Packing For Your Family Best Vacation

Many people love to travel, but they hate to pack. They end up waiting until the last minute, and then either pack way too much, or leave out something that they really need, like their passport or toothbrush. It doesn't have to be that way...

if you plan accordingly and start packing early.  It is possible to get everything that everyone needs, even if you are packing for the entire family. Think about your trip, the weather, what you will be doing, and then start packing. It is best to do it when you won't be distracted, so that you can make certain you get everything you need, without packing up the entire house.

One of the most obvious parts of packing is your clothing. It isn't really that difficult for adults, as you likely will only need one outfit per day, and then underwear, pajamas, and maybe a bathing suit or jacket, depending on the weather. With children, you never know how many outfits per day they will need. Some children have to change clothes every time they eat, because they are so messy. Others get outside and sit in the grass, run and play, and get dirty. One thing that can make packing for children a little easier is if you stay at a hotel that offers on site laundry areas, so that you can do a load as needed. If this is the case, then you can get by with packing a lot less, which will save you time, and keep you from having to drag a lot of luggage around as well. If you are unable to find such a hotel, then you will need to pack at least two outfits per day for each child, and maybe even a few extras. In this case, it will probably be better to have a little more than you need than not enough.

To get by with packing less, if you pack outfits that are interchangeable, such as jeans and t-shirts, you might be able to wear an article more than once, meaning that you can pack less, and have fewer luggages to carry around. Try to think of ways to get by with less clothing, so that you can really narrow down your packing. Again, this trick may not work for children.

For younger children, you also have to remember to pack diapers, wipes, changing pads, baby bath, baby shampoo, etc. You can take your baby bathtub with you if you choose, although it will take up a lot of space. Your best bet might be to use washcloths and water from the sink to get baby clean. If you are going to an area that has plenty of stores available, you can probably get by with taking less diapers and wipes, since you can buy them as needed. You definitely should pack enough for the trip though, at least until you reach your destination.

You also don't want to forget to pack your personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, deodorant, etc. In many cases, you may be able to purchase travel packs that contain smaller sizes, saving room in your suitcase. Most department stores such as Walmart and Target, usually have a travel section where you can pick up small containers of these items.  If not, you can usually find empty bottles for sale.  An alternative to buying the smaller packages each time you go away, would be to buy the empties and fill them from your bulk containers at home.

If you or a family member take daily prescription medications, you should remember to pack those as well. Rather than take the entire bottle, you can take just enough to do for the expected duration of the trip, and then a few extra, just in case the unexpected pops up and you are gone longer than you planned to be. You can pick up a seven day pill box at your local pharmacy and separate your medications for each day.  I normally put mine in zip lock bags.  If I can easily identify the item, such as my vitamin C, fish oil, and some of my meds, I put them in one bag. If I have pills that are hard to distinguish from others, I put them in separate bags and mark them accordingly.

If you have children, you should also make certain to pack insect repellent, sunscreen, etc.

It is quite possible to take some of the pain out of packing, if you give yourself plenty of time, and think about everyone's needs as you pack.  One other suggestion I have that I implemented years ago, is to create a Word doc on your computer, or create a memo in your day-timer.  I started by listing everything I was taking on that first trip I was going on.   Now, each time I go away, I print the list out and add any items to the list I might need for the current subsequent trip.  I rarely have anything to add at this point in time.  It took a few trips before my list became pretty much complete, but now that I have it I always have at least a starting point, if not, a complete list, to pack from.  I now rarely forget to pack anything, and if I do, it was most likely because I was lazy in not printing out my list and trying to work from memory.  Try creating your own list. I think you will find it a useful tactic in ensuring that you never leave home without your full arsenal of needed items.