Family Travel Must Haves
Traveling is our greatest source of joy but it can also turn into a nightmare if you don’t pack strategically, especially if you’re traveling to a foreign country or for an extended period. These are my family travel must haves that I pack for every single trip! I’ve also included two free printable packing lists that I edited on Canva that help me stay organized.
Heads up: These are items we use and love. This blog is reader supported so if you make a purchase by using one of my links, I may make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
My Family Travel Must Haves:
Delsey Luggage: I have tried them all. Here are my favs and what I’m currently using: This Delsey set. I love the Delsey brand and this set is no exception. It’s high quality and rolls really well. I also frequently travel with this Beis Weekender that I love. It’s a little pricey so I found this dupe from Amazon, though I can’t speak to the quality. I also always travel with a belt bag. Is it trendy? Yes. But is it also practical? Very much so. I found this cute striped one that I love.
Toiletry Bags: Next are my toiletry bags. Because we frequently travel for extended periods and to different countries, I end up packing all my toiletries and any medicines we could possibly need. I use this amazing hanging toiletry bag - it seriously holds so much stuff. I also use these clear bags to pack any toiletries/medicines I’m going to bring on the plane with me. Then when we get to our destination, I usually throw one in my backpack/beach bag.
Packing Cubes: I am a chronic over-packer. I can’t help it, I am who I am. These little compression packing cubes come in handy for me. I recently took them on a 2-week girls trip to France and they really helped me squeeze in more clothing.
Conair Steamer: I ALWAYS pack this Conair travel-size steamer. It is the perfect size to throw in a suit case. This thing has been to almost as many countries as me and it never lets me down. It’s dual voltage and doesn’t spew water like most steamers I’ve used. Comes in so handy if you’re packing items that wrinkle.
L’Ange Curling Duo: I’m constantly looking for ways to maximize space so when I saw this straightener/curling iron duo, I snagged it. I love the way it curls my hair - it’s by far my favorite curling iron I’ve ever had. I also have this silicone sleeve as a mat and it makes it easy to pack if it’s still a little warm.
Bose Headphones: Like most of you, I always have a pair of headphones in my carry-on. My trusty apple headphones go everywhere with me. And my Bose headphones come on trips with long haul flights. I love them both…don’t ask me to choose.
Tech Charger: My last must have is this triple charger. We all have a million cords and this helps alleviate that problem a little. I throw all my electronics in this travel tech bag to try and stay organized. Also, if you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget a converter.
You can see what I’m packing in my toiletry bag here.
Toddler’s Travel Must Haves:
Mickey Mouse Suitcase: We recently got this cute little Mickey Mouse suitcase from American Tourister. Mason knows when we pull his suitcase out that we’re going on a trip. He loves to help pack it and roll it around the airport. Highly recommend getting your child involved in the travel process - it makes it extra special leading up to a trip.
Stroller: We always pack a stroller because we tend to walk a lot on trips. I’ve tried so many strollers but I have two that I highly recommend. Our full size stroller is the Uppababy. If we’re going on an extended trip, I pack this. It’s bigger and heavier, yes, but it also has big wheels which makes it a dream for pushing in Europe (looking at you cobblestone streets). For plane travel, I always put it in this travel bag so the warranty will cover it if something happens. If we’re taking a smaller trip or we’re primarily going to be in a city, I bring this travel stroller. This stroller fits in most overhead bins on a plane which is nice so you’re not waiting for it after you get off.
Sound Machine: Mason has always slept with a sound machine. I alternate between these two machines, depending on the length of the trip: the full-size Hatch or the mini travel version. The full-size can also be portable but if it’s a quick trip and I don’t have a lot of packing room, I go with the mini. The only downside to the mini is it doesn’t have a nightlight. You can bundle them to save some money.
Tablet & Headphones: We break out the Amazon Fire Tablet on road trips and plane rides. It’s got his favorite movies downloaded and makes a long haul flight seem a lot shorter. He’s also recently started using these bluetooth headphones which he really enjoys.
Snack trays/holders: My bestie for travel days! It’s something extra for our toddler to do and I always keep them handy for take-off/landing to distract from his uncomfortable ears. I use this tray that I turn into a fun matching game for him and this spinning one. I love both and so does Mason.
These are my go-to items, I hope you find that some of them are useful!
Also, here’s my free printable packing list and my toddler packing list.
