Travel Essentials for Family Trips and Holidays
We’ve all been there, that moment when you realize you’ve travelled thousands of miles and forgot the one thing you said you would remember. It might be a toothbrush, a thermometer, sunscreen or bug spray, or a travel rucksack. On your next holiday, be prepared, read the list of essential travel items below and make your own checklist to plan the perfect holiday for your family.
A Booster Seat
When you go on vacation you sometimes want to get around easily. Depending on where you are, there might be some stunning natural beauty to see, or you might want to visit a lot of places and public transport just isn’t an option. So you need a hired car.
Not all hired vehicle places will supply you with a booster seat for your child or toddler. It’s best to remember your own, even if it’s a little extra to carry. There are lots of convenient booster seats on the market that allow you to travel easily with them.
Thermometer
The importance of health for your family cannot be understated, and it’s even more important when you travel. Overseas countries, or even, staycation destinations can have different water standards and novel here threats you might not have anticipated.
A thermometer is small and easy to pack. You can put it in with the first aid essentials or a toiletry bag. Although it’s small it can be invaluable, especially if your toddler isn’t feeling so good and needs to make decisions. A higher than normal temperature is a reliable indication of sickness.
Bug Spray
If you’re traveling to an urban conurbation to go to a theme park or visit a famous location you might not think you need bug spray. Isn’t that just for trips to the lakeside or the country? Naturally, yes, but bugs can affect you in urban areas too.
If you travel overseas there’s a good chance you won’t know what bugs are around and might suffer the consequences. You can buy excellent bug spray for traveling from Natural Citizen, along with many other ideal travel products. Don’t take chances in urban areas either, make sure you’re well covered.
Travel Insurance
Needless to say you need effective travel insurance to protect you and your family from any and all eventualities. Most travel insurance policies cover the basics, health costs, hospital stays, and repatriation. These days you need to look out for a little extra as well.
Traveling during the coronations pandemic is more of a risk than usual. The virus can spread very easily and if you’re in public areas like airports and restaurants you may well catch it and have to quarantine. Whether you are traveling at home or abroad, specifically check your coroner’s cover.
A Rucksack
A rucksack might seem like an obvious piece of luggage but it’s amazing how easy it is to forget when you’re traveling with a family. You tend to pack the suitcases first and don’t think about how you will get around while you’re there. A rucksack is perfect for day trips.
Even if you don’t have anything to put in it at first, pack a rucksack in your suitcase and take it with you. Ideally you want one that is multi functional. It should have spaces for a phone, a laptop and water bottles. When you have your hands full the rucksack on your back will be a lifesaver
Travel Essentials for Family Trips and Holidays
Essential Items
Essential items you need when traveling with your family include the toothbrushes and passports. They are so obvious that sometimes you forget about them altogether, only to realize at the last moment and have to rush home for them or cancel your flight.
The best way to remember these essential items is to prioritize them. Make the passports and the toothbrushes the first things in your list and pack them in a place that’s easy to access – but not for your children. Also check your passports are updated and viable.
Cameras
These days you have a choice of camera. If you use a smartphone – which most people do – you should have a pretty good camera already. Smartphone cameras have improved a lot in recent years and now provide you with an excellent and convenient camera on holiday.
However, if you want to snap those perfect family pictures that will last a lifetime you might want to invest in a digital SLR. These cameras allow you to change the lens and have an excellent zoom range – it is not essential but definitely a priority.
Entertainment
Whether you are traveling by airplane, car or RV, you need to pack plenty of entertainment. Children and toddlers have a short attention span and you need to have enough entertainment options to keep them occupied for long periods. So what are some good items to bring?
Tablet computers are very good these days, your young children will be familiar with them by now and can easily navigate to their favorite games and movies. If this is something you don’t want to encourage then consider books and toys, such as puppets.
Sunscreen
It doesn’t matter what time of year you’re traveling it’s always a good idea to bring sunscreen with you. Even if you can’t see it, the sun’s UV rays are always acting on your children’s skin, increasing the risks of skin damage and other conditions like sunstroke.
Always pack more sunscreen than you think you’ll need and remember to apply it regularly, in the morning and throughout the day. Your rucksack will be the ideal place to store the sunscreen as you navigate the city or theme park.
Beach Towels
Don’t forget to bring beach towels. If you’re going to the beach or pool, beach towels are essential for laying on and drying off with, they also provide effective protection from the sun through the hot part of the day. But that’s not all they’re good for.
A sizable beach towel is also ideal for a picnic in a park or in the countryside. Go to a pal supermarket and pick up some delicious food while your family relaxes at the hotel, then take your hired car to an iconic location for an afternoon you will always remember.
Lyosha
February 23, 2021Your list is my essential too. I always say that entertainment is very important for holidays even though holidays are the entertainment of sorts itself. I try to take all the essentials including sun screen with we at all times so I don’t need to waste time looking for it
Sarah Stockley
February 23, 2021We haven’t travelled in a long while but booster seats really are a must. It is so worth good travel insurance too and things to keep the kids occupied on the plane or in the car.
Claudia
February 23, 2021These are all important items to have. This is going to help a lot of new parents out there. When my son was first born, I was ALWAYS forgetting something.
Tara Pittman
February 23, 2021I am excited to start traveling again. These are items that I will add to my packing list.
debra p
February 23, 2021These are great tips as it can be a real pain to arrive and find you are lacking something important. Sunscreen really is so crucial to avoid an unpleasant stay due to a burn!
Kathy
February 23, 2021This is a great list. I wouldn’t want to forget any of them either. I especially love bringing my camera. That way I can take many photos.
Yanitza
February 23, 2021Loved this list! Bug spray and sunscreen are definitely a must!
Ryan Escat
February 24, 2021Thanks for this list and tips. I don’t travel a lot nowadays and I won’t want too. Hehe. But I’ll keep this in mind.
Tweenselmom
February 24, 2021Travel insurance is a must and I’ve learned and applied that just in our last trip abroad. We can’t underestimate emergencies during travels.
Kathy Kenny Ngo
February 24, 2021You forgot the masks, shield, and alcohol haha. But yes, agree that all these are needed when travelling with family.
Monidipa
February 24, 2021Since 2021 has started I had been traveling a lot so I know all these are very much essential!
Kelly Bolen
February 24, 2021Travel insurance is a must, now more than ever!!! Great advice!
Maartje van Sandwijk
March 1, 2021Bug spray is definitely so important! I bring it with me anytime I travell (when we still did that!)
Mary Dizon
March 5, 2021We Filipino always say, “Girls Scout laging handa!” lol I agree with these list and it will be very helpful for moms like me.