You’ve booked your Sea Ranch vacation rental reservation, made all the travel plans and now it’s time to pack for your holiday. But deciding on just what is needed for your essential Sea Ranch packing list can be a challenge. Now it’s a matter of deciding on what added extras you’ll need to toss in your suitcase or stow in the trunk. All of this can become a daunting dilemma.
The type of home you have booked for your holiday, the amenities included (or not included), and your vacation goals determine how much more beyond a change of clothes you’ll need to pack.
Have you opted for an economical trip that will require you to bring along the extras costing you in space and hassle? Then you will need to have a very large suitcase with extra space in the family van.
Or have you opted for a full-service home that provides just about all you would need for a stress-free vacation? In that case, your essential Sea Ranch packing list will just be few personal items and you’re set to cruise carefree along Highway One to your well-deserved break.
Essential Sea Ranch Packing List for Vacation Rentals
To help you out, we compiled an Essential Sea Ranch packing list of items based on two types of vacation rentals available: Bare bones and full service.
Packing List for All Vacation Rentals
We recommend a few common items for the homes in The Sea Ranch. That list and its details can be found in our blog post: 10 Sea Ranch Packing List Must Haves:
- Food items for your meals
- Layered clothing: Light shirts with a jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt
- Comfortable shoes and socks (Remember Sea Ranch has trails, not sidewalks)
- Hiking equipment and/or jogging wear
- Swimsuit and suntan lotion
- Tennis, pickleball, and/or golf equipment
- Camera
- Fishing Tackle and/or Diving Equipment- AND Fishing Licenses/Tags
- Your curiosity
- Great expectations for a wonderful stay
Bare-bones Rental Home Packing List
A bare-bones home may be economical and include a short list of amenities list. While you’ll find the rent to be less, you may end up paying for the added packing needed to make your stay more enjoyable. For that reason, we strongly recommend you first revisit the amenities page of your selected vacation rental home. Review each item listed. The rule of thumb is- if it’s not on the list, it does not exist.
We also recommend you take a long look at all the photos for indication of items included, but more importantly items missing in your vacation action. Then decide if you wish to rough it or bring along some of the comforts of home missing in action.
But be warned–After packing for your trip you may need another vacation!
Items Not included
Some bare-bones homes may not offer a linen service. Instead, you have the option to pay extra for basic linens and towels or pack your own. If you bring your linens from home be sure they fit the beds provided. It is important to note that while a home may not offer linens you are still expected to HAVE them on the beds.
And don’t forget to pack dish towels and napkins for your basic bare bones home in Sea Ranch.
Packing for your meals will include all your food and condiments. Don’t forget paper products and food wraps. If basic pots, pans, and cooking tools are available you may end up suffering for their poor condition. Some lower rated homes also use low quality pans and cooking tools.
In that case, the family chef may want to pack their personal sharp knife set, or non-stick pan that actually is non-stick. Look for any specialty kitchen appliance or other item necessary for a holiday meal or celebration that may be lacking. There’s nothing worse than not having turkey roaster when you booked a house for Thanksgiving.
Other amenities may also be lacking such as books, games, videos, television viewing options, and wifi. Is there a separate space for the kids to play in? In that case, you’ll need to decide if this will be a simple trip where communing with nature will be your main activity. Sea Ranch can offer many opportunities to get out and explore with its 70 miles of trails along the coast and into the redwoods.
Essential Sea Ranch Vacation Rental Packing List for a Bare Bones home
Below is a suggested list for items you may need to pack for your bare bones vacation rental home.
- paper towels
- toilet paper
- napkins
- coffee and coffee filters
- all-purpose cleaner
- sponges
- dishtowels and dishcloths
- laundry and dish detergents
- toys, books, and games for adults and kids
- groceries/condiments
- garbage bags (for kitchen and bathrooms)
- aluminum foil
- baby equipment (if needed)
- flashlights
- specialty kitchen gadgets for cooking and baking pans
- musical entertainment device (iPod, MP3 player, radio)
- games and cards
- portable video player with videos (downloaded or DVDs)
- wilderness guides for Mendonoma (Sea Ranch and coastal areas in Sonoma- Mendocino Counties)
Essential Sea Ranch Vacation Rental Packing List for Full Service Homes
You’ll find the packing list much more manageable for the full-service homes at Sea Ranch. These homes pride themselves in offering you a carefree, relaxing experience.
All you need to do is to bring the essential 10 items listed above and any special personal items.
Then just exhale knowing all is ready and waiting for you.
As you can see this list is significantly less and much easier to pack!
What You’ll Find in Full Service Vacation Rental Homes
Full-service Sea Ranch vacation rental homes strive to make guests’ holiday experience a welcomed one. You are often greeted with a welcome basket of treats and perhaps a favorite beverage of your choice.
In Abalone Bay, coffee for that first morning’s cup can be found in the cupboards. After freshly grinding the locally roasted beans, you select whether you’ll brew it in a French press, espresso pot, or drip pot with its reusable coffee filter.
Many full-service kitchens provide guests with basic condiments that do not require refrigeration. Plastic and aluminum wrap along with garbage bags are frequently provided as are paper towels and toilet paper.
It is important to note that full-service homes may provide only a start-up amount of paper products, cleansers, and laundry soaps. If your stay is expected to be a long one, you will need to replenish these items. Be sure to check with your host how many items will be provided so you may plan accordingly.
Even Less to Pack in a Full-Service Vacation Rental Home
At full-service vacation homes in Sea Ranch, such as Abalone Bay, you’ll find many more items to cross of that packing list!
Bath and Bedroom Amenities
Full-service homes provide a full linen service, that includes quality sheets, blankets, duvets, towels for bath, and spa towels. Toiletries of shampoo, rinse, soap and toilet paper are offered free. You’ll find at least one hairdryer, and in the case of Abalone Bay, two – one in each of the bathrooms.
At Abalone Bay you also have bathrobes at your disposal.
You’ll find in homes like Abalone Bay’s many other amenities such as wide assortment DVDs of movies and TV shows available for the blu-ray players, an assortment of music CDs and players, HDTVs with full cable service.
And of course there’s FREE, HI SPEED WIFI!
The children will be entertained by books for just about all grade levels. There are plenty of games, puzzles of all levels, and even travel sketch books for them to enjoy and take home.
For the adventurer, you’ll note the well-appointed home includes binoculars to view the wildlife you may encounter along the way. There are also maps of the trails available for that early morning hike along the ocean bluff trails or up into the redwoods.
You are also likely to find items that make that special holiday meals even more enjoyable. Turkey roasting pans, holiday dishes, special food preparation tools and small appliances await your masterful touch in the kitchen. And if you can’t recall grandma’s special recipe, you’ll find recipe books available to help start new traditions.
Many homes or their property managers provide baby equipment, unbreakable plates, children’s books, and games for younger guests. In the case of Abalone Bay, you may request at time of booking a highchair, and/or booster seats.
Also available for you at Abalone Bay is a ping pong table with paddles and balls, basket ball and pump. We even have dog gate to keep your pet safely in the kitchen if desired.
All Packed and Ready to Explore and Experience Sea Ranch
With your essential Sea Ranch packing list in hand for either type of vacation rental, you are now ready to hit the road and enjoy all that Sea Ranch has to offer. No matter which type of home you select for your Sea Ranch vacation, once you arrive you are sure to have a memorable time.
We’d love to hear what your essential Sea Ranch packing list recommendations are. Let us know in the comments below.
- To learn more about Abalone Bay and its full-service amenities visit Click Here
- And to BOOK YOUR NEXT SEA RANCH VACATION – CLICK HERE:
Thanks for this ranch packing list. This looks like very exciting trip.