Vacations are awesome, but packing for them stinks, am I right? And when you rent a vacation rental house, like on AirBnB or VRBO, it usually requires more packing than just clothes and toiletries. To avoid forgetting supplies (and wasting precious vacation time running around shopping), here’s my customizable vacation rental home packing checklist. Spend your vacations doing what matters – relaxing and making memories!
Backstory
We’ve just returned from a week vacation in a VRBO rental house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts (it was an amazing week!). Vacation rental homes have been the go-to for this family of 5 for many years. Instead of cramming into a hotel, we can spread out into separate bedrooms, lounge on a couch to watch tv, and cook to save a few dollars.
While most vacation home and condo rentals come stocked with basic supplies (cookware, plates, silverware, cups, etc.), they don’t contain everything to make it into a fully functioning home.
And if you’re like me, you don’t want to forget something and waste time running around shopping (or worse, go without if vacationing in a remote area). Or pay outrageous prices in tourist areas.
So I created a customizable vacation rental house packing checklist on Google Sheets and it worked wonders in ensuring we didn’t have to run to the store immediately after unpacking at the vacation house. And now I’m passing these checklist onto you.
Two Vacation Rental Home Supply Checklists
Below you will find 2 different checklists. (I like to give people choices….). And I’m honored that these checklists are part of travel and entertainer Shannon Entin’s Ultimate List of Packing Lists.
1. PDF Version
The first one is a printable vacation rental home packing checklist. It’s a simple printable pdf that contains almost 40 supply items that should meet all your needs while on vacation.
And it’s ridiculously cute.
2. Customizable Google Sheets Version
The second checklist is a Google Form which, admittedly, isn’t as snazzy looking as the pdf. BUT it is CUSTOMIZABLE! If you find that you want to the ability to tailor your packing list, this might be a better option.
What’s Not Included
I just want to point out that these Vacation Rental Home Checklists don’t include personal items (i.e. clothes, shows, toiletries) and food. Admittedly, those checklists are in the works. If you want a sneakpeak, feel free to email me or use this one in the meantime.
What IS Included
I’ve created this list after almost a decade of renting vacation homes up and down the east coast. For ease, the checklist of these almost 40 supplies to pack for your vacation rental house is organized by rooms:
- Kitchen
- Laundry
- Bathroom
- Bedroom
- Other
Let’s dig into the details!
Kitchen Supplies
With vacation rental homes and condos, you never quite know what you will find in the pantry. In our experience, sometimes they come fully stocked, sometimes it’s the bare minimum.
- Aluminum Foil: Admittedly, not an essential (especially if environmentally conscious), but this is nice to have on hand for cooking ease. Foil can cover icky grills or store leftovers if the rental kitchen doesn’t have enough containers.
- Cooler Bag (with Freezer Packs): I pack a cooler bag for two reasons. First, a cooler bag is perfect for picnics or snacks for day trips. And second, we never finish all the food in the refrigerator by the end of the rental period. Since we usually drive (versus fly) to our rental vacation homes, we have a way to transport the food home.
- Dish Soap: At our house, I keep a large bottle of dish soap in our kitchen. But I don’t feel like lugging this big bottle on vacation. I buy a small bottle of dish soap at my local grocery store to pack for vacation.
- Dishwasher Tabs: Be sure to check your rental listing to make sure you have a dishwasher. Pods are super easy. Either buy a small package or if you have at home, just count out a week’s worth and store in a plastic baggy.
- Disinfectant Wipes: Not only do these wipes make clean-up fast and easy, it also can bring another level of protection during covid.
- Hand Soap: Bring a bar of soap or a bottle of pump soap.
- Non-Stick Spray/ Oil: I’m not interested in spending my hard-earned vacation time scrubbing food off or pots and pans after cooking, are you?
- Paper Towels: If you want to go a more environmentally friendly route, bring a few dishcloths. I tend to bring both paper towels and 1-2 dishcloths.
- Plastic Wrap: Personally I just bring aluminum wrap since it serves multiple uses, but some folks prefer plastic wrap.
- Spices & Seasonings: We have stayed in some rentals with full gourmet spice racks, other rentals missing the basics of salt and pepper. Think about which spices you love most and include them in your trip. And don’t forget sugar for your morning coffee!
- Sponge: Many rental homes and condos supply sponges, but we’ve been in a few where I wasn’t 100% sure if the sponge had been used by the last renters (eewww…..). I’m partial to the sponges which have a scrubbie side to that I don’t have to also pack a scrub brush.
- Storage Containers: Bring a couple of different sizes of plastic reuseable containers. You never know when you will need them for leftovers or packing a light snack or lunch.
- Trash Bags: While most vacation rental homes and condos provide a whole box of trash bags, I have been at one or two who inconveniently only provided 1 trash bag. So I pack a few bags from our stash at home.
- Water Bottles: I’m a huge fan of carrying refillable water bottles on vacation, so I’ll be sure everyone in the family has one for the week.
- Ziplock Bags: Bring a bunch of ziplock baggies. And a variety of sizes. We always use more of these than I expect. Perfect for leftovers, packing picnic lunches, packing extra clothes (or dirty clothes if you have small kids), protecting cell phones at the beach, etc….
Laundry Supplies
We are huge fans of rentals with washers and dryers. Why? First, we can pack half the clothes we need and do laundry during vacation. Second, we have children. And if you are a parent, I don’t need to further explain….
If your rental doesn’t have laundry facilities, ignore this section (BUT remember to pack a laundry bag for dirty clothes!)
- Dirty Clothes Bag: To use while your there (unless you don’t mind dirty clothes on the floor) and to pack for the way home.
- Dryer Sheets: Grab a weeks worth of dryer sheets and store in a plastic baggy.
- Hangars: For some reason there are few vacation rental homes I’ve stayed in that has had enough hangars in the closets.
- Laundry Detergent: At home I use liquid detergent, but when I go on vacation I buy a package of tabs to make things easier. You might want to check to see if washer prefers HE detergent.
- Quarters: If staying in a condo complex, you may have shared laundry facilities in a common area that require coins.
- Stain Stick: You’re on vacation. You know you are going to eat like a boss (or maybe that’s just me….). Messes will happen…
Bathroom Supplies
- First Aid Kit: If you have kids, this is a must. Or at least with my kids. Heaven forbid we get through a week without a Band-Aid…
- Facial Tissue: Bring a box for each bathroom
- Hair Dryer: Completely optional (and usually found in most vacation rental houses), the Cape Cod house didn’t have one so I’m adding to the list for future vacations.
- Hand Soap: While most rentals supply hand soap, I’ve been in one or two where I’m not convinced it’s a fresh bar.
- Toilet Paper: Most rentals supply at least one roll for each bathroom. Then you supply the rest. Don’t put a damper on your vacation and forget toilet paper…..
- Towels: Read through the rental home listing carefully (or check directly with the rental agency or owner) to understand who’s responsible for supplying linens. If linens are not included pack facecloths, hand towels and bath towels.
Bedroom Supplies
- Nightlight: A nightlight (either bedroom or bathroom) might help with those midnight-trips to the bathroom (especially if you have young children).
- Pillows: Sometimes you just rest better with your own pillows. When I was in my 20-30s, I was fine sleeping on any old pillow. But now that I’ve reached middle age, I have to admit I have a better sleep with my own pillow from home.
- Sheets & Blankets: Check with the rental agency or owner to see if they provide linens. In our experience , if they don’t provide sheets, they still provide pillows, blankets, and a bedspread/comforter (but double-check). And if you need to bring sheets, double check the size beds to bring the correct size sheets.
- Sound Machine: If you use a sound machine at home to get a better quality night’s sleep, then you might want to bring yours along on vacation. You might need to mask any new noises that disturb your sleep.
- PacknPlay or Bedrail: Got kids? Might need one of these if the rental unit doesn’t have one.
Other/Miscellaneous
I included this section for all the random things I also like to pack for a vacation rental home or condo.
- Books & Magazines: Fully unwind on vacation with a great read
- Chargers: I’m on vacation and do want to “unplug” from everyday stress, but I still want to have a fully-charged phone….
- Laps & Tablets: Some folks like to bring a full suite of electronics.
- Pen and Paper: I don’t know why, but I rarely find paper and pen in our rentals! And sometime during the week I’m going to need some, whether for a mid-week grocery list or some reminder. Or need a Sharpie to label a Ziplock baggie.
- Portable Speakers: Have a great speaker to listen to some relazing tunes while on vaca.
- Reservation Paperwork: Many rental places are self check-in. Instructions are emailed, including door key codes. And if you are traveling to a remote place, you probably don’t not want to rely on cell phone coverage to bring up your reservation information. Instead print out the instructions beforehand (including any door key code!) so you can get inside the home!
- Scissors & Tape: Why can’t I find scissors or tape in rental houses? You probably don’t think you would use scissors or tape, but I assure you, the need will come up (especially if you have children).
- Streaming Devices: Unless you have a solid sense of what is available at the vacation rental house, pack your Roku, Chromecast, or Fire TV streaming sticks to ensure you can enjoy your favorite shoes while relaxing
1. Vacation Rental House Packing Checklist – pdf
I’m sharing my customizable vacation rental home packing checklist to help you plan ahead so that you can stress less, minimize time shopping and maximize time enjoying your vacation.
Checklist – PDF Version
This comprehensive checklist list includes over 30 suggested items that will make a rental vacation house into a fully functional (and more comfortable!) home away from home.
2. Customizable Vacation Rental Home Checklist – Google Sheets
While the pdf version contains a comprehensive list, you might want more control over your packing list. So I’ve included this Google Sheets version. Why?
- Chances are there are a few unique items that you like to travel with. The Google Sheets version gives you the ability to add these item so that you can tailor this checklist to YOUR vacation.
- Plus, you can save your modified vacation rental home checklist and use for future vacations! What a time-saver, right?
Click here for the free Google Sheets version (if it doesn’t work, try this link or this link. It should be View Only (i.e. you can’t edit directly). Please save your own copy to modify.
Need help saving a copy? Scroll down for YouTube tutorial.
Here’s the instructions on how to save a copy on either your Google Drive or in Microsoft Excel. While the entire video is amazingly awesome?, if you want to go straight to instruction, go to timestamp 1:30.
Creating this customizable vacation rental home packing checklist helps us stay organized and allows us to focus on what really matters on vacation – making memories!!
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