Weekend getaways are the perfect escape for a little mini vacation! We are all about a short, little trip somewhere, but the one thing we dread doing is… packing! So many people put it off because it seems super overwhelming, and if you’re like us, we struggle with what to pack, how much to pack, what is the appropriate number of sandals and/or heels, and the list goes on and on. We have done quite a bit of traveling in the past few years, so we have the short-trip packing down to a T!
THE BAG:
We ALWAYS go for a carry-on bag. There is NO need to check a bag for three-day trip, unless you’re going to need a ton of outfit choices. Don’t get us wrong, we like our options, but we also don’t like waiting forever for our bags in the baggage claim. The same thing goes with road trips: you can’t be overstuffing the car with your stuff, especially since you have to be considerate (or should be) of other people’s items as well!
We usually go for a small carry-on bag like this one that fits the size restrictions for airlines (be sure and check that before you get to the airport because some airlines are VERY strict about the sizes!). You can also opt for a duffel bag like this one, or a true weekender bag that still fits a good amount, but isn’t as structured. As far as a personal item, we also like to bring a tote bag like this one that fits our laptop and other necessary items. You can also use it throughout your trip as a beach or pool tote! If you go the backpack route, this one is a cute option that also holds a good amount.
For packing, we love using these packing cubes to keep everything organized and in place!
SMALL ITEMS:
If you are packing something other than your cell phone, we recommend a small tablet, unless you need your laptop. You can still answer emails and do necessary weekend stuff, but it doesn’t take up as much space, and gives you a good break from the workweek!
If you are going to the beach or pool, chances are you are going to need sunscreen and some other beauty products like that. If you can’t find the appropriate carry-on size bottles for sunscreen and other toiletries, we recommend just buying some there!
REPURPOSING:
What we love to do is wear a dress or romper, or even some denim shorts and a cute top to dinner the night before, and then, the next day, it doubles a swimsuit cover up!
ORGANIZATION:
We also love bundling, and need to implement it more because it saves so much space! What you do is: place the tops of shirts and bottoms in the middle of your suitcase. Then, create a core out of a towel and then wrap your shirts and bottoms around it. It will also help with wrinkling!
Place the tops of shirts and pants into the middle of your suitcase. Create a core, out of a book or towel or whatever else you’re packing, and then wrap your shirts and pants around it. It save space and is a great way to avoid wrinkling. You can also roll your clothes to avoid wrinkles and works really well pants, skirts, and shirts. To roll, lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves, and then roll from bottom up.
For more delicate items, we have found that tissue paper can work well. To do this, lay down the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold it with the tissue paper inside, and use additional paper to fold so it is completely wrapped in paper.
Now that you have your packing all set up, you probably need to book a hotel, duh! In case you haven’t heard or tried Hotel Tonight, they make booking a weekend getaway super convenient! You can get some amazing last-minute rates in their easy-to-use iPhone or Android app. When hotels have unsold rooms, they load them in their app, so you get some great deals! You can book some spontaneous trips all over the country, which can be so fun with some friends or your significant other!
Here is an ideal list of what you would typically need for a summer weekend trip:
CLOTHING:
- 2-3 shirt/tank/cami options (we love this tank!)
- 2-3 shorts/jean options (love these shorts)!
- 1 dress/romper
- 1 light jacket (denim or utility jacket)
- 1-2 sets of workout gear
- 1 pair of flat sandals/ flip flops
- 1 pair of heeled sandals
- 1 pair of sneakers
- 1-2 swimsuit options
- undergarments (panties,bras)
- 1-2 sets of sleepwear
- hat
TOILETRIES:
We love carrying our cosmetics in a small bag like this one.
*see our go-to makeup in this post, and skincare in this post.*
- face cleanser
- makeup remover wipes (if in a pinch!)
- face moisturizer
- face sunscreen (SPF 50)
- tinted moisturizer with SPF
- bronzer
- blush
- mascara
- sea spray for hair
- shower cap
- hair ties
- shampoo/conditioner (travel size)
- toothbrush/toothpaste
- hairbrush
- dry shampoo
EXTRAS:
- sunglasses
- headphones (we love these AirPods!)
- water bottle
- lip balm
- healthy snack in case of emergencies like raw nuts or protein bar
- portable charger (power banks)
SHOP MORE TRAVEL MUST HAVES BELOW:
In partnership with Hotel Tonight.
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We paired the romper with 
And, now for our tips:
Y’all know how much we love sharing affordable accessories with you all, and that is why we LOVE
The Grand Velas Riviera Maya is a AAA Five Diamond, ultra-
-Family-Friendly Ocean View : Ambassador Suites
-Zen-Like Tropical Setting : Zen Grand Suite (where we stayed)
The rooms were GORGEOUS! We had a chance to see all three room ambiances, and each one was stunning. They all have a very similar look and are super spacious (1,100 square feet!) with gorgeous bathrooms. We have never seen ceilings so high in a room before, but we loved it because it feels so much more open! They bathrooms all feature L’Occitane amenities, a spacious jacuzzi tub, and walk-in shower. They also have a separate vanity for doing your hair and makeup, which we appreciated!
They also offered refreshing cocktails and snacks at the pool. They were super accommodating with our orders, too!
The main pool in the Ambassador suites is a gorgeous infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. We loved going to that one because they had fun activities and good music, but it wasn’t overly loud!
We were in heaven! They have everything from omelettes, fresh fruit, pastries, sushi, salads, breads, incredible dishes, pizza, ceviche station, panini station, and the list goes on!
They also have a ton of spa treatments, including facials and massages.
It is spring, and ALMOST summer, so that means lots of travel plans! We wanted to share a comfy, but still cute look to wear for traveling. These Nike React sneakers are one of our favorites right now! Not only are they super comfortable, but they go with even non-workout gear, which we are all about. You can take them from gym to street, or wear them on your flight and then wear them on a run or to the gym. These sneakers are like walking on a pillow, AND they come in the cutest colors, too! We have 
When traveling, we like to choose something comfortable, but also cute and put-together at the same time. Sometimes we will travel in workout gear, but other times, we want to look a little more fashion-forward. We love paring a sneaker like these Nikes with a 
The color of 
When traveling by car or plane, we love bringing a
These sneakers run about a half size small on us, so we sized up to a 7 for reference!
Before we get into the review, we wanted to say how amazing the ENTIRE staff is. From the housekeeping, to the waiters and waitresses, to the lawn workers, we have nothing but amazing things to say. Every person had the biggest smile on their faces, and were so glad to help in any way!
When we arrived in Cancun, we were greeted by our driver who drove us to the short, 30-minute drive to our resort. When we arrived at El Dorado Royale, we were greeted by the head concierge who talked to us about the property.
Since the resort is pretty large (and actually has three resorts in one: El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas, and El Dorado Generations), they have golf carts to take you around the property if you would like, or you can walk easily to most places, which is what we did! One of the very sweet bellmen showed us all the hot spots on the property on our way to our room!
And, one of our favorite parts: the pillow menu and aromatherapy. For this, you get to pick out a specific pillow you would like (we both chose a more firm, memory foam pillow) and some aromatherapy (they all smelled amazing)! we had never been to a hotel that had this option, so we were ALL about it!
For lunch, there are a lot of options: Jojo’s, Kampai, Spot, and La Isla. There are also some other gourmet corners: La Cabana Pizzeria, Health Bar, Loss Olas, and Bar 32.
At the pizzeria, they had some really yummy-looking pizza, but we ordered some guac and pico and then also tried their chicken fajitas, which were really good!
For dinner, the options are: La Isla (Mediterranean Cuisine), Kampai (Pacific Rim Cuisine ), Sante Fe Grill (Grill), Rincon Mexicano (Mexican Cuisine), Jojo’s (Caribbean Cuisine), D’Italia Casistas and Villas (Italian Cuisine), Cocotal (Worldwide Cuisine), and Fuentes (Culinary Theatre).
We had the chance to try Sante Fe Grill, which was also yummy! We got salmon and they were super accommodating, as always!
On our third night there, we went to their Mexican Fiesta Party, which was probably the highlight of our trip! It was SO cool, and you really got to experience the culture and food in the best way. They have this event every Tuesday, and the whole staff gets into it. They greet everyone with some margaritas, and then they have a bunch of long tables all set up and decorated. Outside, they have a little Mexican market to buy some authentic gifts, and our favorite part: the food! They had a HUGE buffet spread of every authentic Mexican food you can think of. Let’s just say we left very, very full! They had everything from tacos, to millions of salsas, roasted chicken, pork, steak, salads, shrimp, soups, and tons of desserts!
After the meal, they had a bunch of performances from dancers and Mariachis, which was so cool to see live! At the end of the performances, they introduced all of the staff and chefs, and it was so cool to see them so happy to be there. They truly seem like they love working there, which reflects on the guests!
We also had a chance to eat at Fuentes, which is their Culinary Theatre. It is set up like a live cooking show, and they have a set menu, depending on the day of the week, and for this one, you do have to make a reservation. You can also pay extra for the wine pairing, which is incredible with the food. They have a chef cooking the entire dish in front of you, while you actually eat it, which is so cool, and you get to learn a lot, too! The menu when we went was Mexican-themed, so we got to try stuff like a tomato salad (right from their own greenhouse), some tuna tostadas, a chicken breast roll, a pork belly, and a churro!
We also wanted to mention that ALL of the restaurants ask if you have any food allergies ahead of time, so if you’re sensitive to anything, they really take it seriously!
We had the pleasure of using their Bali Beds one of the days and had the sweetest Butler, Moises. These beds require a reservation and are so fun to rent for the day! They will bring you any drinks you’d like, as well as food, or anything you may need!
They also have these super cute swings on the beach that are definitely an instagrammable spot! They overlook the ocean, so they are a perfect spot to enjoy your cocktail!
Of course, we spent our mornings in here, and it had a great variety of equipment. They had some cable machines, a good amount of cardio machines, free weights, barbells, and a lot of space to move around. They also had infused water and fresh fruit!
It was so relaxing and peaceful, and the instructor was amazing. They also offer classes like aqua fit, crossfit, functional training, and a 5K run.
As you all can tell, we are basically booking a trip back there ASAP. We honestly have nothing negative to say about the resort, and would most definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of going to Cancun. We met SO many people there that have been coming to this property for years, so that in itself speaks volumes!
