Travel Tips: Packing for Your Family

When vacationing with your family, it is helpful to know some travel trips for packing before you begin. It is easy to pack too much or too little, and you do not want to show up at your vacation spot without some vital piece of gear or article of clothing.  Fortunately, there are some tried and true methods for assuring that your family fun vacations are not interrupted by trips to the store for forgotten gear, and your road trips are not bogged down with vacation clutter.

  • Make a list. In a quiet moment, take some time to think through what each family member will need. Then make a list for each person to use during packing. When the packing is complete, be sure to pack the lists, as well. That way, when you pack up to leave your vacation spot, you will be sure not to leave anything behind.
  • Pack a “permanent” toiletries bag. Keeping a bag packed with travel sized shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and so on can save time when you vacation. When it is time to pack your suitcase, you will not have to decide what toiletries to bring- just grab your toiletries bag and go!
  • Use plastic bags. Plastic zipper bags can be a benefit while packing, both in protecting clothes from anything that might leak, and in organization. For children, it can be helpful to pack gallon zipper bags with one outfit per bag: top, bottoms, underwear and socks. That makes it easy for children (or adults who may not be the adults who normally dress them) to grab an outfit in the morning without making a mess of the suitcase.
  • Remember the important things. When traveling with small children, never forget to bring a comfort item. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than a little one wailing for a forgotten teddy or blanket.
  • Err on the side of packing light. Chances are there is a store where you are going. Do not pack as if you are headed for a deserted island, only to end up lugging heavy baggage that contains items you could have picked up once you arrived.
  • Pack your itinerary. Especially if you are traveling by air, pack a copy of your itinerary, complete with your address and contact number, in every person’s suitcase. That way, if your luggage is misdirected, it will be more likely to reach you.

Traveling with your family can be a great experience, and is a great way to bond with your loved ones. Using some simple travel tips for packing can be very helpful in making sure the trip goes off without a hitch, and everyone has a good time. For more help planning family fun vacations, visit BestVacationsEver.com, or find us on Facebook or Twitter.  Have a great trip!

Best Outfits for Traveling Comfortably to the Best U.S. Vacation Spots

The part of vacationing that can sometimes be puzzling is the traveling part.  Whether you are planning a road trip or flying across the country, you want to feel as comfortable as possible during your travels to the best U.S. vacation spots.  Here are some top travel tips for packing to help you select the right clothes to travel in.

Make comfort and function more important than fashion

While you may not choose to sport sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt, you shouldn’t feel like you have to dress up to travel, either.  A comfortable in-between might be modern, cute loungewear.  For examples, sleek but comfy lounge pants and a snug cardigan could be the perfect way to avoid the pajama look while still being very comfortable.

Keep your final destination in mind

Who will be greeting you upon arrival, friends or colleagues?  Will you have a chance to get freshened up in a hotel, or will you be headed straight to your first activity?  Keeping this final destination and the company you will keep upon arriving will help you decide what’s appropriate to wear.

Consider bringing an easily accessible change of clothes

If a comfortable travel outfit simply won’t cut the expectations of your immediate destination, you can bring a change of clothes and make the switch in an airport bathroom.  This is also important if you’re traveling to a different climate.  You may need to leave Colorado in a long-sleeved shirt during the winter and change into shorts and a T-shirt when you arrive in Florida.

Wear layers

You can’t control the temperature on a plane and you never know what kind of weather you might run into on your road trip, so layering is a great option when traveling.  This makes changing clothes to match a different climate easier as well.

Consider wrinkles

A crisp white shirt may end up wrinkled after a multiple-hour flight or drive, so make note to avoid wearing linen on travel day.  Another fabric that tends to wrinkle is untreated cotton.  Choose clothes from your wardrobe that are resilient to avoid wrinkled clothing that displays you have been traveling all day.

The bottom line is traveling in comfortable clothing is important for your trip. Then, if your destination calls for it, bring a change of clothes.  Ensuring that you are completely comfortable is the best way to start your trip to one of the best U.S. vacation spots.

1
…
4
5