Packing for a Pesach Vacation

Hello dear readers,

So, you’ve decided to go away this Pesach! I would say that’s a wise choice. Don’t get me wrong, I love being at home as much as the next person, but Pesach can be super stressful, so I’m all for going away for Pesach. I guess it’s like spring break, except instead of being a crazy college kid, you’re taking your family away to celebrate one of the most fun and important holidays on the Jewish calendar. I guess it’s tomayto-tomahto (or matza-matzo, I suppose).

Let’s talk about what kind of stuff you should pack when you’re going away for Pesach. First, let’s talk about food. If you’re going to a kosher Passover hotel, you’re in luck, because the food is already taken care of for you! Are you going to miss the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the leftovers, the changing of the kitchen? I would guess not. If you’re going to an established Jewish community, it will probably be relatively straightforward to do all the shopping there, but even so, you might want to bring some stuff with you. At the other end of the spectrum, I remember going away with my family when I was a child, and we basically brought all the food with us; coolers full of frozen meat and matza, and I don’t even remember what else, though I do remember what was basically a caravan of those blue coolers. Regardless of whether you’re going to a hotel experience or doing something on your own, you might want to bring some kosher for Passover snacks. Chocolate-covered matzah, those fruit slice thingies, your favorite flavor of macaroons – you never know if you’ll be able to find the exact snack that you like. On Pesach, I’m mostly craving chametz foods like sourdough bread or oatmeal, but if I do crave something sweet that is kosher for Pesach, I’d like to make sure that I have it available and with me.

Clothing is important to consider too. Did you check the weather where you’ll be going? Is it supposed to be rainy, or windy, or hot? Does it get surprisingly cool at night? Do you need a bathing suit for swimming occasions or a regular suit for fancy occasions? How many pairs of shoes? Another key consideration is whether there is a washing machine there; if there is, you might consider packing less and just doing a load of laundry.

After food and clothing, there’s just a bunch of random stuff. You probably need to make a checklist that fits your individual traveling style. Here are a few items you’ll probably think of, but I’ll list them just in case: toiletries, medicines, sunglasses, passport, foreign currency, belt, Hagaddah.

Hope it helps. Did the list jog your memory of something else, which you might have otherwise forgotten about? Good! Now get packing!

More soon,

Ariella

Need help planning your next trip? Leisure Time Tours offers several Pesach vacation packages for your destination. Contact us at 718-528-0700 to learn more about packages for your next Pesach vacation!