Ever arrive at your vacation spot and suddenly realize that you forgot something important back at home?

Remember that feeling when you were (in the car, at the airport, on the plane, in the hotel, at the beach, etc.) and you could kick yourself for being so stupid?

Well...never again will that happen to you!  

Print out the following Packing Checklist for Travel each time you plan on taking a trip (even just a day trip to the beach with the kids) and then relax...knowing that you have not forgotten anything and will have everything you need when you are away!

Packing Checklist for Travel

Several Weeks/Days Prior to Leaving on Trip:

• Confirm reservations with airline, hotel, car rental
• Print out itinerary and directions – send to relatives, keep copy in house
• Get cash from ATM/bank
• Put newspaper delivery on vacation hold
• Put mail on "vacation hold" at www.usps.com
• Call to put utilities on-hold (if planning to stay away for significant duration)
• Go to safe deposit box at bank to either remove important items (e.g., passport) for travel or deposit items for safe-keeping (i.e., jewelry) while you are away
• Make arrangements for pets
• Notify State Department for international travel

One Day Prior to Leaving:

• Check-in for your flight online
• Prepare snacks/water 
• Download movies/books and other online content to iPads, Kindle readers, etc.
• Change outgoing messages on answering machine/email   

Prepare Home for Leaving:

• Clean out refrigerator
• Load/unload dishwasher
• Empty sink
• Throw out garbage in kitchen/bathrooms/bedrooms
• Throw out diaper pail garbages
• Throw out food on counter or in drawers that may spoil (bread, potatoes, onions, etc.)
• Remove clothes from washing machine/dryer
• Empty water from humidifier
• Shut off heat/AC (or set thermostat to appropriate temperature)
• Shut off/turn on outside lights (or put on timer for lights)
• Unplug appliances, electronics (for fire prevention and saving electricity)
• Check that doors/windows are locked
• Pack gifts or things to bring for people you are visiting  

Clothing to Pack:

• Socks – casual + dressy
• Bras
• Underwear
• Undershirts
• Pajamas/sleeping clothes
• Shirts – long-sleeve + short-sleeve, casual + dressy
• Sweaters – casual + dressy
• Pants – casual (jeans, sweatpants, running pants) + dressy
• Shorts
• Bathing Suits
• Shoes – dressy and casual (sneakers, flip-flops)
• Boots
• Jacket/coat
• Suit and/or sports coat
• Ties
• Scarves
• Gloves/mittens
• Thermals
• Robe
• Slippers  

Accessories to Pack:

• Jewelry
• Watch + watch bands
• Extra pair of eyeglasses
• Sunglasses
• Belts –dressy & casual
• Hats
• Hair items (headband, "scrunchy")
• Spot stain remover
• Shoe polish kit
• Sewing needle, thread
• Umbrella

Toiletries to Pack:

• Deodorant/anti-perspirant
• Contact lenses, case, cleaning/storage solutions
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Tissues
• Cotton balls/pads
• Q-tips
• Hair combs/brushes
• Hair dryer
• Hair gel/hairspray
• Acne medication/face pads, face wash
• Face moisturizer
• Body moisterizer
• Sunblock
• Makeup
• Razor + shaving cream + extra razors + beard trimmer/cord
• Nail file + nail clipper
• Travel scissors
• Tweezers
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Soap
• Loofah (or washcloths)
• Wet wipes
• Female hygiene products (tampons, pads)
• Personal lubricant
• Condoms/birth control

Medicines to Pack:

• Prescription medications
• First-aid kit (Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, etc.)
• Antacid tablets
• Painkillers (Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen)
• Eye drops
• Sore throat lozenges and spray
• Allergy medications
• Cold/flu medicine
• GasX, lactase, probiotics
• Fiber supplements  

Miscellaneous Items to Pack:

• Passport/driver’s license for adults
• Passport/birth certificate for children
• Credit/debit/ATM cards
• Insurance and AAA cards
• Reading material (books, magazines, articles)
• Homework/work materials + pencils/pens/markers
• Computer + power cord (for both work and home)
• Cell phones + wall chargers + car chargers (for both work, adults & kids)
• iPad/Kindle + chargers (for adults & kids)
• Camera + battery + carrying case
• Videocamera + chargers + memory cards + carrying case
• External hard drive(s)
• Itinerary + directions + maps/travel guides
• Tickets/boarding passes
• Batteries
• Entertainment: Movies/games/deck of cards
• Journal
• Notepad + pencil/pen
• Flashlight
• Car emergency kit
• Personal protection (gun, knife, stun gun, etc.)
• Eyepatch/ear plugs for sleeping
• Cuff links
• Collar stays
• Breath mints/chewing gum
• Beach chairs
• Beach towels
• Beach umbrellas
• Beach insulated food bags
• Hand sanitizer for sterilizing travel surroundings
• Extra set of keys for residence you are visiting

Packing for Babies & Children:

• Phone numbers for pediatrician
• Emergency sheet with contact names & numbers & child’s health info with medications (put on as leg band?)
• Diapers
• Cream for diaper rash
• Cornstarch powder
• Baby wipes
• Diaper-changing pad (& disposables)
• Diaper bag (for carrying all of the baby-related items)
• Bibs
• Formula, juice or water
• Baby food
• Feeding utensils
• Breast pump + attachments/tubing
• Bottles for storing breast milk
• Boppy or MyBreastFriend (comfortable pillows for nursing babies)
• Nursing blanket/shawl for privacy
• Spit-up towels
• Bottles/caps
• Bottle brush
• Nipples
• Cold packs and container for bottle
• Extra baby clothes for during travel
• Extra adult clothes for during travel (in case of spit-ups)
• ERGO / TULA baby carriers
• Carseat with base
• Baby bathtub  
• Nail clippers
• Blankets (to lay on, cover baby, shade)
• Plastic grocery bags (for soiled diapers, clothes)
• Ziplock bags
• Brush/comb
• Baby shampoo/conditioner
• Baby soap
• Baby moisterizing lotion
• Baby sunscreen (no matter the season)
• Toys (nesting toys, mirrors, rattles, musical toys, soft animals)
• Teething-related items/toys
• Portable crib/play yard 
• Tissues
• Sippy cups with straws
• Hair clips/scrunches
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Disinfecting hand gel
• Sunscreen
• Pacifiers with clips
• Toys / stuffed animals 
• Socks
• Shoes
• Watershoes for beach/pool
• Goggles for swimming
• Onesies
• Pajamas
• Shirts (long-sleeve, short-sleeve)
• Sweaters
• Pants/shorts
• Hats (for sun or cold)
• Jacket/coat
• First-aid kit
• Prescription + over the counter medicines for children
• Warm blanket for carseat
• Car seat
• Stroller
• Stroller carrier for airport
• Bags to put stroller into when checking-in on airplane
• Download movies/games on iPad
• Ear phones for airplane for children 
• Food specifically for children (e.g., if dietary restrictions)
• Ice packs + bag for cold food

Travel Tip #1:  Pack each baby outfit in its own zipped plastic bag to prevent hunting around for individual items 

Travel Tip #2:  If traveling by car or plane, individually wrap small toys or other interesting things to play with in aluminum foil or put into paper bags to keep small children entertained and excited about opening a "new" object to play with.