For many college students across the country, spring break is looming ever nearer, or has already, well, sprung. While most people only have thoughts of relaxing away from the stresses of college life on their mind, there are still plenty of things that need to happen before leaving for the week.
Whether you’re jetting off to a tropical locale to relax and rejuvenate for a week, or just heading home to spend time with friends and family, you’re going to need to pack enough things for a week to get you through.
Essentials
Regardless of where you’re headed for the break, there are some things you just always need to bring.
Clothes. Should be a no brainer, but it’s always good to include on the list. It’s absolutely imperative to pack along enough clothing to last a week, or ten days, or however long you’ll be away from your dorm room. It’s also a good idea to pack not only things appropriate for the climate of your destination (i.e. shorts for warmer climes, hats and scarves for more chillier locations) as well as things for the opposite. Especially in early spring, the weather can be hard to predict, and can change in an instant from balmy to frigid, and vice versa.
Toiletries. Another thing to remember to pack in your suitcase, unless you have extras at the place you’re headed (like home) is all of your toiletries and other necessities. Things like your toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo and other personal hygiene products, any medications you may need, as well as makeup or hair care products should you want them. While these things are completely necessary, they can take up a lot of space in a suitcase. Even if you aren’t traveling by airplane, it can be a good idea to have travel sizes of your favorite brands on hand for such occasions. They’re often inexpensive, and can be found at any major supermarket.
Leisure activities. This may be less pressing for those going on proper vacations for their breaks, but it’s never a bad idea to bring things to entertain you, whether it be on a plane, or while lounging about at home. For many, this can simply be their laptop, tablet, and/or smart phone, but other things can include books/eReaders, handheld video game devices, sketchbooks, camera, or other hobbies you may want to pursue during your time off.
Optional Items
Some things are better packed only when heading to certain locations to save on space in your suitcase.
Bathing suit. If you’re heading to a warm climate (or even just a hotel with a nice pool) you’ll probably want to consider bringing your swimsuit along. The good news is that they’re often small and don’t take up very much space in your bag. However, you’ll probably be sorely missing it should you forget it at home!
Activity-appropriate gear. Basically, use your common sense. If you’re going skiing, bring your ski supplies. Ditto surfing, wake boarding, or any kind of sport or activity that requires special equipment. If you’re traveling at all, don’t forget things like your personal information, boarding passes for planes, cash and/or traveler’s checks, and anything else you may need for your journey.
Travel Insurance. So you may not actually be physically packing a policy, but it can be wise to consider travel insurance for spring break. Travel insurance can help you protect the money you’ve fronted for your trip in case something comes up, as well as offer you travel assistance and some medical coverage you may not have otherwise. Help your trip run more smoothly with travel insurance.
When it comes down to it, planning out what you need and want to bring ahead of time is always a good strategy, and will result in much smarter packing choices than just throwing things willy-nilly into a case five minutes before you leave. Believe me, you’ll appreciate it when you’re not two days into your vacation and wondering why on earth you have eleven shirts and only two pairs of jeans that don’t match anything else you’ve packed.