Best Packing Tips For Your Next Family Vacation

Packing for a family vacation can be a somewhat stressful situation. On one hand you do not want to drag too much stuff along on your trip, but on the other hand you don’t want to leave anything you might need at home. So what do you do? Knowing the basics of what to pack for your family vacation can make things much easier.

First and foremost, make sure you pack any medications you may need. Also, make sure you bring along plenty of diapers if you have any young children, as well as baby wipes. If you’re going anywhere where you’ll be outdoors a lot, such as camping, exploring or hiking, it sounds funny but bring double the amount of underwear and socks you think you’ll need. There’s nothing amusing about running out of dry socks whilst on holiday!

If you are traveling to a hot climate, it’s vital to pack sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats.  Get a soft hat that ties under the chin for babies, and remember that even under a canopy in the pushchair or pram, they can get sunburn too.

Make sure each family member has enough clothing items to wear for each day you’ll be away, and try to limit the amount of jeans you bring. Jeans are five times heavier than cotton trousers, and if you bring several pairs for each person, your heavy bag will turn into a super-heavy bag (we speak from experience!) For this reason, leave leather jackets at home, too.

If you plan to swim during your family vacation, it’s a good idea to bring along two swimsuits for everyone. This way you can have a clean dry swimsuit that you can use while the first one is still wet and drying. A towel each is also a good idea, even if you’re staying at a hotel.

Calamine or Aloe Vera will be a vital item to bring if you’re going anywhere your kids could get sunburned – the extra weight will be worth it when one of you is in pain after falling asleep in the sun! You can get both at any decent drugstore.

Finally, a good tip is to start making a list at least a week before you leave. You’ll find yourself adding things to it all week, then on the morning of the trip you can pack calmly, assured of the knowledge that you’ve already thought of everything. You won’t have to run around the house wondering if you’ve forgotten anything. It’s our best tip yet!