Packing for that last minute vacation

         Pic credit : Ryan Enslin: www.mylimeboots.co.za

Nothing beats the spontaneity of a spur of the moment vacay! Maybe you found some cheap flight tickets to a dream destination, or you are sick of the rat race and need a break, a quick-thinking decision to go somewhere will go down as one of those trips that leave memories for a lifetime. A last minute vacation is good for the mind, soul and body.

The only downside of these short notice vacations is that you will need to think fast and make plans with little time to move. You know what happens when you rush something… Mistakes creep in! Those mistakes can come back and bite you mid-holiday and that can lead to a very different kind of holiday experience. Worry not, American Tourister has your back!

Here are our favourite tips to help you smash those last-minute packing situations and get you onto that flight to somewhere awesome.

List it

There are few things worse than arriving at your dream holiday destination and realizing that you have forgotten something essential. Think Deodorant, toothbrush, charger, shoes or even underwear. Its very important to prepare a checklist of everything you need for your trip. Go over it twice and then keep it for future travels. Search the net for examples of great lists if you need inspiration to get started.

Your list may look a little overwhelming and busy, so just compartmentalize things into different categories. Here’s a small starter list to worth with:

• Electronics
• Toiletries
• Clothing
• Documents

Under each category add your items that you need, based on the time you will be away. Use the rolling method (later in this article) to keep space in your luggage and remember if you forget something, chances are there are shops at your destination to stock up on most items. You just want to avoid having to spend money unnecessarily, which brings us to the next tip…

 

Don’t spend money unnecessarily

The more you plan, the less you will spend. This is obviously going to come into play when you are getting ready for that last-minute vacation, as you forget some tricks and money saving ideas because you just want to get up and go, right? Well, as you pack remember to think about ways you can save some cash here and there. Think about the logistics side of travel, the way in which you will draw and use money and of course what you take with.

Get a lift to the airport or use a drive service such as Uber, and you save on airport parking fees.

Using cryptocurrency can cost less (do your research about it first, obviously) and you save on packing cash or organizing travelers cheques. Just because time is short, it doesn’t mean you have to short-change your attempts to save some change while travelling!

Check the weather

It may seem obvious to some but checking the weather should be the number one priority as you plan your last-minute holiday. You really don’t want to be heading off to a destination wearing shorts and a shirt and the weather is destined for storms and rain thanks to the storm you didn’t know about. The positives about last minute vacation planning is last minute weather checks. They are, for the most part accurate so you should be in luck. However, and this is important to note, always pack a little for the unexpected.

The one good part about planning a last-minute vacation is that the weather forecast is going to be accurate (hopefully). However, you should always plan a little for the unexpected.  A hot, summer location could still have a cold spell.

Rolling clothes

This is a packing trend practiced by millions. The one issue people often have when last minute vacation packing is organizing luggage quickly and saving space. Rolling your clothes can achieve this. You must, however think carefully to make the most out of it. Done right, you can save loads of room in your suitcase, avoid wrinkles and leave more room for souvenirs. Here’s a quick video to show you how it’s done.

Stay entertained

No trip will be without a window period where you need to keep yourself or others, busy. Think about airport layovers or train trips, for example. Also, you may, or someone with you may want to watch shows before they go to bed or when it rains.  You may not be going to a place that has internet/WIFI – so think about downloading some videos, movies or series on your laptop/tablet or phone. Netflix for example, allows you to download videos and series, so your favourite show is within reach. Books, puzzles and a pack of cards are also great additions to lazy days.

OUR LAST MINUTE VACATION GEAR SUGGESTIONS