Family Vacation Packing Tips

At Tauck, we've hosted award-winning family tours around the world since 2003. Over that time, we've developed the ultimate collection of family vacation packing tips to take the stress out of this universally dreaded process.

First Thing's First

• Before you even place a single pair of socks into a suitcase, you have some preparation to do. Because having a carefully orchestrated strategy will make all the difference, starting with this simple timeline:

Two Weeks Before:

• Scan each family member's passports to save in your phone and email to a relative or close friend who's not traveling with you, in case your originals are lost or stolen on vacation.

• Create detailed packing checklists. The biggest question we receive is, "What to pack for a family vacation?" While every list will include the basics — clothes, shoes and toiletries — you'll need to customize yours depending on a number of factors. Climate: Are you traveling to a tropical island or wintery wonderland? Activities: Are you visiting cultural sites or whitewater rafting? Electrical requirements: This helpful world map will help you determine if you'll need to bring adapters to plug in your electronics. 

• Download apps, movies and/or TV shows that don't require an Internet connection for uninterrupted access to entertainment en route to your destination. 

One Week Before:

• Check the weather forecast for your destination and determine if you need to make any tweaks to your packing checklists.

• It's time to pre-pack! Print a finalized checklist for each family member, so they can manually tick off each item as they place it in a staging area, such as an empty laundry basket. For young kids, this is a fun project to tackle together. Important to note: Nothing goes into a suitcase, duffle bag or backpack yet.

• Ensure you have all your necessary travel paperwork and reservation confirmations in order.

Pack Like a Pro

It's the day before your departure, and excitement levels are at an all-time high. Everyone should have nearly every item on their checklists — with the exception of those that will be used the morning of travel — safely stowed in their designated spot. Now, simply follow our expert family travel packing tips:

• While it might seem logical to give each family member his or her own suitcase, we highly recommend cross-packing. This way, if an airline loses a bag in transit, you don't have one person with nothing to wear. If you're checking multiple bags, you can even pack by the day. For instance, if you're bringing three suitcases for a nine-day trip, pack each one with three days of outfits for everyone.

• Carefully smooth out, then tightly roll, each item of clothing to take up the least amount of space. This also helps your ensembles make the voyage as wrinkle-free as possible.

• Rather than pack your bulkiest and heaviest shoes and clothes, save room (and weight) in your luggage by wearing those items on your travel days. 

• Throw an empty backpack into one of your large suitcases to use as a day bag on your trip. You can also toss a dryer sheet into each bag, so contents come out smelling laundry-day-fresh.

• Remember that most airlines allow one personal item (such as a purse or laptop case) and one carry-on per passenger. Ensure that everything each of you needs in transit — such as medications, entertainment and packaged snacks — is placed in these bags. We also advise packing one change of clothes in your carry-ons to cover the (extremely) remote possibility of the airline losing all of your checked baggage.

• TSA guidelines limit liquids in carry-on bags to containers of three ounces or less each, and they must all fit within a single, one-quart plastic bag. If you must pack a full-size bottle in your checked baggage, use this method to help contain any potential leakages: Uncap the bottle, cover the opening with plastic wrap, recap it and place the bottle in a large, zip-close bag.

• Clever tricks for packing small items: Stuff rolled socks and undergarments into shoes. Organize earrings and other compact jewelry into a daily pill container. Keep necklaces tangle-free by feeding them through a drinking straw before closing the clasp.

• The day of departure, make sure all necessities used that morning — along with your now completely checked-off packing lists — make their way into the correct bag.

Repacking Made Easy

No one wants to think about the end of their vacation before its even begun, but there are steps you can take to ensure a painless repacking process:

• Break out your packing checklists again, and place a second check-mark by each item as it goes back into your baggage. (Don't forget to use the packing tips above to maximize space, as you're likely to be coming back with some extra trinkets!)

• If you bought a breakable souvenir and didn't have it shipped home, make sure to pack it with care. We recommend rolling it in your fluffiest item of clothing. Or, if you have an extra zip-top bag from your toiletries, you can tuck the treasure inside and inflate the bag with air to create a protective pocket.

• Now that you have all the packing tips you need for your family holiday, you can simply focus on the joy of the journey and look forward to the precious moments you'll spend together in an amazing place.