This summer, my family and I took an 8-week trip to Europe. We had big plans to explore new places and return to old favorites. In planning the details of this adventure, I included a variety of accommodations, travel options, and activities that the whole family would enjoy.
While planning the trip was fun, the logistics of how best to pack for a family of four with two young children were much more challenging. My kids are 4 and 6 and can’t be expected to carry their own backpacks or luggage yet. That means whatever we packed, my husband and I would carry around the world. So we had to find a balance between packing and packing. right I ended up overpacking everything I needed, including clothes and travel gear, and ended up regretting it all.
We’ve been traveling for four weeks now and I’m so glad I had space in my luggage for five things.
Here are five must-have items for this summer.
A bit more about our journey
The trip started with meeting up with relatives and friends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. From Cabo, we flew to Porto, Portugal on American Airlines and spent two weeks touring Porto, Lisbon, and Sagres. After Portugal, we headed to Valencia, Spain. We had originally planned to stay for two weeks, but… It ended up being three weeks.
About a week before we left Valencia for Barcelona, we saw news about Barcelona residents protesting and spraying tourists with water guns. Needless to say, we decided to turn around and avoid Barcelona altogether.
Tip:
I almost exclusively book hotels and Airbnbs that have flexible cancellation policies, even if I have to pay extra. In the case of an Airbnb in Barcelona, I got a full refund and was able to extend my stay by booking another Airbnb in Valencia.
From Valencia, we head to the eco-resort of Barromanes in Spain, then on to several cities in France. Paris Olympics.
To travel in Europe Combination of train, plane and rental carAs for accommodation, we bounce between Airbnb and hotels. 10 city tour.
I usually travel with carry-on luggage only, so I pack efficiently and rarely pack more than I need. Two carry-on suitcases and one backpack per personWe also brought a travel car seat for our child and rolled up a duffel bag in one of the suitcases to hold our purchases overseas.
Here are some of the items in my bag that I’m glad I packed.
Five must-have items for this summer
1. WayB Pico Portable Car Seat
If you have small children, Consider using a child car seat whenever you are in a moving vehicle.Although we never put our kids in car seats on a plane or when traveling, we couldn’t imagine them being in a car without a car seat or booster, so we knew our 4-year-old would need a car seat unless we rented a car for the entire trip.
Therefore WayB Pico Portable Car Seat It’s compact enough to fit in an overhead bin on an airplane. Just 8 poundsIt’s also easy to carry when not in use.
This car seat is for children Weight: 22-50 lbs, Height: 30-50 inchesThis is a forward-facing car seat, so it is not suitable for small children.
Some may say I should have rented a car seat with the rental car, and that’s entirely true, but I was so glad I had my own car seat on this trip, and there were many times I quickly installed it in a taxi, giving me peace of mind that my child would be extra safe.
3. WayB Mini Pack
WayB’s mini pack Small backpack It’s perfect for a day out.
My kids aren’t babies yet, but they are still young, so it would be nice to bring along some things like: When going out, bring a change of clothes, snacks, water, wet wipes, etc.At home, we have these items strategically stored in our bags and cars, but when we’re traveling, we need alternatives that are easy to carry yet still hold everything we need.
This compact backpack is comfortable to wear and Water bottle pocket You can easily pack two sets of clothes on each side. An empty backpack fits in your carry-on luggage.
3. Pact Sling
My 5 liter Pakt Sling (also available in a 3 liter size) is probably One of my favorite travel accessoriesMy husband wears it most days on travel days, but when I travel without him I only use this sling instead of a purse or backpack.
It’s just the right size to hold everything I want to carry around with me at once, including my Kindle, which has become a part of my wrist for the past few years.
It has one zipper on the front, perfect for storage. Wallet, pen, and several passportsYou can also use a larger container. It can hold a lot of things, including a Kindle. There is an additional compartment inside. Help you organize your belongings.
This little bag is not as big as the mini pack, so you can’t fit a water bottle in it easily, but Easy access diaper bagThe large compartment can hold a few diapers, wipes, a pacifier, small toys, and even a bottle. It won’t replace a diaper bag, but it’s an easy alternative for when you need to change your baby at the airport or on a plane.
4. Packing cubes
Packing cubes have been a game changer for me over the last few years. Packing cubes are a big deal. Organizational tools This is very helpful when traveling as you only need to bring carry-on luggage.
We have three sets of EZ Packing Cubes and they are especially useful because they come in a clear case. Each set comes with 4 cubes; I ended up not bringing the smallest cube this time, but on short trips I sometimes use it as a container for my children’s toiletries.
Use Packing Cubes Strategically Reduce excess packaging And I minimize the hassle of packing and unpacking at each destination. If it doesn’t fit in my packing cube, I don’t bring it (or I put it in someone else’s cube). Once I get to my hotel room or apartment, I just Take each person’s cube out of their suitcase and place it in a dresser drawer..
I also use packing cubes to organize other items. This summer I used two cubes to store hair care products and other toiletries that were too big for my hanging toiletry bag. These cubes Holds full-size shampoo, conditioner, lotion, contact lenses, sunscreen, and more.
Conclusion:
Packing cubes help you stay organized by packing similar items together, such as clothes, toiletries, jewelry, etc. They come in a variety of sizes depending on how much space you need.
5. Hanging toiletry bag
I checked into a beautiful hotel room, Totally disappointing, unusable bathroom sinkOr is your bathroom lacking any place or storage for your face wash and toothbrush? When you value fashion over functionality, having a hanging toiletry bag is always a relief.
This bag was introduced to me by a friend who’s a professional organizer, and when she learned that my family travels a lot, she was surprised that I hadn’t already used it. Hanging toiletry bag to save spaceNow I don’t know how I ever lived without it – no more wondering where to put your toiletry bag around a pedestal sink or small bathroom.
I love being able to pack all my family’s toiletries in one bag, which frees up space in everyone’s luggage for other things. Another helpful organizational tool for your carry-on luggage when traveling.
Final thoughts
Packing for four people away from home for eight weeks requires a lot of thought, lists, and the right gear. Halfway through the trip, we’ll no doubt be packing these five items again to help us stay organized without straining our carry-on-only lifestyle.
