Smart Packing Tips for a Land Tour
One of the benefits of a cruise is that you can see many different destinations while only unpacking your suitcase one time. You settle into your stateroom, and that is your home base for the rest of your vacation.
But what if you want to explore portions of the country that are not on the river or the coast? What if instead of a cruise you want to experience a land tour? You may stay in several hotels over the course of your trip. Your suitcase may need to be packed, transported, and unpacked repeatedly. Your packing requirements are going to be different, and you will need a different strategy.
You need a strategy that makes it easy to organize, move, and access your belongings.
Keep Your Primary Suitcase Manageable
It's tempting to cram shoes, clothes, and toiletries into every nook and cranny of the largest suitcase you can find when going on a long trip. However, you need to ensure that you can manage your own suitcase, even if your tour includes luggage handling. You also want to leave some room in your suitcase for purchases or souvenirs that you acquire along the way. Most importantly, you need to be aware of the tour operator's luggage size and weight restrictions and stay within those parameters. You certainly don't want to begin your trip with frustrations or arguments about bag size!
Use Packing Cubes to Make Hotel Changes Easier
We find packing cubes to be a game-changer even when going on a cruise, but they really earn their keep when on a land tour. Instead of one or two large packing cubes, we recommend several small or medium cubes. If you organize them by outfits for each hotel stop, then you can remove the cubes that you need at each hotel without digging through the entire contents of your suitcase for the items that you need at this destination.
Another pro tip: Put dirty laundry back into packing cubes to keep it separated from your clean clothes. It's even helpful to start the trip with one empty cube just for dirty clothes.
Plan a Mix-and-Match Wardrobe
Keep your suitcase manageable by carefully selecting the items that you bring.
Choose clothing that can be worn more than once.
Coordinate colors so that tops and bottoms can be mixed.
Layer rather than packing bulky cold weather clothes.
Bring clothing that is appropriate for both sightseeing and a nice dinner.
Check your itinerary before you pack as some destinations have specific clothing requirements.
Pack comfortable walking shoes, particularly in European destinations.
Most land tour companies have very helpful packing lists to help you consider what should be selected for your suitcase.
Choose Your Day Bag Carefully
Your day bag will likely be on your shoulder for 6-8 hours every day during a land tour, so it needs to be chosen with care. Choose one that is lightweight and has comfortable straps. Zippered pockets keep your small items secure, and an exterior pocket that keeps your reading glasses or sunglasses in easy reach is a good idea. Try to find a bag with a secure inner compartment for valuable items, a place for a water bottle, and enough room for a compact umbrella or a lightweight jacket.
Don't choose an oversized bag just because it has lots of pockets without considering how heavy it is and how comfortable it is to carry!
Pack a Small "Tour Day" Kit
Once your have chosen your day bag, it's time to consider what you should put inside it. Just like your suitcase, you need to be able to manage this bag on your own, and you should expect to carry it for hours. Choose the items that you will carry around with this in mind.
Passport and travel documents
Phone
Wallet/credit cards
Compact umbrella or disposable rain poncho
Portable phone battery and short charging cable
Small first-aid kit with bandages/blister care/pain medication
Tissues
Hand sanitizer
Sunglasses
Reading glasses, if needed
Sunscreen
Refillable water bottle, when practical
Any prescription medications you may need during the day
When flying to your initial destination or traveling between hotels, consider including essential electronics, your prescription medication, and a lightweight change of clothes in this bag.
Think about Tomorrow Before You Close Your Suitcase Each Night
Check the next day's itinerary and weather and consider what you will need before you zip up your suitcase. Place the shoes, clothes, jacket, and medications for the day on top of your other items. If you are leaving the hotel, pack your luggage in the evening instead of rushing to get it done in the morning. Inspect your hotel room carefully to make sure that nothing gets left behind.
Don't Pack for Every "What If"
It's tempting to load your suitcase with every possible thing you might need for every eventuality. Resist the urge!
Instead:
Check the expected weather shortly before departure.
Review the actual itinerary and tour company packing lists.
Determine whether laundry service will be available.
Remember that most everyday items can be purchased at your destination if necessary.
The objective is to be prepared without hauling things across Europe that you never use.
A Beautiful Vacation, Not a Stressful Trip
When we prepare clients for a land tour, we look beyond the itinerary. We want you to understand what the trip will actually feel like, from arrival day and changing hotels to long days of sightseeing, so you know what to expect and can pack accordingly. Our goal is simple: to help you bring what you need to travel comfortably and confidently, without carrying more than necessary.
Are you planning a land tour? Storyline Travel can help you choose the right itinerary and prepare for the journey from beginning to end.
