So you’ve got your trip planned. But packing is such a drag, isn’t it? Whether you are heading to a busy city, a beachside getaway, or just taking a quick weekend break, you won’t escape from having to pack a bag.

Well, don’t worry. We’ve got your back. We’ve put together some simple, practical packing tips to help you stay organized and avoid last-minute stress. That way, you can focus on enjoying your trip instead of worrying about what’s in your suitcase.

Carry-on essentials

While many short-term rentals, such as Dharma Home Suites, will have things like shampoo, conditioner, and soap, you may need to bring additional toiletries. You also never know when you're going to have a plane delay; or even worse, your luggage gets lost, like in an incident when a plane accidentally left everyone's luggage behind, and people were stuck for three days without their bags. 

We’re not saying you should cram your entire wardrobe into one  carry-on. but you can pack some essentials to tide you over until you get your hands on your bags. Here is a list of essentials to put into your carry-on.

Must pack toiletries and other necessities

Toothbrush/Paste/Floss - You always feel a little better when your teeth are clean.

Mouthwash - The travel size ones so they pass security checks

Deodorant - For obvious reasons

Feminine Products - No one wants to be surprised or unprepared.

Tylenol or Advil - To get rid of any headaches caused by delays or lost luggage

Hair Brush and Hair Ties - Even if your plans go awry, at least your hair is in place.

Glasses/Contact Lenses and Solution - You don’t want lenses glued to your eyeballs.

Dry Shampoo - For when you don’t have time to wash your hair before an appointment or event.

Underwear/Socks: Like mom says, you always need a pair of clean underwear, so bring at least one extra and a pair of socks.

Standard measurements of carry-on bags in flights

While many of the items mentioned can help make your plane ride more pleasant, you don’t want to take the time and money to pack your carry-on just to be forced to check it at the boarding desk. 

Although it may vary by an inch or two depending on the airline, the standard measurements for a carry-on on a commercial flight are 22” x 14” x 9”. Regional airline requirements are smaller, with average measurements of 18” x 14” x 7”. Check with your airline before leaving to make sure your bag can go onboard.

Smart packing tips

Now that you’ve packed all of your essentials, it’s time to think about the things you’ll need for where you are going. Climates change drastically from place to place and season to season, so checking the weather for where you’ll be is a must when trying to figure out what to pack. 

Cold weather- Winter destinations

Here’s a pro tip to lighten your load (literally) during winter: Wear a coat and scarf on the plane to save some precious space in your carry-on. You could also use them  as a pillow and back support during the flight. Then you are ready for the cold weather as soon as you land without having to rummage through your bag. 

Now that you’ve created a little more space in that bag, it’s time to think about taking care of your skin in winter weather and indoor heating. You can avoid chapped, flaky skin with a good moisturizer. Experts in the medical community suggest using a cream-based moisturizer to battle the dehydrating effects of winter. It’s also a good idea to throw in a tube of lip balm to keep your lips from chapping as well.

Warm weather- Summer destinations

Excited to get Vitamin D and enjoy your stay right near the ocean to get that soak-up-the-sun time?

Many tourists can put a damper on their vacation by forgetting a Florida essential: sunscreen. You don’t want to spend your vacation nursing a painful sunburn. The American Cancer Society recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect your skin from burns and cancer. 

If you plan on jumping in that ocean or pool, you want to make sure it is water-resistant as well. As always, follow FCC rules: While you are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag, they are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. 

A few other things to consider bringing in order to take advantage of warm-weather walks are a good pair of sandals and sunglasses. The American Optometric Association recommends UV protection sunglasses in order to avoid photokeratitis, or “sunburn of the eye”, which can be painful and happen in as little as one day of overexposure. They also recommend wearing a wide brimmed hat as well.

For the digital nomad

If you are traveling because you are a digital nomad and that’s what you do, you may need to pack a little more than our average tourist. It’s a good idea to set up an “office in a bag”. Your laptop, ipad, chargers, adapters, headphones, tripod stand and portable speaker are just a few of the essentials for your traveling office. Backpacks are great for this, as this is the bag you don’t want to let out of your site. Most airlines allow one carry-on and one personal item. If you use a purse, put it inside your backpack to make it one personal item, and you can still bring a second bag as a carry-on.

While you can’t control things like plane delays or lost luggage, you can help mitigate the inconvenience that these things can cause. Be sure to check out our blogs at Dharma Homesuites to find more helpful tips on how to  make your travel as  pleasant as possible.