I am planning a vacation for March Break with my two-year-old and don’t want to bring the whole house (which I’ve made the mistake of doing in the past!). Do you have any tips to lighten the load? Aside from the clothes and toiletries are there any essentials that may save the day?
Addie G. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and the travel experts at Wee Travel answered;
Everyone loves a vacation, but few of us love to pack. Generally, that’s because we think we need to bring more than we really do, and we worry we won’t bring what we really need. Here are some tips to cut down your load and ease the stress of packing.
- Rent baby gear. Call your hotel and ask them to recommend a baby equipment rental company. Arrange to have a car seat waiting for you at the airport; and diapers, wipes, crib, booster, stroller and toys at your hotel.
- Explore the weather at your destination. Most weather sites offer 10-day forecasts. There’s no point in packing rain gear or a sweater if the forecast is calling for hot and dry weather.
- Call your hotel and find out what brand of amenities are supplied. If you like the brand, you may not need to bring any soap, shampoo, conditioner or moisturizer.
- Does the hotel have a pool? Find out if they provide beach towels that you can use during your stay – even when you are off site.
- Limit yourself to four of any clothing item.Bring some laundry soap and wash clothes yourself, or use the hotel’s laundry service. It’s not cheap, but splurging on a couple of loads sure beats packing your child’s entire wardrobe.
- Avoid packing white or light coloured clothes. They show dirt and stains easily.
- Pack some Ziplocs. Small Ziplocs are great for storing snacks, and larger bags work wonders for wet or soiled clothes.
- Bring some first aid supplies. Fever and cold medicine, a thermometer and band aids are something you’ll be happy to have on hand should you need them. Hand sanitizer and a small pack of refillable wipes are a must.
- Pack some extra snacks. Chances are your child will be hungry before you’ve had a chance to hit the grocery store.
- Put your hotel address and phone number on your luggage tag. You probably have your home address on your luggage tag. If your suitcase gets lost or if someone takes it by mistake, you’ll expedite the reunion if people know where to find you.
- Pack essentials and extras in your carry-on. Bring extra snacks, clothes and diapers in case your luggage gets lost or your flight is delayed.
- Confirm limitations on checked baggage and restrictions on hand luggage. Be sure to visit the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority’s website for the most up to date information.
Wee Travel launched in Vancouver in 2005 as Canada's first baby equipment rental company. The company has now expanded to Toronto and Victoria. Started by two sisters, Lesley and Shana Cherry, the purpose is make it easy for parents to travel lighter by providing the full range of hard-to-pack baby necessities.
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