How to Organize for a Weekend Getaway

With summer right around the corner, vacations will be in full swing for many people. Especially now that more and more people are getting the COVID vaccine and more places are opening back up. We often help personal assistant and concierge clients plan, organize and pack for their trips whether it is a weekend getaway or longer trips. For getaways that are quick when you just have a weekend to getaway here are some tips to plan for. 

Plan your budget. Before you go on any trip you should decide what your budget is because this will determine a lot of factors like where you will go, how you will get there, what you will do while you are on vacation, etc. 

Decide on where you want to go. Do you want to go somewhere to relax, off the grid, adventurous, a big city, a small city, near water, near mountains, etc. There are so many options that you can choose from.

Do you want to fly or drive. Depending on whether you want to fly or drive has a lot to do with where you will go. Also, it makes a big difference on your budget. If you have a limited amount of time off you will need to decide how much of the time you want to be travel time to and from places. 

Check the weather. Wherever you decide to go, check to weather because that will determine what you will do and what you will need to back. 

Book a place to stay. Will you be winging it, staying at a camp ground, hotel, hostel, airbnb, etc.?

Decide what to pack. I always suggest packing as light as possible because it makes traveling a lot easier and so much less stressful. This will be determined mostly based on where you will be going, the weather and what you will be doing.

Decide what types of snacks you will be taking. Decide your snack options based on if you will be driving or flying. If you have kids or don't have kids. I always like to have snacks on hand in case we get delayed somewhere, travel somewhere with limited pit stops, restaurants, gas stations, etc. 

Plan activities. Either plan or have an idea of activities that will be available based on where you are going. Maybe you don't want to do any activities and just completely decompress. If you have kids or know that you are the type that likes to get out and do things than plan, schedule or at least know of some things to do in the area.

Have fun! Above all else try to have as much fun as possible and if there are challenges along the way try to make the most of them because they will be great stories to tell one. 

Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels

ecomodernconcierge.com

2018 NAPO Conference Checklist

I am going to the NAPO Conference again this year and found this article very helpful from professional organizer, Geralin Thomas. Read the comments in her post from other professional organizers and their recommendations.

Here are some things I wanted to add as well:

• Reusable water bottle
• Silicone bags for snacks
• Disinfectant spray like Thieves
• Mini first aid kit

What type of things do you like to pack for conferences?

Photo by STIL on Unsplash

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Road Trip Essentials

Since is it is summer travel time I thought I would refer back to a post I wrote almost 2 years ago called road trip essentials (I can't believe I posted this almost 2 years ago, I remember so vaguely writing it). Click on the link above to view all the photos published.

I grew up road tripping to various places and often take road trips with my husband, and wanted to share some of my essentials. I back in July from road trippin’ with family to SC. I rode with my aunt, uncle and cousin because I was able to take off early and my husband and the rest of our family flew up that weekend. We took a leisurely pace and stopped in New Orleans at one of my favorite places, Mother’s. Their jambalaya is DELICIOUS! Saw the largest rocking chair in America, then made our first stop in Destin, FL for a couple of days. I was surprised how clear the water was and it was only about a 9 hour drive. Then we finally made our way to Edisto Beach, SC outside of Charleston and stopped at the smallest church in America on the way. I rode back home with them as well, so we were in the car a loooong time. 

Here are some road trip essentials that I found helpful and like to take with me.

• Pouches / Document Holders. I use these all the time when traveling because it helps me contain my stuff.
• Notebook / Address Book. I try to always bring my address book / notebook with me on my trips because I often send letters or have thoughts I want to jot down. 
• Pens / Pencils. Because you never know when you need a pen.
• iPad. To watch movies, listen to music or play games on, but I didn’t use it this time.
• Movies. My cousin brought all kinds of movies for us to watch in the car because they have a tv in the car and we actually watched several movies. 
• Headphones. For music and movies.
• Instant Film Camera. I love using this that my husband got for me several years ago. We took pictures at the quirky places we stopped at and completely forgot to use it at other places too.
• Portable Phone Charger. This is always handy if your phone battery is running low.
• Car Games. We actually had a lot of fun with this. We played the license plate  and got all, but 6 by the time we got home. We also played a travel question game that surprisingly turned out to be fun and we learned a lot about each other. I picked up car bingo at the AAA store. I had seen them on Amazon and a local store in Houston, but it was way cheaper from AAA.
• Maps. I know most of us have a GPS or GPS on your phone, but I always like to take an actual map just in case we need and to see where we are in relation to other cities, etc.  I go to AAA and pick up the maps and almost always use them when I am on road trips.
• Coloring Books, Colored Pencils and Crayons. I’ve always liked coloring and picked up some cheap books on Amazon to take with us, they were cheaper on Amazon than at local art stores in Houston.
• Book. I know a lot of people can’t read in the car, but I actually don’t do too terribly reading in the car. I just finished My Paris Dream on the way home. I really liked it. I am always nervous about popular books like this because sometimes they turn out to be not so great.
• Toiletries. I carry a little bag with me that has all kinds of essentials like wipes, bandages, hand sanitizer, eye depuffer (just in case), essential oils (orange and lemon are so versatile), lip balm and tissues.
• National Parks Passport Book. I got this several years ago while on vacation because my aunt had one and it is a fun / free thing to get stamps at the national parks you visit.
• Things that are not pictured that I think are necessary to having a more comfortable road trip include, pillow, blanket, snacks and drinks.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Road Trip Essentials

I grew up road tripping to various places and often take road trips with my husband, and wanted to share some of my essentials. I back in July from road trippin’ with family to SC. I rode with my aunt, uncle and cousin because I was able to take off early and my husband and the rest of our family flew up that weekend. We took a leisurely pace and stopped in New Orleans at one of my favorite places, Mother’s. Their jambalaya is DELICIOUS! Saw the largest rocking chair in America, then made our first stop in Destin, FL for a couple of days. I was surprised how clear the water was and it was only about a 9 hour drive. Then we finally made our way to Edisto Beach, SC outside of Charleston and stopped at the smallest church in America on the way. I rode back home with them as well, so we were in the car a loooong time.

Here are some road trip essentials that I found helpful and like to take with me.

• Pouches / Document Holders. I use these all the time when traveling because it helps me contain my stuff.
• Notebook / Address Book. I try to always bring my address book / notebook with me on my trips because I often send letters or have thoughts I want to jot down. 
• Pens / Pencils. Because you never know when you need a pen.
• iPad. To watch movies, listen to music or play games on, but I didn’t use it this time.
• Movies. My cousin brought all kinds of movies for us to watch in the car because they have a tv in the car and we actually watched several movies. 
• Headphones. For music and movies.
• Instant Film Camera. I love using this that my husband got for me several years ago. We took pictures at the quirky places we stopped at and completely forgot to use it at other places too.
• Portable Phone Charger. This is always handy if your phone battery is running low.
• Car Games. We actually had a lot of fun with this. We played the license plate  and got all, but 6 by the time we got home. We also played a travel question game that surprisingly turned out to be fun and we learned a lot about each other. I picked up car bingo at the AAA store. I had seen them on Amazon and a local store in Houston, but it was way cheaper from AAA.
• Maps. I know most of us have a GPS or GPS on your phone, but I always like to take an actual map just in case we need and to see where we are in relation to other cities, etc.  I go to AAA and pick up the maps and almost always use them when I am on road trips.
• Coloring Books, Colored Pencils and Crayons. I’ve always liked coloring and picked up some cheap books on Amazon to take with us, they were cheaper on Amazon than at local art stores in Houston.
• Book. I know a lot of people can’t read in the car, but I actually don’t do too terribly reading in the car. I just finished My Paris Dream on the way home. I really liked it. I am always nervous about popular books like this because sometimes they turn out to be not so great.
• Toiletries. I carry a little bag with me that has all kinds of essentials like wipes, bandages, hand sanitizer, eye depuffer (just in case), essential oils (orange and lemon are so versatile), lip balm and tissues.
• National Parks Passport Book. I got this several years ago while on vacation because my aunt had one and it is a fun / free thing to get stamps at the national parks you visit.
• Things that are not pictured that I think are necessary to having a more comfortable road trip include, pillow, blanket, snacks and drinks.

ecomodernconcierge.com

Music Festival Packing List

Right now Bryan and I are in Austin, TX for Austin City Limits music festival and will be here until Monday. We go just about every year and love it. (Bryan couldn't go last year, so my friend Ashley in NYC flew down to go with me). This year we haven't given it too much thought because we have been so busy, but are excited to be in Austin because we absolutely LOVE Austin. Most of the bands we have seen in the past at ACL or at other venues, but nonetheless still enjoy seeing them, plus we often discover new music we love. 

I feel like every year when there is a picture of me from the festival I have on the exact same thing because every year I pack the exact same thing. Here is what I packed this year.

• Tickets (duh)
• Sunscreen (I'm so pale and don't want to get burnt)
• Sunglasses
• Dresses because they are easy and dry fast if it rains
• A pair of clothes if we decide to go out at night (usually we are exhausted)
• Sandals
• Cash (I hate ATM fees)
• Debit Card (in case I need to go to the ATM)
• ID (for beer of course, plus I look 15)
• Water bottle (You need to stay hydrated in the heat)
• Ponchos (I often forget these, but not this year)

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Packing Tips

Last week was really hectic for me therefore I didn’t post anything. I am currently on vacation in NYC and Boston. I have several things scheduled to be posted throughout my trip. Last week I was getting ready for my trip and volunteered for a fashion show and The Women’s Home here in Houston. Since I will be traveling for 12 days. Here some packing tips in order to help you get organized

• Lay out everything that you are going to take on your trip.
• Make sure your liquids meet the airline regulations.
• Check the weather before going to make sure you are prepared and will stay warm or cool.
• Have all your documents together license, passport, hotel info, boarding pass, etc.
• If you plan on taking a lot of electronics, than put all you cords, etc. in a separate bag, so when you have to move things from your bag it is easy and there is not a mess everywhere.
• Pack by making sure everything is nice, neat and folded.
• Try not to pack more in your suitcase or bag that you can’t carry all at once.
• Have a separate, small bag within your suitcase that you can put your dirty clothes in.
• Wear something comfortable when sitting for hours while traveling.
• Have fun!