Summer Travel Ready: The Top Pre-Vacation Prep Routines

Author Kayla Morgan

May 30th 12:24 PM

Do you find yourself doing pre-vacation prep? I know I do. Before I head out, I make sure the house is spotless, the dishes are done, and the laundry is all sorted. And, of course, I can’t resist buying new travel clothes, as if those strangers in far-off lands will notice the difference. It turns out, I’m not alone in these habits. A new survey commissioned by Mr. Clean and conducted by Talker Research highlights some of the top pre-vacation routines of 2,000 U.S. travelers ahead of summer travel.

What are the most important pre-vacation prep routines?

The survey revealed that more than 75% of respondents claimed they prefer to clean their homes prior to heading out. The average respondent starts pre-vacation prep over two weeks in advance. Before traveling, people tend to focus their cleaning on laundry (77%), dishes (66%), the bathroom (58%), and sweeping and mopping (56%).

Regarding motivation, the study found that 66% are so excited about their upcoming travel that it motivates them to clean before they leave. An upcoming trip can be a great motivator for people to knock out their cleaning tasks but it can also be a stressor for summer travelers. Fifty-one percent stated they “dread” the thought of having to clean when they come home from vacation.

Personally, I clean my travel luggage after every trip before packing it away. But the survey found that in addition to cleaning their homes before a trip, travelers also take the time to clean their most-used travel items like luggage (40%). On average, respondents brought their luggage on a total of seven trips and as many as 26% of respondents had cleaned their luggage in the past week alone.

Getting these items in shape is important too. Many have felt “embarrassed” on vacation because some items they brought look old or worn out, including their clothes (20%), shoes (19%), and luggage (18%).

To avoid this, as many as 55% of travelers reported it was a “high priority” to check the state of these items well before they embark on their trip. Though respondents make sure to clean their luggage (40%) and travel bags (39%) before their trip, results found even more travelers will clean them when they return home.

They specifically pay close attention to their luggage (47%) and other travel accessories (21%) so they’re prepared well ahead of time for future travel.

And while 79% said it’s important that their luggage is clean when traveling, 27% claimed it was the “most difficult item” for them to clean.

Take a look at more insights about pre-vacation prep routines here.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.

Tips to Maximize Your Vacation

It’s always a good time to go on vacation, but summer, of course, is the official travel season. If you’re planning a big trip, you’re going to want to make sure to maximize your vacation. After all, traveling is supposed to be fun. That means not stressing out while planning or being on your trip. Let’s get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.

Vacation Trends

Before we get to tips to maximize your vacation, let’s look at vacation trends. A new AAA travel survey states that 84% of U.S. residents will travel in 2024. Also, 43% will take more vacations than last year. So traveling is a hot thing in 2024. “The travel season is already off to a hot start in 2024,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, The Auto Club Group. “Americans continue to make travel a top priority, and AAA travel agents have been busy planning a wide range of vacations from weekend getaways to world cruises.”

If you’re planning to take a cruise, note that according to AAA, more travelers are booking cruises farther in advance. Many spring break cruises sold out months before they were to set sail. “Last-minute bookings are possible, but prices may be higher and cabin choices limited,” AAA notes.

What’s more, a new study from AAA and Bread Financial has discovered that younger generations are into live event travel. Is that really new? I’ve been traveling for concerts for years, but it’s apparently a new trend among Gen Z. They state that “three in five Gen Z (65%) and Millennial (58%) respondents confirmed they have traveled in the past 12 months and/or plan to travel in the next 12 months for in-person events like concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, and book readings that are more than 50 miles from home.”

That’s much more than with older generations, with is 43% for Gen X and 27% for Baby Boomers. Then again, older generations are more likely to want to be at home, because, well, they’re older. They’ve been there and done that.

That same study found that Gen Z loves traveling for sports and music. They state that more than half (52%) of Gen Z travelers are gearing up to attend a music event in the next 12 months. In fact, one in five Gen Z travelers (20%) have traveled or plan to travel to see Taylor Swift live in concert.

As for sports, 38% of Gen Z travelers have traveled or plan to travel for the 2025 Super Bowl. Also, 32% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 NBA finals, and 19% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.  Now, let’s get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.

Tips to Maximize Your Vacation

1. Save Money
One great way to maximize your vacation is simply to save money. You’ll feel so much better on vacation knowing that you’re saving cash by doing things the right way. One major way to save money is to travel during an off season. Every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, look at the cheapest time to visit your destination, and go then. Find more tips on saving money on vacation, too.

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2. Don't Plan Every Minute of Your Vacation
Sure, you want to do some planning so that you don’t miss the big tourist stops in your destination. But, don’t book every blasted minute. Maximize your vacay by saving some time to be spontaneous. Take a day to just figure out what to do when you’re there. Maybe some locals will recommend a secret spot for you to visit during your “day off.”

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3. Do Plan Ahead, Though
While you don’t want to overbook your trip so that you’re always running from spot to spot, you do want to plan a bit. It’s not a good idea to do zero planning and just feel things out when you get there. Plan some big activities ahead of time so that you aren’t scrambling last-minute.

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4. Plan Regular Mini-Vacations
If you only have one big vacation every year, you might feel under a lot of pressure to make it the most amazing experience ever. So, take away that stress. Plan mini-vacations throughout the year, so you aren’t under as much pressure to make your big trip the best thing that’s ever happened to you and your family. For example, in the fall, if you live in an area with beautiful colors, make an annual fall color tour trip and just drive around the state.

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5. Stay an Extra Day
If time and money allows, adding just one day to your vacation can open up a world of possibilities. Many people plan too short a trip, not realizing just how much they’ll want to do in their destination. So, add an extra day. You’ll be glad you did at the end of your stay.

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6. Take Time to Sleep
Sure, you’re on vacation. You want to soak up every minute of your trip. But, if you’re up late every night partying in the clubs and then up early to enjoy the sunrise, pretty soon, you’ll be too tired to enjoy your vacation. So, take time to get some sleep and feel rested.

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7. Let the Small Stuff Go
They say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” That’s certainly true on vacation. Nothing is going to go totally as planned. So, expect the unexpected, and roll with it.

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8. Plan Some Recoup Time
When you get back from your vacation, don’t plan to start work the very next day. Take an extra day or two off after your vacation to recuperate, so that you hit the ground running when you’re back at work. The extra time at home will also give you a chance to savor your vacation.

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9. Pick an Experience
People often find experiencing more rewarding that physical things. So, make sure to plan an experience with your trip. Maybe there’s a huge concert you want to see on vacation. Perhaps it’s a sporting event. Whatever it is, plan an awesome experience.

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10. Learn for Next Time
Finally, when you’re home from your trip, decompress and look back on your vacation. What went wrong? What went right? Take notes and learn from your vacation, so you’ll know what to do better next time.

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