If there’s one thing that separates the amateur parents from the seasoned holiday warriors, it’s packing. After countless family holidays (and learning from plenty of mistakes), I’ve discovered some packing strategies that have transformed our travel experience from chaotic to manageable.
No matter where you’re off to, these twelve smart packing tips will help you stay organised so you can actually enjoy your family holiday.
1. The Capsule Wardrobe
Forget packing a different outfit for every possible scenario. Instead, create a capsule wardrobe for each family member with mix and match pieces in coordinating colours. Choose three to four base colors that all work together, and suddenly you’ve halved the number of items you need to pack.
For the kids, this means five tops, three bottoms, and one jacket can create dozens of outfit combinations. Plus, when everything matches, you won’t stress about what they’re wearing in holiday photos or when they need a change of clothes because something happened.
2. Pack a Complete Outfit in Your Hand Luggage
Always pack at least one full change of clothes for each child (and yourself) in your hand luggage or day bag. Include underwear, socks, maybe even shoes if your toddler has a habit of pulling one off.
Flight delays, spilled drinks, travel sickness, or lost luggage won’t derail your entire trip when you’ve got backup outfits within reach. This is especially crucial for long-haul flights or if you have connecting flights where checked bags might go astray.
3. The Packing Cube Revolution
Okay, I held off on packing cubes for YEARS because I’m stubborn and thought they were just another Instagram scam. I was wrong. I was SO wrong. These things are brilliant. Got a set with different colours so everyone has their own I’m yellow, Charlie’s green, Romans are blue. Everything’s still a jumbled mess. But at least it’s a COMPRESSED colour coded jumbled mess.
When you arrive at your destination, the cubes can go straight into drawers without unpacking. Even better, if your kids are older they can help pack and unpack their own belongings, teaching responsibility whilst giving you one less job to do.
4. Create Individual Snack Box’s for Everybody
Instead of one massive snack bag, prepare individual snack containers for each child and yourself before you leave. Fill reusable bags or containers with a variety of their favourite treats, and let them manage their own supplies throughout the journey when they’re old enough.
5. The One Bag Per Person Rule
Each family member gets one bag that they can carry themselves. Obviously this doesn’t apply to little ones, but five year olds can manage a small backpack with their essentials.
This rule forces everyone to prioritise what they actually need and reduces the number of bags you’re juggling. Plus, when you’re navigating airports or train stations, you’ll be grateful everyone can manage their own belongings.
6. Pack a First Night Bag
Whether you’re driving or flying to your destination, pack a separate bag with everything you’ll need for the first night and morning. Include pyjamas, toiletries, phone chargers, medications, and a change of clothes for everyone.
This means you won’t need to unpack everything the moment you arrive exhausted at your accommodation. You can settle children, get everyone ready for bed, and tackle the proper unpacking when you’re refreshed the next day.
7. Roll, Don’t Fold (And Use Every Inch)
Rolling clothes instead of folding them saves significant space and reduces wrinkles. But take it further by utilising every available inch: stuff socks inside shoes, fill your hat with underwear.
Compression bags are brilliant for bulky items like coats and jumpers. Just remember not to over-compress if you’re flying, as you’ll need to account for weight restrictions as well as space.
And while we’re on the suitcase situation – I’d recommend my fellow black suitcase huns to get a luggage strap (the kind that goes round the whole suitcase in a bright colour) because my boyfriends suitcase looks exactly like 4000 other black suitcases and it kills me every single time.
8. Prepare Activity Packs in Advance
Days before your trip, create activity packs for the journey. Include colouring books, sticker books, small toys, playing cards, and wrapped surprises that you can dish out strategically during the trip.
Store these in clear ziplock bags or small pouches so children can see what activities are available. This advance preparation means you’re not frantically searching for entertainment options whilst trying to navigate or during that critical moment when a meltdown is imminent.
9. The Medication and Essential Documents Bag
Create a dedicated bag for all medications, prescriptions, travel insurance documents, passports, booking confirmations, and emergency contact information. Keep this bag with you at all times – never in checked luggage.
Include a basic first aid kit with plasters, antiseptic wipes, children’s paracetamol, antihistamines, and any prescription medications your family needs. Having everything in one clearly labeled bag means you can find what you need quickly, whether it’s a passport at check-in or paracetamol for a sudden headache.
10. Take Photos of Important Items
Before you leave home, it’s a good idea to take photos of your packed suitcases, passports, travel insurance documents, and any valuable items you’re bringing. Email these photos to yourself or save them in the cloud.
If luggage goes missing, you’ll have a detailed record of what was inside for insurance claims. Photos of your children’s passports and any important documents also serve as backup identification if originals are lost. This simple five minute task can save enormous hassle if the worst happens.
11. Toiletries: A Liquid Nightmare
Travel-sized toiletries are a con. You’re paying £3.50 for basically an eye-drop’s worth of shampoo. So I got silicone travel bottles – the squeezable kind with the flip caps. Filled them all up the night before (first mistake). They leaked everywhere. My suitcase now smells like I’ve murdered a Superdrug. So now I just travel with the half full kind.
Got a hanging toiletry bag as well – the kind with multiple compartments and a hook. Sounds fancy. In reality, it’s just a glorified pencil case, but at least when you hang it up in the grotty hotel bathroom, you can see where you’ve put everything without having to dig through all the eye shadow you never use.
Clear toiletry bags for airport security are essential. I’ve got one with the little TSA approved logo on it so I feel very official and organised. Do I still panic at security thinking I’ve accidentally packed a full-size bottle of something in hand luggage? Absolutely.
12. Electronics & Entertainment
Got a universal travel adapter. This one has USB ports built in so you can charge multiple devices at once.
Cable organisers! Those little zip-up pouches for all your chargers. No more tangled mess at the bottom of the bag that looks like electrical spaghetti. Each cable gets its own little slot. It’s beautiful.
Portable power bank is NON-NEGOTIABLE. My phone dies by lunchtime from taking 400 photos of Roman doing literally nothing. Got a high-capacity one that can charge my phone about three times. It weighs approximately the same as a small car but it’s worth it.
Now, where are you off to on your next family adventure?
Try implementing a few of these tips on your next trip, and gradually build them into your travel routine. If you found these 12 tips helpful, check out my next blog: 40 Helpful Packing Hacks For Travelling With Kids: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide.
What are your must-have packing tips for travelling with children? Share your wisdom in the comments below – I’d love to hear what works for your family!
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