What to Pack for an Extended Stay
Our apartments come fully furnished with kitchen essentials, linens, towels, and WiFi. Here's what to bring from home to make your stay feel effortless — and what you can leave behind.
The essentials
Things you'll actually use every day.
Tech & Work
Laptop + charger (obviously)
Phone charger — bring two, one for bedside, one for your bag
Portable power bank for days out exploring
Noise-cancelling headphones — essential for coffee shop work and video calls
A short extension cord or power strip — hotel and apartment outlet placement is never where you need it
Universal travel adapter if coming from outside the US
Bluetooth speaker (small) — makes the apartment feel like home instantly
Clothes Strategy
Pack for 5 days, not your full stay — our apartments have in-unit or on-site laundry
2-3 base layers that mix and match (neutral colors travel best)
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes you can also wear to dinner
1 nicer outfit for an unexpected dinner or meeting
A packable rain jacket — useful in both Minneapolis and Cincinnati
Workout clothes if you're active (Minneapolis has incredible running trails)
Flip flops or slides for the apartment
Personal Care
Your specific toiletries — we provide basics but you probably prefer your own
Any prescription medications with extra days' supply
Vitamins or supplements you take daily
Sunscreen (Minneapolis summers are sunny)
Lip balm — especially in winter
A small first-aid kit (band-aids, ibuprofen, allergy meds)
Comfort Items
Your favorite coffee or tea if you're particular (we provide a coffee maker but not specialty beans)
A favorite snack from home for arrival — nothing worse than arriving hungry with no food in the fridge
A book or Kindle — for those first quiet evenings settling in
Sleep mask if you're sensitive to light
Your own pillow if you're picky about pillows (no judgment)
A small photo or personal item that makes a space feel like yours
Nice to have
Not essential, but they'll make your stay better.
Day-to-Day
A reusable water bottle — Minneapolis tap water is excellent
A tote bag or small daypack for exploring
Reusable coffee cup — many local shops give a small discount
A notebook — sometimes analog is better
Umbrella — compact, packable
Active & Outdoor
Running shoes — the Minneapolis riverfront trails are too good to skip
Bike lock — Nice Ride bike share is everywhere, or bring your own if driving
Swimsuit — Minneapolis has urban lakes with swimming beaches (summer)
Layers — Midwest weather can swing 20°F in a day
Hand warmers (winter visits) — trust us on this one
What you can skip
Already in every CozeStay apartment.
Pro tips from frequent travelers
Pack in a carry-on if you can
Even for a 2-week stay, you can fit everything you need in a carry-on plus a personal item if you plan to do laundry once a week. Our apartments all have laundry access.
Arrive with groceries in mind
On your way from the airport, stop at a grocery store and stock up on basics. Target (downtown Minneapolis) or Kroger (downtown Cincinnati) are both near our properties. Having coffee, milk, and breakfast food on arrival makes everything better.
Use packing cubes
They compress clothes, keep things organized, and make unpacking at your apartment take 2 minutes instead of 20.
Download offline maps
Google Maps works great in both cities, but having an offline map downloaded for your area means you never worry about data or signal.
Bring your own streaming logins
Our TVs have streaming capability but you'll want to log into your own Netflix, Hulu, or Spotify account. Write down passwords before you leave home.
Ready to book?
All 33 of our apartments come fully furnished with everything on the "skip" list above. Book direct for the best rate.