Travelling with a larger family is an exciting adventure, however packing for that trip can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. With a few clever packing hacks, you can streamline the process and ensure you have everything you need for a stress-free family holiday.
Let's dive into some tried and tested tips that will make packing for big family travel a breeze!
1. Make a List
This is always my go-to regardless of the task, it always starts with a list. Its the only way I can get everything out of my head (and actually sleep at night!) Creating a packing list is essential when it comes to big family travel. Start by jotting down everything you need to bring for each family member, including clothes, toiletries, medications, entertainment items, and any special gear. Having a comprehensive list will help you stay organised and ensure you don't forget anything important.
2. Pack Light, Pack Right
When packing for a big family trip, it's important to pack light while also packing smart. Choose versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits and also layered up for different climates. Life saver is to roll clothes instead of folding them, this saves space and prevents wrinkles. A revelation to me on our last trip was packing cubes, having never used them before, I am now never going away again without them! The last trip we did was a 2 week road trip around Canada. I bought PACKING CUBES similar to THESE (2 sets) from Amazon which were a game changer as it meant each person could have their own cubes. When we moved between all 7 hotels, unpacking / repacking was a breeze as I knew where everyones clothes were.
3. Use the right Luggage for your needs
Dont automatically go for the large suitacases. When on a road trip you are going to be moving your luggage around a lot, in & out of the car and at every hotel stop. So think about different styles of luggage that might make this easier. You might also want to consider how any bags you take. As a family of 5 on a road trip with 7 different hotels there was no way I was taking 5 suitcases. I also didnt want to pay for all of this luggage on the aeroplane! We took one large suitcase, a smaller suitcase both of which would go in the hold and a large backpack that could be taken on the plane as hand luggage. We went for this Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack as it complies with most airlines size guide for cabin baggage (saving us money on paying for hold luggage). This combination of luggage also worked really well for all that moving about plus fitting it all into the hire car boot.
4. Plan for Laundry
You probably won't have access to laundry facilities, or even if you do you are loathed to be doing laundry on your holiday. Therefore you need to plan for where you dirties will go. You can start to use the packing cubes ones when no longer have clean clothes in. But I would advise taking some TRAVEL VACUUM BAGS with you, these can be packed practically flat when they aren't in use then when you fill them with dirties you can roll the air out of them (no actualy vacuum required) and the clothes you no longer need wont be taking up too much space.
5. Have Essentials to Hand
Think about where you are packing items, you dont want the pyjamas and toothbrushes right at the bottom of the biggest bag as you will definitely need these on the first night. Think about when in your trip you might need each item and pack it in that order. Also think about medicines and items you might want to get to quickly and pack these in easily accessible places.
6. Spead the risk
Not that you want to plan for all worst case senarios but it is quite easy for a suitcase to go missing, especially on long haul or where you are catching a connecting flight. Think about spreading each persons clothes throughout the cases and if you are taking hand luggage have a change of clothes for each person in this bag and any essential items.
7. Lay everything out before you pack, then half it
I'm serious, we think we need way more stuff that we actually do. I am no nonsense when it comes to packing light. I do not want to take items with me on a lovely 2 week trip to bring them back home unworn or unused. There will be shops in most places you visit, and although you dont want to be buying a whole new wardrobe whilst you are away, if you did run out of t-shirts for example then you could always buy one if needed. However I would put money on the fact that you won't need half as much stuff as you think you will.
Remember when you are travelling with kids you probably dont need those killer heels or that fancy dress, who are you kidding, throw in a pair of flip flops and a pair or trainers and you'll be set.
Wrapping Up
Packing for big family travel doesn't have to be overwhelming. By following these simple packing hacks, you can streamline the process, save space, and ensure you have everything you need for a successful and stress-free family holiday. So, the next time you're gearing up for a family adventure, remember, the key to successful family travel is preparation and organisation.
Happy travels!
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