The other week my daughter randomly told me she wants to go to Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu and study marine biology.
I couldn’t have been more excited -- after all, I’m a scuba diver, a big time beach/ ocean lover, and super passionate about traveling!
After a dive trip on Koh Samui, Thailand
And when she told me the school and campus are located right on the beach I started thinking about visiting her - often!
Just for reference, my daughter just graduated middle school. But this did not keep me from planning my first 4 - 5 trips to see her 😊
I’m not kidding -- even on our honeymoon my then-husband and I went “beach hopping” in Thailand: we went to four islands and on one dive boat for some 40+ dives and unforgettable dinners + sunsets on the beach!
Watching the sunset while having dinner in Thailand
When the airline lost my suitcase on that trip I also learned about the importance of packing light.
Back then I decided to never check my luggage again and I haven’t done so voluntarily since😉
Everyone I know can’t wait to travel again. Places are booking up fast until way into the Fall. It seems like these first few trips are really special.
To help doing so I would love to share with you some of my favorite tips for packing light yet having everything you might need on that trip.
A magical place in Hong Kong called Gold Coast
Your outfits serve what you’re doing and your daily activities will most likely be different from those at home. Think in complete outfits and in activities or situations. Perhaps your daywear consists of not much more than a bathing suit, a cover-up, and a great pair of sunglasses. City tours require super comfortable shoes. What will your evenings look like -- will you have dinner on the beach or at a five-star restaurant? Really envision your trip and make an “outfit plan”.
Stopping in Venice, Italy en route to Tuscany
Some time before the trip, put aside a quiet hour and consider those outfits. Try on the things you already own to see if they still fit or if you even still like them. With your trip a few weeks out there’s still time to fill any gaps. So go ahead and buy what’s missing.
Just outside of Palm Springs
Set up your suitcase in a quiet corner of your home and start putting in items that you don’t need on a daily basis. These could be things like your bathing suit, your evening outfit, some special earrings, or a book you bought just for the trip. It’s easier to fill in the gaps the night before (or the day of) the trip than to start from scratch, and you’ll be less likely to forget something.
Shopping + Sightseeing in Bangkok, Thailand
I am for sure starting to daydream about visits to my daughter in Hawaii but I probably won’t wait until she goes to college to take a trip there. My very first vacation after the pandemic is going to take me to a different beach destination though: Cancun. Mexico, here I come!
Magical sunset in Ixtapa, Mexico
What about you? Do you have a favorite travel story? What will be the first place you travel to after the pandemic? A favorite packing tip?
We’d love to hear about it - please share it with us in the comments ❤️
These are great tips…and very timely too! I like the tip to think in complete outfits. I tend to just pull my favorite shirts, pants, etc, but then end up overpacking Every Single Time! 😂
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Bonnie Machuca
June 06, 2021
Thanks for the tips! We are going to Aruba this summer and I found these tips super helpful. Also…I spent 6 months in Thailand 24 years ago and went scuba diving in some of the islands like you!