Pack Your Bags: Quickie Vacation Tips for the Short on Time -

Pack Your Bags: Quickie Vacation Tips for the Short on Time

Sep.06, 2011 in Seasonal Guides

The time between exciting summer getaways and relaxing winter escapes can drag on, but it doesn’t have to. Three-day weekends were made for short trips, and goodness knows both spring and fall are littered with them. A short trip can reinvigorate you, or at least give you something to look forward to during a particularly painful workweek, so why not skip vegging out on the couch and try something new?

Not sure how best to approach a mini vacation? We here at ShopWiki have tons of ideas to help you get packed and on your way!

Destination Estimation

Making last minute plans and have no clear destination in mind? We have some mini vacation suggestions for the Friday afternoon planner who wants to get away without devastating your wallet for a 5 star hotel (although, that has it’s appeal too!). These trips won’t take more than a day if you don’t want them to, and the budget is completely up to you!

A Picnic Plan

A nice picnic lunch, if done properly, can take the entire day. First there’s reaching one’s location: easy if you’ve got a backyard, not so easy if you don’t.

Enjoying the wonders of nature and entertaining oneself with a game or two is essential. Then there’s the actual lunch, followed by more games, and maybe a little lounging around before finally heading home. That’s an enjoyable, full trip, all on it’s own.

You Should Pack: Wicker Picnic basket Set

This set has everything you need for a fun picnic. Frisbee and food not included.

Take the Scenic Route

Sometimes the best part of the trip is the ride there, so why not just make that the trip? We’d hardly suggest an aimless, gas guzzling excursion, gas prices being what they are.

However, maybe there’s a nearby attraction you’ve always wanted to visit, or a slightly longer route to your favorite local haunt you can try?

You Should Pack: Thermos Nissan 14-Ounce Stainless-Steel Travel Tumbler

Road trips require having your own mobile cup, and this heavily insulated travel tumbler fits the bill.

City Slickers

If you’re a city dweller, or if you live near a large city and crave the glamor of those bright lights, then why not enjoy a day in the concrete jungle?

Visit a museum or a park, see the sights, pay far too much to eat at a fancy restaurant, it’s up to you! If you’re lucky, all the other city slickers will be crowding the malls or staying in and you’ll have the place to yourself! (Unlikely, though.)

You Should Pack: Patagonia Lightweight Travel Tote

City time is almost always walking time; travel light with this easy to pack, easy to carry tote.

Click through to see more travel essentials to help you enjoy a relaxing, pain-free trip.

Travel Essentials

What goes in your travel tote? At the very least, you should carry these must-haves:

Sun Protection

The last thing you want on the last weekend of summer is sun burn. Even if it’s overcast, pack a little bottle of SPF and don’t forget to reapply!

Badger Balm SPF 30 Unscented Sunscreen

Even if you don’t have scent allergies, this unscented SPF 30 sunscreen is a good choice; it’s water resistant and eco friendly.

Mini Umbrella/Rain Poncho

Speaking of overcast days, rain is always a possibility. It wouldn’t hurt to pack a some rain protection, even if you almost never leave the car.

Totes Mini Automatic Umbrella

Fit this lightweight, automatic umbrella into any bag you pack with minimal hassle.

Water Bottles

Packing your own little water supply can help you save a lot of money on beverages during your trip, not to mention it’s eco-friendly to reuse water bottles.

Bobble Water Bottles

Filter your water on the go with these BPA free, active carbon filtering water bottles.

Snacks

No trip is complete without a few travel goodies. Eat healthy (and mess free) with some dried fruit and chopped veggies, or enjoy easy to open 100 calorie snacks to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Klip-It Lunch Cubes

Take a workweek staple and fill it up with your favorite treats — healthy or otherwise — to keep your energy up while you travel.

Travel Electronics

A satisfying vacation doesn’t always mean “Getting away from it all”. Sometimes it’s the gadgets that make things memorable and fun; here are a few we wouldn’t leave the house without:

Camera

Your phone may have a camera, but it’s just not the same as having a proper lens in your hand. They offer better image quality, even on a point and shoot level.

We Recommend: Canon PowerShot SD1400 Digital ELPH Camera

This point and shoot packs a lot of punch into a tiny package, making this an easy camera to tote around.

GPS

We don’t have to tell you the advantages of having a GPS in your car — getting lost isn’t fun. Even short excursions can benefit from having one onboard.

We Recommend: Garmin Nuvi 255w

A GPS with all the features you’d want for a road trip, including an emergency services locater and a currency calculator.

Portable Speakers

Music improves every trip, whether you’re driving or enjoying a staycation in your living room. Let’s talk speakers, since odds are you own an mp3 player.

We Recommend: Lollipop Speakers

Cool looking portable speakers you can plug into almost any music device, letting you enjoy your favorite songs wherever you go.

ICE Box

Just because you’re traveling, doesn’t mean you won’t run into to trouble. Make sure to pack a few things, In Case of Emergencies.

Travel First Aid Kit – Scrapes and cuts can ruin a fun time. Keep them clean and covered with a Johnson & Johnson Travel First Aid Kit, which has assorted adhesive bandages and alcohol pads to help with minor injuries.
Mini Sewing Kit - Not all emergencies are medical. Correct minor rips and tears with a Container Store Mini Sewing Kit, it has all the sewing supplies you need for sartorial emergencies.
Stain Pens – Same principle as above. You can spot treat stains with a Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen, without worrying over set in stains or ruining your clothes with improvised treatments.
Knee Brace – If you’re travel plans involve a lot of walking or other physical activities, a knee brace is good to have on hand in case of sprains or mild strain. Ace knee braces are the standard, and for good reason.
Pain Killers- It’s easy to get overwhelmed and get a headache on any trip. A pocket pill box will let you carry your preferred painkiller, regardless of brand or type, wherever you go.

Compare and Contrast

Which methods of storage work best on the go, and which ones would be best kept at home? Let’s take a look at several travel

Tumblers vs Can Toppers

A tumbler will maintain drinks at the appropriate temperature without spilling; it will need to be rinsed if you want to drink something else from it. A can topper can be more easily cleaned and can top any canned beverage you like, but only really works on cans.

Verdict: Refillable tumblers can save you money and space.

We Suggest: Clear Tervis Tumblers are sturdy virgin polycarbonate, and can be made travel ready with the appropriate sized lid.

Travel Size Toiletries vs Reusable Plastic Bottles

Travel size toiletries are easy to pack and, if you’re flying, appropriately sized. Reusable toiletry bottles have the same benefits, plus you can simply fill them from your regular shampoo, moisturizer or soap bottles at home to save money.

Verdict: Reusable bottles will save you money in the long run.

We Suggest: These Carry-On Travel Bottles (Set of 3) are compliant with airline regulations and hold three ounces each.

Hard Case Coolers vs Thermal Bags

Hard case coolers are very heavy and can be hard to drag around, but on the plus side, they can hold a lot and they’re easy to clean. Thermal bags are lighter and can keep food hot as well as cold, but they can’t carry nearly as much food.

Verdict: For short trips, Thermal totes are perfect. They’re lighter and easier to take along, especially if you want to enjoy a hot meal on the go.

We Suggest: A Rachel Ray Thermal Tote is a practical way to pack some snacks into your trip.