It’s time for spring break and that probably means heading up into your attic (or under your bed at school) and dusting off that suitcase to begin packing for your long, school-free trip.
As a serious over-packer, I have developed ways to thwart my need for excess in order I would like to cut down the wear and tear on your biceps and wallet. No one likes dragging a 60+ lb. suitcase through the airport only to find out it costs an extra arm and a leg to get it onto the plane.
1. Stop packing extra stuff
You don’t need to bring 50 outfits in your suitcase because believe or not, you WILL end up re-wearing some of your clothes.
Pack only a few bottoms
Instead of packing 3 pairs of jeans or shorts, pack one of each because in my experience, I always pack several pairs of jeans only to end up not even wearing ONE pair the entire trip.
If you are hell bent on packing those jeans, I would recommend ONE pair.
As for shorts, you probably don’t need more than one pair, but if you insist, I would recommend skipping the jeans and bringing two pairs of shorts.
Underwear is an acceptable thing to pack more of. I’m not saying pack two weeks of drawers for a one week trip, but a couple of extra pairs definitely won’t make a huge difference in the weight of your suitcase. The same goes for socks; pack an extra pair or two just in case.
Get rid of all those Shoes
This is definitely where a lot of students get into trouble. You think you will wear a different pair of shoes with every outfit you pack and end up bringing a separate suitcase for your shoes. The reality? You will probably be wearing one pair of flip flops the entire vacation and possibly one pair of nicer shoes for when you go out.
You do not need to pack 5 different pairs of shoes and 5 different pairs of flip flops of sneakers. Choose one pair of casual shoes and one pair of nicer ones and call it a day.
And don’t even kid yourself: you are NOT going to work out on this vacation so don’t even bother packing sneakers and workout gear unless you plan on doing aerobics on the beach with a margarita in your hand.
Keep extra stuff to a minimum
Don’t bother packing things you really don’t need. Don’t pack a towel because you will have plenty at the hotel and it will only add a ton of weight to your suitcase and take up space. If you must have a towel, pack ONE and leave it at that.
You don’t need a stack of magazines 50 ft high or 10 books either; again, more weight and annoyance for you. Do not pack laptops of things that are unnecessary and have the possibility of being stolen. The last thing you need is to lose your computer on spring break.
2. Small bottles & products
When packing your toiletries, it can seem like you are forgetting everything and you will need so much more than you will actually use. Don’t pack a huge shampoo and condition bottle; opt for something simpler like a shampoo and condition (2-in-1 product) OR grab some of those tiny bottles and fill them up with your shampoo, condition and body wash in order to save space.
Do the same with your deodorant, toothpaste and get a folding toothbrush. Don’t go crazy with hair products or other things you won’t end up using.
For instance, if you wan’t a conditioning treatment for hair (all that beach and sand can damage it), buy it when you get to the hotel or surrounding area; this way, you won’t run the risk of having it explode in your suitcase or have it taken away by airport security. Use it on the trip, then discard it before you leave.
3. Dont forget the essentials!
When packing, it can be easy to over-pack stuff you don’t need and skimp on the really important items, so here is a list of things you need to remember to pack so you don’t end up buying replacements at a higher cost.
– Sunblock
Pack two different kinds in case you lose one or you end up sharing too much with your friends. Sunblock is very expensive in gift shops and other stores so don’t forget yours.
– Aloe Vera
Great for sunburns and cooling off after a long day in the sun. Again, another expensive item in gift shops and hotel stores so avoid high prices by not forgetting this item.
– Sunglasses
The last thing you want to forget are these babies. You need them when you’re walking around, on the beach and hey, some of us wear our sunglasses at night so you should make sure you have one nice pair and one crappy pair for the beach in case you end up losing them.
– Bathing suit & flip flops
This may seem obvious, but again, these two items are MAJOR for your trip so pack them first in an effort to avoid forgetting them.
– Cash
This is a biggie: you will need cash at some point during your trip so keep some in your wallet and some in your carryon (that you are holding at all times). Do not leave or store money in your suitcase (especially in the hotel room) because you are just opening yourself up to theft.
– Camera, cell phone, charger
You will need all three to have a safe and fun spring break trip. If you forget your camera, you won’t have any memories to take home with you. If you forget your cell phone or charger, you won’t be able to talk to your parents, stay in contact with the group when you go out and you will just be lost overall.
