As soon as the temperature rises, school’s done for the year and about any cold beverage or dessert is being craved, you’ll know it is time to dust off your straw hat, swimming gears and of course try fitting in those swimwear. Yes, it’s summer! The one season we will be enjoying the 2 month vacation from school as well as look for that family destination to savor the sun, the sand and the sea.
But, before we all get excited, let me give you tips on the travel essentials to bring for your chosen (if not favorite) summer getaway. Grab your pen and paper and take down this list.
Travelling with Family Must-Haves:
Travel Documents. If you plan to travel here in the Philippines, make sure you bring your valid IDs for documentation of possible verification. If you will be travelling outside the country, then passports, visa must come in handy.
Funds. Importantly, you must bring cash and/or your credit cards for all the payments. However, you must be cautious enough not to bring too much cash at hand as we know robbers may be eyeing on you. So basically, practice being safe at all times specially when withdrawing at ATMs. Better yet, keep a note in your mobile phone or a little notebook where you write down your budget and possible expenses so you would be able to track down in/outs of your money and keep the whole vacation on budget.
Medicines, medical tools and first aid kit. If you or any of your family member have an existing medical condition, make sure to always bring enough and a little extra of the maintenance medicines. You may not be able to find an immediate pharmacy on the place you will going and you may need prescription as well, so keep that with the medicine kit. You can place this in a pouch or a small bag that you can bring with you at all times while travelling. This goes with your first aid kit. At least, make sure that the first aid kit contains medicines for common illness like headache, stomach pain, loose bowel movement, anti-allergy as well as band aids, betadine iodine, alcohol, cotton swabs and a nail cutter. You will need to bring also blood pressure monitor and blood sugar monitor in case you have diabetic loved ones.
When travelling with kids or babies, this will be a different story. You will pack another set of essentials just for them. Clothes, diapers, wipes, feeding bottles, sterilizer, just no name a few. So keep that in the list too!
When you will be commuting for the travel, make sure you have all commute stops planned. If you will need to be travelling by plane, you must be making the booking ahead of time. While, when you travel by land, make sure you will know the bus stops, etc. And when you will be driving, Google maps and GPS will be your best friend. Plan and make your research ahead of time. And when you are driving, make sure that your motor vehicle is at its best condition with enough fuel, air and water.
Accommodation at destination. Make sure you have booked ahead for resorts and hotels as they might not entertain you via walk in. Sometimes, you can save time and money by booking or making your reservations online.
Clothes, swim wears. Make sure you bring enough appropriate clothes. To save some space in your bags though, consider bringing lightweight clothes and learn how to pack smartly.
Gadgets, camera. What would capture your memorable summer but bringing in your mobile phones for your selfies! Bring in your digital cameras or action cameras too! Keep your gadgets in waterproof pouches in case you want to bring them while swimming.
Padlocks. For security reasons, make sure your bags have padlocks. Make sure you attend to you belongings as just about any establishment have no responsibility on your belongings in case of loss.
Snacks, water. Due to the hot season, we tend to be dehydrated. So make sure to pack some snacks and water while travelling to fill up that energy.
Toiletries, cosmetics. These are important too. Make sure you have napkins, tissue paper, wipes. Your toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner. Sunblock and sunburn recovery lotion. You may want to have travel kits where you can keep these essentials so you won’t need to bring the big bottles of shampoo. Just take a portion and place in these travel kit containers and you can refill those on your next travel destination.
This is my list when we go travelling. I will be making a series to this to include some more tips on my next blog. You may need more than this essentials, make sure to customize and tailor this list to your own needs and situation. Meanwhile, enjoy you summer destination and make memories!