4/03/25

Hurry! Unwrap your perfect holiday adventure.

Packing & Prep: Seasonal essentials for every climate.

As a person who owns your vacations (as all really smart travelers do), chances are you’ve got at least one upcoming vacation on the books — and likely more than one, you smart traveler you. So what are you planning? A beach vacay this summer for some sunny rest and relaxation under a palm tree? A wintry escape to the mountains over the holiday season for a snowy adventure?

No matter your destination, the most critical part of any vacation is being prepared and packing the things you’ll need to make the most of your experience. Having a few essential items in your suitcase can make the difference between a stress-filled and a stress-free vacation experience (anyone else ever forgot their swimsuit and had to search for one after they got to their tropical destination?). Read on for the top seasonal essentials you’ll need for both warm- and cold-weather getaways.

Don’t forget the basics.

To kick things off, you’ll want to put together your starter kit of the basics — these are the personal hygiene items that you’ll want to bring on every vacation, no matter the destination or duration. This is the stuff you can’t do without, and if you forget one or two of these items you may find yourself looking for an open drugstore at 9 p.m. when your flight lands and you find yourself without toothpaste. Here are the items you’ll want to include:

Shampoo & conditioner
Deodorant
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Face wash
Hairbrush or comb
Razor & shaving cream
Lip balm with SPF
Medications
Cotton swabs
First-aid kit
Sunscreen & after-sun lotion or aloe vera

Seasonal essentials by climate.

Once you’ve got your basics ready to go, you can move onto packing your seasonal warm- or cold-weather items. Your vacation’s destination and time of year will really dictate which of these things you’ll need, but you can work from this comprehensive list and pare down the items that don’t apply to your destination or season.

Going someplace warm? Here are your sunshine-vacay must-packs:

Swimsuit & cover-up
Sun gear (sunglasses, sun hat, etc.)
Shorts
Tees & tank tops
Dinner attire
Sandals
Water shoes or flip flops
Undergarments
Socks
Sleepwear

In addition to the above items, if your warm-weather escape includes access to a beach, you’ll want to add the following things to your list:

Beach bag
Beach towel & towel clips
Umbrella or beach tent
Reusable water bottle
Cooler bag
Beach toys & games (if bringing the kids or grandkids along)
Portable speaker
Reading material

On the flip side, if you’re heading someplace chilly and possibly snowy, scrap the lists above and work on gathering these cold-weather items for your suitcase:

Wool/polyester-blend pants & shirts
Fleece pants & shirts
Windproof/waterproof jacket
Snow pants
Polypropylene liner socks
Wool socks
Winter hat, gloves, & scarf
Balaclava
Goggles (if skiing or snowboarding)
Winter boots
Jeans/pants
Sweaters/sweatshirts
Undergarments
Sleepwear
Hand warmers

Last stop, your carry-on.

Once you’ve got all your basics and seasonal essentials packed and ready to go, you should be ready to get your carry-on bag fully loaded as well. Most of what goes in your carry-on will be items that you’ll want access to while en route to your vacation locale, but a few of them are items that you won’t necessarily need until you arrive — you just don’t want to chance losing them if your luggage doesn’t make it to your final destination. Here are the essential carry-on items you won’t want to forget:

Wallet
Passport
Boarding passes (if flying, cruising, or traveling by bus/train)
Phone & phone charger
Portable charger
Headphones
Medications
Hand sanitizer
Reading material
Chewing gum
Neck pillow
Glasses/sunglasses

Now your bags are packed and you should be fully prepared and ready for anything your vacation may throw at you!

Next steps.

If you’ve got a vacation idea but need help with the final details, or if you need some assistance or advice on where or when to go or how to get there, give WorldMark by Wyndham Travel a call. Their friendly Travel Advisors are knowledgeable on the best places to go, the best ways to get there, and the best things to do while you’re there.

WorldMark by Wyndham Travel is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PT. Call 800-953-5511 or visit their online booking page for more information.

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