?)
  • 3 dresses: you rarely eat with the same people each night, so no one will know that you’re wearing the same dress to dinner on Saturday night that you wore on Wednesday night. pack jersey type material so if it gets bunched up during your travel, it won’t wrinkle.
  • 3 pairs of shoes: 2 pairs in the suitcase; 1 pair on your feet. come on ladies, you’re on vacation, not a runway. there’s no need to pack your entire wardrobe. you are on vacation to relax, not impress.
  • plastic bags: include a quart size freezer back for each carry on. include a plastic grocery bag to pack wet bathing suits for the journey home.

Hope these packing tips help if you are going on a vacation somewhere fun and hot!

Michelle’s comment: Thinking about packing puts me in such a good mood! I’m a horrible packer though. If I’m gone for just 2 days, I will still bring 20 dresses. I actually counted last time, and when we went to Miami last August for 3 days, I brought 19 dresses (plus shorts).

How do you pack? What are your traveling “essentials”?

Related Posts

  • 2020 Business and Life Review2020 Business and Life Review
  • My True Travel Insurance Story – A Broken Leg & Surgery in the Dominican RepublicMy True Travel Insurance Story – A Broken Leg & Surgery in the Dominican Republic
  • How To Rent An RV: The Best Tips For Your First RV RentalHow To Rent An RV: The Best Tips For Your First RV Rental
  • How I Travel Full-Time By RV And Boat With My 2 DogsHow I Travel Full-Time By RV And Boat With My 2 Dogs
  • 10 Easy Camping Meals For You To Try10 Easy Camping Meals For You To Try
  • Full-Time RV Travel With Kids – Are They Crazy?Full-Time RV Travel With Kids – Are They Crazy?
664shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

14 Comments
Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Guest Post, Travel

About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Holly says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:32 am

    Great tips, I never thought to pack my Tervis tumbler!

    Reply
  2. femmefrugality says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:35 am

    I usually go pretty light weight…I don't like to have to check anything. On top of baggage fees, I don't like the idea of them losing my stuff. Love the tumbler tip!

    Reply
  3. Valerie Griffin says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:59 am

    great tips! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Rick @ Invest In 201 says

    February 25, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Nice! Where are you guys leaving to in Mexico (if you don't mind me asking)?

    Reply
    • House of Sykes says

      February 26, 2012 at 9:37 am

      We are going to the Riviera Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula!

      Reply
  5. Lisa says

    February 25, 2012 at 11:01 am

    I over pack too! For two days I will bring 5 of everything! It is crazy 🙂

    Reply
  6. Caitlin C. says

    February 25, 2012 at 11:15 am

    This was the perfect post for me to read because I'm actually leaving for a week-long Mexico vacation on Friday!! These are awesome tips and I will definitely take them 🙂

    Reply
  7. Canadian Saver says

    February 25, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Michelle, that is too funny, 19 dresses for 3 days!I think the tips are great…. I went with a carry on for 2 weeks in France, but I usually brought way too many outfits.

    Reply
  8. Cash Only Living says

    February 25, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    My packing list includes: one bathing suit (that doesnt come out unless there is no one else on the beach otherwise it is capris and a tank top!), acidophilous (hands down best tummy fixer ever), a gallon of sunscreen, and extra memory cards for my camera (these are usually super expensive if you have to buy them in a resort area). Hope you have a wonderful vacation!

    Reply
  9. laura @ nomorespendi says

    February 26, 2012 at 4:55 am

    Great tips Michelle – we always pack light, carry on only. I love not having to wait for our bags.

    Reply
  10. [email protected] says

    February 26, 2012 at 7:14 am

    I'm ashamed to admit it, but I love bringing my Crocs shoes on vacation. They're super comfy for walking around and they're just as good on land as they are in the water. Saves me having to bring a separate pair of water shoes.

    Reply
  11. BrokeElizabeth says

    February 27, 2012 at 1:39 am

    Great list. I've never been on a 'hot weather' vacation, so it's interesting to see a packing list for a different destination climate than I'm used to.

    Reply
  12. Rafiki says

    February 29, 2012 at 5:24 am

    Not bad, I'm a dude so it differs a bit. As I've never traveled on my own or totally on my own terms, I've never packed for myself, every time I did travel though I believe I carried too much stuff. Starting from this year though I will know how I should be packing as I will be gaining experience.

    Reply
  13. hotel at siem reap says

    September 25, 2012 at 9:34 pm

    I beloved up to you'll receive performed right here. The comic strip is tasteful, your authored material stylish. however, you command get got an edginess over that you would like be delivering the following. sick for sure come more until now once more as exactly the same just about very continuously inside case you protect this increase.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Making Sense of Cents welcome page photo
Hello and welcome!
My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.
Follow on Bloglovin

Subscribe Via Email

As Seen On

as seen on
How To Start A Blog
making sense of affiliate marketing for bloggers
My Monthly Online Income Reports
My Student Loans Are Gone - How I Paid Off $38,000 In Student Loans
Buying a House at 20 (How I did it)
How To Make Money Blogging Picture
How To Save 50% Or More Of Your Income Picture
How I Graduated From College In 2.5 Years With 2 Degrees AND Saved $37,500
75+ Ways To Make Extra Money

Subscribe Via Email

HOME
CONTACT

POPULAR POSTS
How To Make Money Blogging
How To Start A Blog Tutorial
I Paid $40K In Student Loans By 24
75 Ways To Make Extra Money

PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
DISCLAIMER / EARNINGS DISCLAIMER

Copyright © 2011 - 2021. All Rights Reserved.

© 2021 Making Sense of Cents
Design by Swoon & Co. Creative