The post Summer Vacation: The Ultimate Packing Checklist appeared first on The Montrose Apartments Blog.
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Heading out of town for a few days? Summer is intended for a bit of rest and relaxation, far away from the responsibilities of normal day-to-day life. Unfortunately, some of the most essential packing items are often left behind when people step into vacation mode.
It's our goal to help the residents of our Chicago, IL, apartments have the best possible vacations, so we thought we'd share our ultimate packing checklist with you!
The key to ensuring you don't forget your vacation essentials is packing ahead of time. Heed our tips, and get your bags ready a few days before you head out!
1. Spare Chargers
Avoid dead-phone despair by packing an extra charger or two before you close your suitcase.
2. First Aid
Fill a zip-locking baggie with just-in-case first-aid items, such as:
- Bandages
- Anti-bacterial gel (look for single-use packets)
- Aloe Vera
- Gauze
- Adhesive tape
3. Sunscreen
If you forget to pack sunscreen, make sure that's the first stop when you get to your vacation destination. Ideally, you'll have it packed and ready to go so you can slather it on before the adventures begin, but if you find yourself without SPF when you get there, take a special trip to a local vendor so you can stock up.
4. Copies of Prescriptions
You don't want to find yourself without necessary medications. You may not be able to contact your doctor from afar, but proof of your prescriptions can prevent you from dealing with unwanted medical frustrations.
Keep copies of your medical records and prescriptions in the cloud, just in case you need medical assistance while you're out.
5. One Extra Set of Clothes
Luggage gets lost; it happens. Keep a set of clothes in your carry-on, just in case your luggage gets lost along the way.
6. Hard-Copy Helpers
What happens if your phone goes rogue or gets stolen? Will you have your flight information on-hand or friends' numbers preserved in your brain? Probably not! Before you head out, write down a few key phone numbers and print your flight, hotel and activity itineraries in case you can't access the cloud.
The best vacations end in your own bed. After adventuring around the city, state, country or globe, there's nothing like coming home. The Montrose is a beautiful Chicago apartment community that'll happily welcome you home after your time away. Contact us today to learn more about our available floor plans!
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]]>The post 3 Travel Tips for Spring Vacation appeared first on The Montrose Apartments Blog.
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The high cost of travel has many people looking for ways to trim the fat without slicing into their fun and relaxation. Here are some spring travel tips we hope community members on The Montrose in Chicago, Illinois, put to good use.
Book a Room With a Food Amenities
When budgeting for spring travel, it’s important to look beyond the face-value cost of a room. Consider what you will be getting and how that will impact overall travel costs. Refrigerators and microwaves are good examples of upfront costs that can more than pay for themselves. The ability to store food for the duration of your stay reduces the much greater expense of eating every meal out. If you have a microwave, that ups the ante on what you can make in the room.
In many cases, booking a room with a mini kitchen can lower your overall travel expenses and augment relaxation time. Dining out can be enjoyable, but it also involves traveling to and from restaurants, as well as a hefty price tag. Easy to prepare foods can provide a nice alternative and more time poolside.
Book Places With Complimentary Meals and Snacks
There’s generally a great interest in which hotels have the best complimentary foods. If you go on social media, there will be reviews about the quality of continental breakfasts, “manager receptions” and even things like full-buffet dinners. They range from comfort food to homestyle to fine dining in some cases.
When trying to gauge the cost-effectiveness of these convenient meals, check out the online reviews and balance that against the overall cost of the stay. Some hotels highlight food costs by providing an inclusive versus non-inclusive room fee. Do the math on dining in or going out.
Discounts on Hotels and Plane Tickets
Most airlines provide deals in two basic ways. If you book travel far in advance, the rate tends to be considerably lower. So, advanced planning can save you money. More spontaneous travelers discover that unsold airline seats can drop in price at the last minute. These big companies would rather get something than nothing for an underbooked flight.
Hotel prices work in a similar fashion. Advanced booking can be cost-effective. Last-minute stays, not so much. But the other way to save money on rooms is to tap into shoulder-season pricing. For example, just days before Memorial Day, rooms may still be purchased at off-season prices.
The nice thing about shoulder-season travel is that you are experiencing the same nice weather as just a few days ahead. Also, the overwhelming crowds have not begun. Fewer people means shorter restaurant wait times. You may also find that area eateries and gas stations still offer lower “locals” prices. Basically, off-season vacations tend to be less expensive.
We hope our residents enjoy these travel tips. If you or a friend would like more information about our Chicago apartments, call us today.
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