While this isn’t Bilbo’s, There and Back Again: A Hobbit’s Tale, this is a little traveler’s tale about our recent trip to Las Vegas. First, if you know, you know; John and I aren’t gamblers, we don’t really go to any shows. Our biggest hobby is hanging out by the resort pools and people watching. We like to eat, and we love to walk the strip, but other than that, we are just content poolside with a fruity pineapple drink to sip. But I did learn a few things about packing for a vacation trip.
What I packed…
The list of items I packed for a four-day trip to Las Vegas was comical! I honestly took way more than any one person needed. But I thought to myself, “We’ll get up, go to the pool, clean up to head out for some lunch, do a little exploring, go back and shower, get ready for dinner… I’ll need at least four outfits per day!” And so, that’s what I packed. Plus a couple extras just in case of emergency. Guess how many outfits I actually needed? NOT FOUR PER DAY!
Here’s the list of what I actually packed:
- Three pair of shorts
- Four summer tops
- Four swimsuits and two coverups (plus pool sandals)
- Three pair of sunglasses. Yes, three.
- Two gym outfits – just in case we decided to exercise…
- Cage sandals, espadrille wedges, stilettos for dinner, and trainers
- One leather dress, two black dresses, a red sundress, a blue and white floral sundress, and an animal print dress. Yes, that was indeed six dresses for a four-day trip.
- One cardigan sweater, a lace blazer, plus one pashmina. It was 106F during the day.
- Pjs, robe, and slippers
- Undergarments, socks, personal items
- One straw bag, one black cross body bag, and one clear bag in case required at the pool
What I wouldn’t pack again…
While the idea of having options appeals to me – I never know what I’m going to want to wear, or how hot / cold it will be – I packed way, way, way too many clothes – even for Las Vegas!
Here’s what I would take instead:
- One pair of shorts; the leather ones. They’re great for day or evening and can be dressed up or down
- One black dress. There was no need for two.
- The leather dress. It was great for the Skyfall lounge. Although, I only wore it for a couple of hours, I could have easily subbed out the black dress for this occasion.
- Extra jewelry: While I do like to have a couple pair of earrings and a bracelet or two, I did not need (nor did I wear) seven pairs of earrings.
What I wished I’d packed…
There are always a few things I wish I had taken with me when I travel. There are some things outside of our control, like the weather or the noise level at the hotel, that can take a toll on our comfort levels. Here’s a few things I wish I’d packed. In fact, a few of these are in my Amazon cart right now so I’ll be ready for the next trip.
Here’s my wish list of items:
- Travel humidifier: The air in hotels is so dry. Having a small travel humidifier would be wonderful to have in your room.
- Travel fan: Sometimes the hotel hallways can be a bit noisy with other travelers. It would be nice to have a little white noise, and a cool breeze is always refreshing.
- Air tag and holder: While most airlines have tracking on luggage these days, we did have a glitch or two seeing where ours was located. An AirTag would have been a nice luxury.
- Individual loofah: I love a good exfoliating loofah scrub, and having a small travel sized loofah would have been heavenly.
- Hair mask: Whether the hotel has hard or soft water, or the air is simply just dry, having a hair mask would have been wonderful at keeping locks hydrated.
- Foldable laundry bag / hamper: We aren’t slobs, but we do tend to spread out in a hotel room. A collapsable laundry hamper or laundry bag would have been handy.
- Travel hair tools: Most hotels have hair dryers, but packing a full-sized flat iron or curling wand takes a lot of space in your luggage. Having a smaller, travel sized flat iron would be amazing! I didn’t even know these existed.
- Collapsable water bottle: While not as sexy or stylish as name brand bottles, having a compact, collapsable water bottle would have been nice.
- Extension cord with power strip: Why are there never enough outlets in a hotel room? And why are they always behind an immovable object? Having an extension power strip would have been a game changer.
Whether you’re traveling for a few days or a couple of weeks, it’s always a good idea to think through what you really need and don’t need. Of course, there are always going to be those random items that would be really nice to have while you’re there. We can’t plan for everything; we can only do the best we can do.
One thing is certain, the next time I travel, I’ll be taking a lot fewer outfits, and a couple of extras that will make my life a little easier while I’m away from home. Safe and happy travels to you this summer!
