Packing For a Family Holiday - 5 Helpful Tips

I love whenever we go on holidays and hubby says - man I need to pack.  Well yes you do however the packing task for him is quite a different experience than it is for me.  I wonder if your household is the same?

Packing for me, as the mum, means packing not only my items but also everything required for the two kids. On top of this I also need to load hubbies clothes into the actual case - he only makes it as far as putting things out onto the bed and they magically pack themselves…..

So here are my top five tips from years of experience of packing for holidays that may just help you. 

Do all the washing before you pack

Instead of focusing on getting clothes out and into the case I instead focus on doing the washing.  In the 3-4 days leading up to a big getaway I will have the washing machine on nightly.  My plan of attack is to have everything laundered and in the wardrobe ready to be packed before I even think of getting out a case.

Never pack too early

I am absolutely a last minute packer.  As per note 1 I like to have all the clothes in their place so I know what is where when it comes to the actual packing task.  I have tried packing a week before and I end up taking things in and out of the case all week because I need them and I forget what I have already put in!  I like to pack the day before or the morning of.  I do it in one quick sweep as everything is in the wardrobes just ready to go.

Pack laundry bags

I have picked up some great calico hotel laundry bags along our travels, you can never pack too many of these they always come in handy on a trip.  I pack underwear into the laundry bags so that they are easy to access. If your trip is taking you somewhere you can completely unpack, like a cruise, packing sections of clothes into separated bags helps with the unpacking task at the other end. 

Keep a second set of toiletries

I don’t like to take my everyday toiletries when I travel, the containers are generally too large anyway. I keep a complete set of toiletries in a travel bag ready to go.  All the items you need every time you travel - toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, body wash, shampoo and conditioner - I have a complete set in a travel bag ready to pick up and go. 

Keep a travel medical kit

As with the toiletries I also keep a travel medical kit ready to go.  All the essentials including tweezers, bandaids, panadol, hydralite, hand sanitiser, sunscreen, mosquito bracelets, gastro health - in a travel bag, ready to just pack and go. 

What are your packing tips - do you have any helpful tips to help fellow travellers?

Penny - Itchy Feet Family

Other Blogs You May Be Interested In:
 - 24 Hours in Sydney With Kids
 - Christmas Cruising - Pros and Cons
 - Getting Dirty in Vietnam - Mud Baths of Nha Trang