Family Vacation Packing Tips

By Author: Steve Robinson
Total Articles: 467
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After cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages have been secured for an upcoming trip, an organized approach to packing what the family will need on vacation is a smart move.

The following are some packing tips:

Involve your kids in packing their things for a trip. This will help ensure that your children’s favorite snack or toy is not forgotten. Depending on their ages, kids should minimally pack their own small bags to carry onto the plane or in the car.

Since hungry kids tend to be cranky kids, pack plenty of their favorite snacks. When possible select individually packaged snacks. Wash fruits and vegetables before departure and if it makes them easier to eat, cut treats into bite size pieces and pack them in plastic bags that zip close. Do not pack sticky foods.

Pack a change of clothes for each child in your carry-on so that you are ready to deal with inevitably spills. If you are checking bags, try to pack in your carry-ons at least two days’ worth of clothes for each family member. That way you are covered if your bags are lost or delayed.

Pack ...
... plenty of toys and games to keep your kids occupied, thus making time pass more quickly. Gadgets such as iPads, Nintendo DS, and portable DVD players are kid and travel friendly and provide great distractions.

Research and determine the amenities and meals that are provided or can be purchased on a flight prior to selecting which airline to fly on. If you won’t be packing a portable DVD player, you may want to fly on an airline that offers in flight entertainment systems such as JetBlue or Virgin America which have individual TV screens in their seatbacks.

You should hold some toys in reserve for the trip home. New toys tend to often occupy children best. Inexpensive items such as stickers and coloring books often can do the trick.
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