Packing has to be my least favourite thing to do. It is always left to the last minute, quite stressful, and packing for a family of five takes time. Saying that, I feel like packing for our campervan travels and family holidays, packing for a family of five is something I have really mastered over the years. Read on for some of my smart packing tips and hacks for a family holiday.
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Smart packing = writing a list
I love a list, and generally keep it really simple, I jot down a list on my phone as I think of things, but it I always good to have a fixed packing list with all the staples you need for all of your family travel. Clothes per day, pjs, toiletries, sandals, passports etc.
Choose a good quality suitcase
Opt for a good quality suitcase that will stand the test of time.
Eminent offer a range of suitcases, enough space for all of the essentials, and compact and easy to manoeuvre. Plus there are a variety of ‘stand out’ colours, that are east to spot at the airport baggage carousel.
Packing cubes will be your best friend
I always talk about packing cubes, but since I discovered them a few years ago, they have been such a help when packing. I do not leave the house without these packing cubes. They help to organise the suitcase, and they help to reduce the amount of things we take with us for our campervan travels. I also use a packing cube for towels, one for nightwear etc, they make it easy to find if you are in a rush.
Packing cubes organise your suitcases, stop thing getting quite so creased, and you can also roll things up rather than folding items in them too.
Don’t over pack
Rule of thumb think about what you need and then take some out.
If you are anything like me, I have always overpacked, take far too much for what we need and don’t end up wearing half of what is in my suitcase! We often reuse tops/shorts and skirts, knowing if you need to you can find a washing machine on your travels!
Choose lightweight clothing and pack Hamaam towels
I have talked about Hammam towels for years. We first used them on our campervan travels, they pack well, are easy to roll up to pack, highly absorbent and they dry so quickly.
Ours have honestly lasted years, we use them at home, for swimming, as picnic rug, the list is endless.
Share toiletries
We all love using our different products, and throwing teenagers into the mix just adds to the products we want to bring with us. We are happy to share during our travels though to keep the weight of our bag down.
We try to decant into small containers or use smaller lightweight travel products if only travelling for a short time. Face wipes that we can all share and I keep make up to a minimum on holiday where possible.
Pack a “first 24 hours” bag or packing cube
One of my favourite packing like a pro tips – packing a first night or first 24 hours bag. This will include pjs, children’s comforters, first morning clothes, etc. It really helps if you are delayed, or if you arrive at your destination really late in the evening. It means you can grab your bag or packing cube and you have everything you need for the first 24 hours.
Don’t use one piece of luggage per person
I learned the hard way when my luggage got lost on a previous family trip. Luckily it was on the homeward bound leg, but if it had happened on the outward bound part of the trip I would have had no clothes at all for the holiday. Now I try to mix up the suitcases so if one case does go missing, everyone will still have a few clothes for their holiday.
So there are my few tips for packing like a pro when travelling with kids. Grab your list, a decent suitcase, a few packing cubes and your are winning in life.
Do you have any packing tips for travelling with kids?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click to purchase, it is at no additional cost to you, and I receive a small commission. I have or may be compensated via a cash payment, gift or something else of value for writing this post.