Why Should You Use A-List, You Ask?

Good question! Using a list will allow you to make your packing experience so much more pleasant. When you’re trying to remember everything you have to do while preparing for your travels. Especially when you are packing for the entire family. I know once you get out and about after being locked up from the Coronavirus the last thing your worried about is a list, but it could come in handy.

Timeframe

When planning your vacation, your time limit to prepare will depend on the size of your family as well as your destination. I recommend going over your list at least two weeks in advance. If you have a large family you may want to do this soon.

Why so early, you ask?

This gives you plenty of time to review the list in case you need to pick anything up at the store. Also, if you need to do any updates say call the airport, train/bus station for the amount of luggage you’re allowed, weight limits plus to confirm your transportation is still a go. Plus, if you need any additional paperwork, you might be required to bring.

Primary Items

It’s amazing how we use these items every day, yet when we go to pack for a vacation, we seem to always forget at least one thing.

Don’t sweat we all do this; you are not alone.

Oh, if you have children of any kind, it only gets much harder. They think of only the things they want to take not the necessities. Leaving you with spending more of your budget you hadn’t planned.

Just imagine all the things you have to remember when packing for an infant or toddler. Yes, it can be a nightmare. A check-off list makes this a lot easier to remember all the small items required, i.e., Gas Meds, Orajel, Tylenol, Cold n Cough, thermostat, nail clippers, and binky’s the list can go on. You get my point right. Not to mention if you are a new parent, this can be even more stressful to remember everything.

Extra Items

You may even want to add other items you plan on taking like googles, flotation devices, sunscreen, skies, snowboard, and anything else to entertain you children. Maybe you want to add extra items for yourself like the book you bought a month ago haven’t had the time to read.

I have learned the best way to ensure I have everything is by not checking the item off until I have put it in the luggage. It never fails I could have it set on the bed check it off my list. It never makes its way into my luggage. I get so frustrated with myself when this happens. No, I am not saying you are as bad as I am when it comes to this. Things happen; there are tons of distractions this day in age. Doorbell, cell phone, kids, television, and etc.

I now always make sure it is in the luggage before I place the checkmark next to the item this way I know without a dought I have the item I wanted packed.

Hotels

Choose a hotel to meet your needs. I like the sites to show pictures of the rooms as well as the amenities.

The bad experience I had gone off the website to book the room with the amenities got to the room wasn’t even like it had been described. Long story short we found another hotel moved the same night.

This is the list I use when I look for a room now:

Safety is the number one factor. Even some of the nicer hotels this day in age can have people doing drugs within them. Not good when you walk down the hall to smell snuck weed. Talk about a smell you’ll never forget. It smells just like the animal spray. The best thing is you don’t have to have a tomato bath to get off the smell; however, you may want a shower after smell it.

You may even want to call the local authorities to check of criminal activity within the area you plan on staying. This will allow you to be prepared if pickpocketing, human trafficking or any other crime is high.

Campsite

If you have a route planned out, you may want to schedule stops in advance to ensure availability. During the summer months, campgrounds tend to fill up quick people who don’t realize how hard it can be to find an empty spot. Not to mention a campsite to include all the amenities you are looking for so your family has a wonderful time.

Vacations are hard enough without being able to find a beautiful place to stay. Believe me when I say the more delightful facilities fill up fast.

My husband and I decided to take the kids camping we decided to go to the state park. Little did we know one it now cost to camp at a state park but two they were full. We had driven hours from our home, we got lucky for the fact my husband had a family member who had some land not far from where we were planning on camping. We ended up camping there instead. It was an experience we all laugh about still today.

Documents

You think this is crazy to put on your list but it’s not. Why well if your driver’s license is in your wallet/purse, you will be sure not to forget them. Other items such as insurance cards, any discount cards like AARP, choice rewards, and etc. can be useful when you travel.

Adequate Funding

Most people rely on their bank card and/or credit card when they travel, plus they may have a little bit of cash on them.

You want to be safe with your bank and/or credit card. Do they offer a wallet feature where if your card goes missing, you can lock your card till it is found? This is a good idea to find out before you travel. Not all banks have this feature.

You also will want to get with your bank to inform them of your travels. Some banks don’t allow cards to be used out of state for fraud reasons. To keep from having your vacation disrupted due to not being able to your use card till the next day when you can get ahold of the bank. Imagine you are at a restaurant you go to use your card to find out it has been declined. Nothing more embarrassing, especially if you don’t have the cash with you on hand to pay your bill. Add it to your list to do before you leave your home.

Don’t plan to use only your bank card. If it were to get lost/stolen or decided to quit working, you could be left with no funds to enjoy your vacation. It is wise to diversify your funds i.e., traveler’s checks, prepaid cards, and/or credit cards.

Meal Preparations

You will want to review the area in which you plan on traveling. You might have an idea about what type of restaurants you’ll want to visit. Along with getting to know the cost so you don’t end up with an unexpected surprise bill in which wipes out half your spending fund to take away from your fun. When you are busy with everything, this can be overlooked when planning the cost of food in another state or aboard.