The Family Vacation packing list can sometimes be the most stressful part of a family vacation!
I remember the days when I would travel the work and only have to worry about throwing my must-haves in a suitcase at the last minute. I didn’t even need a vacation packing list!
Make a list of what to pack on vacation? No way. If I forgot anything, I would just grab it somewhere when we got there.
Then I met my husband, and together we share 3 beautiful children. Long gone are the days where I can go without a family vacation packing list!
So in this post I’m going to give you my must-have tips for staying organized when you’re packing for your family vacation! And we’ll talk about some of my very own must-have packing items for my family!
The Family Vacation Packing List Survival Guide
Table of Contents
If you have ever tried to travel with kids, you’ll know one of two things.
- You have to be prepared for ANYTHING
- Being prepared for ANYTHING means a TON of stuff
So to be sure to be prepared for anything, you’ve gotta have a plan. Here’s how I put together my Family Vacation Packing List.
First, I write down how many days we will be gone and if I know the activities we will be doing on those days, I write those down too.
Then I decide how many outfits I need to plan for and I write how many pieces of clothing each person will need.
Example: We are taking trip where we will be staying 5 nights
- 5 shirts
- 5 pants
- 5 shoes
- 5 underwear
- 5 socks
- 5 hair ties
You can use any old piece of paper to start writing this out, but I like to use the Travel Journal by Erin Condren to make the process easier for myself. There are pages you can write down your itinerary and plan your packing list.
I also have an Erin Condren Planner, so I also use the Travel Snap in for my planner. It includes a nice checklist where I can check off the items I have packed.
What to Pack for your Family Vacation
So now that you know, you should be making a Family Vacation Packing list – the next question is, “What to Pack for a Family Vacation.”
While your family vacation packing list will look differently based on your family’s needs and your destination, there are a few items that should always be included – no matter where you are going.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #1 – Sunscreen
No matter where you are going, you should always have sunscreen on hand. As a matter of fact, you should always be wearing sunscreen – even if you will be inside your house all day!
I personally use the Anew Hydrofusion Sunscreen with SPF 50 every single day, so it’s a must have for my family vacation packing list. I love that it goes on white but rubs clear. And the added bonus is the lasting hydration I get all day. I even use it on my kids!
To make sure the kiddos are protected against the sun, I use Babience Kids Sunscreen Cream. It’s SPF 50 and helps protect skin from harmful UV rays. Plus it Soothes and moisturizes with glycerin and panthenol.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #2 – Wipes
Listen. If you have kids – you need wipes. Even if they aren’t babies anymore. You STILL need wipes!! Even if you think you don’t – YOU NEED WIPES.
Am I wrong, Momma’s? Talk to me!!
I keep a pack of wipes in my purse, in my car, and they are always WITHOUT A DOUBT on my family vacation packing list!
I use the Cucina Multipurpose Essential Wipes and I take them EVERYWHERE! I mean everywhere. Since they are dermatologically tested, they are safe to use on the skin. But they can also be used to clean up sticky messes that kiddos leave.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #3 – Laundry Detergent
Hear me out!
What if I told you, you don’t have to check a heavy bottle of Tide Laundry detergent in your bag?
What if I told you there was a product out there that was slim and lightweight enough to fit in your PURSE!
What if I said that you could even use it to also clean up stains on the go!
Why not save the money and have it travel WITH YOU instead of spending extra when you got to your destination?
Enter the ONLY laundry detergent I use now. And it COMES IN A SHEET! That’s right a SHEET!
Since it comes in a SHEET, this laundry detergent sheet will easily fit into your purse, carry on suitcase. You can keep some in the glove box of your car for stains on the go.
I like to carry a sheet in my purse and tear it off if I have an unfortunate accident at a restaurant.
It’s the Fresh Fiji Laundry Sheets and they are now permanently on my Family Vacation Packing List! And I also always keep the portable fabric refresher on hand too! And the wrinkle releaser is a must have for the clothes coming out of the suitcase.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #4 – Bath Supplies
Don’t forget this one!!!
Depending on where you are going, you may be fine with the shampoo, conditioner, and bath supplies that are provided at your hotel. But for my large family of five, the small bottles are usually completely gone before the last person takes their shower the first night.
If you are renting a house at the beach, you will definitely need to bring your own.
Here are some of the bath supplies we use on the regular:
- Chi Essentials Shampoo and Conditioner
- BioSilk Therapy – this is great for removing tangles due to Chlorine!
- PropoliThera Damage Repair Shampoo and Conditioner – A double whammy for stiff chlorine hair!
- Body Wash for Mom
- Body Wash for Dad
- Body Wash for Kiddos
Vacation Packing List Must Have #5 – Travel Perfume
Any way to save space in the bag right? Let’s face it. You’re still going to want your perfumes. So why not take your favorites in a travel size.
Some stores will give you samples of perfume that you can use to pack. I, personally, save all of my samples just to use them for my family vacation packing!
But sometimes, you can even buy some perfumes in a travel size to take. Here are some of my favorite Family Vacation Perfume Scents.
- Peony Rose – sparkling notes of dewy peony petals, pink currant and sheer musk
- Honey Blossom – a bright floral with Sparkling apple blossom, sweet honeysuckle nectar and airy vanilla orchid
- Live Out Loud – Fresh & Vibrant – Fruity floral scents with exciting, lush and liberating notes.
- Velvet – discover a luxurious blend of the finest ingredients in the world—fig and pomegranate from the Mediterranean coastline, rose from Bulgaria and velvet patchouli from Java
Vacation Packing List Must Have #6 – Meds
We don’t leave home without our medicine cabinet! When you are on a family vacation, there always seems to minor bumps, scrapes and bruises that arise.
So we always try to come prepared with the first-aid meds that we will need. Here’s a list of what we keep with us at all times in case of an issue.
- Tylenol or Motrin (Children’s and adults) – You never know when you’ll need to calm a fever or treat minor pain.
- Anti-Itch Cream – Just in case you forget your insect repellant!
- Triple Antibiotic – You always need to keep this on hand with kiddos in the house!
- Cold Meds – including nasal relief spray
- Pain Relief for Muscles and Joints – For a a day of bike riding or catching the waves.
- Athlete’s Foot Cream – When you are staying away from home, you can never be too careful! This can help you keep from getting athletes foot.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #7 – Insect Repellant
If we’re packing for a family vacation in the summer, you better believe we are packing an insect repellant! I hate bugs as it is – even when they aren’t biting me!
But you better believe, if we are taking the family on vacation, we don’t want to get eaten alive by bugs. That’s why Bug Guard is always at the top of our family vacation packing list.
I love Bug Guard for my Family because it’s the #1 best-selling DEET-FREE insect repellent in the Nation! It’s safe to use on kiddos and there is even one that changes from blue to clear so you can see where you’ve applied it. (Special bonus – this one has SPF).
You can grab one for night-time insect protection and one for day time. The day time option has SPF.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #8 – Aloe
In case you don’t apply enough sunscreen, or you’re not used to spending all day in the sun, Aloe is a must-have for your family vacation packing list!
Aloe is nature’s miracle moisturizer and skin soother. And it’s great for sunburn relief, especially.
The Aloe that I pack for my family is formulated with 99% aloe vera extract and 9 other soothing herbs like chamomile and sage.
It’s a gel that instantly hydrates and soothes dry, sensitive skin while restoring its moisture level.
This one in particular is sourced from the pristine Korean island of Jeju, known for its fertile volcanic soil and lush flora, south of the Korean peninsula.
Plus, it’s non-sticky – which I LOVE when I’m slathering it all over my kids.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #9 – Don’t forget the Toothbrushes and Toothpaste!
I can’t tell you HOW MANY TIMES I have forgotten to pack toothbrushes and toothpaste! Don’t be like me!
It never fails! Everytime we go on vacation as a family, I forget to put one or the other on our family vacation packing list.
Sometimes it’s easier if I always have the items on hand so I can throw the old toothbrushes away. So a lot of times I will buy new toothbrushes to keep at home when we go on vacation and we will take the old ones with us.
That way we can just toss them at the hotel before we go home.
Vacation Packing List Must Have #10 – Portable Hair Tools
Listen.
When you are packing for five, you need things that are portable. And if I want my hair to look at all decent (plus the hair of my two girls), I’m going to need some hair tools.
I love the Chi Advanced Ionic Hair Dryer because it’s so small, lightweight and compact. It’s perfect to take for traveling. I also use the Chi Tech Flat Iron when we travel too because it’s so small.
If I know we are going somewhere super special and I’m going to want to curl the girls’ hair, I’ll definitely bring along the Chi Hair Curler. This is SO EASY to use on my girls’s hair because it has technology that literally WILL NOT let their hair get stuck.
Plus I can curl their hair with the push of a button!
Check out my FULL review on Chi Hair Tools.
The Mom Behind the Mask
My name is Jennifer Francis and I’m a family vacation junkie. For me, being able to make memories with my family is what life is all about. That’s why I created TimelessBeautyLife.com.
The Timeless Beauty Life is the life you create when you have the time freedom and means to create a lifestyle that makes a lasting impact on the world. For me, that lasting impact is about making family memories that will last a lifetime.
Building my Own Timeless Beauty Life
I started my own business because I wanted to have the times and the means to be able to travel with my family every year. We are Disney fans, theme park fans and beach bums.
Traveling with a family of five costs money and I had to find a side gig that would allow me to bring in some extra cash to take us on vacation every year.
Truly, any side hustle will do if it means getting to create these beautiful memories that last a lifetime.
I was pursuing another money-making opportunity when I came across the opportunity to sell Avon. It was only $10 and I thought I would give it a shot. The rest is history.
Helping Others Create their Own Timeless Beauty Life
I have made a successful side business where I market the Avon Catalog and help customers all over the Nation buy Avon Online. In addition I run the #1 team in the Nation for teaching others to do the same as I have.
I work together with my team to help them use their individual strengths to reach their goals.
The Hailey Hugs Initiative – Making a Lasting Impact on the world
I am also the founder of the Hailey Hugs Initiative, which seeks to provide comfort to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I am the Author of A Hug Through the Air – a children’s book I wrote in memory of my 22 month old daughter Hailey Hallam.
The Hailey Hugs Initiative gave me a platform to make my angel’s life timeless and beautiful and allow her to create a lasting impact on the world.
Connect with Jennifer Francis
You can Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest or join the growing community of people and discuss how to create YOUR own Timeless Beauty Life. The Timeless Beauty Life Facebook community offers travel tips, organizational tips, recipes, family tips, beauty tips, health tips and so much more. Come discuss YOUR passions with us by Joining the Timeless Beauty Life Facebook Group.
