5 Tips on Packing for Family Vacations

chevy-chase-vacation-beverly-dangeloFamily vacation, what a wonderful concept. The idea that the whole family gets to escape everyday routines and create memories while relaxing together. Ya, right. There’s a reason there’s a classic Chevy Chase movie about this very topic. Rarely does the reality live up to the dream.

For me, the stress starts with packing. Getting luggage for a family of 6 to conform to modern airline restrictions or even fit in a standard vehicle is a monumental feat. Here are some packing tips that I use to keep my sanity while preparing for vacation:

5 Family Vacation Packing Tips

  1. Consider your location – when we plan a vacation we look for a place has washer and dryer as well as a kitchen (that’s a whole other post about feeding 6 people away from home). That way we only need to take clothes for 4 days, and cutting down 6 outfits a day sure can save on luggage space.
  2. Don’t try to pack for every scenario – look up weather before traveling so you can pack just the appropriate clothing with maybe 1 extra jacket for the unexpected. We also determine the types of activities (beach, hiking, skiing) we’ll  be doing while away and pack for just those activities.
  3. Pair up outfits before throwing stuff in the suitcase – this helps for both packing and while vacationing. It is far easier to get everyone ready in the morning when you don’t have to rifle through the suitcase looking for pants.
  4. Momma knows best – I always go back through each suitcase before we leave and take out 1 or 2 outfits per person as our family has a tendency to over-pack. Every once in awhile they surprise me and actually follow directions, but not usually.
  5. Think smart when packing shoes – I try to limit mine to 1 pair of nice neutral shoes, 1 pair walking/athletic shoes and of course a pair of flip flops. Shoes can really take up a lot of space (and weight!) so this is one area you can really save space.

Most of our vacations are actually fun and relaxing, in fact we love to travel together. What are some of your favorite family vacation tips or strategies? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

My Family on Vacation

About Lee

I am a 44-year old married mom of 4. I love my family. If you’re a mom, then you know kids and a spouse keep you busy. It’s easy to forget yourself in the process of taking care of your family. My mission is to help other moms take care of themselves so they can be more available to their loved ones and lead more fulfilling lives.