Essentials To Pack For Vacation At A Vacation Rental (Airbnb/VRBO)

The kids and I went to Destin on the gulf panhandle for my birthday for a few days. We rented an Airbnb condo and these are some of the essentials I always pack to take with me when traveling for vacation. I also polled the community to see what their must-have road trip vacation essentials are.

Rentals typically have a basic starter package, but not enough for our whole time there so I always like to be prepared. I don’t want to have to pay to buy these things while we’re on a trip. Since we’re driving, it’s easy to pack these essentials to take with us. Affiliate links used.

Packing Essentials

Paper products: Paper towels, tissues, paper plates and bowls are a must for easy meals and cleanup.

Laundry essentials: Grove Co laundry sheets, dryer sheets, mesh laundry hamper and Miss Messy mouth stain treater for all your laundry needs. Suction cup hooks are handy for hanging up towels (sliding doors work great).

Kitchen needs: Pack trash bags, dishwasher tablets, dish soap, ziploc bags and your favorite Geometry towel. Clorox wipes are great for cleaning up spills.

Bathroom essentials: I always bring hand soap and toilet paper so we don’t have to run out for these essentials mid-trip. Don’t forget your toiletry bag filled with all your favorite bath and beauty favorites.

Beach bag: Our beach bag holds towels, a snackle box, sunscreen in a pencil case, goggles and a good book for on the beach. Don’t forget your reusable water bottles too.

Beach needs: Sand toys, kites, beach chairs, umbrellas, beach tent, foldable beach blanket and a cooler if you have room. Tire inflators are great for floaties.

Snacks: All the snacks and water for on the beach and at your vacation rental. It’s also helpful to pack a few chip clips to keep snack bags closed.

Cozy essentials: A large tote filled with blankets, pillows and anything that will make you feel comfortable. Be sure to pack night lights and sound machines for a good night’s sleep. Some vacation rentals don’t have sheets or towels so be sure to check if you need to take them before you go.

Road Trip Essentials

Cooking needs: If you’re cooking, bring a skillet, a sharp knife and cutting board, frother, olive oil, cooking spray, basic spices, and condiments. An apple slicer can also be handy to have. Tin foil is also essential to make cleaning cookie sheets and the grill easy.

Coffee supplies: A coffee pot and good coffee is necessary if this is your morning essential. Pack travel coffee mugs to take on-the-go too.

Activities: Always bring a good book or magazine, fun games to play and cards. Flashlights are fun for on the beach at night and family friendly audiobooks are great for the drive. Throw in your Fire Stick if you want to watch your favorite shows and an Alexa to stream music.

Food: Plan your meals ahead of time so you can easily bring what you need or order a Walmart+ delivery for when you arrive your vacation rental. Don’t forget your hydration packets to stay hydrated on vacation.

Packing supplies: Clear plastic totes or large tubs easily hold essentials and you can see what is in them. Fit & Fresh large tote bags are also really nice and hold so much.

First Aid kit: Bandaids, thermometer, allergy medicine, antiseptic cream, pain medication, aloe, mosquito bracelets and more are always a necessity.

Sand removal: Baby wipes, cornstarch and baby powder are all great for getting unwanted sand off of hands, legs and feet.

Other essentials: Batteries, extension cords, backup chargers and power strips are great to have on hand when traveling.

Clothing needs: Besides the typical essentials, remember to pack rain gear and umbrellas in case of inclement weather.

Free printable Checklist

Want a handy checklist for your next trip. Click here to download this free printable checklist.

Travel tips

These are just some essentials that our family packs and suggestions from the community on what they must-pack for vacations and road trips. What are your must-have packing essentials?

For more packing tips, check out this blog post on why I always use packing cubes and this blog post on how we traveled to Europe with just a carry-on. If you’re going on a cruise, you’ll love this post about what to pack and my favorite toiletry bag for travel. There are so many great tips and tricks for traveling in all of these posts. I hope they’re helpful.