Spring break getaways are often the highlight of the season, giving folks a break from the blah of rainy spring months to soak up some sun and have fun. Before you can lounge on the beach, however, you have to tackle the tricky task of packing everything you need into a suitcase or two. Fortunately, we’ve been on a few vacations ourselves, and have a few tips and tricks to make your packing experience easy. Without further ado, here is our guide to packing for a spring break getaway.
Start With a Little Research
Not all spring break trips are created equal, so it’s worth it to spend a little time researching your destination before you start packing. Take a peek at the weather forecast, climate, and walkability as well as any tourist reviews of attractions you plan on visiting to make sure you have everything you need on hand. Travel blogs are another great resource for packing and travel tips from folks who have already taken the trip you are about to embark on and have experienced the environment firsthand.
If you’re visiting a city where everything is walking distance from your hotel, comfortable sneakers or walking shoes are a must. If there is a risk of rain, it’s worth the suitcase space to pack a rain jacket. You could pick up an umbrella when you get there, but it might be pricier if you are visiting a tourist destination. Or, if you’re headed somewhere more remote or rustic, there might not be a place to buy things that you’re missing. These are good things to check before you head to the airport.
Pick Versatile Pieces
Often when you’re traveling, especially when you’re traveling by plane, you have very limited suitcase space. To avoid that inevitable moment when you’re sitting on your suitcase, trying to smush it closed enough to zip, search your closet for its most versatile pieces. Look for shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits, button downs that can be worn alone or over a tee shirt or tank top, sweaters that can be dressed up or down, and the like. If your hotel or rental home has access to laundry machines, you can stretch a few essential pieces into over a week of stylish spring break outfits.
If the weather allows, and dresses are your style, pack a sundress or two! These are an entire vacation outfit in one piece and can also be used as swimsuit coverups for a day at the beach. Need to dress up for a dinner date? Swap your sandals for pumps and throw on your favorite pieces of jewelry. A good dress really can do it all! Not sure what to wear with your favorite summer dresses? Check out our article “How to Find Your Perfect Pump” for a few of our tips and tricks for picking the right shoe.
Let Your Jewelry Travel in Luxury
When you’re getting ready for another day in paradise, you don’t want to waste time untangling necklaces or rooting through your bag for a missing earring. Treat your favorite accessories to the first-class treatment by using a weekly pill organizer to give each necklace or pair of earrings its own individual slot. When you need those pearl studs for dinner, they’ll be right there waiting for you in the Friday compartment!
Learn To Layer Like a Pro
Layers are essential to staying comfortable while traveling as they let you adapt to changing conditions on the fly. Cold front moving in? Over-air-conditioned museum? No problem, you’re ready. The issue with many layering pieces like sweatshirts or jackets, however, is that they can be bulky and take up a lot of space in your luggage. Get around this by packing a few different lightweight layers instead of one heavy one. If you’re headed somewhere cold, and thick layers are a must, wear or carry them with you on the plane to save space in your suitcase.
Roll Clothes to Save Space
Rolling your clothes is a great way to get the most out of your suitcase’s limited space. Rolled clothes bundles can be wedged in between shoes and toiletry bags, making use of gaps that would otherwise be wasted. Even better, rolling your vacation clothes helps keep your tops and sundresses from getting wrinkled while traveling. Bonus tip: you can roll pieces up together to have an instant spring break outfit ready when you need it.
Next Stop: Spring Break!
When you’re on spring break, your top priority is relaxing and having fun. With these tips in your back pocket (or suitcase), you can turn time wasted on cramming things into your luggage into time spent planning stylish vacation outfits. Looking for style inspiration? Check out our Spring Getaway Collection to discover fresh looks that will instantly add vacation vibes to your wardrobe. Bon voyage!
What are your go-to tips for spring break packing? Let us know in the comments and tag us in pictures of your favorite vacation outfits on Instagram and Facebook!
