Spring Break Trip: Packing Tips

A person packing their luggage full of clothes, chargers, and other necessities.

Courtesy of CNN

A person packing their luggage full of clothes, chargers, and other necessities.

Tatum Steward, Photo Journalist

Spring break is right around the corner, and with that comes trips big and small. Whether you will be going on a road trip, staycation, or all the way across the world, it can be difficult to consolidate your items to pack. So if you need tips on packing for any upcoming spring break trip, look no further. 

Let’s begin with our necessities. No matter how long your stay is, toiletries are a must-have, with the exception of shampoo and conditioner depending on the length of your stay. Along with necessities, don’t forget your charger, sunscreen, and perhaps a camera. 

With that out of the way, start thinking about clothes. To begin, consider the weather that you will be enduring. Will it be sunny and warm? Cloudy and cold? Perhaps it will be hot and humid? Determining what the weather will be like while you are away will help kick off the process of packing. For instance, if your trip will be hot and humid, you will obviously want to pack the clothes that make you feel most comfortable, whether that is shorts and a tank top or a dress. 

From there, see how many days and nights you will be at your destination, if it is just for a couple of days, you may be more willing to pack each outfit day-by-day. However, if your stay will last more than a week, consider packing a couple of basics to mix and match with a few pairs of pants. Packing just a couple of pants will help free up room in your luggage for other statement pieces. It is important to pack basics since they are virtually unrecognizable in photos and do not make anyone stand out too much. 

It’s difficult trying to narrow down your closet for a three-month stay, but it’s definitely worth it to avoid lugging around too much.

— Olivia Steward

Another idea to keep in mind is the occasion. Will you be swimming all day? Rock climbing? Sightseeing? You may be attending a gala. Differentiating the event will assist you in the packing process as you can decide what is truly important for your stay. If you know that your trip will mainly consist of swimming in the ocean, pack several swimsuits and hold back on many, if any, pants. My sister, Olivia Steward, is preparing for a trip to Europe for three months, and she mentions, “It’s difficult trying to narrow down your closet for a three-month stay, but it’s definitely worth it to avoid lugging around too much.”

Hopefully, these tips help you pack for your next trip, and if not, refer to the Marie Kondo method. Keeping weather, length of stay, and functionality, as well as the occasion in mind, you will be able to successfully pack for your next vacation. At the end of the day, pack however you want, but try to refrain from overpacking.