Real Talk: You don’t have to be a professional packer in order to travel well as a family.
Because here's the truth... I am not a pretty packer. My folding isn’t perfect and I don’t roll up every T-shirt or pair of pants. But hey, I get the job done.
While I love seeing hacks for creative and savvy ways to pack for my little ones (and for myself), I often don’t have the time or patience to actually implement them.
Instead, I focus on packing light and folding the best that I can (Marie Kondo I am not). And if you’re like me, take this as your excuse to not worry about it. If your clothes (and your kids’ clothes) aren’t packed super efficiently at the start of the trip, you’ll actually have more space at the end of your trip to fit in a souvenir (if, that is, you’re willing to pack more efficiently on the way home).
On our most recent trip my son wanted to pack his own suitcase (featured above). We had fun layering in all of his clothes, and while it didn’t look perfect, it was an activity we enjoyed doing together. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
So, if you feel like there’s a lot of stress to make your suitcases look like a work of professional organizing art, then take this burden off your shoulders. You can have an amazing trip, no matter what your suitcase looks like.
Still, there are some important things you'll want to think about as you start packing for a family trip.
The Best Thing To Keep in Mind When Packing for a Family Trip
Now that we've established that aesthetics don't really matter when packing for a family trip, let's talk more about what really does matter. And that, my friends, is light packing. Here are some ideas to keep things light and help you figure out what you really need on that trip, so you can feel more free... and have more fun!
How many days will you be traveling? And ask yourself... Do I really need an outfit for every day? See my post about our "packing regrets" here, where I get into how we made the mistake (in our early days of traveling with our daughter) of packing at least one outfit (or more!) for her, for every day of our trip. Oof. It was a lot.
Does your place have a washer and dryer? If so, utilize it! This way, you can pack less and just wash more.
Can you pack early? I love packing a week or even two weeks before the trip, so I can edit down what I really need (and ask myself things like... Does my son really need nine pairs of shorts?!). The key is to keep the piles out (rather than putting them all into a suitcase right away), so you can easily see what you're planning to take... and then make the cuts!
What kid accessories do you really need... and what can your little ones live without? For example, do they really need their own cutlery, or can you use what's at the hotel or condo? Do you need a bib for every day, or can you, again, just wash them? Try to keep a "light packing" mindset whenever possible.
What is your packing style? And what are YOUR tips for packing light? Also, be sure to follow @bigworld_littletravelers on Instagram for all the travel tips. And check out the reel below to see my packing philosophy.
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