Our Travel Our Way

After years of over-packing, under-packing, and everything in between, we’ve finally nailed down our family travel packing system. Say goodbye to forgotten essentials and bags you can barely lift — this is the definitive list of what actually goes in our bags.

🎒 Our Packing Philosophy

Our golden rule: if you can’t carry it yourself, you’ve packed too much. This applies to kids too — from age 5, our children have their own small backpack with their own essentials. It teaches responsibility and means we’re not carrying everything ourselves!

👗 Clothing for the Whole Family

• 7 days of outfits per person (we do laundry on the road)
• 1 pair of versatile walking shoes + 1 pair of flip flops/sandals per person
• Light rain jacket (doubles as wind protection)
• One “smart casual” outfit per adult (you never know when you’ll need it!)
• Swimwear — 2 sets per person so one can dry while you wear the other
• Compression packing cubes — an absolute game changer for organization

🏥 Health & Safety Essentials

• Travel first aid kit (plasters, antiseptic, pain relief, antihistamines, thermometer)
• Travel insurance documents (NEVER travel without this!)
• Prescription medications + extra supply + letter from doctor
• Sunscreen — bring from home, it’s often expensive abroad
• Insect repellent (essential for tropical destinations)
• Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
• Oral rehydration salts — your best friend if the kids get sick

📱 Tech & Entertainment

• Universal travel adapter (the one with USB ports — so convenient!)
• Portable power bank — essential for long travel days
• Noise-cancelling headphones for adults
• Kids’ tablets pre-loaded with downloaded movies, books, and games
• E-reader — saves so much space compared to actual books
• Small camera or action cam for vlogging adventures

🎮 Keeping Kids Entertained

• Small activity book or travel journal per child
• A few small toys that won’t take up much space
• Card games (Uno is a family travel staple!)
• Snacks — always travel with snacks. Always.
• Glow sticks for late-night airport waits

💡 Our Top Packing Tips

Roll, don’t fold: Rolling clothes saves space and reduces wrinkles. We pack everything in compression cubes — it genuinely makes a massive difference.

Pack a “plane bag”: Keep a small bag with essentials (entertainment, snacks, change of clothes) easily accessible for flights. You don’t want to dig through your main bags in the overhead locker!

Take photos of important documents: Email yourself photos of passports, insurance, and hotel bookings. If the worst happens, you’ll thank yourself.

What’s your number one packing essential? Tell us in the comments!