Need Helpful Hints for Leaving Vacation More Easily

**Paula** · 01-02-2006, 06:37 PM

Well, we left our cottage at Camp Creek today to come back to the cold weather. As always, the 3 hours while we are packing up and cleaning up after ourselves before we leave were stressful. Even though the management company cleaning people clean the place up after we leave, we seem to have a hard time getting out and getting to the airport on time without a lot of stress. So, any ideas. For example, one thing I realized is that we should eat out the night before so we can empty the refrigerator the day before we leave and not have dishes to do. Any other wisdom on getting a smooth exit? We've been doing this 3 years now and it's always stressful. Thanks.

**Mermaid** · 01-02-2006, 06:49 PM

Oh Paula, I could have written your post word for word! I've been so excited that after 20 years of lusting after SoWal property, there is one big downside for us in owning--we have to clean up after ourselves when we leave. Until we get our rental income in, there's not the luxury of having cleaners in.

And though I might be a slob at home, I'm an absolute perfectionist with my little condo. I know there will be renters in, and our reputation depends on the place being sparkling clean and tidy.

It IS stressful, leaving. And it does take forever, no matter how early you start. I don't even try to make it less stressful since there's nothing to be done about it. Well, at least what you have to DO in order to leave. That doesn't change. If I start early with the packing and tidying up, it makes me feel like I'm stealing away from my vacation time, and that's a bummer. So I've stopped doing that. And I don't lay a guilt trip on myself anymore about having to toss food that we won't be able to eat (that was a big hurdle to overcome). Instead, I go about our leaving routine and focus on the fact that I love the beach and because I love it, there will be another visit in store for me. It's the best attitude I can have about it, the thoughts of returning.

I enjoyed meeting you at SoWal--you have a lovely family. Your daughters are adorable girls! I hope they enjoyed the bonfire at the beach.

**Beach Runner** · 01-02-2006, 06:59 PM

Mermaid and Paula, you are so right! I ran around like a crazy person this AM. Even with a cleaning service, we still need to put our personal items away, our staples and refrigerated items in the owners closet, etc. I am ao sweaty afterwards that even if I took a shower, I'd be sweating for 30 more minutes, so what's the point. So I always leave looking (and smelling?) like hell.

I don't do any packing the night before - I agree that it cuts your vacation short.

All of the work is still worth it. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be at the beach so often. Even the storms and the surf crashing the beach this AM sounded beautiful.

So, to answer the question, I have no helpful hints except one - while you're working your butt off for 3 hours packing up, think of all of the many more hours you've had enjoying the beach.

**iwishiwasthere** · 01-03-2006, 06:22 AM

We house swap one week each year, so we clean before we leave. The first year was horrible, but here are a few things I do to make it go better. I clean out the frig after dinner on the last night...all except breakfast stuff. Dishes are done as well... in the morning we eat off paper or pick up food on the way home. Bring sheets....it is a pain but when you have to wait to wash and dry 4 beds, it helps. My family is great about helping so one vaccums, I clean the bathrooms, and one mops. It goes pretty fast that way. My hardest part is loading the car to come home.....too much stuff. The final step is our family shot on the widow's watch of the house. It is so much fun to see how we have changed over the years....well, the girls anyway. Hope this helped some.

**Paula** · 01-03-2006, 10:18 AM

All good helpful hints, especially remembering that for all the trouble in the last few hours we can remember what a great time we had at the beach. I also like the idea of spending a few minutes at the end of packing (if there's time because we typically have to catch a plane) just looking out at the ocean (or for us even taking a 5 minute rest on the porch before leaving).

It is comforting to know that it's not just us that goes through this! For a while there, I thought we were a crazy family. So, based on your help so far, here's what we plan to do next time:

1. We have decided to lock up one closet to use as an owners closet and that will give us some more space to leave our stuff and we won't have to worry about keeping that closet neat. We'll use a coded lock rather than a key lock on those closets as well so that guests we know will have access to our stuff as well if we give them the code.
2. We'll eat out the night before we leave (or get take-out) rather than cook. And we won't cook anything for breakfast (eat muffins or eat out).
3. We'll use paper plates and cups beginning after lunch the day before. We'll make them fancy paper plates and cups so we'll feel "special".
4. We won't try to wash any clothes/sheets/etc. the day before we leave.
5. We'll recruit the kids' help more and get a "leaving" routine down for them.
6. We'll give extra food away to neighbors the night before so we'll only throw out a little bit the morning we leave.
7. We'll remember that we were lucky enough to be at the beach.
8. We'll take time to enjoy a few minutes at the beach or on the porch after cleaning to relax.

With this advice and any other advice you have, I'd like to figure out how to keep the packing/cleaning before we leave down to 2 hours or less for our family of 4. I'm feeling calmer already...

Mermaid: I like "What happens in SoWal stays in SoWal..."! And our girls enjoyed meeting you and other SoWal.com friends as well. They think it's so funny that I know people named "Mermaid", "WallyMom", "Kimmifun", "Jessifun", "Parrothead" -- they have a whole new level of admiration for me now.

**Donna** · 01-03-2006, 02:09 PM

This thread is so timely! The only downside of our visits to Conch Out are the frenzy of getting everything put away and getting to the airport on time at the conclusion of our visits. I have not found any magic answers for this, the curse of being an owner as opposed to the more carefree renter. However, here are a couple of things we do that have definitely made a difference in the departure stress levels.

(1) Keep a basic wardrobe of clothing and shoes in a locked owners' closet for use when you are there, along with a duplicate of all toiletries and bathroom goodies. Our goal was to have enough stashed so that we could go to the airport with our wallets. Then if you're still missing something, it is an opportunity to shop. Don't forget to keep duplicates of reading glasses and sunglasses, too.

(2) Ask local visitors to bring minimal food, as so much gets thrown out when we leave. We limit our visiting guests to one food item. It's also a hassle packing up all the leftover items for someone else to take home when they leave the house! Definitely eat out the night before leaving.

(3) Reconsider special things that are only out when owners are there, like special sheets and linens and various accessories. Is having such things out really worth the hassle of putting it all away, doing laundry, etc. when you could otherwise leave those chores to housekeeping? I bought so many special sheets and now make do with the basic linen pack!

(4) Plan a late afternoon or early evening departure, so that you can leave the cleanup and packing until your last day. Early departures are hell. Our flight yesterday left at 5 p.m., leaving us plenty of time to do everything on our last day there.

(5) Most importantly, do NOT have overnight houseguests on your last night at the beach. They are still on vacation, while you are wondering how you'll possibly get everything done in time to leave and still be courteous and conversational with the guests. Very stressful. I have become very strict about telling people they need to allow us the last day for privacy and preparing the house. I also schedule housekeeping for the day after we leave rather than the same day, so we are not stressing to get out so they can get in.

And in the end, it is all worth it, is it not?

**dbuck** · 01-03-2006, 02:16 PM

Donna, how is everything in Napa? Heard on the news you all had some flooding. They made it sound pretty bad.

**Jdarg** · 01-03-2006, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by dbuck

Donna, how is everything in Napa? Heard on the news you all had some flooding. They made it sound pretty bad.

Yes, are you the near the Napa river? Is your house OK?

**Paula** · 01-03-2006, 02:24 PM

More great ideas Donna. I hadn't thought of the later flight being that important, but it makes a lot of sense. We usually try to get the 11:30 flight but it may be smarter to take the 4:30 flight (duh!). And it was great to meet you last week. I like the idea of not having special "duplicate" things for private use. We use a rental agency and they take care of sheets. But I think I'd keep a special pillow there because I've gotten used to very soft ones.

I agree that guests don't necessarily understand why owners are running around on the last day doing little things that don't seem like they matter much (but they do matter if it's a rental and the place has to be in excellent shape for the renters).