We are fortunate to be able to travel for an overnight stay at least once per month due to my husband's membership in a golf club. I purchased a plastic storage box with lid (plastic shoe boxes are great) and filled it with the things we like to travel with: our preferred shampoos, conditioners, shower gel, lotions as well as disposable razors, toothbrushes (in plastic brush holders), toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorants, sunscreen, makeup remover, scissors, nail care tools, a corkscrew, wet wipes, hand held mirror, etc. I initially purchased small bottles of the hair care and mouthwash and refill as needed.
The plastic box fits easily into an overnight bag. Should anything break or leak, the plastic bin keeps the spills inside the box! This is a bag that is always checked when we fly (scissors and possible fluid restrictions). Biggest tip here: Once back from a trip, "reload" the bag immediately as you never know when you will need to use it! We arrived home on a Saturday from an out of town wedding and Sunday evening we were on the road for an out of town family emergency. Enjoy the ease!
By Tahloolabelle from Ventura, CA
This page contains the following solutions.
I purchase an Entertainment book for the area where I'm planning to vacation during the summer. These books usually go on sale for about $10 by that time of year, and they offer savings on two-for-one meals, entertainment, etc.
When traveling out of the U.S., always bring a small rubber bathmat as a lot of the hotels do not offer bathmats nor do they all have the rubber grids in shower or tubs to prevent you from falling.
When you are on vacation, your home is most susceptible to burglary. One trick to create the illusion that you are home is to put a few lights on a timer.
When traveling, I use a bottle carrier fabric bag I bought at Target in the $1 section. I use it to carry my hair products, creams, deodorant, sunscreens, etc. Everything is tidy and organized together for myself and the kids.
This isn't really a very frugal tip, just a very convenient one. I don't have a bladder control problem but when I travel, I use Depends (or generic brand).
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Tips for preparing for a trip. Post your ideas.
Call State tourist offices and convention bureaus for travel and coupon information before traveling
By T. Preston
Pack "everything" in clear plastic bags!
The airport people appreciate it, & its much easier to find things!
Well, I don't know if this is "preparation," as you have to do it when you get to your destination, but my advice is to always visit the Tourist Information Center or Welcome Center in the town you are visiting FIRST, before going to any attractions. We learned this in Huntsville, AL, when we went to the Welcome Center the day after we went to the Space and Rocket Center-- they had coupons we could have used to save several dollars on admission.
Indeed, those gallon and 2 gallon size plastic bags are great to pack clothing. TSA people have said to me that they do not like touching women's personal items and the clear bags are a perfect option. I pack t-shirts, slacks, shorts, sleepwear, underwear, swim suits & beach coats in the bags too. If your suitcase gets wet while waiting on the luggage cart on the tarmac or while going up the conveyor belt into the airplane, you will discover how wonder those plastic bags can be....your clothing is not wet!!!
An important first step when preparing for a trip is to make an all inclusive list of things to take along with you. This list can save you time and money. This page contains ideas and tips for making lists for traveling.
