Packing Light for Your Next Family Staycation

You may imagine your ideal vacation to be at a white sandy beach such as Boracay, Siargao, or El Nido. And if you want to take things up a notch, imagine spending your vacation in an exotic country such as Japan, South Korea, or France. However, the reality is that these typical vacations can cost a lot of money and effort to plan, especially if you’re taking your entire family. The plane tickets alone would cost an arm and a leg, and that’s why a more practical alternative is a staycation somewhere in the city.

A staycation can be a relaxing experience at home or a nearby hotel or resort. You can think of it as an opportunity to see your city or neighborhood as a tourist and not as someone who simply lives and work there. Plus, you can save a lot of money since there are no additional travel expenses required.

If you want a change of scenery, you can simply book a room in the central part of the city where there are walkable attractions nearby. Search for Makati or Pasay hotels where plenty of tourist spots are located. You may even be surprised by the number of places you and your family can go to and enjoy.

While a staycation usually means a shorter stay than a full-on vacation, the packing and planning stage is still vital for a successful overall experience. As any veteran traveler would know, it’s important to pack light, whether you’re going on a staycation or a full-blown holiday. You may not have to worry about losing luggage at the airport, but you can still lose your belongings in the hotel and other places you’ll visit. With kids in tow, every parent knows how easily toys can be left behind and the drama that comes after. To avoid these scenarios, heed these tips for packing light for your staycation.

Pack Versatile Items

One of the secrets to packing lightly is considering the versatility of every item you choose to put in your bag. Take the sarong, for example. This large, thin piece of square fabric can be used as a towel, swimsuit cover-up, and blanket for little ones. Instead of carrying 3 items, you’ve managed to bring it down to one. Another example of this is makeup. With a multipurpose makeup tint, you won’t have to bring a blusher, lipstick, or eyeshadow. Just bring this tint and a small compact powder and you’re good to go.

Plan Out Your Outfits

It can be quite a challenge to whittle down your wardrobe for a trip, especially if you have kids to pack for as well. To avoid overpacking, lay out your outfits on the bed and sort them by day. By actually seeing what you plan to wear for your staycation, you can edit out the clothes you won’t likely wear.

Eliminate the Toiletries

You’d be hard-pressed to find a decent hotel without any free toiletries these days. That’s why it’s better to leave your toothbrush, shampoo, and soap at home. They take up too much room in your bag and may even cause spills from unsealed containers. However, if you have special moisturizers and other essential skin-care products that you simply must bring with you, just take small amounts in special travel-sized containers to make room for other essentials.

Wear Your Bulkiest Clothes

Fortunately, in a tropical climate, there’s no need to bring bulky winter jackets. That said, you may still have bulky jeans or boots you want to wear for your mandatory OOTD. Instead of packing them, wear these clothes to save space. Wear them again on your trip back home so you won’t have to carry heavy bags.

Minimize Your Electronics

As the aim of your staycation is to get off work and enjoy time with family, better leave the laptop at home. This alone can make your bag easier to carry, as you won’t have to worry about the bag holding your laptop getting thrown around or mishandled. You also might want to leave your hairdryer and steam iron at home, especially if the place you’. Even though they have compact models specifically for travel, they still take up significant room in your bag.

Use Organizers for Efficient Packing

There are several ways to efficiently pack your bags. One of them is by using packing cubes or organizers to neatly organize all your items — from clothing to chargers. And when packing your clothes, roll them up to minimize wrinkling and maximize the space within these packing cubes. You’ll find that you can fit so much more with the clothes rolled up than when they are simply folded.

Make your staycation as hassle-free as possible by packing light. Consider these useful tips for your next staycation or your next dream vacation. Even if you forget some stuff, there’s no need to worry as long as you bring the most important essential for your trip — your family.