Family Vacation Packing tips - Hobbies On A Budget

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The family vacation can be a great time to bond and enjoy each other?s company. As great as the vacation can be, if you don?t pack well, it can just as quickly be ruined. Now that airlines are charging for checked baggage, many travelers are trying to pack as lightly as possible. If you?re getting ready to put your bags together for the family vacation, here are some family vacation packing tips to follow:

1.Clothing

The clothes that you pack can make or break your vacation. No matter how many weather reports you watch, the weather can change unexpectedly. Make sure that you pack light layers for the family. If you pack a pair of shorts, a pair of pants, a few T-shirts, a long sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt or jacket for everyone in your traveling party, everyone will be comfortable no matter what kind of turn the weather takes. While you?re deciding on which clothes to pack, make sure that your choices include those that don?t wrinkle easily. Linens and polyester blends tend to wrinkle when packed and, unless you want to spend your entire vacation ironing, you should leave them at home. Matching T-shirts for your family are also a great idea if you are going to be visiting a popular attraction. Matching shirts make it easier to spot each other at places like Disney World, Six Flags and even the Eiffel Tower. Have T-shirts printed with your family name or your logo across the back. Wearing matching shirts in crowded places makes it much harder to lose track of each other.

2.Shoes

A comfortable pair of shoes is essential when traveling, especially if you will be visiting major attractions and walking miles each day. By making sure that your family members are wearing comfortable shoes while you travel, you?ll only have to pack one extra pair of shoes per person. Make sure that the shoes you choose for everyone are easy to dry. You may want to think about packing a pair of sneakers for everyone and having them wear sandals or slides on the plane or in the car. Even if your kids pressure you, resist the temptation to buy new shoes right before you leave for vacation. New shoes take time to break in and painful blisters will be inevitable.

3.Medications

If anyone in your family is on a long-term medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist for an extra bottle that you can take on your trip with you. This will prevent you from having to remove medication from your supply at home and, if you lose the medication or your bags get lost, you won?t have to run to the pharmacist as soon as your plane lands. Also be sure to pack aspirin, cold medicine, allergy medications and general first-aid supplies in your carry-on bag. Having these things at the ready means that you won?t have to hunt for a drug store when someone gets a headache or a runny nose.

4.Toiletries

While your hotel will have toiletries, they may not be ample enough for everyone in your traveling party. Instead of packing a bag full of shampoo and soap, see if there is a drug store or a big box store near your hotel. You can visit the store when you land, purchase the things that you need and then leave them behind when it?s time to come home. This will save room in your bags and prevent you from having to transfer all of your hygiene items to special travel bottles.

5.Extra Bags

It?s unusual for anyone traveling with children not to come home with souvenirs. Instead of looking for bags before you leave your destination, pack an extra bag or two in your suitcase. Duffle bags that roll-up easily can be placed in the corner of your suitcase and taken out when you need them. Bringing a couple of extra bags along will ensure that everyone in your family can get a great souvenir of their trip without worrying about how it will get home. Alternatively, you may want to consider packing your souvenirs into a box and sending them home via UPS. UPS stores are quite easy to find in most major cities. It may even cost less to mail your new belongings home than it is to pay to check your bags. It?s often more convenient to send your things home than to struggle with them on the airplane.

The way that you pack can make or break your vacation. If you don?t pack correctly, you?ll spend your vacation searching out the items that you left behind. By packing matching, printed T-shirts with your logo, a comfortable pair of shoes for everyone and any medications that your family needs, you?ll have less to worry about once you reach your vacation destination.

Amy Nielson is an avid blogger. You can follow her on Twitter @NielsonAmy.

Source: http://hobbiesonabudget.com/2012/11/14/family-vacation-packing-tips/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=family-vacation-packing-tips

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