Travel - The practical things

Well, today is my last day and my things are all packed and ready to go. I’m just waiting on the bus that will take me to the airport. It’s been such a beautiful trip not just because Costa Rica and nature are beautiful but because I’m leaving feeling refreshed and ready to pursue life at home. Before I left in was on a tight timeline to finish several tasks before leaving. 

I’ll make this post a practical one. As I’ve rearranged my things a few times in my suitcase between yesterday and today I think I’ll talk about tips for packing! 

Shared Housing Travel Tips

1. Slip on and off shoes - this may be a me thing but I really appreciate shoes I can slip on and off. This means shower shoes that can double as slippers while in and around the house or at the beach. Who wants to touch shared bathtub and bathroom floors in a heavily used bathroom. And it’s so convenient to have flip flops on. In cultures where shoes are not worn inside, slip on slip off shoes make entrances and exits at personal homes seamless. I’ve been wearing my croc slippers as house and shower shoes this whole trip.
2. Earplugs - you just never know what you need to tune out in order to sleep. Snoring , talking, TVs, music, etc
3. Your spot - Find a hub to gather your thoughts so you can plan while out. Besides restaurants it’s nice to have a place where you can sit down and plan your next outing without also having to buy a meal. Maximo has been that for us. 
4. Receipt folder/ envelope - Even though I have online accounts I can reference. I like to keep the receipts for everything I buy and drop it into a particular section of my purse, which I later consolidate into an envelope. I also add any printed guides, business cards, or flyers I get. Once I get home and reconcile bills, etc I can choose what to keep. Sounds old school I know… I can’t help it lol 
5. Water gear - whether it’s due to beach life or heavy rainfall or both… gear for water can really improve the quality of your stay 

The next two are from my cousin.

1. If you like jewelry. - A go-to bracelet or bangle that’s discreet and won’t rust. My cousin has a gold welded bracelet which I love! Stays on forever, is super cute, won’t rust and goes with everything! 
2. Cash-app card - Also a smart idea from this same cousin. Get a cash app card instead of paying or withdrawing money directly out of your accounts while away. That way you don’t have to worry about losing your bank’s debit card while away!  

Outdoorsy Trip

Firstly know what kind of trip you’re going on. Lots of fancy dinners & photo ops or adventurous outdoorsy vacation? Party trip or family trip? Is it a nails done, hair done, lashes kind of trip or not so much? 

This list was inspired by this trip which was an adventure-type. Apart from the obvious items like sun block and sneakers all these items came in clutch for me or someone on this trip.

1. Fold up poncho or raincoat - in a climate like this in rainy season it rains a lot! But also being on the go means you never know when you’ll be out and about, get cold or get caught in the rain.  Having a fold up jacket makes it easier to consolidate when the jacket isn’t needed.
2. Washable cap - I lost my cap on the second half of the trip. Maybe it’s buried in a pocket in my suitcase. Not sure, but I’ll definitely be replacing it when I’m back. 
3. Hip pouch/ Fanny pack or crossbody bag - women’s clothes tend not to have a lot of pockets so this type of bag especially if weather resistant and black goes with everything and it’s a great way to keep money and other essentials close to your body. I prefer the cross body way of wearing it.
4. Expandable backpack - I wore a backpack so much on this trip. Besides building my back muscles the other benefit was the ability to pack a towel, sunblock, insect repellant, water bottle, a change of underwear or clothes, small umbrella etc. it was also easy to manage with comfortable straps distributing the weight across both shoulders. If needed I could always make my bag bigger and use it for a weekend trip within the trip without carrying other bags. It’s also easier for me to have one bag to keep up with instead of multiple smaller bags. The chest strap did fall off my bag unfortunately but having it on hikes is convenient because it helps distribute weight better across your shoulders. 

These are the items that were most helpful for me, but I’m convinced I could have downsized more. I’ll analyze that when I unpack. Almost at the airport! 

Update: And now at 7:31ET I’m back in Atlanta, waiting to deplane at our gate! It’s been a great trip!