I like to plan ahead. I want to make sure that we have everything we need and that we don’t have to spend time going to the shop to get something we forgot. It bothers me when we’ve missed some of the most forgotten items when packing because it’s so avoidable!!
So here are some lists for different vacation situations. The items I’ve linked below are actually what we use. We didn’t get paid by affiliates for them and they aren’t just product placements. We’re talking real life use here.
Below are lists for various different scenarios with commentary to explain why we use that particular item or why we like that particular item.
Sometimes we include all of the things on the list, but depending on the situation or the itinerary, we might not include all of the items on each of these particular lists. For instance, when we drove to Boise I used the Standard Packing List and Car Trip List.
We’ve included a pretty comprehensive list so that you can pick and choose depending on your needs. Also, below is a download of the list without all the commentary. I’ve saved this list onto my phone so that I can tick things off as they go in the bags.
Would love to hear from you about how you travel in the comments below. Let’s hive mind this thing and really get a solid list going:)
Here is a download to easy your packing plans.
Table of Contents
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Face washing regime (gotta wash my face)
- Deodorant
- Body cream (Cerave and Cetaphil)
Just in case you haven’t seen this yet, lotion has more water in it than cream, so cream is more hydrating. Both girls have eczema, so we use cream. Specifically, we use CeraVe (this is the girl’s favorite because it feels so silky). We most often use Cetaphil because you can get it at Costco in bulk.
- Headbands/hair clips
- Vitamins
- Shampoo
Again, both girls have eczema, so we started using this when they were babies and haven’t stopped because the shampoos and conditioners from this brand smell good and are without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or sulfates. Shea Moisture Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Wash & Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Brush
A friend of mine owns her own hair salon and introduced me to this brush. I LOVE it. Works for my hair (long, very straight and fine), Sloan’s hair (long, very straight and very thick) and Blake’s hair (baby fine, wavy).
- Sea salt spray
- Travel contact solution
- Pumice stone
- Razor
- Tweezers
- Nail clippers
- Q-Tip’s
- Med kit
- Bandaids
- Thermometer
- Hydrocortisone
- Acetomenaphine
- Ibuprofen
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Anti-constipation medication
- Omezaprole (for before a fun night of drinking)
- Zipstitch Laceration Kit (repair a deep cut when away from ER services)
You might consider having a few bottles of medication that you might need, but don’t take often just always in your toiletry bag. Check out your medicine cabinet, and see if there are any items that might be particular for you. Add those. For me, this is my migraine medicine. I always have at least 3 tablets in my toiletry bag just in case.
Entertainment for the Trip
(all electronics charged, downloaded and synced prior to leaving)
- Books, books, books
- Pencil box with markers, crayons
- Bose speaker
We like this one because it has a very small footprint and also packs a pretty powerful sound for its size. Great for taking to the beach or the pool or having some tunes while we’re picnicking.
- iPads for each girl
- Headphones or earbuds for each of us
So nice to get some quiet time/retreat into an audio book or music while the girls get screen time in the car. We like these because they have noise limiting functions so that our kids don’t blow their ear drums out, and also they LIGHT UP! We have the girls turn off the blinking lights while we’re driving, but they LOVE the blinking lights and the cute cat ears.
- Chargers and bases
- Laptop
- Bose speaker
- iPad
- Watch
- Ear buds
- Headphones
We bring a set for our electronics because we now need usb-a, usb-c, apple, Microsoft and Dell chargers. Pay attention to the connections because some hotels have normal outlets, and some have usb connectors. We have a separate small bag devoted to electronics and chargers to facilitate speed in going through airport security, ease of use and ease of finding the right cords at the right time.
- Binoculars
Standard Packing List
- Nexus passes
- Passports
- Enhanced driver’s licenses
We store each id type in different locations in case a bag is lost. We always take one form of id on the plane. This is usually the nexus pass because it’s a more rigorous application process than the drivers license and smaller format than the passport.
- Workout clothes
- Flipflops
- Lollipops
For the plane in case the girls can’t clear their ears, thank you for the idea, Jake!!!
- Ziploc bags
Handy in so many random situations – we’ve even rolled sushi with them when we couldn’t find our bamboo rollers
For those mornings after a really fun night
- Water bottles
Empty until after airport security. Here in the United States, airports are increasingly providing water bottle filling stations, usually close to the restrooms. Not every airport, but more and more are providing this service.
Yeti is customizing drinkware for free right now, so we’ve put the girls’ names permanently on their water bottles. They (almost) can’t lose them. I’m a big fan of not using plastic if we can help it, so I force the girls (and maybe my husband) to take and be responsible for their own water bottles.
- Car seats
- Car seat backpacks
Our kids are petite, so they’ll be in car seats or boosters for a very long time. When we’re flying, we’ve generally got a suitcase per person, so we’ve found that having a backpack to carry the car seats from the car to the luggage check-in is VERY helpful.
We can also put additional travel items like pillows in the car seat backpacks. My husband likes his pillow, so we use the car seat backpack as an easy way to make sure that he’s got his pillow and can sleep soundly while we’re away. This backpack has held up really nicely for us over the 6+ years that we’ve been using it. It worked so well for our oldest that we got a second one with the second kid. They are really sturdy. I mean, we fly 4-6 big trips a year.
- A stuffie for the 5-year-old
- Books, books, books
We have a policy on flights and drives of 30 minutes of screen time and then 30 minutes of books/coloring/staring out of the window. I know, I know….but what if they complain? Yes, they did for the first trip or two, then they got used to it. Now they just expect it and it’s helping them learn how to tell time because they diligently watch the clock.
- Coloring books and crayons/pencils/markers
- Some small toys that we don’t expect to bring home
Toys from the Dollar Store, small Play-Doh containers, etc.
Warm Weather Vacations
- Bathing suits
- Coverups for swimming suits
- Towels (if not staying at a hotel)
- Beach bag
We like this beach bag and include it inside of our luggage when we depart for our trip. We can use it to head down to the beach or as a carry-all for day trips. AND then we can use it to carry any additional purchases on the return flight.
- Sunglasses
- Sunhats
- Hair detangle spray
- Goggles
These googles have worked really well for us because they fit well. We haven’t had a bunch of water leaking into the girls’ eyes. And they are inexpensive enough that if they happen to get left behind, we’re not overly upset. We do tend to enforce that our girls take an inventory of their stuff when we go down to the pool and they are supposed to return with all their stuff…but they are 8 and 5. ‘Nuff said.
We use Blue Lizard as it changes color in the presence of UV rays and is a physical indicator for the girls that they do, in fact, need sunscreen. Otherwise, we get lots of pushback because, let’s be honest, standing there while sunscreen is applied takes away from all the fun they were having in the pool.
We use JÁSÖN, which is 84% real aloe, non-greasy and free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and petrolatum
- Stand Up Paddleboard (if not flying)
We really like this one because it works great as a SUP carrying a combined weight of about 175 lbs with the girls and myself. ALSO if you want to sit comfortably instead, you can attach the seat. It ends up being a modified kayak, which works really well with the girls on it as well.
- Paddle for Stand Up Paddleboard
- Inflator for Stand Up Paddleboard
- Hiking backpack
I like this one because it’s got a small form factor, can fit all 4 of our water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, sunhats, etc in the various pockets as we’re going throughout our day or out on a hike. Also, instead of carrying a big vacation purse onto the plane, I’ve started using this instead for all the reasons above. I’ve kind of given up on looking good and have almost accepted that as a mom I’m the sherpa.
Cold Weather Vacations
- Swim suits for apres ski
- Flipflops to head down to the pool
- Compression bags
Minimize bulk when packing all of the outer wear, fleece, and down. We usually have one big bag with all the bulky items in it, but because it’s the outergear, it weighs less than 50 lbs and gives more flexiblity with other suitcases.
We have one bag for each of us so that we can grab them and go when we want to hit the slopes.
We love these City Threads thermals for the girls. As they grow out of one size, we just get the next size up. These things are DURABLE and WARM.
I use Kari Traa top and bottom because they are very soft merino wool. Some other vendors include synthetic fibers that I have found to be itchy and uncomfortable. These keep me warm with one base layer even in the coldest days and also are attractive when I take my vest and jacket off at the lodge for lunch or ski après.
- Ski suits
- Ski socks
My husband really likes these because they do a good job of wicking the sweat from his feet.
The girls do well with this brand Darn Tough. They are from the PNW and don’t get even close to as cold as I do.
- Sock liners
- Foot warmers
Hand warmers are made of charcoal, which can leak onto your hands. They also don’t have adhesive. The foot warmers have adhesive, which adheres nicely to glove liners. With our girls we put the foot warmers on the back of their glove-lined hands. Don’t put these directly in your skin. One of our friends did this, and got full on blisters…you know who you are, Steve.
I am ALWAYS cold. Even in the summer my hands are freezing. So I use these heated gloves to keep warm while we’re playing in the snow. If I have the battery on full blast, it lasts about half of the day. If it’s really cold I’ll either bring another battery or bring hand warmers to supplement.
- Glove chargers
- Glove liners
For the girls, we like putting more layers rather than less especially on those really cold days. We can always remove a layer and store it in the backpack if necessary, but we’ve never removed the glove liners. We like these.
We utilize vests often as they warm the core of the person, and it allows at least one less base or mid layer.
My husband likes this vest because the batteries last all day, and there is a heating element in the neck and shoulders, which keeps him really warm while he’s bombing down the back bowl.
I’m fairly petite and also short waisted, so finding clothes that fit me is really hard. This heated vest was the smallest we could find on the market. It’s warm all on it’s own, so I find that I don’t always have to use the batteries. However, on really cold ski days, the battery comes in handy and lasts all day.
This battery is compatible with both of the heated vests that we use. It’s nice to have a back up on the slopes when it’s a really cold day because you can swap it out midday if you really need to.
- Scarves
- Balaclavas
- Helmets
Our 8-year-old now skis blacks, and the 5-year-old is an accident-prone speed demon, so we make sure that they are using helmets with MIPS functionality. We use these helmets. Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS), At its core, MIPS is designed to combat rotational motion—a force that can cause severe brain injuries during angled impacts. Traditional helmets are effective against direct impacts, but when it comes to oblique collisions, MIPS has the upper hand. It features a low-friction layer that allows the helmet to move slightly relative to the head, redirecting dangerous rotational forces away from the brain.
As you’re bombing down the slopes, picking your next turn, imagine looking up and seeing 5 little beings who *could* be your child. Now imagine that you look up and see your little bunny (or two), and you plan your turn to go congratulate them on their epic mogul bump. We chose these for the girls, but there seemingly endless options for kids. I’ve got this one, and it keeps me really warm.
These OutdoorMaster kid goggles have proven to be really rugged and able to withhold the bumps and wear that our girls put on them as they speed down the hill and all the falls that entails.
- Replacement lens for goggles
- Ski boots
- Ski boot chargers
- Skis
- Ski Straps
Yes, I know it sounds like just another thing to carry, but this actually frees your hands to carry your 5-year-old’s skis, or a screaming 5-year-old, or maybe just to relax at the end of a satisfying ski day not having to worry about your skis digging into your shoulder. They also fit in your pocket.
We utilize collapsable poles for girls. As they grow so do the poles.
We like this one because it’s got a thin profile, so easy to sit on the lift with it on. Also has some great pockets and room for snacks (Do I hear a yes for sugar on the lift to urge the kiddos on to another run before heading into lunch?) and also sandwiches. Buying lunch on the slopes can get pricey really quickly, especially at the top resorts. So sometimes we take sandwiches with us and then buy fries or chips or apples when we’re at the lodge.
- Massage gun
- Small personal flask (enough said)
- Walkie Talkies
Not all areas of the mountain have cell phone reception.
- Boot driers
if we’re driving to ski, we put this in the truck because it holds 4 pairs of boots. If we’re flying we take this portable version. They pack nicely and have never broken in our packed luggage
- Ski tubes
We don’t do the soft shells, although some of our friends do, and they pack a lot of their ski clothes around their skis to minimize luggage. We bring hard shells because we can put frozen food (premade Bolognese, meat like wagyu or Ibérico, foods that the girls are used to from home) around the skis. This minimizes cost, and effort in having to search for specific foods that we want when we’re traveling.
Car Trips
- Snacks
- Snacks
- Snacks
- Water
- Portable roof cargo box
Yakima is the largest one made and works well on our Explorer.
Attaches to the latch system in your door, and provides a step that makes it way easier to get the height and leverage to attach the cargo box and to access the contents.
- Radar detector
- Cooler for frozen or cold food/drinks
- Portable potty
You’ll laugh about thisI use it more than the girls do. Once on a trip to Maui, I was pregnant with the youngest and just couldn’t bear to deal with the public restroom. You know, it’s the smell that used to get me every time. So I set the portable potty up in the cargo section of the car and felt such tremendous relief. We’ve brought it with us ever since.
I use this 72oz option at home to make sure that I drink enough water each day. We bring it on trips to refill water bottles on the road. It’s insulated, so can hold ice intact for about a day. I love it.
Camping Trips
There are 4 of us, but we use a 6-person tent that allows extras space to move around inside. We also have a 2-person tent from when we didn’t have kids and in preparation for when the girls want to sleep in their own tent. We also have a 1-person tent for my mom or the nanny if they wants to join in the fun.
We can eat in here or hang out if there are too many bugs flying around.
It never hurts to have more of these rather than less. One quick note of caution. We forgot to tell our girls to watch their step on the first camping trip, and they bit it in the dirt. Might want to let your kid know that if they are running around with their siblings or friends that they should keep their eyes open…for so many reasons.
We have 2 twin air mattresses. A king-sized sheet fits over two twins and with two twins we have fewer people on the bed rolling around and waking me up. A tired momma is a grumpy momma.
- Battery to blow up air mattress if your car doesn’t have an inverter
- Fitted sheet
- Duvet
- Pillows
- Kid sized sleeping bags
- Kitchen prep table
- Camp stove
We like a really reliable stove when we’re out camping, and this one is an oldie and a goodie.
- Water containers
- Electronic water dispenser
It might seem like overkill, but we’ve found it really useful so that the girls can get their own water or wash their hands easily on their own.
- Dish washing station
Dishwashing liquid - Food scraper or rag
- Shower bag
- Body soap
- Camping French press
- Fuel source
- Camping pots
- Camping cooking utensils
- Camping food bowls and sporks
- Water purifier (tablets and sieve) in case of emergency
- Hand saw – for removing dangerous branches at eye level of kids
- Shovel
- Fire starter kit (inlcudes kindling, lighter and wood)
- Work gloves
- Flashlight
Trips for Which We’ll be Cooking
- Coffee filters
- Spices (we use small travel spice holders like this)
- Lightweight pan
Many of the hotels or villas we stay in have kitchens…and they generally have nonstick pans that are incredibly scratched up. I don’t like to use scratched non-stick pans, so have started bringing my own so that I don’t have to worry about ingesting (or my kids ingesting) nonstick particles.
What We Packed When the Girls Were Younger
- Diapers
- Wet wipes
- Swim diapers
- Floaties
- Wet bag
To hold dirty diapers or soiled clothes. We liked these because we could just throw them in the washer.
- Blankets
- One stuffie each (had to be their favorite)
We didn’t take a bunch of toys because we found that they would play with things in the hotel room or kitchen of the hotel room like spoons, plastic cups, etc. The tupperware in the Marriott villas were FASCINATING to them.
- Stroller
- Clothes, clothes, clothes.
We eventually realized that the hotels we stayed at, Marriott Villas, were equipped with washing machines. As a result, we packed fewer clothes and simply washed what we brought along. This was particularly beneficial for our little one, who frequently spit up.
We also started bringing a clock with us that used colors to tell the girls when they could get up…it’s vacation, after all, and I wanted to sleep in!! We started out with this Elmo clock, but after it broke in transit we started taking this pink dinosaur clock.
In case you are looking for inspiration on where to go when you’ve packed, here are some thoughts to spur you toward a memorable vacation with your kiddos!
Oahu – 5 Day Itinerary: Paradise on Oahu
Portland – Best 20 Memories in Portland with kids
Seattle – Perfect 3 Day Seattle Itinerary for your trip with kids
Whistler – Whistler Summer Vacation – 14 Memorable Kid Activities
What do you pack for vacation? Sharing is caring:)
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