This method is something I am sure others have been doing for years but I had never read about it anywhere. The idea naturally formed out of our experiences with big help from a Disney packing tip that I did see online in several places about packing in ziploc bags and I tried for the first time when we went to Walt Disney World in 2015.
For a road trip, we are often only in one place for a night or two. So, instead of packing for the person (where each of us would have our own suitcase for the trip), we pack for the day. This way, at each hotel, what would be 5 suitcases to carry in is just one.
But, here is the trick that makes it work: rotation. (Unless you happen to own a ton of small suitcases and have room in you vehicle for them all, then disregard.)
Say it is going to be a long trip, call it 14 days. We have 3 small, carry-on size suitcases, one large suitcase, and a large laundry bag. Day 1 we are wearing our clothes, which leaves 13 days to pack. We sort all the clothes into days and put them into labeled ziplock bags, one per person per day.
Small Suitcase 1 will have one pair of PJs for each of us and clothes for each of us for days 2 & 3.
Small Suitcase 2 will have one pair of PJs for each of us and clothes for each of us for days 4 & 5.
Small Suitcase 3 will have one pair of PJs for each of us and clothes for each of us for days 6 & 7.
The Large Suitcase will have PJs and clothes for each of us for days 8-14, all in marked bags.
We, of course, also have a bag with toiletries like our toothbrushes, hair brushes and such, as well as a swim bag if we plan to visit the hotel pool. So, on the first night we only have to bring in our toiletries bag, Small Suitcase 1, laundry bag, and possibly swim bag. Dirty clothes go in the laundry bag as we work through the first 7 days. Then, we do a swap out. We take the bags from the large suitcase and restock the small ones.
Small Suitcase 1 will have one pair of PJs for each of us and clothes for each of us for days 8 & 9.
Small Suitcase 2 will have one pair of PJs for each of us and clothes for each of us for days 10 & 11.
Small Suitcase 3 will have one pair of PJs for each of us and clothes for each of us for days 12, 13 & 14.
This would leave the Large Suitcase empty. By now our laundry bag is getting quite full, so we put the laundry in the Large Suitcase and have an empty laundry bag to fill back up over the rest of the trip. If the trip is any longer, we need to stop somewhere to wash the laundry and just repeat the process.
It may seem like more work but we much prefer it to lugging 4 extra suitcases in and out at every hotel. And depending on the size of the suitcase and of the clothes, we can sometimes fit three days worth in a small suitcase and have to swap less frequently.
It works for us!
