Summer Packing Travel Essentials: Tips & Tricks for a Stress Free Vacation
It’s finally summer time—which means a lot of us are traveling with our families! Packing light for all of the summer vacations can be especially challenging for busy families trying to fit everything into one suitcase. However, with a few tips and tricks I am going to show you, you can streamline your packing process and travel lighter, making your trip WAY more enjoyable. As a family of carry-on travelers, we've spent summers in Europe, winters in Japan, and trekked through Australia with just one suitcase each. In this post, I'll share some of my go-to travel essentials to help you pack smart and streamline your packing process.
Suitcase Organization Essentials
If you only want to invest in one item, let it be these! Packing Cubes have been a game changer of a product for our family - each member of our family gets their own color so we can easily tell which items belong to which person. I’m not quite sure how we lived without these for so long! I love them so much I even created an entire reel about how to use them here.
PRO TIP: Roll each outfit to take advantage of the most space!
We’ve tried so many of the Toiletry Bags out there, and this is one of the best! The quality is fantastic, and it takes up such little space since you can easily hang it from a towel rack. If you’re traveling to multiple locations on your trip, you’ll love the convenience of this toiletry bag!
This Travel Purse has everything you could ever want in a purse! There are enough compartments to fit all your essentials, and there’s enough room to fit a water bottle to keep you hydrated on those long travel days. The cross body style is perfect for traveling - it’s comfortable on your shoulders, and there’s a zipper lock feature that will keep unwanted hands away from your bag when you’re walking through busy areas. Truth be told…I love this purse so much, I use it daily now!
Travel sized toiletries often don’t hold the amount of product that you’ll need, and that cost can add up if you find yourself having to keep restocking during your trip! As a Professional Organizer, I’m constantly preaching on the benefits of decanting, and travel toiletries are no exception! These Travel Bottles are great for you to pour your favorite shampoo, conditioner, and face wash into before you leave for your trip.
Between all of the electronic devices we travel with, a Cord Organizer is necessary for keeping all of our chargers and headphones untangled!
Speaking of electronics…this Charging Station will allow you to take advantage of a single outlet to charge all of your devices at once! Gone are the days of struggling to find enough outlets in your hotel room!
Raise your hand if you’re a fellow water snob! I love a clean, refreshing-tasting water, and this Brita Water Bottle makes even airport tap water drinkable. No more buying overpriced plastic bottles at the airport!
If you’re trying to pack light, you’re going to find yourself doing laundry on the go, and trying to pack powdered detergent or laundry pods can be such a hassle. With these ultra lightweight Laundry Detergent Sheets, all you have to do is pop one in the washing machine and you’re good to go!
Our Tips for Traveling with Kids
Did you know you can rent strollers, high chairs, and pack and plays ahead of time? If you’re traveling with babies or small kids, Travel Mamas did a roundup of companies that provide these services!
Order diapers, wipes, formula, and groceries, and have them delivered to your hotel for when you get there! You could also purchase these items when you arrive, but this will help you feel prepared and organized after a long travel day.
In addition, check out some of these space saving travel items for kids:
Inflatable Toddler Bed (this is a game changer when traveling with toddlers!)
Did I miss some of your travel favorites? Share your go-to travel essentials in the comments below so we can all be organized and efficient on our summer vacations!
