When we’re heading out for a vacation I typically pack the few days before we leave, it’s really depending on where we are going. Like for example, if we go on overseas holidays, I normally pack 2 days before we leave so I will have plenty of time to organize our bags and documents we would need. And if we are only going somewhere in the country, I pack the day before. One of the best tips I can share is to include your kids in the whole process, so they can learn from you and also to get the excitement going. Before you know it, they will be packing their own bags on your next holiday.
So here are few tips that we have learned and would like to share with you and your family and hopefully it we can help you and your family have an amazing time.
Packing for an overseas holiday and local holidays would need different preparations. Some countries overseas would require you to apply for a tourist visa or certain kind of visa before you can actually get in to the country. Some place, like Singapore and the Philippines and lots of other places in Asia, they will automatically give you at least 14 days of free entry as you arrive to their ountry – as you come through the immigration. There are no visa applications required. You just have to fill in some immigration form, normally just a small back to back piece of paper that you have to fill in and off you go. Also, the airline crew normally gives you the paper in the airplane an hour or few minutes before you are due to arrive, so you can ask them for help if you are not sure.
Also, visas will depend on which country you are from. For example if you hold an Australian passport like Katherine and Sean, you will need to pay for a visa when you travel to Bali, Indonesia, however as a holder of a Philippine passport, I do not need a visa when I enter Bali, Indonesia.
So our best suggestion is, before you plan your trip overseas, do your research about the country you are planning to visit and read and research the right documents you and your family would need to avoid getting stuck in an airport somewhere in the middle of the night just because you didn’t have the right papers. It’s wouldn’t be a very pleasant experience specially when you are travelling with kids.
However, when you are just travelling locally, yes in your own country, the preparations wouldn’t be as complicated as the overseas trip. You will still need to research the place though, so you know what you and your family can do and the things you might see. And the experiences you might try, or you might have to book tickets beforehand. Also don’t forget to make sure you book accommodation before you get there. To make sure you have somewhere to stay, specially if you are planning to stay for few days.
So, here we go. Let’s get packing. Let’s start with:
Tip # 1. Check the weather. So before you start planning the things you are going to bring, make sure you check the weather of where you are going. Some places have four seasons and some only have two. So make sure you check the weather and the season of the place where you are going, so you can inform the whole family, especially the kids to help them decide on the things they will take on the trip.
• Winter – be sure to bring in the thick jackets, beanies, gloves, if it’s really cold, bring thermal clothes and all the other warm and cuddly stuff.
• Spring – allergies can flare up anytime during this season, so please don’t forget to pack your antihistamines, your inhaler and your nose spray.
• Summer – when you know you are going somewhere warm, don’t forget to pack your bathers (swimming clothes) so you won’t miss the fun in the warm sun and playing in the water. Oh kids loves the water, don’t they? Don’t forget to include your hats and sunscreen in the bag too. We don’t want to nurse a bad sunburn while still on holiday. If ever you get sunburn, a dab of aloe vera gel really helps, so put it in your list and make sure you grab some in your local pharmacy before you go.
Our family loves going to Asia, because first of all, that’s where I and Katherine’s dad have met; secondly, some of our family members lives in Asia and thirdly, Katherine loves swimming and in Asia, there are so many beautiful beaches and the weather? Yes, swimming weather every day. Cool hey? If you haven’t been there, maybe you can add it to the list for your next holiday destination.
• Autumn – normally the weather is starting to cool down at this time of the year, so you might just leave the thick jackets behind and bring some warmer clothes if you needed it. Like scarfs and jumpers as what we call them here in OZ.
The best way we think is to check the weather of the state or country you are going. We are from a small town in Queensland Australia; our winter temperature can go to as low as 2 degrees (Celsius) and up to 24 or 25 degrees. And that’s cold for us. Because summer time we normally have 32 degrees in the morning and then it reaches up to 40-43 degrees by 10am until 5pm. It’s really hot. So when we visit Sydney during summer time, sometimes it can still get a bit cold for us, so we make sure we still pack jumpers and scarfs if we need it especially in the mornings and in the afternoon. So to avoid being cold if you don’t like the cold, just check the temperature and the weather wherever it is you are going. Exciting. Let’s continue.
We have included a printable packing check list for you and the kids. Also we have shared a video on how to fold under wares so they are easy to pack and also protected from any bugs or dust. It’s so easy to learn, so don’t forget to watch the video as well.
Tip # 2. Stick to the List. Download the printable packing checklist and give each kids their own list so they can get the hang of ticking each one themselves as they prepare it to be packed.
Now we know that when the kids are still small, they don’t really pack the suitcases themselves, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t help at all. Most kids love being included in the things we do, so giving them a list of things they can take will help them get involved. We made sure the list have images in them so that those kids who don’t know how to read yet will still be able to understand what they might need to pull out from their drawers for you to pack.
Assign a suitcase for them to use and put it aside in their bedroom/s. Giving them a suitcase each would be good and is always helpful and will be easier for you as well.
Our aim here is to help them feel part of the whole process and make them feel independent and most importantly to have fun and get excited about the coming holiday.
Tip # 3. Name their stuff. When we travel, we always have Katherine’s stuff in one backpack. Like her neck pillows, her eye cover for sleeping, and her blankets are inside one backpack so it’s ready for her to grab by herself. This is really helpful especially when we go on long drives and visit different places here in Australia, because she can just grab her things by herself in the backseat and wouldn’t disturb the person who is driving. And also we make sure her things have her names on it, just in case we accidentally left it somewhere.
Her bags will have her name and our phone number in it, so if we happen to have left it, the people who will find it will be able to reach us and let us know. Then we will be able to make arrangements on how they can send the things back to us.
We have some really cool bag tags in our shop section if you need some. Just check it out and I’m sure you’ll find some other cool stuff there too if you already have one.
• When travelling overseas – make sure you label their bags and water bottles and most importantly their very special possessions like their teddy bears or their blankets. Putting your phone number and your names in them always helps and makes it easy for those who find it to contact you so, that important thing will find its way back to you and your family.
Also make sure you have enough snacks, healthy snacks for the kids and put them in little sandwich bags. And if you are travelling with more than 1 child, make sure you put their snacks in their individual bags, so they will also learn to take responsibility and how to look after their won stuff. Make sure you pack the kids favourite fruits and snacks so they are happy.
Also we find that when you travel with little children, chewable snack can help ease the pressure in their ears when the plane is taking off and most importantly when the plane is descending- that’s when they can feel their ears hurting. So giving them a lollipop or some gummy bears or anything that they can chew and move their jaws will help ease the pressure on their tiny little ears.
And if you don’t like to give your kids those sugary chewable lollies, I think there are plenty of other healthier choices out there that you can find. Yawning in front of them helps too, coz yawning is contagious and it helps open their mouth and ease the pressure. It always works with our Katherine. I hope it will help your kids too.
For babies and toddlers that are still breastfeeding or drinking milk through the bottle. Just make sure you feed them during takeoff and when you feel the plane starting to descend. It really helped our little Katherine when she flew for the very first time at 4 weeks of age. And it helped here every time we flew locally and overseas.
Also don’t forget to pack sick bags in your own back packs, just in case the kids’ tummy plays up a bit along the trip. If you decide to put one in your kids backpack, make sure you do it discreetly. Because once you open the possibility to the kids that they might throw up during the flight, guess what? They will start thinking about it and yes, there would be a very high probability that they will. So make sure you do it without them knowing. Trust me, when it happens, you will be grateful that it’s there and that you are ready. The kids might even think you are like super parents because you already know what they are going to do next. LOL. If you don’t have sick bags like what you get in the planes, sandwich bags do the trick as well.
• Travelling by land – making sure they have their things ready for them to use. Like I said before, we put all of Katherine’s stuff in one backpack and before we leave, we unpack her backpack stuff in the car making sure she can easily reach them when she needs them. Like for example, we unpack her neck pillows and put it beside her, her. Her water bottle is right next to her ready when she needs it. Her favourite blanket it on her lap. Her tablet for her movies will be placed in front of her. Her headphones (which is Noise reduced headphones – these headphones are especially made for kids to avoid breaking their eardrums. These are not normal headphones – so be sure to get a set for your kids especially when they are little and they don’t know what very loud is yet and what is not. We have a few selections in our shops if you would like to have a look.)
Also don’t forget to pack sick bags, just in case of tummy emergencies again. Also make sure to pack healthy snack and fruits are cut or peeled so it’s all ready for them to eat. And before you put them in the car make sure they go to the toilet first to avoid kids peeing in your car. And if the trip takes more than 2 hours, make sure you do stop for a leg stretch and toilet breaks. It’s very important to make the trip enjoyable and fun.
Also we play games with Katherine if she decided not to take a nap. We play games like, which coloured car will drive past next. Or when dad has been driving for a while, we play a game where we shout every time we drive under a bridge or under an overpass. It wakes us all up all the time. And it’s so much fun. Do you play games too when you go for long drives? Don’t forget to share it with all KOH family so we can experience your fun too.
Tip # 4. Count How many bags you brought.
When you travel especially by plane, make sure you know how many bags you are carrying including all backpacks so you will avoid accidentally leaving one behind in an airport somewhere. Also when you have to do few transfers, make sure every little thing is packed.
Yes like their teddies and blankets and pillows and water bottles are all packed and inside their backpacks to avoid losing them.
Counting how many bags you and each person and kids are bringing will make it easier to remember. And again, like I mentioned before, label everything when you can so it finds it way back to you.
Tip # 5. Final checks. Just before you get out the door, check each children’s list with them and tick the list one by one with them. Make sure you’ll check their suitcase with them before you close and lock it up. And close them as you finish checking them. Backpacks should be on their backs and if they are big enough, they can pull their suitcases out of the house themselves as well. When you travel overseas, make sure you are holding all the documents yourself, like passports and valid ID’s. Put them in a good size bag where you can put them all together and make sure you count all the document you carry so you will remember how many you should have. It’s just easier for me to keep track on them. However, please do whatever works for you and your family and please don’t forget to share it with other families out there too.
One more very important thing. When travelling overseas, make sure you have padlocks for each of your suitcases. It’s very important, to avoid losing your stuff and also, so other people that you don’t know, won’t be able to put anything in your bag that might put your family in the wrong side of law. So make sure everything is locked and secure before you get it out of your front door. And when your padlocks have keys, make sure you put in an a bag where you carry with all the time so you know exactly where it is when you need it.
Plus, when you travel by plane, make sure you check how many luggage you are allowed to take with you and how many kilos each person are allowed. So weigh your bags at home when you are just finishing with your packing so you won’t end up paying hundreds of dollars of excess luggage at the airport. There’s nothing worse than a last-minute surprise. Also, most airlines now a days will give you the option of paying for excess luggage as you check in online the night before you fly or even few hours before the actual flight. When we know we are taking more than what we are actually allowed to take on the plane, we check-in ahead of time (online) then we’ll pay for excess luggage as well, yes online and not at the airport. Because if you do it at the airport, the price is always many times higher. If you don’t know how to do it online, they normally will have a phone number that you can ring and they are always very helpful. So make sure you ring them.
Now that’s about it. Now don’t forget to download the printable Packing Checklist created for you to guide you and your kids with organizing your things.
We really hope that our family’s experiences and the things we’ve learned will help you and your family. And we hope that you and your family will have an amazing holiday wherever you are in the world. Please let us know if you have any helpful ideas too. We would love to hear from you and learn from your family’s experiences too.
Enjoy your holiday and don’t forget to share with us how much fun you’ve had.
Von Voyage and have an amazing holiday and a safe and awesome trip.
Lots of love,
KOH Family
Don’t forget to download our Kids packing checklist and the Family Packing Checklist.