Summer traveling essentials

The summer season has finally arrived and many of us will be traveling to get away on much needed and long overdue vacations.   Whether you are going on an island adventure or a business trip, traveling can be a challenge especially with all the rules and regulations and bagage fees (not to mention the headache packing itself can cause).   Here are some packing/traveling tips that I have found work for me and might work for you as well.



Does this look familiar??  We have all been here!

 I don't pack early.  I know this can lead to frantic last minute throwing items into your suitcase (which I have done!) packing too early leads to forgetting what you have already packed and a greater risk that you are going to arrive at your destination with a suitcase of wrinkled clothes.   So, as a rule of thumb, I pack the night before and then the morning of the last essentials go in on the top.

Here is the order to my madness:   Shirts go on the bottom:   All my t's get folded very carefully and placed on the bottom of my suitcase.  Dresses are next:   I lay my dresses flat lenthwise across the suitcase and leave the ends of the dresses hanging over the sides.   Pants and skirts are last to go: Carefully place them over the dresses and fold them in half (you won't need to fold mini's) and then fold the ends of the dresses over the pants.  Pretty simple, but it works and keeps clothes from getting wrinked.  Shoes, ahhh shoes.... I think long and hard beforehand what shoes I REALLY need.  I try to stick with a couple basics that I can wear with multiple outfits.   For example, nude wedges are great for summer dresses and skirts and even shorts.    

Toileries I always place in a large ziplock bag for obvious reasons.  You don't want your shampoo ending up all over your suitcase.   Keep it simple.  Don't pack a family size shampoo and conditioner, that will take up half your suitcase!   You can always get shampoo from the hotel if you run out.  And you don't need your hairdryer, all hotels provide them so save the room for an extra pair of shoes!



Place tioletries in a zip lock bag to avoid spillage! 



Underwear goes in a mesh laundry bag or you can place it in the pockets on the sides of your suitcase.  Same goes for bathing suits.  I fold mine in half to save room but again, that's just me!  And don't forget something to sleep in.   If I am going to forget anything 9 times out of 10 that's it!  I also like to pack something to wear to continental breakfast like a pair of sweatpants or mesh shorts.  Sometimes you just want to grab a bagel and a coffee but you don't want to go in your pj's and you aren't ready to get dressed for the day.   I find a good pair of sweats and a tee do the trick! 

Lastly, make sure to have essentials in your carry-on.   If you are going on a beach vacation I make sure to have an extra bikini in my bag, sunscreen, my makeup, any medications, and facial cleansers.  I even bring an extra pair of underwear.   That way, worst case scenario and they lose your suitcase at least you can throw on your bikini and head to the beach while they search for your luggage!  

It is confusing trying to figure out what you can and can't bring on an airplane, so a good rule of thumb is to go and check out the latest rules and regulations.  Go to www.tsa.gov/311 for the latest developments on the sizes of containers, what liquids you can bring, etc.   You would be surprised at what is/isn't allowed.  And this way you aren't crossing your fingers as your bag makes it way through the xray machine wondering if your $55 dollar face moisturizer is going to make it through!  :)

What essentials can you never leave home without??