A 3-Step, Long-Weekend Packing Strategy for Your Next Mini-Vacation

A self-proclaimed, long-weekend warrior shares her secret to stress-free packing

Painted sketch of Apryl S.
Apryl S.
Shot of a woman relaxing with her feet up on the luggage.

Summary: Say so long to over-packing with this self-proclaimed long-weekend warrior's secret to stress-free packing.

The great thing about vacation ownership with Hilton Grand Vacations is that it Isn’t one size fits all. Some people take fewer but more extended vacations, and others find it easier to sprinkle shorter getaways throughout the year.

As someone whose vacation style consists of 10 to 12 long-weekend trips per year, I’ve figured out how to pack efficiently.

Here’s my mini-vacation packing strategy so you spend can less time packing and more time vacationing on your next long-weekend getaway.

Step 1: Keep a handy packing list

A notebook with "packing list" handwritten at the top, laid atop of clothing.

When packing, there are four separate categories of things to pack:

  1. Clothes. This category includes the obvious items like outfits, pajamas, undergarments and accessories like jewelry and shoes. It also includes specialty clothing such as swimwear, winter or hiking gear, etc.

  2. Toiletries. These items are for personal hygiene and medication, such as shampoos and lotions, and include specialty items like sunblock, bug spray and sanitizing wipes.

  3. Leisure items. Think of this section as supplemental items you may want to take with you, like books or electronics like a portable speaker, tablet or laptop (charging cables included).

  4. Food. This category is relevant if you’re going on a vacation where you’re not planning on dining out. Some examples include going on a trip such as camping or spending a long weekend at a Hilton Grand Vacations property where you can Prepare meals Conveniently in your suite kitchen. You may need to create a separate packing list around the meals you plan to cook and snacks you want to have on hand. Of course, you can always skip this step and have Hilton Grand Vacations Stock your fridge for you.

Within these four categories, create a checklist of things to pack and the amounts needed. I have an ongoing electronic checklist broken down by category to reference while I pack.

Overhead shot of a woman laying out an outfit including shoes, pants, shirt and accessories.
About the Author Apryl S.
Painted sketch of Apryl S.

A Member with Hilton Grand Vacations since 2014, Apryl is a passionate traveler from Northbrook, Illinois, and an Owner at Elara, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club. She enjoys vacationing in her favorite destination, Hawaii, where she has fond memories of reconnecting with old friends at Lagoon Tower by Hilton Grand Vacations Club. Apryl enjoys exploring the world most with her husband and children. Whether it be skiing the slopes of Colorado, enjoying the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, or tasting their way around the globe, Apryl and her family are fueled by adventure. “We travel so much that we now have to make sure that we have a couple of weeks in between each trip so that we don’t get burned out on vacation!”

Vacation Inspiration Delivered

Sign up to get our latest news, special offers, travel tips and more sent right to your inbox.

All fields are required.

 

By checking this box and typing your name herein, you agree that the above contact information is correct and authorize by electronic signature, Hilton Grand Vacations and its Family of Companies (collectively “HGV”) to contact me for any purpose including account and promotional offers at the email address and telephone number provided. I hereby expressly consent to receive communications that may include autodialed calls, texts and prerecorded messages. I understand that I am waiving my rights under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the telemarketing sales rule as well as similar state laws along with and federal and state do not call laws. I further understand that I am not required to provide consent as a condition to purchase any goods or services and that consent may be withdrawn at any time. Messaging and data charges may apply. For information about how Hilton Grand Vacations, processes and shares your information, please visit https://www.hiltongrandvacations.com/en/legal/privacy-notice.