Top 10 things to pack for a holiday with kids:
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Clothes
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Spare Clothes
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Travel Documents (e.g. travel insurance)
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Snacks, snacks, snacks
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Toys, games, books (or just go with an iPad)
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Medications & first aid
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Specific toiletries for children (e.g sensitive shampoo)
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Baby carrier/stroller
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Kids cutlery, plates and cups
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Sun hat and sunscreen
Travelling with kids… one thing's for sure, what you have to pack for a holiday increases exponentially. In the past, your travelling essentials might have consisted of a passport, a credit card and some clothes, but now, that list is much longer.
There are a few key items that are must-haves on your essential packing list for a family holiday that will make the whole experience easier and much more enjoyable. Here are our top tips for what to pack for a family holiday.
Tips For Packing
Have A List
Before you start packing, having a list of what to pack and marking it off can be a lifesaver and help make sure nothing important (like the favourite teddy) gets left behind. Check out our ultimate packing list for a family holiday to get you started:
Packing Cubes
We are total packing cube nerds here at Flight Centre, we just can't get enough of them, and when it comes to your packing list for a family holiday, they might just be even more valuable travel accessories! Being able to separate your clothes, shoes and underwear in a suitcase is a great way to save space, but the packing cubes' ability to keep kids' toys zipped up safely, zip away dirty clothes, hiking boots and beach towel in their own bag, and organise kids' outfits for checked luggage makes every parent's life easier, trust us.
What To Pack
If you read nothing else in this article, this is the section to remember. There are certain items that you should always include when compiling a holiday packing list for your family holidays to ensure you don't get caught out.
Clothes
The clothes you pack will really depend on where you are travelling, but there are a few essentials (pairs of shoes, socks, underwear) that are important no matter where you go. The last thing you want is to get to your destination and find out you only have one pair of undies in your suitcase. Being prepared for all sorts of weather is also a great idea, so always pack a jacket (even better if it's a waterproof jacket), even if you are going somewhere warm.
Spare Clothes
Regardless of whether you're flying or driving, it's a good idea to have a spare change of clothes for both your kids and yourself that is easily accessible in carry on luggage on your packing list. No parent wants to be stuck on a plane trip with their child's unwanted food, vomit, or worse, on their clothes for an extended period of time - extra t-shirts can become of the most important things in these situations!
Travel Documents
Passport, visas, proof of vaccination, travel insurance, emergency contacts, essential info such as departure date and flight itineraries. This may seem like the boring stuff, but forget any of these in your carry on bag, and you may find your dream holiday falling apart quickly. While it may go without saying, don't forget to pack other essential things like your house keys and to check local laws to know what countries require for entry - your travel expert can provide you with the latest travel advice for your destination.
Make sure to also utiltise TSA approved luggage locks and other safety accessories to keep your valuables safe, especially when travelling internationally.
Food & Water
Regardless of where you're travelling to, having a water bottle and some food that you know your kids will eat in your hand luggage is essential. Vegemite (or marmite, depending on which side of that fence you sit) is always a winner for a car trip or flight, and pre-chopped fruit so you can just give it to them when the hunger strikes. Having zip lock bags on hand for the endless half-eaten items is a great way to avoid wastage, and now that you can buy biodegradable zip lock bags, the environment loves them too.
While large bottles of water may be a hassle to carry in luggage while travelling, collapsible water bottles are a great option for saving space is your luggage - make sure to add these to your essential packing list to stay healthy and hydrated.
Top Tip: “Snacks, snacks and more snacks for travelling - if you're flying something the kids can eat whilst going through take-off and landing will help with their ears,” says Flight Centre travel expert Catrin Taylor.
Entertainment
A holiday can turn out to be rather un-relaxing if your kids aren't enjoying themselves. So, keeping activities on hand for them is essential. Colouring books, iPads, snacks and games - every parent has a different trick because, let's be honest, something might be a hit one day, and boring the next. Don't forget to also bring any necessary charging accessories such as adapters!
Flight Centre travel expert Hayley Taylor suggests packing “a ‘dinner pack' in one bag so you can go out for dinner and they are entertained with new books, colouring books, pencils or nano blocks. I always used to pack a little sandwich container so I could take them to dinner and I knew they would eat something, and they didn't have to wait for food.”
Keeping kids entertained on long road trips is a true art form. One thing that always works, at least for a time, is having something new to share with them for the trip. If you Google “printable kids scavenger hunt” you'll find a bunch of activity sheets you can print to take and keep the kids engaged.
Including a goodie bag filled with new pencils, a colouring book or games they haven't seen before is a great way to keep them entertained on a long road trip while holiday packing. But make sure you've got an old favourite thrown in there too to fall back on in case they ask for it.
Medications And First Aid
Firstly, medications and a first aid kit including band-aids and painkillers such as children's paracetamol, antihistamines and a thermometer are always important when holiday packing. Insect repellent and anti-septic cream can also be great for keeping the family healthy, especially if you are planning on heading to a national park or somewhere you are likely to encounter bugs. Wet wipes and sun cream are also travel essentials that should be included in your first aid kit.
Beyond medications, travel insurance is essential to assist any medical mishaps that may happen overseas.
Specific Toiletries For Kids
While you should be able to pick up most toiletries from shops close to your resort, packing your own can provide you with peace of mind. Plus, it means more time to enjoy your destination! You can also buy one pair of small reusable bottles for shampoo and conditioner, but many hotels even provide these for free. This is a great way of reducing waste and the environment will love you for it! Make sure to pack any other essentials, such as contact lenses in your toiletry bag.
Click Here To Download, Save Or Print Our Packing List
Baby Carrier/Stroller
When the kids are babies, a baby carrier can be indispensable when packing for travel. It can make airports, getting on and off planes, and public transport much easier.
When they get older, having a good stroller is important. If you are flying, you could ask about having it delivered to you at the airplane door, which means your kids won't have to walk those long airport corridors on their own. It can also make getting around your destination so much easier and can be great for getting kids to sleep in restaurants.
Kids Cutlery, Plates and Cups
Most hotels and vacation stays in many countries don't provide child-friendly cutlery or dinnerware, so to ensure your child can feed themselves (whatever stage they are at), taking your own child-friendly items is never a bad idea. These also come in handy for their tray table on planes.
The Beach Essentials
If you're heading off on a beach holiday, always remember to be sun safe. Don't forget to pack sun cream, a sun-safe hat and a rash shirt to help protect from the rays. A beach bag is always a good idea. If you're flying somewhere, it can be easy to forget a beach bag, so a good idea is to swap out your regular carry on luggage for something that could double as a beach bag or day bag.
Swimmers and one pair of flip flops (or two pairs if you're a real Aussie) are also important – a beach trip might not be the same without them. Packing insect repellent will also come in handy in tropical destinations.
If you've got room, beach toys are always a good idea to keep kids entertained, or if you'll be making use of the resort pool, arm floaties are essential for little ones, and inflatable toys for the older kids.
“Inflatable pool toys are always a hit and then we just leave them at the resort for other kids to play with once we go home if there's no more room in your suitcase,” says Flight Centre travel expert Inga Brown.
Packing For Long Haul Flights
Travelling on long haul flights with kids can in many ways be similar to long road trips, only you can't just stop for a run around when everyone (including the adults) desperately needs to. The entertainment options mentioned above for road trips come in handy here, but Flight Centre travel expert Catrin Taylor has some tips to make your life that little bit easier, and ensure your kids feel comfortable no matter where you are.
Top Tip: “Travelling with a baby carrier (up until about three and a half years) is easier than a stroller - or do both. I have been through many airports with the hand luggage stacked in the stroller and the baby wrapped onto me. And carriers are so valuable for long haul flying, too. Plus, if your baby is wrapped over a backpack, you can't take it off to be weighed…”
Click Here To Download, Save Or Print Our Packing List
