It’s that time of year again. The summer holiday season is almost upon us and if you are anything like me, you will be dreading getting packed. I’m bad enough at doing my own – always have been. But now we have Little Man to think about, so for me, holiday packing is double the stress.
We’ve been on a fair few holidays since being a family of three and over the years I have found myself learning the best ways to pack for a child. So, with a view to calm myself down and remind myself that holiday packing doesn’t need to be stressful, I’m sharing my Top 6 tips for holiday packing for kids.
Holiday Packing Tips
- Remember that you probably won’t need as much as you think you do. The amount of times that I have taken far too many clothes for the Little Man is quite ridiculous. During the day he lives in his swim shorts and only needs a pyjama shorts and t-shirts at night. And if all else fails, you can wash the clothes and hang them out to dry. If you are holidaying abroad, they will be dry in no time.
- Stemming from tip number 1 – take a small tube of travel wash. You may not need it, but if you take it, it’s there if you do. It doesn’t weigh anything and it takes up less room than excess clothes that you’ll unlikely use.
- Don’t worry too much about kids toiletries. For the few days, they are away they can use yours. As long as you have their toothbrush and toothpaste, you can manage. You can pack these in with yours – this also makes unpacking at the other end easier when all toiletries are together.
- Jelly shoes! As much as I hate them, they are a godsend for by the pool and on the beach. The floor and sand can get hot – with jelly shoes this won’t matter and it’s one less thing to be worrying about, and of course, it doesn’t matter if they get wet.
- Pack a surprise toy for the aeroplane or car. The prospect of a long flight or car journey can be quite daunting and it will only feel twice as long if your kid is bored and antsy. If you have something new that they haven’t played with before, this will help, if only for a little while.
- Don’t underestimate tablets. I know some parents don’t agree with too much screen time but I’m a big believer in everything in moderation. Before you leave, load it with episodes of their favourite programme and don’t forget the headphones. You may get an extra half an hours peace and quiet during the journeys there and back which will only help with all of your stress levels.
Trunki Giveaway
In preparation for the forthcoming holiday season, Holiday Gems are giving away a Classic Terrance Trunki as a prize for one of my lucky readers! Trunki’s are a great way to get the kids involved with holiday packing. Not only will they feel special because they have their own luggage, but they can have a bit of fun with it too when you pull them along on it as they take a ride. Fun for everyone!
To enter, click on the link in the box below which will take you to the entry page.
Please note TWO of the entries are mandatory and MUST be completed for the entry to be valid. Failure to do so will result in the entrant being disqualified. The remaining two are optional but give you an extra five entries each – so worth doing in my opinion!
Please make sure you read the terms and conditions at the bottom of the page. All that is left for me to do, is wish you lots of luck and happy holiday packing!
Terms and conditions/disclaimer
This is a collaborative post. The competition starts at 12 am 19/06/2017 and ends 12 am 17/07/2017. The prize is one Classic Terrance Trunki. Entries are limited to UK participants only and you must be over 18. The competition is via Rafflecopter and ONE winner will be chosen at random. The winner will be informed within 24 hours. The winner must respond within 24 hours of notification or a new winner will be selected. See Rafflecopter for official rules. JakiJellz is responsible for coordinating the prize with Holiday Gems to ship to the winner.
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240 Comments
Portugal!
mexico x
we love to spend our family holidays exploring beautiful parts of the uk 🙂
Cornwall
these days Cornwall would do me just fine!
We love going to la pineda in spain
bahamas
i love going to cornwall.Not in this heat though x
Dubai
We love Lanzarote
Orlando, we went last year and loved it, we are planning on going back next year, cant wait.
Orlando Florida
we love going to spain
In the UK I enjoy a trip to St Ives Cornwall, and abroad I like to try somewhere new as much as possible so I don’t have a favourite!
I love Orlando, the good, the fun, the shopping – there’s so much I love!
Kelly Ellen Hirst
US
Tenerife!
Mauritius is wonderful 😀
The best place for a holiday is Barcelona, I would love to live there!
we go to good ol clacton every year x
Munich
My favourite holiday destination has been, and always will be, the Algarve in Portugal. I have been going there since I was a child.
Scotland I love the Cairngorms
northumberland or barcelona
St ives Cornwall
Tenerife! it’s the perfect family destination we always have an amazing time here my children love it
Majorca because it’s a nice short flight and there’s plenty to do and see. Beautiful coves, Sandy beaches and crystal clear water. Perfect!
Florida. Orlando yeayyy!! its all about the mouse for us!
#triumphanttales
Great tips here – especially the ‘aeroplane toy’ We’re off to France this summer for a friend’s wedding so I have bookmarked this post ready for packing! Thanks for sharing #TriumphantTales
The surprise toy is a great idea – we have a 4 hour car journey to kick start our summer holidays so all tips welcome!! #TriumphantTales
Thanks for the tips, I always need the reminder not to pack too much. We’re off to Cuba in August and would be very happy to win the Trunki 🙂 #triumphanttales
Tell me your favourite holiday destination! . . . .India, but as l am going to Japan in a couple of weeks l think it may be pushed out of my number one spot
Anywhere thats hot and sunny and has a nice beach. Somewhere like Jamacia
Great tips! Love jelly shoes #triumphanttuesdays
Have family in Bulgaria, so this is our favourite destination
Barcelona
Australia
I love Budapest, such a beautiful place to go with so much history.
Cornwall, it’s lovely.
the Algarve
I love to take my granddaughters to Bridlington. We hire a caravan and beach hut . Simple family fun!
Barbados
Perth, Australia Stunning place
SSuffolk, it’s always sunny when we go 🙂
Butlins! haha, we love getting the family together and going to Butlins, we haven’t ventured abroad just yet with the kids…But I personally love Australia.
Some great packing tips there and I am loving the giveaway. My girls are too big for Trunki’s so I’ve made sure to share on FB and Twitter #TriumphantTales
We loved going to Turkey but now would say most beach resorts in Spain 😀
We really like Spain
We love to holiday in the UK. Favourite destinations include South Wales, Cornwall, and The Lake District! My eldest has a trunki but I’d love to win one for my little girl too as they love to be “twinnies” #dreamteam
Oh pants – sorry that should say #triumphanttales What a numpty!
We love Spain! So many nice places to visit 🙂 x
We like Italy
Trinitie Sur La Mer
Spain definitely
I went to Ibiza recently but away from the club scene, it was lovely. Would love to go back
Rimini, Italy. Had a truly memorable holiday there when in my late teens, was accompanied by my brother :- Who was a sun Worshipper, he had a great tan on returning home. Whilst I loved the friendly Italians, the weather, the food :- especially ice cream, shopping, etc.
Majorca! Perfect for the kids!
We like Whitby.
the algarve in Portugal!
🙂 #TriumphantTales
New Orleans!
the yorkshire moors, beautiful during the summer
We love Cyprus
I bring too many clothes for my toddler too but we have started to pack lighter. Honestly it makes things so much easier. Also, we used to bring a few toys but discovered we could get away with one or two small favourites. We went on a 5 day trip as a family of 3 with 2 small suitcases. So much less to carry. #TriumphantTales
Seeing this post makes me super envious, i really want a holiday 🙁 maybe i’ll win one hehe
#triumphanttales
I live Sydney
Cornwall
Great tips! We are hoping to go lanzarote next year with our then 4 year old, 2 year old and new 6 month old! I need all the tips I can get for going abroad with children lol #triumphanttales
Favourite holiday would be turkey so far!
man did I bomb packing 101 this year
Great tips! I always tend to pack too much or not enough!! Also next time we go on holiday I am definitely taking tablets! #TriumphantTuesday
My favourite holiday has been Majorca, but I’d LOVE to visit Hawaii one day!
Lanzarote
North Yorkshire – my favourite area on Earth.
Bird watching in Trinidad
#5 was a great idea. I will defo remember to bring a surprise toy, thanks! 🙂 #TriumphantTales
Florida is perfect for families. Loads of theme parks…not just Disney and the weather and beaches around the coast is usually fab…apart from the occasional hurricane 😉
Love Brighton!
I love Gran Canaria!
my fav has always been ST IVES in cornwall….beautiful place where dreams are made x
our fav holiday place has always been ST IVES in cornwall.a place where holiday dreams are made x
Dorset!
We love Dorset!
I love Scotland as it si beautiful in the mountains X #triumphanttales
We have no holiday planned this year after a trip of a lifetime to Disney last year but your tips are great!
triumphanttales okay – last year we went to the Caribbean and had i of not bought a trunki, I’m not sure we would of coped. He loved it in the airport and sat on it with daddy pulling him all the way. He sat on it whilst we waited on the gate and then….he played with it empty non stop in the hotel room as a sit on toy…totes recommend them, we have Bernard the bumblebee.
I packed a section of small toy animals (cheap so i didn’t care if we lost them) and he still has most of them, i went for water creatures – so what once was a aeroplane / pool toy now lives in our bath.
I love going to Dublin such a lovely city break 🙂 my little one hasn’t been yet, I would love to take him with me next time 🙂
I love Hong Kong
Anywhere ☀️
We love Spain or the islands. Great tips – must buy some travel wash. I always forget! #triumphanttales
The Lake District
Our favourite as a family is the south coast. As a couple it would be somewhere way more exotic! #triumphanttales
Love Wales..simple and tranquil
Good tips. It’s important to take the stress out as you say, not just from the holiday but from the packing too! #TriumphantTales
Great tips Jaki. Trunkis are brilliant aren’t they. I think my favourite holiday destination would have to be the Isle of Man. I have some lovely memories from many holidays there as a kid, and I have family there. Molly has only been once but I can’t wait to take her back. #triumphanttales
Cape Verde
I love anywhere hot with a pool, but since having my son we’ve stayed closer to home, at Whitby.
We love Malta
Dominican Republic as I got married there
We have yet to take our little man abroad so far we are enjoying trips around the UK
We love Italy of course as other half is Italian but we had a wonderful time in Cyprus two years ago #triumphanttales
I ALWAYS pack way to much clothes for everyone, it has never occurred to me to wash clothes while holidaying! That’s a great tip about the travel wash. #AnythingGoes
For me its Lanzarote, its close, always warm and super family friendly x thanks
Fab competition darling – and some fab tips also. I need one of these in my life!! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub xoxo
Mine is Las Vegas however as a family with a 2 year old with love Butlins in Minehead. Only 87 sleeps till we go see Billy Bear yay
I am so glad to have read this before our trip in July. I will bring 3 outfits for me! I always pack too much, do too much laundry and have a whole set of untouched clothes. TY for this great list! #triumphanttales <3
Some great tips here. I’d have never thought of jelly shoes. #TriumphantTales
We stay in the UK because I am scared of flying. Great giveaway, good luck everyone! #TriumphantTales
I love exploring the history of the UK, so give me a campervan and I’m away!
Right there with you on the tablets. It was a godsend on our recent plane ride and ensured that she always had something to do while we were getting ready in the mornings #triumphanttales
whilst I love the idea of Trunki’s I despise some of the parents who purchase them then fail to supervise their children at the airports with an air of entitlement that all other travellers should tolerate their kids scooting up and down on them because their parents are frazzled from taking their little darlings on holiday with them. I spend too many hours in airports with short connections and I have to remind myself it’s not the childs fault and resist the temptation to give the trunki a push on it’s way #triumphanttales
Great tips, I always overpack!! This is a fab giveaway! #triumphanttales
Mooloolaba, Queensland
Orlando Florida
I love Cornwall, its such a beautiful place and lots of lovely family memories! xx
Cornwall
Sri Lanka! going back again in August with our toddler twins 🙂
Great tips. We love our trunkis and the girls love to help getting them packed. When they come out they know a holiday is close. We are loving Brittany at the moment. We had a great camping holiday there last year & in half term this year we stayed at the most gorgeous house with extended family. #sharingthebloglove
skegness 🙂
Malta if we are staying in one place but we enjoy cruises the most.
Spain for us x
Love the Lake District.
Orlando, we were lucky enough to visit last summer
Orlando
I am a big fan of Ibiza, the quieter parts!
las vegas – i went on my honeymoon, cant wait to go back one day
Great post and giveaway, I live in Paris so can’t enter – good luck to everyone else!
Turkey
We all love Cornwall
South Africa. Thankyou for the competition x
Alcudia.
My favourite holiday destination is Barcelona. The city and seaside all together.
mine is rome 😀
Lanzarote, love the sunshine & the volcano!
We love Barcelona. It’s a perfect mix of culture and fun for everyone xx
St Lucia!
Lanzarote
Great tips! We love Trunkis, they make travelling a lot easier for us, we can just drag the kids along so at least nobody is whining their legs ache! Thank you for joining us at #sharingthebloglove
My girls love jelly shoes and it reminds me of when I was a child too! We love our trunki’s, they are great for children. We use them all the time, even for sleep overs. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
I’ve always loved Egypt – perfect weather and gorgeous Red Sea
Cefalu in Sicily
Orlando <3
perranporth cornwall
Aruba
Cyprus
Sharm el-Sheik
Malta is our family favorite! (:
We love visiting Norfolk for our family holidays.
The Maldives would be my paradise
I love to visit Benayes in France, beautiful countryside and the perfect destination for me and my family
I love USA! I have been to so many place but I want to see more! I especially love Indiana and Illinois.. it is rural farming area and it just lovely seeing all the crops etc.
my favourite is south africa
Italy x
Right now I’m obsessed with Italy, although I desperately want to visit Harry Potter land Orlando! Then eventually move to canada and have a ranch and a huge truck!
Florida
Portugal
Greece or Cyprus
Iceland
I love Turkey 😉
Without Kids – the Maldives where we spent our honeymoon. With kids – Cornwall, going back there in 3 weeks!
The best rule I ever learned for packing is one I still follow today. Gather everything you think you will need including money in one place. Now half the stuff and double the money 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes 🙂
Debbie
New Zealand or South Africa!
We love taking the kids down to Cornwall, it’s gorgeous down there 🙂
My favourite place that I have visited is Zermatt in Switzerland but my dream holiday is to Sorrento in Italy!
I think Scotland when the weather is nice.
CORNWALL IS MY FAVOURITE PLACE TO HOLIDAY
Majorca
Turkey, i love it there! Not long got back from 2 weeks in Kos and that was equally beautiful but much smaller 🙂 x
I like UK holidays, Edinburgh is a favourite
Florida!
Bali
Without our daughter… Las Vegas.
With her…butlins!
Malaysia, amazing country we have been lucky to go a few times but not with our daughter yet as I dread the long haul flights! But thanks to your really useful tips might just plan it for next year!
I don’t really have a favourite but you can’t beat a good old fashioned British seaside holiday, there are some fabulous little beaches around the country.
It has to be Goa. Beautiful beaches and food and wonderful people.
Tenerife for a winter holiday. It’s about the nearest place for guaranteed winter sunshine
We love Spain, La Pineda was amazing for a family holiday x
The uk
I love going to North Wales, amazing place!
My favourite holiday destination is the Peak District 🙂
I love Antigua
spain
Portugal, nice weather and beaches and not too far to fly with the little ones 👍
Malta
I love southern spain
Florida :
We love Spain so much hoping to go this year
Aruba
We love Spain .x
Spain definitely majorca me and the kids love it x
orlando
For me it’s Tenerife! However, with a toddler in tow I would rather go to centre parcs!
I love going to Disneyland, Paris
We love Florida
France 😀
Italy
Orlando, Florida
Cornwall, it’s a very beautiful part of the country
Gran Canaria. The SPAs are amazing
We love to go to Iceland.
Venice
Anywhere on the Costa Dorada
My girls like primrose valley at Scarborough
mine is Mexcio but the kids love Butlins Minehead so we go every year and then every other year we go further afield
I love the south of France, particularly Provence.
mine is Gran Caneria, as thats where I went on my honeymoon
Tenerife
Moraira, a beautiful coastal town on Spain’s Costa Blanca
I’d love to go to DisneyWorld in Florida
florida
Just come back from Seahouses in Northumberland which is a huge favourite of ours. It’s a gorgeous place. Our cottage was 5 minutes walk from the riding stables (went for a beach ride – one to tick off the bucket list) and a mile from the harbour.
I love going to Italy
We love Greece
Florida
the pembrokeshire coast
Snowdonia is beautiful 🙂
Love Italy, especially Florence
We love Italy for the fantastic food and history 🙂
We love benidorm but looking forward to trying disney land orlando in next few years ❤
Talacre beach wales. A great caravan destination great beaches for the kiddos and the pooch!
California
so much to do and to see its an amazing place
with the best sunsets iv ever seen
sWEDEN
i like to go to cornwall
Orlando is my favourite holiday destination mostly because there’s something for the whole family to do x
I love Greece. In particular Kos. Its such a beautiful place x
skegness lol
Love “The Lakes”
For me it has to be Spain i love the place so beautiful
I love Cornwall, so picturesque, or if we’re venturing further then Portugal 🙂
New York, the city that never sleeps. Being a mombie I would fit right in lol xx
for a British Holiday i love Devon & Cornwall it brings back many happy childhood holiday memories we would frequent Devon very frequently as thats my dads birth place and we had family there and Cornwall at least once a year sometimes more for abroad holiday i liked Porteventura in sunny Spain.
Krakow in Poland, a beautiful historic town with the cleanest, most well-kept play parks I have ever seen.
Tenerife
The family love going to the States
I think these are fantastic. My daughter has always wanted one x
Illinois USA 🇺🇸
Cornwall 🙂 x
Algarve, Portugal
as an adult – tsilivi in Zante, as a mum and her family – skegness butlins
Pembrokeshire is such a beautiful place, it’s been my favourite since I was a child x
Crete, its a gorgeous island full of history and culture.