There’s a lot to do and see while you’re on vacation. It’s normal to plan a busy day, which means you’ll be gone from your hotel room from early in the morning until late at night.
That can cause some problems. Without the ability to return to your room throughout the day, you’ll have to make sure you have everything with you. That can be a tall order if you have multiple activities planned, or if you’re traveling with young children.
No matter what you’re doing or who’s coming with you, these tips will help you make sure you’re prepared for the day.
Plan Your Day from Start to Finish
The first step to making sure you’re prepared for the day is to know exactly what you’re doing. By planning your day from start to finish, you’ll discover items that you need to bring, as well as items you can leave back in your room.
That’s easy if you know exactly what’s ahead for the day, but if you don’t know exactly what you’re going to do yet, hop online to do a little planning. For example, if you’re vacationing in Nashville, plan the dinner cruises, bus tours, and museums you want to visit, and you’ll have a better idea of what you need to bring.
This also ensures you don’t leave behind important items. For example, if you prepaid for tickets to a show or theme park, you don’t want to leave your tickets in the hotel room!
Make a List
Making a list will ensure you don’t leave anything behind, but it will provide you with peace of mind too. If you make a list of all the things you need to pack for the day and check off each item as it is placed in your bag, you’ll feel confident that you have exactly what you need to make it through the day.
To make sure you don’t accidentally forget to put something on the list, write out what you’ll need the night before your big day. That provides you with time to remember a few last-minute items first thing in the morning.
Pack for Comfort
Packing lists can be long, especially if you’re planning a long day with the kids at a place like Disney World. It’s important to bring along everything you’ll need, but it also means packing smartly. You don’t want to lug around your carry-on all day simply because you’re afraid of leaving something behind!
A few tips for packing for comfort include:
- Pack mini bottles, like travel sunscreen, instead of the full bottles.
- Bring compact plastic ponchos if rain is forecasted.
- Pack collapsible water bottles and refill at drinking fountains.
- Opt for a backpack or fanny pack over a shoulder bag.
- Pack your wallet, but leave your purse behind.
Dress in Layers
If you’re going to be gone from morning until night, you’re likely going to face a range of temperatures. If you’re leaving very early in the morning or will be out long after the sun goes down, you’ll want to bring along additional layers. Make sure you aren’t stuck lugging around a bulky sweatshirt by bringing a lightweight long sleeve shirt instead that can easily be folded and placed into a bag.
A scarf is a great layering item as well. An infinity scarf can be stretched over your arms to keep you warm or hung around your neck when not in use.
Plan Time to Rest
One of the best reasons to head back to the hotel during the day isn’t to pick up and drop off more of your stuff. Heading back to the hotel means you have a chance to rest and regroup, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can’t relax if you’re out of your room all day long.
There are many ways to get a little extra rest on vacation that doesn’t involve you returning to your room. A few ideas include:
- Spend an hour sipping on a cup of coffee in a café.
- Take a break underneath a tree at a local park.
- Go for a lazy walk on a local nature trail.
- Grab a snack and sit on a bench in between activities.
Don’t let the fact that you aren’t returning to your hotel room during the day makes you stressed. You can prepare for the day and find the energy to make it to bedtime with the tips on this list.
