Reviews,  Travel

Packing for holidays with children and WIN a Trunki!

Beach holidays

The Summer holidays are so close! But any parents will tell you, packing for holidays with children can be a complete nightmare!! What do you take? What do you leave behind? Holiday Gems have written a post on packing children’s hand luggage, and asked me to share my tips for packing too.

Write a list!

This sounds so simple, but if you’re packing for more than one child this will save your sanity!

Essentials

Always pack the essentials first! We pack a change of clothes, favourite toy, toothbrush, suncream and wet wipes into my hand luggage. Why? Luggage gets lost, or you may need it while you can’t access it. Remember even if you’re travelling by ferry, you can’t access the car mid journey!

Pack light, but right!

In our main luggage, I pack an outfit for each day we are away. Shoes, we pack two pairs – a pair for the pool,  and either sandals or trainers. Pack a lightweight raincoat, you can get some which fold up really small! There’s nothing worse than trying to buy waterproofs while on holiday, or worse getting super wet! Swim stuff, remember to pack the armbands and swim nappies if needed too. I prefer to roll clothes rather than fold them too, as it avoids creasing. Packing into outfits keeps things simple when you unpack – especially if your children are big enough to get themselves dressed!

Pack the first aid kit!

This is for parents luggage, but essential for the family.  Remember to include calpol in your kit, and a good bite ease cream.

Remember the Entertainment

Sticker books and colouring books are a great investment to keep younger children busy either on the journey or in the evenings. For older children, consider getting them to write a journal of their holiday adventures!

 

Holiday Gems are kindly giving away a Trunki to one lucky reader. To enter follow the steps on rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions:

Competition is hosted by Dancinginmywellies.com on behalf of Holiday Gems, and is in no way associated with Trunki.

One entrant per household.

UK entrants only. Over 18 only.

Entrants must correctly answer the mandatory steps to be eligible to win.

Any entrant attempting to gain additional entries without completing the required steps will be disqualified.

Winner will be selected at random, and will win a Zebra Trunki.

Winners details will be passed to a third party for prize fulfilment.

Competition ends 12.07.17

 

 

 

93 Comments

  • Tracy Hanley

    Don’t pack anything that you can buy out in resort, such as shampoo and conditioner

  • Amanda tanner

    I always wrap my cosmetics like sgampp and shower gels up in a plastic bag and tape it round so if it does split it won’t go all over your case contcontents

  • Lorraine Kirk

    Pack your shoes in an old hotel shower cap to protect the rest of your things from getting dirty.

  • Melissa Lee

    I always like to take things out of the case after I think I’ve finished packing, especially if it’s something I have taken on holiday before and not worn.

  • Tasha

    Pre prepare outfits when packing so much easier to just grab a outfit out when on holiday. Also write a check list

  • Deborah Mackenzie

    My packing tip is to roll your clothes as it helps with creasing, plus you can normally pack a lot more.

  • Naila M

    My top packing tip would be to take travel size products rather than full size, saves a lot of space 🙂

  • Tracy K Nixon

    To save space and stop creasing, roll your clothes instead of folding them, then place them in vacuum compression bags.

  • Noreen

    Take black and white trousers and t-shirts then lots of scarves to ring the changes. Also take earrings to match scarves and hey presto, a different look each evening.

  • Stacey Leigh

    We always use the vacuum bags to fit more in our suitcases, we went away earlier this year when my youngest was 3 months old so had to take loads! Also we only took essentials and brought our buckets and spades and toys from the pound shop about 10 mins from the beach and gave them to another family when we left xx

  • Rachel Craig

    Be prepared, make a list in advance. Be practical, co-ordinate outfits, etc.

  • Lindsey Stuart

    Always think ahead and don’t pack too many things but always make sure you have spares and clothes that are suitable for all weather types.

  • Arabella Bazley

    Clothes that can be easily rinsed clean and drip dry, then you won’t need so many.

  • Kim Styles

    Roll your clothes- takes up less room and pack clothes you can mix and match – you take less then!!

  • Kim Neville

    I always make a list for myself and kids so I don’t forget anything. Any toiletries that are likely to leak I seal with brown tape and put in plastic bag as a couple of times creams have leaked out

  • Laura Pritchard

    Roll clothes rather than fold – you fit far more in & they don’t get creased!

  • melanie stirling

    Share your families clothes between suitcases,that way if one suitcase gets mislaid then not just one person loses everything.

  • Angela Treadway

    do bags for different rooms- bathroom. kitchen ect. so when you get to your destination you just put the bags in the rooms and can just get out what you need and put it back in the bag after you have finished. less tidying up when its time to go to! x

  • Judith Allen

    We never had to pack for a family trip abroad, but I did take my daughter camping for a week pillion on my motorbike to see the eclipse. So we had to pack smart for that. Really important thing for us was inhalers. Make sure you have new ones to take with you so you know they are working, and also new ones to come back home to incase any get left behind. Favourite book and toy. Strange to think she’s 26 now, gosh!

  • Victoria Prince

    My top packing tip is to use those vacuum bags – they’re amazing for compacting clothes!

  • Anthea Holloway

    Don’t pack weeks in advance or you will keep adding to the pile! Roll your clothes and wear the big stuff!

  • pete c

    take clothes that crease minimally and put underwear and socks etc within shoes to save space………

  • Marion

    If you’re travelling with children, have a plastic box with Calpol, Ibuprofen, plasters, antihistamine and sun cream.
    Don’t leave anything to chance.

  • Jules Eley

    I always put anything that could spill in separate plastic bags to contain mess.

  • Monika Bascombe

    make a list before hand – keep fragile items in between towels and clothes in the middle of the suitcase

  • hannah igoe

    always pack one more outfit than you need and layers so that you can change them to make them warmer or cooler weather dependant

  • Emma Whittaker

    My tip is to even all your clothes out between all your cases then if any cases go missing or get lost eveyone still has a clean outfit and underwear 🙂

  • irene

    I always pack changes of clothes for everyone in hand luggage and then sets of clothes for everyone in each case in case a case goes missing

  • Angela McDonald

    Rolling socks into tshirts and also tucking things into shoes always saves space in a suitcase!

  • paula cheadle

    my packing tip is roll up your clothes, when you get where you are going, your clothes has not many wrinkles

  • Solange

    To save space and stop creasing, roll your clothes instead of folding them, then place them in vacuum compression bags. To use these bags, put your clothes in, seal the bag, then squeeze the air out. This will leave you with lots more space in your suitcase and will prevent creases more effectively than folding.

  • A.E. ADKINS

    Spread packing across every member of your travelling parties luggage so if a case is mislaid by an airline , everyone will have clean underwear etc and holiday time will not be wasted shopping or rinsing garments through.

  • Christine Hobbs

    roll never fold and put pants socks bras bikini in your shoes if you take any.

  • DonnaH

    My armed forces brother in law taught me to roll clothes when packing and it’s been a revelation! So much more space!!

  • Christina Palmer

    Roll up clothes as they do not crease and you can get more in meaning you can pack a smaller case

  • Samantha Atherton

    put all your toiletries in little bottles so you only take what you need.

  • Kimberley Ryan

    pack snacks and a favourite toy for little ones in your hand luggage.
    Roll up clothes as this saves space

  • Vicky Allum

    Make a list of what you need to pack and tick it off when the items are packed, this way you can be sure you have packed everything you need without pulling all the items out again!

  • Alison Macdonald

    If travelling as a family share your clothes between cases that way if any get lost you should hopefully all have something to wear at your destination!

  • lynn neal

    Roll as many clothing items as possible and pop socks and other small items inside footwear!

  • MICHELLE

    make a list, take things that cost a fortune abroad in comparison with buying cheap at home. try to mix and match your cloths to maximise outfits and take a good size handbag that doesn’t count as hand luggage and pack at least one spare set of clothes and shoes in your hand luggage incase your case is delayed or lost

  • Lisa George

    Making a list so you never over pack. Leaves extra room for shopping to bring back home again too 🙂

  • Maria Hackett

    I always put outfits in to carrier bags and mark them as day 1, day 2 etc. that way you don’t have to mess-up all luggage and i do carry few extras in a different bag too 🙂

  • Jess Howliston

    Pack full outfits inc pants/socks etc into zip lock bags for kids. This way its much easier to make sure you have enough outfits for the holiday. It also makes it easier to grab a change of clothes for the beach etc and know everything is in there. xx

  • Diane Sharman

    I roll everything and always put socks or small toiletries, plugs etc inside shoes to easily locate them and not lose storage

  • Marie Rule

    Make sure that you tape all your liquids up so that they don’t leak in your bag.

  • Charlotte Hoskins

    Comfy shoes! So many times I’ve ended up packing nice little pairs of heels which for holidays when out with children seldom get worn if at all!

  • Paz

    Lay everything out you think you might need THEN put back at least half of your piles!

  • gemma gray

    It’s my first time packing for my daughter this year. She turns 1 the month we travel. I’m terrified i’ll forget something no matter how many lists i made and triple checked! So much to remember for her.

  • Fiona jk42

    you will almost certainly buy a t-shirt or 2 while on holiday, so pack accordingly and cut down on the number of t-shirts you take with you.

  • Kel (@MoolBoots)

    Do the packing when the kids are not around otherwise they end up Packing 26 teddies, 1 pair of pants and a book that doesn’t belong to them!

  • Sarah hanson

    Get all the family to leave a pile of their things then get them all to leave you alone with a glass of wine to pack them in piece

  • Dawn Samples

    Wear the heaviest items and keep checking your list to make sure everything is there x

  • MonikaH

    Don’t pack toiletries that you can easily buy anywhere like shampoo, soap, toothpaste etc but do take the sunscreen as they tend to be very overpriced in any holiday destination!