Do you plan/prep early for a highly anticipated vacation?

[Anonymous]

I leave Wednesday for a trip I’ve been looking forward to. I will start packing tomorrow but I did already make a pile of a few things we will need. And just remembered I need to get my bag of local currency from the last trip!

Normally I pack the night before so 2 days in advance ahead of the game.

[Anonymous]

The planning and daydreaming is half the fun for me. My husband just shows up when I tell l him to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pack about 25 minutes before I leave for the airport.

Same. I traveled weekly for many years, it takes me minutes to pack. I also hate trip planning and have DH do all of it. He's like OP and enjoys the planning and takes forever to pack.

[Anonymous]

I also love the planning and anticipation portion of the trip. I don’t necessarily pack far in advance, but I do make spreadsheets of itinerary options (esp for a city like London or Paris), lists of things to pack (specialized equipment, out of season clothes, etc.), websites and apps that are useful, and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wish I could find the article I read a couple years ago about how we get the most joy from travel planning and anticipation. Whatever floats your boat OP.

+1 I didn't pull out the suitcase but did start thinking about packing, adding a few things to my amazon shopping cart, etc. a couple months before a big trip we just finished. Do whatever gives you joy.

[Anonymous]

I love the anticipation, organizing, packing ahead of time. Months ahead. I can also be out the door in 15 minutes if I have to.

[Anonymous]

We start filling up laundry baskets (one per person) with stuff maybe 10 days out. Stuff we might need to pack but might still need. Or clothes that we've washed that are ready to go will go there and not back in the closet. Shelf stable plane snacks, chargers, etc...

We often take trips with hikes or stuff that we want to buy stuff for. I'll begin that as soon as it's planned. Actually looking forward to a trip this summer that I don't need to purchase anything for!

[Anonymous]

Planning vacations is half the fun! I don't pack until a few days before though

[Anonymous]

I am with team DH on this. It is a bit nuts. But it is also fun and very endearing and probably shows a bit of why he fell in love with you.

Keep doing things that give you pleasure and boost your mood. So what if it's nutty?

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine packing more than an hour or two before we need to leave the house.

[Anonymous]

I read travel blogs and guides about the location, and look into activities and restaurants and pre-book anything I want to do that needs to be booked in advance and write notes to self on things I want to do.

I make lists of things I want to pack.

[Anonymous]

By this time I would have a full itinerary spreadsheet, activities booked, a packing list saved, reminders set on my phone to book meals if necessary, and a shopping list for any special clothes/gear. But I’m weird like that and we don’t do relaxing beach vacations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that I enjoy vacations more when I pack far in advance. Or at least have a list ready. That way I'm not running around like crazy exhausting myself right before the trip.

Same here. I start packing a month ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Later this spring we are going on a long anticipated and much needed vacation. 2024 was a horrible year for me personally and towards the end of last year, I suffered a great loss. We planned this trip around Christmas and I find my anticipation of the trip is boosting my mood. With that said, this weekend I brought out a carryon bag and dusted it off, then placed it in our guest room closet. I began putting a few things we won’t use until we travel, but will need, inside. I also started a travel journal and started filling it with things I don’t want to forget.

My husband laughed kindly, but also said this was crazy, that we still have months ahead of us, and what am I doing. But honestly, this makes me so excited! Am I the only one?

You are not the only one, OP. Last week I weighed and measured a bag so I can know it will fit as a carryon for a foreign airline...for a flight in June. But I love planning vacations.

[Anonymous]

We travel monthly and I just keep the suitcase on the floor in our bedroom open. I just pulled my husband's snorkel gear out from downstairs to see if it will fit in said luggage. We leave March 19th.
Then, we have a trip to Florida in April for 10 days. Husband gets free luggage on Allegiant so I stuff 2 suitcases full of stuff we need for our condo there. Those suitcases already being filled.
So, yes...