Packing in suitcases or tubs? Dumb idea?

[mommapea]

We are driving, this time. I am planning to take a couple of suitcases, but started thinking about putting the clothes for a full week at a time in a couple of tubs. How tacky is this? Does anyone else have any ideas of how to pack? Thanks

 

[tiggeraholic]

We drove from the Houston area to New Mexico to go skiing. We had a small SUV at the time and put a basket on the back. We packed our ski gear in Rubbermaid tubs fastened with bunge cords and they rode just fine. My husband said that was the best we have ever packed.

 

[SoarinMom]

We always drive to Disney World. We take tubs for our food and extra stuff. then when we empty our food we have something to put our souviners in. I also take a laundry basket then use it to put our clean laundry in.

 

[meanmom121]

i have my clothes in suitcases but I have a lot of other stuff i.e. batteries , coffee supplies, toiletries. room decorations, etc packed in a tub.

 

[Janet Hill]

We are driving, this time. I am planning to take a couple of suitcases, but started thinking about putting the clothes for a full week at a time in a couple of tubs. How tacky is this? Does anyone else have any ideas of how to pack? Thanks

I think it's tacky, but I do it. Actually when driving I just put everything in a couple of laundry baskets. I use a tub for other supplies - coffee, laundry detergent, etc. When we get home with freshly laundered clothes, I just take the baskets upstairs and put the clothes away. Much easier than traditional packing.

It just saves time, so I really don't care what others think as I unpack my car.

 

[Lori1960]

I would use what every you want see you are driving

 

[WillCAD]

"Tacky?" What's tacky about using a better container for your stuff when you travel?

If the tubs work better than suitcases, use them.

The only thing to remember is there are not always luggage carts available when you check into a hotel, and you may have a long walk to your room, so something with wheels is preferred, just in case.

 

[Normangirls]

We love to use tubs for food, shoes, and travel supplies. Be sure they are small enough to carry to your room (especially if you are at the value resorts -- no bell service). They also help keep the room organized.

We have a "Disney" tub already started, where we keep thing we are putting aside for our next trip (glow sticks I just got on sale, ponchos left over from last time, etc.).

We even make sure we use different colors, so we know at a glance which is which -- blue for shoes, green for food (green? maybe my cooking makes them sick?). My husband suggested we use all black tubs so they somewhat matched our luggage, but I said no way! If you're going all redneck, go BIG!

 

[tinkermom23]

We use Rubbermaid Tough totes. They come in a ton of sizes.
For the kids it especially easy when we go camping. Each has their own color and in it is a couple sets of clothes and a few toys or important things they want to have with. They are in charge of making sure all their stuff is in their tub and not in our small space! We have a laundry basket for dirty stuff.
When I went to a rather nice hotel with a friend last year, she carried in a laundry basket. She said it was easier than a suitcase and she didn't care that we had people staring at us in the lobby.
When we go to WDW, we fly so we use luggage, but I seriously considered shipping a big tub but did a box instead.
Good Luck!!

 

[princessmom29]

I think it is a great I dea nad will be using it when we go in Nov. I can't believe i didn't think of it as i am the queen of rubbermaid tubs at home!

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Someday we'll all be using whatever works best for each of us.
And we'll be nudging each other in the lobby as a family of unseasoned Disney tourists go by with matching Sampsonite suitcases on wheels!

"ppsst, how does she think she's going to use the top of those for a bedside table?"
​

"hmm. And talking about spending wayyy more than you need! Those suitcases probably cost as much as it did to stay here"​

But then, a gentler person would suggest to us,

"Maybe they had to buy those for a plane trip last year, and the husband insisted on getting their use out of them, whether it was practical this trip or not"​

"yeah, the poor wife. She's sweet to humour him. Next time they drive, maybe she'll convince him it's his idea to use bins instead.​

Myself, I'm flying, so bins wouldn't work, but if I were driving, I'd have the suitcases ditched in a heartbeat! For local vacations, visits to the cabin, or camping, I often use collapsible milk crates and bins w/ lids.

 

[Janet Hill]

We use Rubbermaid
When I went to a rather nice hotel with a friend last year, she carried in a laundry basket. She said it was easier than a suitcase and she didn't care that we had people staring at us in the lobby.

On our first stay at Beach Club Villas, I didn't know about the side entrance, so when we first went in each of my kids are schlepping through the lobby with their clothes basket. My DD who was 7 at the time did notice people staring, but my son was oblivious. We utilized the side door after that though and no one noticed.

 

[tzolkin]

The only thing to remember is there are not always luggage carts available when you check into a hotel, and you may have a long walk to your room, so something with wheels is preferred, just in case.

We have a cooler with wheels and a long handle that we bought for our last trip.

We're staying at a value (no fridge) for the first half of our trip, so it will be multi-functional. This trip is a surprise for the kids (they think we're visiting grandma), so I packed all the items that would clue them in that we're really going to Disney inside the cooler.

 

[meanmom121]

I say do what works best for you and don't worry about being tacky - Youwon't know anyone there anyway - unless of course I'm the redneck in the room next to you

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Who cares what people think, your on vacation and wont ever see them again hahahah

 

[noahdove]

Hey I think the tubs are a great idea Go for it!! I have been on a couple of mission trips and we drove and I kept everything in a clothes basket Traveled great..I did have to have a suitcase to keep items that I didn't want the critters to share tho. I layer my clothes according to the plan for the day..I make tee shirts and that way I know which one to haul out to surprise the kids with. I lay the shirt and the invitation out on the bed as I go to shower and everything is quick and easy to pull out...I know I may have a "problem" but it works for me" And I don't take anything extra...

 

[CyndiLooWho]

We use the bins for camping, and they work great. I can store my camping gear right in them and just add a few things on top to be ready to go. If they work well in your vehicle, I'd go for it.

We are one of those families with significant amounts of actual luggage, though, so we'll probably end up packing the suitcases. When we moved overseas, we invested in a large set of good luggage that would allow all 4 us plenty of room for toting clothes, school supplies, little league stuff, and everything else that was so much cheaper in the US than in Europe. now that we're back, I'm trying to continue to get my money's worth out of them...

and I'd have to buy new Rubbermaids to pack all our crap in them anyway... LOL

 

[amykay9377]

We have a cooler with wheels and a long handle that we bought for our last trip.

We're staying at a value (no fridge) for the first half of our trip, so it will be multi-functional. This trip is a surprise for the kids (they think we're visiting grandma), so I packed all the items that would clue them in that we're really going to Disney inside the cooler.

Boy I feel goofy for not thinking of that!!

We use our "Hurricane Cooler" (we live in FL) for Disney in lieu of renting a fridge, but I never thought of using it as our Disney Box!

I plan on going home tonight and remedying this situation! (I love hiding things in plain sight!).

 

[WillCAD]

No one has yet mentioned the choice between transparent tubs and opaque tubs.

Transparent tubs allow you to see the contents, making it easier to locate stuff in them.

But when you're carrying them through a hotel lobby, or they are stacked in teh back of your vehicle, transparent tubs allow the whole world to see your underwear.

I suggest a mix of transparent and opaque tubs.

 

[Normangirls]

As the mother of a teenage girl, I may add this to the list of potential punishment ideas:

If you don't clean up your room, I will pack your "unmentionables" in a clear plastic tub. And make you carry it in to the lobby of the hotel. While singing songs from High School Musical.