Luggage Lessons

Packing Points

One of the most stressful aspects of traveling on a family vacation is the packing, especially when traveling with several children.  We recommend you start by making a list of everything needed per person.  Then, to avoid any friction with the children, give them the option of taking two specific items important to them.
 
Consider your destination, the weather, and the activities so you choose appropriate clothing items.  Although it is often tempting to pack as much as possible, we strongly suggest you pack light.  This way, you will have more space in the car, the luggage, and even the hotel room.  Just eliminating the problem of heavy luggage is worth cutting back.
 
You will also find that most hotels offer things such as hair dryers, irons, and curling irons, which means you could leave yours at home.  The best option is to ask what amenities are included with your stay so you know the items that can be left at home.

What Do You Need?

So, what exactly do you need to pack into your suitcase? And how should you pack these items?

• Shop for the items you need several days before your trip to avoid last minute convenience buying. 

• Empty cheap dollar-store equivalent plastic bottles filled with products like shampoo and liquid soap will go a long way to save you some money. Buyers beware of travel size items. Typically, you do not find these items economically priced. Mostly people can consider them a luxury and specialized item. Soap dish and toothbrush cases are also handy items to store your wet bathroom utilities in and keep your clothes dry. 

• Invest in a customized and general mini drugstore with various basic items like aspirin, band-aids, antacids, and cold remedies When in need the hotel convenient store or local pharmacy prices can be astronomically and notoriously over-priced. 

• Back-to-the-basics: always have an extra pair of socks, pantyhose, and underwear somewhere. Be prepared for anything and everything, including delays. If there are delays on your return trip, for any reason, it is reassuring to know that you will at least have fresh undergarments to wear! 

• Pack wisely and include a couple of extra outfits. Hotel dry-cleaning is expensive and having a quick change of clothes for a spill or other inevitabilities is always a good idea. Pack more than you need seems to be the rule of thumb. 

• Liquid laundry soap can be a good investment for clothing that needs a little spot cleaning or laundering, hand washing it in the sink will also save you a dollar or two while en route. 

• A trusted toiletry bag, stocked with all you might need, ready to go is always a good idea. Having your toiletry and bathroom essentials ready at all, times will reduce the likelihood of forgetting something important like your toothbrush and having to buy one. 

Having an 'out-the-door checklist' prior to departure (and before returning home)  as a last minute reminder, always proves helpful and avoids unnecessary stressful moments and wasteful and hasty cash purchases. It might contain any, some or all of the following:

• First aid kits should contain, at the very least some band-aids and anti-bacterial ointment, all prescriptions, cold and allergy medicines, dosage spoon and chart. Tylenol for the traveling adults, children and babies is always a good idea as well. 
• Foil-packaged, coffee and tea are a necessity. You can also pack, if you prefer a certain type, Sweeteners and Cream/Milk or whitener. 
• Camera and film supplies 
• All relevant travel documents, tickets, passports, birth certificates, travel insurance information, baggage, currency and travelers checks (if applicable), Phone numbers and maps, emergency contact and identification cards for the kids and individual travelers 
• Addresses for sending postcards, and stamps, Cell phone and/or prepaid phone card 
• Favorite books, music, DVD's  and videos for the children (most hotels have VCRs now) 
• Bathing suits, extra towels, and sunscreen 
• Snacks and juice or water for the hotel (every penny counts) 
• Finally yet importantly… do not forget the EXTRA pillows and favorite toy or sleeping friend for the kid(s) if required or deemed a necessity! 

On the next page we will talk about Travel Decisions and Logistics.