Packing for vacation doesn’t need to be stressful, but when you’re traveling to a new place or you haven’t packed a suitcase in a while, it can feel like a major dilemma. It’s easy to think you need to pack everything or even that you don’t need to pack much at all but I like to tackle packing like I do most things, with strategy and a checklist.
After a few “inconvenient” trips across the pond, where I was surely underprepared, I decided I was in desperate need of a full-proof packing plan, aka, a checklist.
This isn’t a redundant packing list for clothes, shoes, and a toothbrush. This list is focused on the items you wouldn’t pack first or even second. These are the items that can save you in a pinch.
This post is all about the essential items you need to pack for your next hotel stay.
You can use this list for any vacation in an AirBnB or Hotel, basically anywhere that’s new to you. It’s important to have these items on hand for a variety of reasons but I’ve noticed that if I ever skip one, that’s when I need it most.
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Hand Soap
Hand soap is at the top of the list because it’s essential. Please don’t use those wax bars they provide you in the room. They do nothing and feel terrible on your skin. It could be a personal preference but I don’t think those actually clean your hands. Pack a small anti-bacterial liquid hand soap from the market. You can usually pick them up at a local CVS or Target near your hotel if you’ve forgotten to pack it. We travel with the soap closed/locked and then wrapped in a ziplock bag, we haven’t had any problems with this before.
Door Lock
An extra door lock is great for peace of mind and actual security. TikTok travel videos have made me hyper-aware of how easy it is to break into a hotel room. This one isn’t meant to scare you, just to help you add a bit more protection for you and your valuables while you are traveling. It’s easy to let your guard down when you travel somewhere you’ve been a hundred times or someplace local but it’s always important to maintain proper safety protocols. I found a super easy-to-use door lock on Amazon and I haven’t had any issues.
Not to Pack but order extra blankets and towels to cover the furniture – new pillowcases
I’ve recently started to order extra towels, blankets, and pillowcases for the room as soon as I check-in. Extra towels are always great if you have multiple people staying in the room but they also help to cover the furniture. Hotel room furniture doesn’t get cleaned as often as you think. It’s best to just throw a towel over the chair and use a blanket if you have any larger chairs or sofas in the room. Changing out the pillowcases and the top sheet/blanket is another tip I’ve learned, as hotels don’t wash the top blanket if it looks clean.
Charger/Power strip with USB
Keep your phone, tablet, Ipad, etc. charged at all times when you’re traveling. You don’t always know when you’ll need these items and having them charged makes them readily accessible. It’s always good for safety reasons too. When you travel, try not to let your phone battery get too low or your Apple watch. Keep a portable charger with you at all times and have outlets accessible in the room too. I like to travel with a power strip with room for USB chords and regular plugs. It’s also good to have if you’re sharing a room, then everyone has a central place to charge their items and nothing get’s lost or left behind.
Trash Bags
The tiny hotel trash cans are never enough. Pack a few large trash bags for food and packaging trash from souvenirs. Large trash bags can also be used for dirty laundry if you don’t have room to pack a collapsible hamper. Trash bags are always handy for cleaning before you leave the hotel….please pick up the room and collect the trash and put all used towels in one place. It’s just good manners.
Zip Lock Bags
I’ve mentioned before that zip lock bags or plastic bags are helpful for packing shampoo and soap bottles but they are also great for packing wet clothes like swimsuits. I like to pack a few bags in different sizes and keep them in my travel kit. We reuse the bags for each trip and we also use larger bags to wrap our shoes in to keep our clothes clean.
Pop Up hamper
This one is fun but not necessary because like I said before, you can pack an extra trash bag or packing cube for your laundry. BUT having an actual hamper and not just a corner to throw your clothes in feels so much better. You literally feel fancy with a 99 Cent Store hamper because your clothes aren’t all over the place. This is a total game changer for me and my husband and we highly recommend packing one.
Clorox Wipes
Please wipe down the room. Just like covering the furniture because hundreds, if not thousands, of people have stayed in that room before you. Wipe down the high-touch areas like the remote, door handles, toilet, sink and counter and any tables in the room. You can pack one of the larger containers or the small travel ones, depending on if you’re driving or flying.
Cooler
Most hotel rooms won’t include a mini fridge, especially the nice ones, and basically every hotel in Las Vegas, nice or not. We travel with an insulated bag or a cooler, depending on the stay. You can put the ice from the ice machines in the ziplock bags and keep everything cool in the insulated bag. It works great and is helpful for any snacks you make pick up at a local store and even leftovers.
Liquid IV
When you’re traveling you must stay hydrated. Drink tons of water but also use a hydration packet (i like Liquid IV) to help supplement any of the much-needed electrolytes on the trip. They are easy to carry in your bag while you’re out on the town exploring and you can add them to a water bottle or a glass of water at a restaurant.
CoFFEE/TEa
This one is for fun and necessary for me and my husband but not for all. If we’re driving to the hotel then I will pack my favorite cold bre coffee, either STOK or Chameleon. They are both amazing and they have so many flavors! If I’m not able to pack cold brew then you can expect to see me at any Starbucks within a two-mile radius of the hotel. Having your favorite morning drinks with you helps you stick to your routine and brings a bit of home to the trip. We also pack the K-cups in our favorite blend to use in the room, if we know they include a Keurig coffee maker in the room. They are also great for tea, pack whichever you prefer.
Slippers/Socks/Slides
Keep your feet clean and soft and not icky from the hotel carpet or tile flooring. I’m really not sure how often hotel floors are deep cleaned, other than the once over with a vacuum. Take some extra precautions and pack some fuzzy socks or indoor slippers/slides to use while in the room.
Laundry Detergent
Doing laundry at your hotel is usually better for extended trips. When we take weekend trips we don’t mind packing our laundry and doing it at home, but for longer trips like in Disney World or when we went around New York, Boston and Connecticut for a while, doing laundry at the hotel or AirBnB is a must. Most luxury resorts or deluxe hotels don’t offer laundry rooms and will charge a lot to do your clothes but moderate hotels usually have a small laundry room available. If you have a longer trip planned, do a bit of research to see if laundry is available on the property and be sure to pack enough laundry soap for a couple of loads.
Stomach Medicine/First Aid Kit
I never leave my house without my little first aid medicine bag, ever. I’ve left a couple of times for errands and always regretted it. Please pack stomach medicine and a pain reliever for your trip. Even if you never usually get an upset stomach, pack it. Trying new foods, being in different time zones, extreme weather – it can all make a difference on how your body reacts on your trip. It’s also good to take before bed after a night of partying if you’re away on a celebration trip or in Las Vegas or some place similar. And from experience, please pack stomach medicine and pain reliever for long flights across the country or international flights. Other countries may not have the medicines you’re used to or not have them available when you need them. Not all hotels offer small convenience shops or sell medicines at the front desk. So pack it all! Some items I ALWAYS carry with me are Tums, Pepto, Immodium, Tylenol, Advil, and Midol and also band-aids.
Water
Pack a lot of water. Now, I understand you might be flying in and can’t travel with jugs and cases of water but you can pick some up at a local convenience store. We like to grab at least a gallon of water, sometimes two. It’s easy to forget to drink your water and stay hydrated on trips, especially in a hotel when you may not be on a normal eating routine but having clean water in your room is a definite must. We also pack hydration powders like DripDrops or LiquidIV to have each morning of our trip and even before bed. Please don’t skip on hydrating.
Traveling Internationally? Don’t forget the Adapters
Don’t lose your favorite hair tools to an electrical issue. Be sure to pack the correct power adapters for wherever you’re traveling to. You can find kits online for many different countries or a simple adapter for just the country you’re visiting.
Entertainment
Pack something for the room to keep you entertained. Have your Ipad or phone loaded up with your favorite shows and music playlists. Having a portable Bluetooth speaker is the best to listen to your favorite music while getting ready or even while winding down at night. Packing a book is another good item to have on hand for downtime, reading at the pool, or before bed. We also like to pack playing cards for games with friends.
How Can I Make My Hotel Stay Better?
The first way to make your hotel stay better is to do your research. Look up the hotel and the surrounding area. Check out what amenities are available in your room and offered at the hotel. Get to know the area, what restaurants are nearby, and what local grocery stores or even Target/CVS locations are nearby to pick up last-minute essentials.
The second tip is to stay organized and have a plan. Packing cubes are helpful for keeping your belongings organized and a plan helps to keep your trip in order. Investing in things like packing cubes and travel-size containers helps you in the long run and keeps your room and suitcase from becoming cluttered. Having a full plan or itinerary for your trip keeps everyone on schedule, and well-fed, and ensures all of the activities you want to do and see can get done.
Another tip would be to book directly through the hotel website. We have previously booked through third-party sites but recently we have started booking directly through the hotel for loyalty points, room upgrades, and overall better service. Hotels love when you book directly through them and usually offer better service and amenities when you do so.
Lastly, bring a part of your home with you. Adding personal touches that remind you of home goes a long way and creates a more relaxed environment. Your hotel room then becomes easier to relax in and sleep in. A great way to feel like home is to have familiar scents around. If you have a favorite essential oil, spray, or candle – pack it. Check to make sure candles are allowed and always light them in a safe fire-free area like the counter or in the sink.
Another great way to feel at home in your hotel room is to pack your own towels and your favorite blanket. Again, you might be limited to what you can pack so be aware of weight limits but if you have the space then these little extras can mean a lot on a long trip away from home.
Most importantly, stick to your routine. This means morning coffee or tea, your music, the same morning and night self-care routine and even unpacking and not living out of a suitcase. It’s a dozen tiny little things that add up to feeling great in a new space.
If you’re looking for more ways to feel the comforts of home during your hotel stay or have any tips of your own you’d like to share, drop them below in the comments.
I hope these items help you on your next trip and help to make it as comfortable as possible.
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