Planning an extended vacation? Check out these Extended Stay Travel Packing Tips first!
Tis the season for holiday travel! Are you and your family planning an extended stay somewhere over the holidays? We are, for the first time in my entire life, spending part of the holidays with someone's family other than my own immediate family. My husband, kids, and I are all looking forward to the adventure!
While we'll be staying with my husband's family for a week, I know many of you might be staying at extended stay hotels, such as TownePlace Suites by Marriott®. I love extended stay hotels because they help you feel more like home when you are traveling for more than just a few days.
TownePlace Suites® have hotels nationwide, and offer spacious studios, one- and two-bedroom suites. The traveling worker bee in me loves the free Wi-Fi, in-room ergonomic work space, and TowneMap® to help you find your way easily around the neighborhood; while the traveling mom (and foodie) in me loves the full sized kitchens and on-site laundry.
Jump to:
Extended Stay Packing Tips
Planning for extended travel is a little different than planning for a weekend getaway, especially if you have kids in tow. So I've put together a list of some of my top tips for staying organized when traveling for longer periods of time.
Tip 1: Stock Up on Travel Essentials
When traveling for extended stays, it's often the little things that make a big difference. At The Container Store® I found necessities like an international converter outlet, cute mini emergency kits, and travel laundry kits, as well as fun accessories like cable cord pouches and cute luggage tags. I love to choose essentials that come in fun designs and packaging--it just makes your extended stay even more enjoyable!
Tip 2: Pack Leakproof Bottles
The last thing you need when traveling is to open your suitcase or carry-on to find one of your shampoo bottles has leaked all over your clothing. Believe me, I know from experience! The last NON-Nalgene bottle I used for coconut oil on a recent trip leaked and it was NOT pretty. . .
The Container Store® sells a variety of Nalgene travel bottles that are built using the same materials as lab bottles, and are 100% leakproof. I bought this Nalgene bottle for our holiday travels to avoid any coconut oil leaks this time!
Tip 3: Keep Travel Necessities Close
When traveling by plane or train, you don't want to be that person who holds up the line rifling through your purse to find your ID, cash, or your phone for your electronic boarding pass. I love this Seat Pack that allows you to keep all travel necessities easily accessible. Looking forward to hanging this on the tray table hook on my next flight and keeping everything nice and handy!
Tip 4: Packing Cubes
Yes, you should roll up most of your clothing, but did you know that those clothing packing organizers really do help you save space, avoid wrinkles, and they can also help you keep things organized at your destination. Simply transfer the the organizers directly into your hotel drawers.
The kind folks at my local The Container Store® were so helpful in helping me select some packing organizers for our trip. I picked out two: an Eagle Creek shirt organizer and a two-pouch clothing organizer set. I fit about 7 tops (two thin sweaters and five blouses/shirts) into the first small shirt organizer pictured below.
After packing enough in these organizers to last the average person a full week (or more, thanks to on-site laundry at places like TownPlace Suites®!), there is still PLENTY of room to spare for shoes and toiletries in a standard carry-on size suitcase; not to mention, the extra room you KNOW you will need for those unexpected (but inevitable) purchases.
Tip 5: Laundry Bags
When you are staying someplace for more than a few days, it's easy for the dirty clothes to pile up in one corner. . . and another corner . . . and on chairs . . and the closet floor.
This stylish houndstooth laundry bag can hold about a week's worth of clothing for one adult, and probably about two week's worth of both of my kids' clothes. It folds up neatly into a little pouch and takes up almost no space at all to bring with you.
For more travel tips, be sure to visit our full travel section!
Elle says
I definitely make packing lists of everything I am putting into my luggage as I pack this way I can stay organized when packing back up to go home. I just refer to the list I initially made and make sure everything I brought with me is making the trip home. I also bring a portable hamper with me so I can easily keep track of my dirty clothes.
nadya kotik says
I don't travel often but i always keep personal hygiene items in a separate bag and clothes organized by events/days. I bring extra things depending on weather.
ELIZABETH P says
I use ebags so that my clothes are separated by days and I have everything I need right at my finger tips – I also use ziploc bags to make sure nothing leaks! I love the elfa closet – looks great! truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com
Erin Flemming says
Staying organized on extended-stay travel starts with packing! Taking time to determine what you'll actually wear makes a world of difference
Janice R. says
I would take advantage of the shoe racks and shelving the most.
JenniferAnne says
To stay organized, I pack clothing items I will need first on top. Another thing I find indispensable is a hanging organizer where I keep my makeup, hair products, etc. I can't do without extra hangers and ziploc bags, either. I would find the shoe rack very helpful to keep shoes organized.
Jaclyn Reynolds says
Definitely need a sorting system for our dirty laundry and any wet clothing for when take the kids swimming.
Cynthia Jones says
We have to travel a lot for my son's lacrosse adventures. The best way I use to stay organized when we have those trips is to pack each days clothes together - folded all within the top or bottom. Also, bringing a separate smaller bag to use for dirty clothes. And I always bring various sizes of ziplocs because you never know what you will encounter.
Angela Saver says
To stay organized, everyone has their own suitcase & I always pack hangers to hang our clothes, & also pack bags for dirty clothes so I can keep them separated.
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
Liz says
I use packing cubes to organize what is clean vs dirty
Shahin Huneke says
I have a zip off top of the suitcase that I fill with everyone's night time needs at first. That way when we arrive at our destination - no matter how late we get there we can just zip off the top bag and have everything ready for the night. Then - I use that same zip off portion as our dirty clothes bag so that when we get home I can unzip that section and take it straight to the laundry room.
JD Northwest says
I bundle clothes into daily grab rolls. It makes for an easy morning decision. For longer stays I pack premeasured detergents for doing laundry runs mid-way through the stay.
Sandra says
I try and group like things together to stay organized. The elfa system looks nice.
JC says
I heard from the travel guru, Samantha Brown, a while back that she brings three tops and three bottoms that all work together to make 9 outfits for a long trip. This is huge! Make sure everything coordinates so you don't bring a lot. This goes for international travel, too...overpacking is way too easy to do so coordinate everything so you spend less time getting dressed and more time exploring and enjoying the city you're in!
Michelle J. says
I bring bags for dirty clothes to keep those separate!
Lindsay says
the small pouch for athletic wear