When it comes to packing, I’m very minimal and fairly frugal. I adore multi-purpose objects. Here are a few items I actually think are worth the expense. Bear in mind, I do not own all of these products, and these are *suggestions*. I would never take every single one of them on a trip, but do use a couple on each trip we take.
There are affiliate links below. When you shop, I receive a percentage of your purchase.
Compression Bags
I emphatically do not recommend packing cubes, unless you’re a very frequent traveler. And even for us frequent travelers, there are less expensive ways to accomplish the same thing. But I do recommend these compression bags to pack up your clothes. If you find it hard to take less clothes in your suitcase, this is an easy way to get away with packing more without taking up extra space.
Travel Laundry Detergent
If you have any need to hand wash clothing, these little packets are specifically for that (& these for more delicate clothes). Need I say more?
An efficient diaper bag
Especially once your kids are bottle-free, you can lighten your load and pack much less. I wish I had owned this fanny pack much earlier.
A Travel Toiletry Bag that Fits almost any style
For us, this one is pretty large. But if you’re not quite as ‘minimal’ as I am, this may be a good option for you. I love how this one folds out, but still hangs up. The elastics to hold each bottle in place make the organized inner me oh-so happy 🙂 As I suggest packing “one for all” (1 toiletry kit for the entire traveling party) this bag has plenty of space for every family member.
A Place to Keep Bottles Cool
I wish I had known about this when I was still breast- & bottle-feeding. Genius.
A Blanket You’ll Use even after you’re back home
This is an awesome, lightweight beach blanket to pack if you’re destination calls for it, but it’s a great investment to use at home too. Hiking? Picnic at the park? Beach day? This would be useful long after your trip was over.
A Playyard for the Beach
We used this every time we went to the beach with the twins – especially helpful when we were doing a bonfire and didn’t want anyone getting too close. This version is the smaller one, and might be handy for some, but we owned this version that held both kids and plenty of toys to keep them occupied. There are versions with a canopy, but we just put hats and sunscreen on our kids (& didn’t get to the beach until ~3:30pm – that was a huge factor). Bonus info: I *have* traveled twice on a plane with this – we checked it, and it held up well, though the carrying bag was permanently stained.
Extra Hands
These are brilliant to keep on your stroller forever and always, because there’s always something to be carried. Even if you just use them to hang shoes while you’re at an indoor playground, they are an affordable way to be more organized.
Portable White Noise
Unfortunately, the Holiday Inn outside of the Philadelphia airport has our original, but I loved this thing until I left it attached to their hotel crib. Our “home” white noise machine is not travel-friendly because of its size, so it was worth the splurge to buy this one.
Remember: I have *never* packed all of these items for a single trip. We are fairly light packers. Do you have any favorite gadgets, gizmos or products that have saved your travels, or helped make things oh-so much easier? Please share below, so I can travel even wiser 🙂
