Packing for a Weekend Trip
Packing for a weekend trip can be tricky. Packing for 2 adults and a toddler in one suitcase for a weekend trip can feel almost impossible. This can be especially challenging if you have picky outfit picker like my husband, and toddler that manages to get everything dirty in one meal. Add on unpredictable weather and you've got some work on your hands!
Today, I'm sharing what I packed in one suitcase, an overnight bag and a diaper backpack for a 3-day, 2-night trip to the coast for 3 people. Keep in mind, this is a larger suitcase and not a carry-on suitcase. If you're limited to one carry-on for multiple people, I HIGHLY recommend investing in space saver bags. They really do the work for you!
I always believe that more is safer than less. Sure, you could always run to a store to pick up a replacement shirt or sweatshirt, but if you're in a higher-cost location the last thing you want to do is pick into your vacation money for something you could have easily brought from home. If you think you'll need a sweater, bring it. If you think you need pants AND shorts, bring them.
First, start with a color scheme. If you're hoping to look good for photos, coordinate the whole family in similar colors for the weekend. This is also super helpful if you want many combination options with few items. I brought 2 jeans and 2 leggings for myself, while Mike had his favorite jeans and shorts, and wore a secondary bottom not pictured. I kept our tops simple and easy to layer if the weather (which was flip-flopping between cold and hot for the week leading up to our trip).
I kept the same setup for Miles, but added way more outfits than was necessary. I'm still super happy that I did this because I knew I'd have the worst luck if I didn't slightly over prepare. I packed Miles 4 bottoms, 4 tops, and 3 items for outwear, along with 2 pjs and 2 cold weather outfits for backups. And he ended up using everything but the 2 cold weather outfits (bottom right). The only thing I wish I had packed was a pair of his basketball shorts in lieu of one of the backup pants. We ended up with all hot weather days and I didn't bring enough shorts to accommodate.
If you're trying to decide how many diapers and wipes to bring, I always suggest a fresh container of jumbo wipes and a fresh package of diapers. We get ours mainly from Costco now, so one bag of diapers and one wipes container was more than plenty.
The only things that remained to be packed in our suitcase were our toiletries, shoes, socks, and undies. I prefer the kinds of suitcases that are not hardcased and have a zipper that allows them to expand a little bit as you can really pack those things to the brim. Our diaper bag (not pictured) carried all our baby changing needs, wallets and our Nintendo Switch for after-baby hours.
The best advice I can give anyone is that it's easier to pack in terms of outfits and chose a few extra pieces that could go with anything. That way, if anything happens you're totally covered. Go online before your trip and try to see how close you are to Target, Walmart, and a drug store for those unfortunate moments where you have to run to the store for something. Beware the souvenir shops as a sweatshirt will usually run you $35+ for something you probably won't really wear that often.
If you travel even just once a year, a 3-5 pc luggage set is a great investment. Plenty of options that can work for you, you and your partner, or you and your family.
How do you pack for you and other people? Got any tips or tricks? Share them in the comments below. I'm sure we've all got something we can learn from each other!
