Planning a trip big or small is exciting but if your anything like me you’ll start losing sleep about a week before the trip. I wake up in the night thinking about something I need to pack and don’t want to forget! Sleeping will not resume until I write it down, and so the Ultimate packing list was born. I have been sleeping like a baby ever since.
This list includes everything you need for a trip, and even things you won’t. I don’t recommend you pack snow boots for a beach trip just because it’s on the list. You can easily cross out the items you won’t need, and rest assured that the items you do need are still on the list.
Get the Free Printable Here
#1 time saving tip for packing
My #1 tip for saving time when packing is to create a travel-ready backpack. We have backpacks dedicated to travel for each member of our family. Inside mine, you will find chargers, a stocked toiletry bag, a sleeping mask, earplugs, mini sewing kit/scissors, a sarong, and of course a TSA approved wine bottle opener!
If we plan a last-minute weekend getaway, all we have to do is add a few clothes and we are ready to go! We sometimes even throw them in our car on a day trip. We are known to be out and about on the coast just before sunset and see a vacancy sign,”Wanna stay?” Spontaneous trips are the BEST!
Why you should always pack a sarong
One thing in my travel ready backpack I consider a travel necessity is a Sarong! Sarongs are popular as beach attire, but sarongs can be used in so many ways. Below are a few of the ways we have used our Sarongs while traveling:
- A light blanket or Shawl over your shoulders
- Scrunch up a sarong to use as a pillow.
- Spread it out for a perfect picnic spot or beach blanket
- Cover your car seat with it if you got your clothes dirty or cover a dirty seat to keep your clothes clean.
- Use it as a privacy curtain if you need to change your clothes in a not-so-private area.
- Make a tote by tying up the ends. A sarong works great as a bag to carry our dirty duds to the laundry facilities!
- Loop it through your pool floats to carry them to the lake from the campsite one-handed!
- Traveling with children? Tie the sarong and cross over your body to help take weight off your arms when carrying your little one!
- Sarongs are made of light material and dry quickly, they are an excellent towel in a pinch.
- Of course, you can always wear your sarong as a Sarong! There are all kinds of ways to tie and fold them to make a skirt, dress or even a headscarf.
Sarongs come in a variety of vibrant colors, patterns and neutral solid colors. When I come across Sarongs, I have a very hard time not picking them up! Find Sarongs when traveling they make a great souvenir, if you ask me, you can’t have too many! Do you have other uses for a Sarong? I would love to hear them, how have you used a sarong on your travels?