Packing for a Summer Vacation

The kids have been released onto their seemingly endless vacation from school, and the older members of the family are probably also looking forward to some well-earned down time. Of course, before you can kick off your shoes and relax on the beach, there is the small matter of packing all those suitcases.

Here are five tips for making sure you arrive at your destination with everything you need, in the same condition as when you packed it.

1) Never underestimate the power of the list

You might shy away from list-writing for fear of turning into your own mother, but seriously, you will never remember everything otherwise. Have a notebook handy, or use your phone or tablet. The trick is to start the list early with the obvious things, and have it to hand for those Eureka moments when you are in the bathroom or doing the school run and you suddenly think of something else.

2) Don’t assume it will still fit

So…. That swimsuit of yours that has been lying in the bottom of a drawer since last year. Are you absolutely certain it will still fit? How about the kids’ ones? Try them on, better to find out now than when you are all set to hit the beach! If it no longer fits, treat yourself to something fun, comfy and fashionable. Online suppliers like JD Williams have a good choice at a reasonable price, and can also fit out the rest of the family.

3) Roll, don’t fold

Most people fold their clothes when packing the suitcase. And as the process of packing goes on, the quality of the folding usually deteriorates. It is actually a better idea to roll your clothes up, instead. This means fewer wrinkles, and also takes up less space.

4) Recycle

It’s good to recycle, as we all know. And that refers to your outfits too. Mix and match dresses with different shoes, jackets and accessories, and you can definitely get away with wearing the same clothes more than once during your trip. After all, if Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama can get away with it, so can the rest of us!

5) Beauty products

I used to always be torn between buying small, travel-sized beauty products or taking my full sized ones with me. The former seemed a waste of money, but the latter took up too much space. Then, I discovered those miniature plastic bottles. They cost practically nothing, and allow you to decant exactly as much as you need for your trip.