Packing for days out, mini breaks, or holidays with kids can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Over the years, I’ve discovered a range of tried-and-tested packing essentials that make every trip smoother and more enjoyable. Whether you’re planning a quick outing, a weekend away, or a big family holiday, having the right items on hand can save time, reduce stress, and ensure you’re prepared for anything. In this post, I’m sharing all of my must-have packing essentials with links to the exact items I use and love, so you can pack with confidence and focus on making memories. Let’s get started!
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Table Of Contents
Travel Planners
My Organised Holiday & Organised Mini Break planners have all of the lists and planning pages that you will need to pack for a successful trip.
Packing Videos on my YouTube channel
Luggage
Carry On Case
These are the carry on size cases that we use for airline travel.
Check In Luggage
We have the medium sized American Tourister cases as the large wouldn’t have fit in the car. Make sure you measure your car boot before purchasing.
Travel Laptop Bag On Wheels
This laptop bag is amazing for all of my tech for trips or even days out where I need my laptop.
Card For Spending While Travelling Abroad
I get lots of questions about which card I use for spending abroad and on the ships where everything is in dollars and I use Monzo. They don’t charge any fees for spending abroad, and don’t mark up the exchange rate. I like the flexibility of being able to add the card to pay with Apple Pay on my phone and watch, plus you can place money into “savings pots” to put money aside for accommodation, merchandise, meals etc when saving for your trip.
They have even added kids cards, which my children have and we love. They appear within the parents app so that you can among pocket money and spending with ease, plus kids get their own card and app to learn to manage their money and make choices about spending and saving. And best of all, the kids cards are free!
Is the button below to try Monzo and get £5 added to your account when you make your first transaction on your card.
AirTags & Straps For Child Safety On Trips
In the vlogs you will notice my kids wearing AirTags attached to their wrists with fun coloured straps. While AirTags are no substitute for keeping a close eye on your children, they can be a valuable extra way to ensure that you do not lose your children in busy places.
How do AirTags work?
Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy. And itʼs efficient, so thereʼs no need to worry about battery life or data usage.
Labels
These are the labels that I use to label pretty much anything that has a chance of being misplaced when out of the house. From hoodies, bags and soft toys that can be left behind, everything gets a label. They can be stuck into the care labels of clothes or onto hard surfaces and after 24 hours are machine washable and dishwasher safe.
Pro tip: As well as you family name, put your telephone number on the labels. I have had so much stuff returned to me thanks to my phone number on these stickers! Make sure you replace the “0” with your country code (+44 in the UK) so that items can still be returned to you abroad. It’s also additional peace of mind that if your child is lost, they have your number in their clothing so that a helpful adult can contact you
Travel Essentials
Passport Holders
Tech Pouch
Luggage Tags
Clear Pencil Cases
These are great for separating out small bits like jewellery, NuiMo clothes, watch straps and more in the cases and park bags.
Packing Cubes
Clear Toiletry Bags
Travel Sickness Bands
Locking Pin Badge Backs
Magnetic Hooks
First Aid Kit
Fold Out Mirror
My Disney Trip Makeup
Travel Makeup Brushes
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