Taking a trip where you will be staying for an extended amount of time is exciting, but it requires some extensive packing as well. Given that you will be spending long periods of times away from your home, you want to make sure that you have all of the things that you’ll need to be comfortable while you’re away.
When the packing process for an extended trip begins, there are usually piles of clothes that build up and a never-ending game of Tetris happening within your suitcase. If you’re still having a tough time figuring out what you absolutely need to pack for your trip, you’re in luck. Today’s blog is going to help you move through the process of packing for an extended stay trip.
From the items that you should be thinking about to a few tips to ensure that everything you need fits into your suitcase, we’re going to cover all the bases. Keep reading to see what you can do ensure that you’re ready for this extended stay.
Consider the Trip
Every trip has a different purpose behind it. While all extended stays require the same amount of efforts in regards to packing, the first thing that you need to think about is the purpose behind your trip. Are you going to be traveling for business or pleasure? This can make a big difference in the things that you need to pack and where your focus needs to be in terms of what you’re bringing.
Once you’ve got that figured out, you can start to filter through the different items that you have piled up and make sure that the things you have set aside are items that you’re actually going to need to bring on the trip.
Select Clothes
Clothes are a necessary part of packing, regardless of the trip or how long you are going to be gone for. The one tricky thing about extended stays is that there’s usually only so much luggage that you can bring and very rarely are you able to fit everything you’d like to bring in those bags. That’s why one of the most essential parts to packing for a long trip is narrowing down the clothes that you’re going to pack.
It’s hard to know what you’re going to absolutely need, but once you know where you’re going, for how long, and what the purpose of the trip is, you should be able to pick out some essential pieces of clothing that need to be taken on the trip. After that, focus on a few key pieces that can easily be mixed and matched with one another. When you have staple pieces that are easy to turn into multiple outfits, you can make the most of the little space that you do have.
As you go through the pieces of clothing that you’ve set aside, take color into consideration. Basic and neutral colors make it easy to use pieces interchangeably. Stick to colors like black, brown, whites, and denim as you filter through the clothes you’ve set aside.
Forget About the “Just in Case” Pieces
Let’s face it, there are always items that we say we are going to bring “just in case” a situation comes up. Whether it’s a pair of shoes, an extra jacket, or a handful of extra shirts, this isn’t a scenario where you have lots of extra room in your bags. For that reason, we suggest ditching the “just in case” items.
If there are items that you feel nervous not bringing along on the trip, there’s probably a good reason for those feelings. Those types of feelings might be a warning sign that this is something that should actually be a priority item and not a “just in case” piece. If it’s just another option for you to choose from when you’re traveling, then do your best to choose between the options and pack only what you need.
Narrow It Down Even More
As crazy as it sounds, you’ve narrowed it down quite a bit in the process this far, but if you’re still not able to fit everything that you need in your bag, it’s time to narrow it down even more. When it comes to packing for extended-stay trips, it’s not uncommon for people to go through their items a couple of times before finally getting their bag packed.
Though it may be time-consuming, the more that you go through your suitcase and the items that you need to bring, the better equipped you’re going to be for your trip. Long-term stays don’t get planned in a day, so it makes sense that the bags you’re bringing require a little bit of extra time to perfect.
Take Advantage of Packing Tools
As silly as it may sound, there are plenty of tools and products that are designed with packing for long-term trips. The primary thing that we have talked about in this blog are the clothes that you bring on a trip and how much room they take up in your bags. Vacuum seal bags are a great way to pack your clothes airtight so that they can fit better in your bag.
Vacuum sealed bags aren’t the only option when it comes to making the most of the space that you have in your bag. There are also packing cubes that you can pack your items in and that make it so much easier for you to fit everything into your bag in an organized manner. The same goes for any hygiene or beauty products that you’re packing — throw them in a bag and make it so that they’re easier to tote along with you.
Let ParkDIA Take Care of Your Car
When you’re going to be gone for an extended stay, be it abroad or here within the states, the last thing that should have to worry about is your car back home. When you leave your car in the hands of the team here at ParkDIA, you can count on it being taken care of and ready for your return.
We offer both covered and uncovered parking options to accommodate your needs. Simply let us know what type of parking you’d prefer, how long you’ll be gone for, and the dates of your trip. We’ll take it from there. Once you’ve finished your packing, take a look at our long-term parking rates and services that we offer to the Denver area. Reach out to our team if there’s anything else that we can help you with.
