Have you ever gone on a summer or winter vacation only to find you used about ¼ of all the stuff you brought? Or packed for a sunny vacation destination only to find that they are having the coldest season on record?

Packing is a tricky and of course is wholly dependent on the locale you are visiting and the activities you plan to do. Your suitcase(s) also play a big part in your packing; make sure they are in good repair and an adequate size for your needs. To help you with your packing challenges, 89DollarTravel.com has provided this ultimate packing checklist to help you pack with ease next time you travel!

Two Weeks Before Leaving
Although you may not equate health insurance with packing, we recommend that about two weeks before leaving for you contact your health insurance provider to verify your coverage if you are leaving the United States. For travel within the U.S., be sure you understand how you can access health coverage for your destination. Also be sure to stop the newspaper and arrange for someone to pick up your mail or have it redirected.

One Week Before Leaving
We highly recommend a packing checklist so that you don’t forget any of the important items and it will help you eliminate a lot of ‘just in case’ impulsive items. You can start this checklist at any time, just be sure you start jotting it down at least one week before leaving. Remember to consider everyone you are packing for if there are family members involved in the trip. It helps to get children involved in packing so that you aren’t faced with the dreaded ‘why didn’t you pack it’ while when you arrive at your destination.

The Master Checklist
Here are our suggestions for the important items you need for your next summer or winter vacation. As you pack them in your suitcase, be sure to check them off…

• One gallon or two gallon Ziploc bags to adhere to the new liquids rules that the FTA has imposed.
• Small bottles (3oz or less) of your toiletries. You’ll be packing in advance so you’ll need extra sets of your important toiletries.
• Travel alarm clock.
• Luggage tags (ones that are colorful will help you identify your suitcase at the airport carousel.
• Mentally dress yourself from head to toe in different outfits, to suit the different activities you will be doing. Whether you need a ballroom dress or your scuba gear, it is important to think about what you will need.
  
• Try to choose items that will work for you in a number of settings – that way you aren’t just packing for one occasion (although it may be difficult to pair your scuba flippers with anything else!)
• Don’t forget your camera and all attachments (case, batteries, charger, etc.)

One to Two Days Before Leaving

Now it’s time to pack – remember to place heavier items at what will be the bottom of the suitcase when you carry it. Now layer in the rest of your smaller items, working up from the bottom. Slide your toiletries into the middle of the suitcase, where they have the most padding. Lastly, lay your larger clothing (pants, jackets, coats) over the top of the pile of items you have in your suitcase.

Before you close your suitcase, 89DollarTravel, recommends putting personal identification on top of the pile of clothing, along with a copy of your itinerary or airline schedule. That way, if your outside tags are torn off, the airline will open your luggage and locate the information you’ve provided to help them identify the owner.

Another smart idea is to adhere cable ties to secure the zippers on your bags. These are no problem for security to cut off and will be difficult for anyone else to remove.

The cable ties are far securer than those cheap locks that came with your suitcase and will be a surefire way for you to know if someone was in your suitcase.

Items To Carry in Your Carry On Luggage
Of course, you should bring a copy of your passport and place it somewhere like your carry on luggage (i.e. somewhere different from where you are carrying your original passport). Bring enough prescription drugs for an extra week (keep it in the prescription bottle and carry a copy of the prescription with you). Carry your health insurance card and contact information for your health insurance provider. Always carry a camera!

The 89 Dollar Travel Blog hopes these tips help you out on your next summer or winter vacation adventure. If you’re looking for inexpensive travel to some of the most interesting destinations in the United States, visit www.89DollarTravel.com.

Discover how you can get beautiful summer or winter travel accommodations for 3 days and two nights for only $89!