When traveling and especially with kids, a comprehensive packing list is essential. When you were alone before the kids came, a list wasn’t important because you would just throw into your suitcase a few clothes, toiletries, your passport, and credit card and you were good to go.
But all this changes when you have kids and you are taking them with you for a holiday.
But as with any holiday, before you start packing you need to have organized your means of transport. Depending on the size of your family and the luggage you intend to bring along, you can rent a 5-seater mid-size SUV, 7-seater full-size SUV, or an 8 passenger rental van Hertz with rental24h.com, Budget, Avis, or any other car rental that will suit you.
The choice will entirely depend on your preferences, budget, and the number of people traveling. Once you have your transport organized, the next step would be to plan your route. With the help of the Route4Me App, you can easily plan your route for any kind of journey.
Travel route planning involves the process of determining the most efficient and optimal route to travel from one location to another. Whether you’re planning a road trip, navigating through a city, or exploring a new country, route planning can help you save time, avoid traffic congestion, and discover interesting places along the way.
You will also have to sort your accommodation out in advance. Apply the best practices for booking accommodation and get yourself a nice comfortable place.
With your means of transport and accommodation catered for. You will then have to come up with a packing list to reduce the chances of forgetting something. Below we discuss what it should look like and what it should entail ensuring you don’t leave anything behind so that you enjoy your holiday to the maximum.
Essentials to pack for your family holiday
We will divide them into categories that you can also use as a checklist when coming up with your list.
Clothes and Accessories
We won’t go into the number of clothing as this will depend on the duration you intend to spend on holiday. However, this is the list of the items you should not forget when packing clothes and accessories:
- Shorts/Trousers.
- Dresses/Skirts.
- Cardigans/Sweaters.
- Socks.
- Tights.
- Underwear.
- Shoes.
- Hat.
- Pajamas.
- Jewelry.
- Sunglasses.
- Coats/rain jacket.
- Scarves.
- Gloves.
Family Travel Accessories
There are many family travel accessories in the market and getting the right one is important. Having a good baby stroller or baby carrier with you will save you a lot of hassle when moving around with the young ones.
When you rent a car bringing your child seat will even save you the extra cost of renting one with the car. The good news is that with most of these accessories you can travel with them on the plane at no extra cost. Below are family travel accessories that you should not forget to bring along:
- Baby carrier.
- Pram.
- Travel cot.
- Car seat/ Booster seat.
- Day bag.
- Cameras.
- Chargers.
- Travel adaptors.
Toiletries
Your toiletries bag will almost double in size when you are traveling with kids. When they are younger you will need baby-specific soaps and shampoos. But as they grow older the bag will be smaller as they can use what everyone else will use.
Below is the packing list for toiletries:
- Shower gel.
- Shampoo and conditioner.
- Kid’s soap/Shampoo.
- Toothbrushes.
- Toothpaste-adults and kids.
- Dental floss.
- Deodorant.
- Lip Balm.
- Contact lenses.
- Glasses.
- Cleanser/Toner/Moisturizer.
- Body lotion.
- Hand sanitizer.
- Hairbrush and Hairbands.
- Mum’s makeup.
- Female hygiene products.
- Razors.
- Shaving gel.
- Nail clippers.
- Tweezers.
Family Travel First Aid Kit
While traveling you want to be able to deal with any minor accidents or illness without having to necessarily visit the pharmacy or hospital. Ensure you have the following in your first aid kit:
- Thermometer.
- Paracetamol/Ibuprofen.
- Plasters/Bandages.
- Antiseptic cream/Spray.
- Antihistamine.
- Motion sickness tablets.
- Special medication.
Toys
Kids will naturally want you to pack a large number of toys for them. Try to limit them to a couple of books, a couple of small toys each, a cuddly toy, and maybe a card game. You can also throw in a coloring or activity book.
Below is a list of toys to bring along:
- Books.
- Teddy.
- Puzzles.
- Inflatable ball.
- Coloring books and crayons.
- Bath toys.
- Play cards.
- Bubbles.
Documents
Ensure you have the following documents with you:
- Passports.
- Visa documents.
- Flight and bookings confirmation.
- Credit cards.
- Frequent flier cards.
- Hotel loyalty cards.
- Travel/Medical insurance.
- Guide book.
- Cash in required currencies.
Essentials in the baby packing list
Here are essentials that you should include as you pack for your baby:
- Portable high chair.
- Sleeping bags.
- Diapers.
- Wet wipes.
- Nappy.
- Nappy cream.
- Changing mat.
- Sterilizer.
- Bottles.
- Formula.
- Breast pump.
- Nursing cover-up.
- Washing up liquid.
- Bottlebrush.
- Snacks.
- Burp clothes.
- Baby monitor.
Essentials for a Family Beach Vacation Packing List
If you will be visiting the beach then make sure to include the following:
- Swim diapers.
- Swimming costumes.
- Sun cream.
- Hats.
- Swim Goggles.
- Picnic blanket.
- Mosquito repellant.
- buckets/ Spades.
- Beach ball.
- Beach towel.
- Talcum powder.
- Swim cover-ups.
Packing Tips for Family Travel
Here are a few tips that you can use as you pack for your family vacation:
- Keep a copy of your contact in each luggage in case they get lost.
- Know your luggage weight allowances before you travel.
- Do leave some room in your cases in case you need space for a souvenir you might buy during the trip.
- Pack a spare set of children’s clothes in your hand luggage.
- Scan and email all essential documents to yourself in case you lose the hard copies.
Conclusion
Parking for a family holiday is not an easy task. You miss out on a small detail like leaving behind your baby formula and you will be in trouble if you can’t find it where you are traveling to. It, therefore, requires some thorough planning. Coming up with a list will save you a great deal.
But before going you will have to arrange for a means of transport. Most USA car rental companies are found across the globe which means finding a cheap car for rent won’t be an uphill task. Also, ensure you arrange your accommodation well in advance.
With everything on your list packed, head out and enjoy that well-deserved family vacation together.
