You’ve searched for the perfect vacation home on VRBO or Air BNB and landed one one that looks great, is budget friendly, and right near where you want to be.  You’re in the packing stage. You have your clothes picked out and ready to put in your suitcase.  Now the big question. What to pack for a VRBO?

Well, they are all different of course, which is what you wanted.  No cookie cutter hotel room for you!  And you want a kitchen so you can cook with locally sourced food and save money on ever rising restaurant costs.

If you are flying, you’ll want to apply most of this to when you land in a city where the shopping is good.  If you’re going out in the boondocks and it’s just a grocery store you need, you can pick up your rental car and figure out a grocery store.  Most of what you would need can be found at most grocery stores.

If you’re driving, of course, you can bring a lot more from shopping at home or items you already have at your home.

Easy Hospitality Planning On the Road

Think of this as easy hospitality planning on the road.  It might just be you and your husband and children.  But aren’t these your most precious guests?

If you’re going back somewhere you used to live, it could be hospitality for family or old church friends you haven’t seen in a long time.   Think of all the scenarios as you pack for your VRBO.  It might help your planning if you jot down menu ideas for when you get there.

To help you plan, think of what you would want to make your kitchen functional and your overall stay more comfortable.

One thing that is hard to plan for is the exact items your VRBO will have for your use. Below is just from our experience of what your vacation rental might or might not supply.

You can find out some of what your VRBO supplies in the description of the property on the website.  You will likely get the owner’s contact info shortly before you leave for your stay, so you can also ask them if they supply certain things you would want.

The things that make your vacation nicer won’t be as extensive as what you want  in your own home.  Vacation is a little bit of roughing it, right?  So the items to pack for a VRBO stay are those essentials that make life easier, without going overboard.  Don’t freak out over what isn’t there.

After all, it’s a vacation, right?  Don’t waste it complaining (ask me how I know this…).

You will do without some of the things you like at home, but there are things you won’t want to be without. A little forethought goes a long way.

Here are some of the things we pack for a VRBO.

What to pack for a VRBO

1. Pack a large frying pan with a safe coating.

This is FYI for the uber health nut. Most VRBO frying pans are non-stick and can be small for a family.  The non-stick coatings can be dubious.

However, to be honest we just make do.  A large frying pan is a pain to pack. I don’t think a few days with a frying pan like this will kill you.  But be forewarned.

2. Pack a decent spatula

Who doesn’t cook eggs and sausage on vacation?  The plastic spatulas in many VRBO’s look like the ends are frayed or melted.    Obviously, if you are using the VRBO non-stick pan, you need to use the spatula they provide so you don’t damage non-stick surfaces with your personal spatula.

3. Pack couple of good knives and a wooden cutting board

Cutting boards are usually well used plastic.  Knifes can be iffy. We like to bring an inexpensive Santoku knife and a good paring knife.  These can even sub as steak knives in a pinch.  Some VRBO’s have great knives, but you never know, and you don’t want to have to buy anything in this department.

4. Other kitchen supplies

VRBO’s almost always have paper towels, dish soap and scrubbies.  But they rarely have what’s on the list below or don’t have enough of them:

Dishwasher pods

Dishwashing liquid–most VRBO’s have this, but not all, and you will really need it

Tea towels

Potholders

Zip top storage bags

Aluminum foil

Plastic wrap

Plastic containers with lids

5. Special Kitchen Supplies

It probably goes without saying that if you are vacationing in an area that has special foods that need special tools, you should definitely get these in advance.  Ditto if you are going to a VRBO for a holiday. For example, if you’re there for Thanksgiving, be sure you have a turkey roaster!  (see what we used for lobster, below 🙂

5. Basic food staples

You don’t need to go overboard here, but what is often in VRBO’s is half used bags of pasta or cereal, open bags of coffee, hot cocoa mixes from who knows when, mostly used bottles of cooking oil.  They almost always have salt and pepper so you probably don’t need those.  Here is a list of what they don’t reliably have and what we usually want.  Your list will undoubtedly be different, but you can use ours to get the idea.

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegar

Good coffee

Honey

Butter

Mayonnaise

Ketchup

Pan Spray

Spices that you know you’ll need

Other non-perishable foods you will want

6. Grilling or fireplace supplies

First make sure your host allows you to grill or use the fireplace. There are likely things you’ll have to purchase where your VRBO is: things like charcoal, firewood, lighter supplies.  We often find free kindling outside, gathering small dry twigs.  Often a VBRO in a cold climate may supply fireplace firewood.  If you are in the woods, you can sharpen some long sticks for toasting marshmallows.  Be considerate though; the owner might not appreciate leftover marhmallow goo.

7. Other supplies

Clothes washer pods (if your VRBO has a washer/dryer)

Toilet paper–you will almost always get a roll or two, but if you are staying longer many hosts expect you to purchase your own

Bug Repellent

Shampoo and Soap–you can’t count on this although many do supply them

Beach towels and chairs

This might be hard if you fly but a cinch if you drive!

8. A sense of humor and creativity!

If you have packed thoughtfully for your VRBO and still find something essential is missing, see if you can make do. When we were in New England, the VRBO’s were lacking lobster picking tools (although one had an amazing lobster cooker.)  We were desperate for that amazing meat, though so we tore them apart with our bare hands and used things like spoon handles to wrestle out the delicious morsels!  It wasn’t pretty but it was funny and made great memories!

 

Most of all, thank the Lord for the opportunity to get away and enjoy Him and each other!  Take this blessed time to read your Bible.  Pray. Don’t focus on disappointments coming from great expectations.  Rest in the peace of Christ and refresh!

One set of footprints in the sand evoking the truth that Christ carries us!