It’s an age-old question: How do you pack for a hotel stay? Do you bring everything with you, or just the essentials? And what are the essentials, anyway?
Packing for a hotel stay can be tricky. On one hand, you don’t want to overpack and end up lugging around heavy bags all day. But on the other hand, you also don’t want to forget anything important and find yourself scrambling to buy things once you’re there.
If you go for a luxury hotel, such as The Pinch Hotel, you can, of course, get away with packing less. It is not just hotel stays that result in more suitcase space, it also depends on how many stars are attached to the hotel. The more stars, the less we may need to pack.
By following the three tips below, you should gain a better understanding of what will make your packing job easier, and so make your hotel stay a breeze.
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Make a packing list
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to make a packing list before you start packing for your hotel stay. This will help you keep track of what you need to bring and ensures that you don’t forget anything important. In particular, your passport, if you are flying to the destination. Always pack a toothbrush, as this is always going to be needed. However, you might get toothpaste for free.
Always pack several days before setting off to give you time to remember all that you might need for your stay. However, the beauty of the hotel stay is that you do not need to pack so much as for a caravan or camping holiday when luxury hotels will provide much of what you need in your room. The idea of gifts given away is to make guests feel welcome at the hotel. That extra touch can mean so much to so many people. It might be included in what you pay for the room but you will not necessarily think of it that way when you are made to feel special.
Hotels typically offer a variety of complimentary items to their guests, which are not specified on bills and so overtly charged for. These items can range from toiletries and linens to coffee and tea. Take advantage of what is provided.
Pack light
You don’t want to be lugging around heavy bags all day. So pack light! Stick to the essentials and leave anything that you can live without at home.
Take advantage of staying in a hotel and do not pack so much. It is always worth contacting the hotel beforehand to find out just what is included so that you do not pack items unnecessarily. This is whether you have stayed in a hotel before or not. Different hotels might provide different items as part of their service. As well, there are differences between luxury, standard, and budget hotels in terms of the extras known to be provided or that end up a surprise.
Pack for your destination
Be sure to pack for your destination. If you’re going to a beach resort, for example, you’ll need to pack swimwear and sunscreen. If you’re headed to a cold-weather destination, on the other hand, you’ll need to pack warm clothing.
Always think about how warm it might be where you are going because of not just the location but the time of year. You can make a lot of extra suitcase room when temperatures are high enough for you to get away with wearing light clothing.
You can pack a lot more thin summer-type items of clothing than thick winter ones. A business traveler, however, might not have that luxury because they might need their smart suit. But then, you will not have to pack so many of them if the luxury hotel provides a laundry service. This can help with longer business trips and extended stays.
By following these packing tips, you can pack much more economically. Take advantage of the hotel situation that allows you to pack less.