Life-at-casa-logo-large3

Packing Smart: A Comprehensive Family Vacation Packing List

Mar 21, 2023

This blog post will help your family create a comprehensive packing list for your upcoming vacation. We’ll provide tips and tricks to make sure you are packing smart so that you don’t forget anything important. Plus, we’ll provide helpful checklists so that you can easily keep track of your supplies and determine what items can be used for multiple purposes.

Family packing list for vacation

This post will help your family create a comprehensive packing list for your upcoming vacation. We’ll provide tips and tricks to make sure you are packing smart so that you don’t forget anything important. Plus, we’ll provide helpful checklists so that you can easily keep track of your supplies and determine what items can be used for multiple purposes.

Going on a family vacation can be a fun and exciting experience, but packing for it can be a daunting task. With so many things to consider, it’s easy to forget something important. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive family vacation packing list to help you pack smart. To ensure that you have everything you need for a stress-free vacation.

Clothing

When it comes to packing clothes, it’s important to consider the climate and activities you’ll be doing. Here are some essential items to pack:

  • – Comfortable walking shoes
  • – Swimsuits and cover-ups
  • – Lightweight and breathable clothing
  • – Rain jackets or ponchos
  • – Sweaters or jackets for cooler evenings
  • – Formalwear if needed for special events or dinners

Toiletries

Toiletries are often overlooked when packing, but they are essential for maintaining hygiene and comfort during your vacation. If taking them on a carry on, make sure all liquids and pastes aren’t larger than 3.4 ounces. Here are some items to consider:

  • – Toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • – Shampoo and conditioner
  • – Soap or body wash
  • – Sunscreen and insect repellent
  • – Feminine hygiene products
  • – Medications and first aid kit

Electronics

In today’s digital age, electronics are a must-have for most families. Here are some items to consider packing:

  • – Cell phones and chargers
  • – Cameras and memory cards
  • – Tablets or e-readers
  • – Portable chargers
  • – Headphones or earbuds

Entertainment

Long car rides or flights can be boring, especially for kids. Here are some items to consider packing to keep everyone entertained:

  • – Books or magazines
  • – Board games or card games
  • – Portable DVD player or laptop
  • – Travel-sized games or puzzles
  • – Outdoor games like frisbees or footballs

Miscellaneous

There are always some miscellaneous items that are important to pack but can be easily forgotten. Here are some items to consider:

  • – Travel documents such as passports or visas
  • – Cash and credit cards
  • – Snacks and drinks for the trip
  • – Plastic bags for wet or dirty clothing
  • – Travel pillows and blankets for comfort during long trips

ITEMS FOR HIKES AND LONG WALKS

When going places where lots of walking will be done there are a couple of items worth considering to take with you:

  1. A baby back pack or carrier
  2. A hiking back pack for kids and toddlers
  3. Baby stroller 
  4. A foldable Children’s wagon 

One bulky item we often take is a small sturdy stroller.  I never bring my favorite one, because it it can get scratched during the flight when it’s loaded with all luggage. But our favorite solution  to avoid scratches have been these super small travel cases. They get beat up and ripped as well when handled by the crew. So we really don’t invest in anything too fancy. 

TRAVELING CASES:

Traveling cases can be used for many items. From strollers, to car seats. We have now owned them for years. They come with a strap that allows us to carry these items on our shoulders so our hands are free. Covers prevent all of our beautiful baby gear from getting filthy and dragged all over security checkpoints and the belly of the plane during flight. These lightweight ones are also washable and once done using the fold into a super small pouch with a zipper. 

When traveling abroad we like to take a small foldable stroller. Everything goes into a smaller rental car once we land. So we need to be very efficient with what we bring so it can fit in a smaller trunk. 

We also have purchased a WAGON that we absolutely love lately that can be taken all the way to the entrance of the plane. It can easily carry both children and our small carry on items while we walk throughout the airport. A fordable wagon been a great addition for when we go on long tourist walks in the city or shopping. And the kids can sit inside and take a nap or play games with each other.

WAGON:

For the longest time we used to travel with 2 backpacks and 3 SUITCASES as a family of 6. That was half a suit case each. But we liked to bringing only the essentials so we weren’t overburdened by all of our luggage.There was still more than enough room. And even extra room for souvenirs back when our children where younger since their clothes took less space. 

We still use these suitcases to this day because they are so sturdy and easy to push in town and at the airport. They rarely can be stuffed enough to be overweight and they fit more easily in narrow spaces and smaller cars abroad. 

SUITCASES:

Now that our children our growing, we bring 4 suitcases. And one is left half empty to be able to fit inside our  purchases made abroad. We like to buy some clothes while traveling rather than bringing everything from home. 

Whenever we travel domestic we need to rely on carry ons so we don’t have to check in any bags. And our kids have their own which they absolutely love. 

KIDS CARRY ON:

Family packing list for vacation

Depending on how long a trip is here are the amount of items we take for some of the items form the list above. 

HOW MANY OF EACH?

  • 2-3 socks and underwear 9 for trips shorter than a week. 
  • 2-3 shoes for each kid ( 1 pair of slippers for walking in the house and going to the beach, 1 pair of athletic shoes, 1 pair of elegant shoes).
  • 3-4 outfits for each kid. (when traveling less than a week)
  • 5 outfits for trips of 1-2 weeks, 7-9 outfits for anything longer than that. 
  • 1-2 elegant outfits out of that
  • 1-2 swim suits 
  • 1 Hair brush
  • 1 comb
  • 1 family body lotion
  • 1 pair of pajamas for older kids, 2 for babies and toddlers. 2 pairs for any trip that is longer than a week 

NOTE: We book a place with a washer and dryer and iron so we can carry less items with us. Otherwise we find a local Laundromat to wash our kids half the way through our vacation. 

RECAP OF EVERYTHING:

Don’t forget to read my other post on how we have managed to pack and travel comfortably here.

Share This Post –

Serena Essuman

   

Serena Essuman

   
This post May contain affiliate links. Which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

seventeen − 9 =