This post brought to you by TownePlace Suites by Marriott®. All opinions are 100% mine.
As many of you may know, 2014 was packed full of travel for me! From a cruise to Bermuda, blog conferences, weekend trips and a recent trip to Italy I’ve had lots of opportunities to master the art of packing. Guess what? I still stink at it. HaHa! There are two areas that I’ve had the most improvement — toiletries and accessories (i.e. jewelry). One of my favorite places to buy my essentials is The Container Store®. (Confession, The Container Store® is one of my all-time favorite places period).
This summer, my parents flew in for a visit and we took an overnight trip to Springfield, MO. They’ll be retiring there soon and, well, that couldn’t get here soon enough. 3-1/2 hours will seem like a breeze next to the current 18 hours between all of us. Anywho, I booked the hotel and since there were 5 of us I decided on a suite. TownePlace Suites by Marriott®. It was a brand new location and I was tickled silly to see that they had the elfa® closet system in them. Apparently TownePlace Suites® and The Container Store® had a partnership.
This is perfection to help travelers stay organized for longer stays! There are currently 11 locations with the elfa closet® system. Pretty cool, right? While we weren’t there for an extended stay, they offer so many amentities to help their guests from a fully-equipped full size kitchen, in-room work space, free breakfast and MORE! It’s a sweet deal…
Sorry, I got a little side tracked there… back to the art of packing. Since I’ve yet to master it… I thought I would talk about the areas where I’ve learned a few lessons: Toiletries and Jewelry.
My travel must-haves that I purchased from The Container Store® include (but are not limited to) the following:
1.) Travel Lint Brush. A. Must. Have!
2.) Reuasble/Washable Zippered Travel Pouch. I’m usually the queen of plastic baggies, but this is a great bag that will hold up and can store all of my 3 oz. bottles so I can keep them in my carry-on.
3.) Soap Dish. I can’t use hotel soap due to sensitive skin — so this is a must {smile}.
4.) 3 oz. plastic storage bottle for shampoo, conditioner, hairspray and pills! Confession. I used to be the queen of packing all of my toiletries in full-size. Hairsprays, Mousse, Leave-In Conditioners — you name it, I had it and it weighed a TON! I’ve come a long way. I learned that a 3oz. bottle of shampoo and conditioner can last two weeks! Boom.
5.) Umm, this pack list is perfection! I don’t think you can forget anything with this handy-dandy notepad. I wouldn’t say it’s an essential, but it sure does come in handy!
6.) Stackers Folding Jewelry Tray. This box is awesome sauce! I’ve learned to minimize on packing so much jewelry and this seems to be a great size. It can hold bracelets and bangles too!
All of these essential consolidate nicely too!
So, there you have it! If I had to leave you with one tip:
Bring HALF of what you think you need!
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Tell me how you stay organized on extended stay travel or what you
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You have to bring a bag for dirty clothes or they end up everywhere. And I unpack into the drawers if we’re staying more than 2 days. hmhurst@yahoo.com
My daughter just spent the last two months at a Town Place Suites in Middleburg Hgts. Near Cleveland Ohio. She as a patient at the Cleveland Clinic. Town Place Suites was wonderful, very friendly and helpful staff. We had a 2 bedroom apt. And we were very comfortable. I would highly recommend them to everyone. Hugs, szil949@yahoo.com
I stay organized by using several smaller bags to fit different items – grouping shoes together, belts, necklaces, etc. It’s super helpful, plus I just love bags! elise.burkhead@yahoo.com
I pack mix and match clothing for extended trips. I also bring travel size laundry detergent and a stain stick so I can hand wash socks, underwear, dirty clothes (I’m always dropping food on myself) in the hotel room sink and wear them later during my trip. It cuts down on the amount of clean clothes I have to pack and the size of my suitcase. My husband and I spent over a week in England with nothing but carry on luggage that way. condoblues@gmail.com
I am not very organized. I throw everything in ziplock baggies and call it good. But I would love to get some things that would function better! notjustahousewife@yahoo.com
Great tips! Love that packing check list! oursouthernhomesc@gmail.com
To stay organized, everyone has their own suitcase & I always pack hangers to hang our clothes, & also pack bags for dirty clothes so I can keep them separated.
andysavi.mom@gmail.com
I have that list pad too! I use it as a starting point. I too used to travel with full size, now I use the travel containers…I found mine at Target. I also carry a bag to keep my dirty clothes in and a stain stick, sewing kit. Must have those…can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost a button. Great article. Enjoyed reading! Thanks for sharing! yblair1@gmail.com
I always like to unpack my hang up clothes — so that’s what I would take advantage of in the elfa closet 🙂 kristine_lk@yahoo.com
I love the idea of the drawer in the closet — that would definitely be put to good use. s_kuert7@yahoo.com
I use ebags so that my clothes are separated by days and I have everything I need right at my finger tips – I also use ziploc bags to make sure nothing leaks! I love the elfa closet – looks great! truckredford(at)gmail(Dot)com
The shoe rack would be useful, but I think I would most utilize the gliding drawer for folded items. I like to unpack my clothes and keep certain items together if I am going to be somewhere for more than one night. The extra hangars are great, too.
JenniferAnne74 AT aol.com
I’d use the shoe shelf…so much nicer that having your shoes laying around the room or heaped on the closet floor!
I am a firm believer in using Ziploc bags or travel bags to organize my items.
I would be most thrilled about the shoe rack:)
I stay organized by packing my bags light and really nice, I roll my clothes to save room and time, I also unpack as soon as I arrive to the hotel to keep it all together.
I stay organized by making lists of everything I need to pack and am packing and then using that same list to pack back up when it’s time to leave. I don’t have to worry about missing anything since I have a detailed list of exactly what I initially packed.
A laundry bag is essential if you don’t want dirty clothes mixed up with clean ones! I use a hanging organizer also keep things together and accessible. I also keep essential items packed together, clothes I will need the first night get packed on top, etc. Shoes get wrapped in plastic grocery bags, but the shoe rack in the closet would sure come in handy!
I make lists of all needed item for the trip. Then I pack any small items in baggies and any big items get rolled into my suitcase. I check the lists at least 3 times to make sure I have everything I need. dythia_99(at)yahoo.com
I find a hanging organizer where I keep my makeup, hair products, etc. to really help stay organizsed.
I would utilize both the glide-out drawers and the shoe rack. They are both great concepts which would make staying organized much easier.
I would utilize both the glide-out drawers and the shoe rack. They are both great ideas which would make staying organized so much easier. To help stay organized, I utilize a hanging makeup bag to keep my makeup, hair products, medicine, etc. all visible and handy.
I like to make lists of what I need to pack and then pack that list with me so I know that I don’t leave anything behind when it is time to leave.
cbythesea5@gmail dot com
I don’t travel often but i always keep personal hygiene items in a separate bag and clothes organized by events/days. I bring extra things depending on weather.
I love the shelves and drawer in the closet. I like having all my things in one place instead of in dresser drawers and a separate small closet.
I would use the closet rods to keep my clothes from getting wrinkled. sweetangela26(@)yahoo.com
Roll out toiletry bag and packing cubes are a must! Keeps everything in its place for easy access and clean up! Shelly.bergman13(at)gmail.com