We're having a great time in Spain so far: it's been sunny, warm(ish), and we've spent our days walking, playing, and eating. This is EXACTLY what we came for.
But there's one thing I forgot to bring that I'm kicking myself about...
When we go on extended vacations we like to stay in rented apartments, usually via Airbnb. It's so much easier as a family to be able to make our own food, do our own laundry, and have a bit more space to spread out. The kitchens are usually adequately—but not thoroughly—provisioned. There are always a couple things we end up missing sorely (this time we brought with us extra dish towels and a vegetable peeler, two things we wish we'd had last winter in Portugal).
The one thing we have NEVER found in a rented apartment is a good, sharp chef's knife. We almost always find dull, overused Ikea steak knives. And slicing an onion with a thin, dull knife is just tempting fate. I hate slicing into a vegetable and feeling the blade pulled in a curvy diagonal line. It can feel downright dangerous when chopping a large carrot or onion. And while there are some things I'm willing to buy in my destination country/city and take home as souvenirs, I definitely do not want to buy good-quality chef's knives when I'm traveling. It would be so much easier to wrap one up in a cloth napkin or two, stick it in a plastic bag, and tuck it away in our luggage before leaving home. I just never remember!
This time around I also wish we'd brought a couple of washcloths for the days when the kids don't want to take a bath but have been playing in the sand all day (eww!). We have plenty of towels here, but not all countries and cultures use washcloths the way we do in the US.
So, I'm curious: what do you always tuck in your bag before you travel? What do you always wish you'd packed? I'm so curious to hear your travel hacks!
Photo by Todd Quackenbush.
Garron
Maybe more applicable to business travel in Africa which makes up 80 percent of my trips, but I have to have earplugs with me
Jodi
My husband used to be the same, until kids. After surviving sleep with babies (well, we've got one more coming we'll have to survive), he's become a bit more robust. But then, I don't think we've done exactly the same amount and kind of travel that you do...
Sophia
There is a reason chefs always travel with their knives in those cool bags! I never think to bring one either. I always bring a little gentle swedish hand-dishwashing detergent for all sorts of things. Children's paracetamol suppositories (which is faaar easier to give and impossible to find in many places). Also, a good scarf that doubles as baby blanket, clean surface, sunscreen and all sorts.
Jodi
Great tip on the scarf. They're so versatile, aren't they?
Donna
Hey Jodi! My staple for traveling is my MP3 player. I keep it loaded with a few tracks I can meditate or fall asleep to, which helps me find some peace & relaxation during travel. Glad you're having a great trip!
Jodi
I should definitely put some meditation tracks on my phone; it might help with the pregnancy insomnia I'm facing. The other night, after a full day of walking and sight-seeing, I didn't get to sleep until after 3am. Maybe meditation tracks could have helped me get to sleep hours earlier!