|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When packing for family trips, less really is more. As
in, the less stuff you’re lugging around, the more freedom you’ll have. |
|
|
|
| |
|
To help you create your own "packing
list," we've organized our suggestions into four groups: |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
Documents |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Clothing
basics |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
"Must
haves" |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Memory
makers |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
First, ask yourself a few questions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Who is going? Traveling with infants and
toddlers, resist the urge to take everything under the sun. For older kids,
consider that many ordinary things can be shared. For example, girls may
insist on having their own blow dryer at home, but when traveling, one is
enough. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What do you plan on taking? How many suitcases?
What kind – duffle bags or roller bags? Are the kids old enough to
help or will it be up to the adults to lug everything (and kids) around?
You may need to run for a departing plane/train/boat, so don’t take more
luggage than you can carry. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where are you going? This is the biggie:
trekking through the jungles of Guatemala, for example, requires quite different
footwear than play-going in London. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When are you going? Sailing around the Mediterranean in July is
different from hiking the Andes in July. December in Bali is warm and
tropical, December in Amsterdam is cold and snowy. Check out the weather
for your destination in advance. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Tip: Also read our "Packing for
Your Trip: Part 2 – All the Small Stuff" for more info on
what to bring. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clothing Basics |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Believe us: you will be able to do laundry. Don’t pack something
for every day of your trip, and take things that can serve double duty. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Travel outfit – This is the outfit you wear when on the long
plane, train, car ride. It should be loose fitting and comfortable, and
have lots of pockets for essentials and surprises. Keep in mind that airplanes
are often chilly. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Behind the scenes –
Have enough underwear and socks so that you can rotate them comfortably. Remember to take different weight socks for different footwear or
weather. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Footwear –
Walking shoes, sandals, dressy shoes should cover basic needs. Tip: Try all-terrain sandals or water shoes if you’ll be tromping
around rocky beaches or in rivers. Dressy shoes should be nice, but not
fragile or too costly: anything can happen in a suitcase, or on a cobblestone
street. If you have laced shoes, bring extra laces. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Exploring outfits – There’s always an adventure worth hiking or biking to reach.
In warm weather, you’ll want shorts, lightweight tops and windbreakers (to
block out sudden chills). Hats are essential – bring caps with wide brims to protect from the sun. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
In cold weather, you'll want loose, comfortable but well-lined
lightweight clothes. Plan to layer your clothes for warmth (e.g. a T-shirt
or turtle-neck, long-sleeved shirt, then jacket.) Tip: Polartec fleeces are light, warm, and will dry over night if you need to rinse off some “exploration”
dirt along the way. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Even if it isn't the rainy season – Hooded windbreakers
or train ponchos (thin plastic that folds into tiny, easy to pack pouches)
work well in unexpected downpours. Even in the tropics, if you go to highland
areas, the temperature can cool dramatically; a light windbreaker is good
for damp, misty weather. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Dressy outfit – You’ve planned a real rough-and-tumble
adventure trip and you don’t think you’ll need this? After a week of camping
and hiking in the Canadian Rockies, a posh high tea at a resort is a wonderful
change. A play in London or haute cuisine in Buenos Aires is worth dressing
for, and may well be among your fondest memories. Tip: Think simplicity
and good quality, and you'll fit in anywhere. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Water gear – Almost all vacations include
water in some way: pool, ocean, lake, river, hot springs or water park.
Make sure everyone has good swim suits, those all-terrain sandals,
water shoes, or rubber flip flos, water wings if needed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Make Room For "Must Haves"... |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Daytime gear – Few things are as useful as some
kind of day pack or fanny pack that lets you carry money, sunglasses,
lip balm, a guide book, water bottle, snacks, sweaters etc. while leaving
your hands free. Get one for each member of the family and spread the goodies
around so no one feels like a pack animal. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Toiletries – Get water-proof pouches (no leaking)
for each person's toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, body lotion.
Pouches should be big enough for personal must-haves like lip gloss or
hair gel, but small enough to pack easily. Tip: Currently there are regulations for carry-on luggage - bottles must be 3 oz or less in a transparent pouch. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Emergency kit – Don’t lose time because
of small emergencies. Take along a mini sewing kit, a good all-purpose
foldable tools (e.g. Swiss army knife), a conversion plug for any
electrical you’re taking along (110/ 220) and small flashlights.
Flashlights are great for little ones to have bedside in strange hotels,
and useful when exploring unexpectedly dark places. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Medical –Take everything in clearly marked original
containers (to avoid hassles at customs). Take a small pouch of antibiotics,
aspirin, anti-itch, anti-fungal, band aids, thermometer, and
tweezers. Yes, you can get these things abroad, but do you want to be searching
a strange place at 2:00 am? |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Pass times – You know best what to take: playing cards, iPods and CD players, books, Legos – whatever you and your
kids like that can be stowed in a carry-on. Buy a few brand-new, small
and inexpensive toys as surprises for long plane trips (especially important
with toddlers, but all ages love this). Being trapped in a seat can be
less frustrating with the distraction of a new plaything. Remember: it’s
the novelty that counts here – better five cheap new toys
than one or two more expensive things. Stuffed
animals are also great traveling companions. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Packing for infants and toddlers – Imagine that
you’re going for a long weekend to a childless friend’s house and pack your
diaper bag accordingly. You’ll be able to buy all the usual favorite items
(sippy cups, bottles, formula, diapers, wipes etc.) at local pharmacies
or grocery stores, but you want to have a good three days before making
that stop. Tip: For toddlers, pack a few instant hot cereal, instant
rice, and other just-add-water packets. They'll come in handy at restaurants
where nothing on the menu appeals to your little one. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Memory Makers |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
You’ll want to remember this trip, and be able to share it
with others. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Camera – A digital camera is a great way to share
pictures on the Internet, and also to have lots of stuff for your scrapbooks when you come back. Also, a disposable camera or a waterproof camera
is fun for the kids. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel journal – Writing in journals is a good
pass-time on trains, boats, planes, at night in hotels – and
will bring memories to life in years to come. (Bring extra pencils and pencil
sharpeners too.) |
|
|
|
| |
|
Sketch pads – Even if you think your kids can’t draw, pack
pads and colored pencils. There are 101 ways kids use art, not always
in the expected ways: scrap book, hang man, pressings, etc. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Address book – Encourage the kids to write down the full
names and addresses of friends. Postcards are fun to send and all kids
love getting mail. Don’t forget teachers, relatives, neighbors. Also,
bring a list of e-mail addresses. On your trip, stop into an Internet
cafe to send speedy mail to family and friends. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where to Shop |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorful tags make it easy to find your luggage at the airport. |
|
|
|
|
|
Don’t have time to run back and forth to the mall? Consider
online shopping. We’ve found a few companies that sell really good quality,
useful things perfect for traveling, for both adults and kids. For years
we’ve bought their luggage, and travel gear, so we feel good about suggesting
them to you, and now you can buy online. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Travel accessories – Magellan's
Travel Supplies is where you can find all those adapter plugs, locks and luggage
straps, packing organizers, travel pillows, money belts, travel totes
and more. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Luggage and backpacks – eBags has a huge selection of luggage for kids and adults. They have kid-size
backpacks and roller bags, baby travel beds, and toddler bags. Kids will
enjoy picking out their own luggage, and then running around the house with
their bags in anticipation of your trip. |
