Vacation Checklist: Things to Bring for a Vacation

As summer is round the corner, many of you might be thinking of a vacation. Well! Summer vacation is an ideal time to take a break from routine duties, enjoy the outdoors and be with our near-and-dear ones. There are certain things that should be taken care of while planning for a summer vacation like your budget, vacation destination, mode of travel (ticket booking) and hotel booking. If there are chances of trip cancellation, it is better to purchase a travel insurance.

Make a list of the items that are to be purchased before the trip, otherwise you may tend to forget things during the last minute shopping. In case, you are hiring a vehicle, don't forget to check whether you are covered under your auto insurance. Following are some essential things that should be brought for a vacation.

Necessary Items: Necessary items are things that you must carry along in your vacation. These include traveling tickets, reservation confirmation, wallets and cash, car and house keys (keep duplicate keys in another bag), prescribed medications (if any), medical insurance cards, passport, credit cards, traveler checks, camera and batteries, eyeglasses or contact lenses, telephone calling card and road maps.

Clothes: Packing clothes for your vacation depends upon the traveling destination and how you will be enjoying the vacation. Pack enough changing clothes for each person. Select cool cotton outfits, as well as lightweight jackets and long pants. If you are going for a beach vacation, you should pack swimsuits (preferably two for each person), bathing towels, caps and/or hats, sunglasses and footwear (plastic waterproof sandals are best).

Baby Items: Extra care should be taken while packing things for a baby. You can pack baby stuffs in a different bag. Things to be included are baby outfits (two per day), baby formula, diapers and changing pads, blanket, towel, baby food, spoon and sipper, pacifier, toys and stroller. Toiletries for baby are baby powder, body sunscreen lotion and diaper rash lotion and baby wipes.

Toiletries: Toiletry items include toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, combs, bath soap, shampoo, deodorants and perfumes, sunscreen lotion, skin care lotions, body powder, shaving cream, razor kit, cotton balls and swabs and other cosmetic items.

First-Aid Kit: First aid kit is necessary for planning a vacation. It should include band aids, tissue papers, thermometer, gauze, matches, pain killers, antibacterial and anti fungal soap, cold and cough medicine, sunburn lotion, anti-diarrhea, ear-plugs, ORS (Orisel from Nutricia) for dehydration and vitamin tablets.

Accessory Items: Accessory items include umbrella, pillows, mosquito curtain, flashlight, magnetic compass, books, alarm clock, CD player, scissor, pocket knife, garbage bags, binoculars, cell phones and batteries and safety pins.

These are some of the things that you must include while on a vacation. Forgetting a single item may be frustrating enough during the vacation. In addition to these, you have to take care of certain things before leaving your house for a vacation like making arrangement for pets (if any), holding business mails/calls and newspapers, closing the doors and windows, switching off and/or unplugging electrical appliances, cleaning the trash and checking the vehicle that you are using in your vacation.

You can always inform your neighbors about your trip and give phone numbers to contact you, in case of emergencies. Make sure you make your vacation fun and exciting by spending quality time with your family; too many daily activities may spoil the vacation.