Summer series part 1: How I Prepare For a Trip

If you read my travel anxiety post, you know I overthink (yes that’s a word, I looked it up) a lot of things. Well of course I overthink when preparing to actually leave on vacation.

So here are some ideas of how I prepare…

1 to 2 months before- 

• Ask a neighbor to water your plants.
• Request the USPS to hold your mail.
• Get vehicle serviced and cleaned out– schedule a ‘trip check‘ with your mechanic.

1 to 2 weeks before-

• Make a list- I start writing a list of all possible things we use in a day and would use on vacation. I put them into different categories- Myself, The boys and household. I don’t worry so much about my husband. He is an Eagle Scout and they are always prepared, usually! I think about what will be available if we are renting a house (which we typically do)
• Make a ‘before you leave’ list– I keep a running list of things I need to get or complete beforehand. I keep a list of things we need to check before leaving/last minute; like emptying the dehumidifier, securing outdoor items, etc.
• Wash and clean your vehicle– I get it washed, cleaned out and vacuumed. I know it’s just going to get dirty, if you are camping or going to the beach, but there’s nothing like getting in a clean vehicle and going on a road trip. Ok I’m sure there is something like it, but oh, never mind! You are putting your belongings in a neat and clean vehicle. It feels so good. I take anything out that we won’t be using on our trip and place things efficiently and so there is actually room and we don’t feel stuffed.
• Go to the store or make those Amazon purchases– buy anything that you don’t already have for the trip, like sunscreens, insect repellant, pool items, swimsuits, new outfits or shoes (not that I know from experience!)

1 Week before-

• Grocery shop– we definitely grocery shop once we get to our destination but I like to save money and go to our discount grocery store and buy snacks and juice boxes for the boys ahead of time. We save so much money this way and that way we have snacks for the ride too. My boys (including my husband) ‘eat me out of house and home’, in the snack category!
• Get luggage out of storage and figure out what you will be using- We don’t fly that often so I like to get my use out of our big suitcase. We’ve had ours for 12 years now (on June 10th!), it’s from Target and still going strong! I also have a big beauty bag from there too. I put all my toiletries (so this is nice because I can fit my full size bottles in it), my hair appliances,etc in it. I usually keep my makeup in what I call ‘my car bag’ where I put anything I might use on the drive. Here is a great option for a toiletry bag.
• Start eating through your refrigerated food- I try to make meals from what we have already have on hand. I make leftovers and try to have hardly anything left on the day we leave. I hate throwing food out and I don’t like trying to figure out how to keep stuff from spoiling on the way to our destination.
• Go to the store or make those Amazon purchases– make those last minute purchases that can wait until a week before.

The day before-

• Start packing- you may like to pack DAYS before but I hate having our room cluttered with piles of things I’m not using until vacation. I work best under pressure I guess. However, this time around I did pack the boys two days before.
• Have your kids pack their toys, then just do a check over- I have the boys pack their backpacks with toys, etc. I started this year letting my four year old do this himself. I had to say ‘ Pack your best toys and stuffies’. If I didn’t say that he’d pack his entire toy collection. Think 50 hotwheels/matchbox. I also tell them they are responsible for these toys at the vacation home, choose wisely.
• Get any last minute items for the trip-  for instance, ice for the cooler
• Pack a breakfast and/or lunch- I decided to be smart this time around and pack a lunch for the boys. We were aiming to be at the beach house by lunch and knowing our boys they will be hungry and practically hangry and we will want to unpack. This way they have a lunch, we can sit them down and they can be satisfied. We usually stop and eat breakfast but depending on the circumstances and time, that may not be possible.
• Gas up!– Get that tank full that way you can just go and get on your route!

Ideas on what to pack for your kids for a road trip

We got his for $79.99 with a free year of ‘free play’ a deal they were offering around Christmas time. You can download games for them to play offline and there are a ton of books you can download. So naturally he has a bunch of dinosaur and animal books on there.

Backpacks for beach or pool days– These backpacks are nice, lightweight, packable. I bought these for the boys for Christmas so I don’t have to be the one lugging the beach towels or we don’t have to take a large utility tote down to the beach full of towels. They come in a variety of colors, so each kid can have their own color.

Books and busy activities– I’m big on books so I always have them bring books. We pack coloring books and different coloring implements. They can color if you have a rainy day or to keep them quiet and contained while you cook/prepare meals.

Toy storage and organization for little kids/babies– I put these in my handy, Thirty-one large utility tote. Here is a link to purchase, they have many prints available and there are Deluxe versions available!

Fun/Surprise Road Trip Items/Toys– One thing that my mom recommended when I was a new mom is get some new things for them to do in the van. Scour Dollar tree and the Target Dollar Spot a month out for inexpensive things they can do in the car to keep them busy. I know, I know, as kids we would play license plate bingo, I Spy and just look at the scenery but kids these days don’t want to do that.  I got them some new coloring books (even a Jurassic Park one for my dinosaur lover- at Dollar Tree), a lacing activity (I’m sure the toddler will love this!). Target actually had these Road Trip Bingo cards (these are a 10 pack, check your local Target to buy individual ones)

One Last Tip

If we are leaving super early in the morning, we pack the car the night before. Before we leave, I look at the list that I made in the weeks before and do them quick. I get my coffee ready to go, that way we don’t need to stop until breakfast. I fill everyone’s water thermos and put them in the fridge. Get the kids out of bed and hope and pray they stay asleep. You know how kids (well and adults too) can be so excited for their trip that they won’t quit talk and won’t fall asleep!

Happy Traveling!