This post was created in partnership with Starbucks.
Ending the summer abroad is starting to become a ritual for my partner and I. We spent last summer in her hometown, England. This year, we’re traveling to Italy and will be visiting Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, Bologna, and Modena. I can’t wait to learn all about the country’s history, culture, and cuisine.
The first step to ensuring an amazing trip is making sure you’re prepared with all the travel essentials. If you’re someone like me, then you hate packing. You also probably wait until the night before, or, let’s just be honest, hours before having to be at the airport. Thanks to my partnership with the Starbucks Rewards Visa Prepaid Card, I didn’t experience any of the usual preparatory anxiety and aggravation this trip! The convenience and reliability of this card allowed for me to wiz through my “to do” list, leaving me feeling calm, cool, collected and ready to explore! AND… I got to take a few coffee breaks while shopping, using my Starbucks points I earned from my purchases.
Here are some tips to help you get ready for a getaway.
Don’t overpack.
This is the hardest part. If you’re currently packing for a trip, then stop right now and put half of the stuff back into the closet. Trust me, you don’t need it. You probably don’t wear half of that stuff anyway, so it’s highly unlikely that you’ll wear it on vacation. If it’s summer time, and you’re headed on a 4-5 day trip, you’ll need 4-5 tops or dresses, 4-5 pairs of shorts or trousers, 1-2 pair of sneakers or drivers and a sandal.
Choose light fabrics.
Summer trips are a bit easier to pack for since the fabrics are lighter and clothing items less bulky. Whether you’re going to explore a city or participate in Pride festivities, Linens, cotton blends, and breathable fabrics are essential, and guarantee comfort, style and versatility in the heat.
Roll and fold.
The roll and fold method is something that everyone should master. It allows for so much more room in your suitcase. Dresses, t-shirts, trousers, shorts, swimwear, and pretty much all other summer clothing can be rolled. This method also eliminates the problem of wrinkles. Blazers or stiffer types of clothing can be folded and places on top of your rolled items.
The shoes.
Pack lighter shoes. Drivers, sandals and one sneaker are ideal in warmer climates. Pack them in a shoe bag or tissue paper so that the dirt from the bottom of the shoe doesn’t rub against your clothing. Pack a pair of no-show socks per shoe; stuff each pair of socks in the respective shoes. Not only is this a good way to combat creasing of the toe box of your shoe, but it will also help you keep track of what sock goes with what shoe.
Accessories
I prefer to pack my accessories in my carry on because they are usually fragile and/or susceptible to breaking if handled roughly. But, if you want to pack them in your suitcase, I have two suggestions; make sure you place them in either a hard shell container, or, put them in a soft, padded bag and place the bag in-between your rolled clothing so as to provide extra protection against damage.
Toiletries
Ladies, you may have this one covered with all of the make-up bags that you’ve collected over the years, but if not, here’s a tip for you too. Invest in a toiletry bag! It holds all of your bathroom essentials and keeps you organized while traveling. Most are big enough for your toothbrush, fragrances, and those 3 oz travel bottles the TSA limits us to. Slide it in your bag next to your shoes and you’re good to go!
Electronics
Who leaves home these days without their laptop, camera, headphones, and the multiple adaptors? No one! Invest in a cute backpack or small carry bag that’ll house all of these necessities.
I purchased all of the items that I wanted and needed with my Starbucks Rewards Visa Prepaid Card. It has definitely made my life a lot easier because it allows for me to be in control of my finances while also receiving Stars for every dollar I spend. Learn more about the new Starbucks Rewards Visa Prepaid Card on the Starbucks website.
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