4 Quick Tips for Packing for a Family Vacation
Gone are the days of throwing 2 dresses, 1 pair of high heels, and a bathing suit into your suitcase and heading to Vegas. Okay, that’s not an accurate description of my former life, but I remember everything being so simple before kids. Some may say hindsight is 20/20, but I say hindsight wears rose-colored glasses.
My task? Prepare and pack for a family of four, with two kids ages 2 and under, for a weeklong vacation. Now this isn’t our first family vacation as a family of four, but it is our first international travel. Luckily, it is only a 3 hour trip to Puerto Vallarta. But as I have found to be true, you pack the same for a 7 day trip as you do for one overnight, with the only exception being the number of outfits. But it’s okay, I’m prepared and I have a strategy! Given the fact that we are traveling to Mexico in January, and we live in Colorado, means that I can pack all the clothes weeks ahead of time since we won’t need our summer clothes for now. So my plan is to pack the majority of the clothes a full 2 weekends before our trip and then make a list of everything else we need. This will make packing a breeze.
The problem? Here it is, the Friday night before our trip and I have only mentally packed. Not much of a Friday night, but again, those rose-colored glasses are telling me that I would never be home writing a blog on a Friday night. But I digress… which is exactly the behavior that has me with only a virtual suitcase packed. Luckily I have a few tips that have made packing for family trips much easier.
1. Make a list- Rather than having to make a list every time you’re going on a trip, why not just type one up with a core list of travel necessities? You can always adapt it depending on the location or length of your trip. There will always be a few items that are unique to each trip, such as a prescription for a family member, but that can easily be added. The list is a great way to be organized even before you’ve begun packing and you won’t be worrying about grabbing one more thing as you’re headed out the door. Personally, I like to update my list in the week before the trip and then print it out. As I pack I cross the items off of the list. If there’s anything that can’t be packed until it’s time to leave, you’ll see that it’s on your list still and will be ready to pack it. A typed list is easier to change and easier to read, especially when you are adding/deleting and crossing things off.
2. Pack ahead- but only the things that will not change. If you are headed to a warm destination during the winter months, it is probably safe to pack your bathing suit and sandals.
3. Keep a toiletry bag packed with travel-sized overnight essentials. You can add any items that you use regularly that are inexpensive enough to buy a spare. I have found that it is cheaper to buy a spare that stays put in your toiletry bag than pay for something you’ve forgotten while you’re on a trip. And inconvenient, too!
4. Enlist the help of friends/family- If you will have friends or family in the area, consider having them pick up a few necessities for you. Not having to pack diapers can save a lot of room! Of course, make sure you bring enough for traveling, as well as a couple of extra.
I found that these 4 packing strategies have lessened the stress of packing for family vacations. Each vacation gets easier to prepare for, even though our family keeps getting bigger. Of course there is Murphy’s Law to deal with, but I have yet to find any surefire tips for that! Oh, and one bonus tip… remember that at the end of the luggage tunnel, there is an actual family vacation to be enjoyed! So in other words, keep your eye on the goal. As for me, by the time you read this, I’m hoping to be lounging on the deck with a margarita in hand, watching the sunset.
Gone are the days of throwing 2 dresses, 1 pair of high heels, and a bathing suit into your suitcase and heading to Vegas. Okay, that’s not an accurate description of my former life, but I remember everything being so simple before kids. Some may say hindsight is 20/20, but I say hindsight wears rose-colored glasses.
My task? Prepare and pack for a family of four, with two kids ages 2 and under, for a weeklong vacation. Now this isn’t our first family vacation as a family of four, but it is our first international travel. Luckily, it is only a 3 hour trip to Puerto Vallarta. But as I have found to be true, you pack the same for a 7 day trip as you do for one overnight, with the only exception being the number of outfits. But it’s okay, I’m prepared and I have a strategy! Given the fact that we are traveling to Mexico in January, and we live in Colorado, means that I can pack all the clothes weeks ahead of time since we won’t need our summer clothes for now. So my plan is to pack the majority of the clothes a full 2 weekends before our trip and then make a list of everything else we need. This will make packing a breeze.
The problem? Here it is, the Friday night before our trip and I have only mentally packed. Not much of a Friday night, but again, those rose-colored glasses are telling me that I would never be home writing a blog on a Friday night. But I digress… which is exactly the behavior that has me with only a virtual suitcase packed. Luckily I have a few tips that have made packing for family trips much easier.
1. Make a list- Rather than having to make a list every time you’re going on a trip, why not just type one up with a core list of travel necessities? You can always adapt it depending on the location or length of your trip. There will always be a few items that are unique to each trip, such as a prescription for a family member, but that can easily be added. The list is a great way to be organized even before you’ve begun packing and you won’t be worrying about grabbing one more thing as you’re headed out the door. Personally, I like to update my list in the week before the trip and then print it out. As I pack I cross the items off of the list. If there’s anything that can’t be packed until it’s time to leave, you’ll see that it’s on your list still and will be ready to pack it. A typed list is easier to change and easier to read, especially when you are adding/deleting and crossing things off.
2. Pack ahead- but only the things that will not change. If you are headed to a warm destination during the winter months, it is probably safe to pack your bathing suit and sandals.
3. Keep a toiletry bag packed with travel-sized overnight essentials. You can add any items that you use regularly that are inexpensive enough to buy a spare. I have found that it is cheaper to buy a spare that stays put in your toiletry bag than pay for something you’ve forgotten while you’re on a trip. And inconvenient, too!
4. Enlist the help of friends/family- If you will have friends or family in the area, consider having them pick up a few necessities for you. Not having to pack diapers can save a lot of room! Of course, make sure you bring enough for traveling, as well as a couple of extra.
I found that these 4 packing strategies have lessened the stress of packing for family vacations. Each vacation gets easier to prepare for, even though our family keeps getting bigger. Of course there is Murphy’s Law to deal with, but I have yet to find any surefire tips for that! Oh, and one bonus tip… remember that at the end of the luggage tunnel, there is an actual family vacation to be enjoyed! So in other words, keep your eye on the goal. As for me, by the time you read this, I’m hoping to be lounging on the deck with a margarita in hand, watching the sunset.