Pack…my suitcase?! I think we all remember Kevin McAllister’s incredulity at this simple request in the movie Home Alone. As parents, the challenge is even greater because we are not only packing for us, but for our kids as well. We need to make sure everyone has everything they need for the trip, and still need to fit it all into limited luggage space. So here are some ideas I’ve found useful for choosing well and fitting it all in.

1. Use quality suitcases. My first trip to Europe was as a teenager. Fortunately I lucked out as far as packing well, because I ended up with the best suitcase in the house. It was sturdy and rollable, at a time when most suitcases were carried or dragged on tiny wheels in the corner. Let me tell you those tiny wheels did not stand up to European cobblestone streets. So the first tip is to have decent luggage. Now they make them with wheels on all four corners so you can pull them along without having to support the weight. This makes a huge difference and helps a ton when on smooth ground. You can even rest your personal item on it to get a break from the weight when needed. Also having castors? that swivel makes it so much easier to turn the suitcase in tight spaces. Not having to support the weight most of the time is great, but do make sure you can still lift it if at all possible. At some point there will be stairs or the need to lift it into a train or trunk. Even older kids should be able to lift their own suitcases up a few stairs.
2. What you pack should make you happy. On our first trip to Europe, my mom packed a bag of healthy snacks, which had to be carried in addition to her carry-on. Us teens went to Target the night before and bought the snacks we really wanted, and packed them in our own backpacks. That brings me to my next point. Give kids a say in what they want packed for them. This of course varies depending on age, but you do not have the capacity to bring and carry things that will be refused or unused. On the other hand, if kids are excited about their items, they will be more willing to carry them in their own bags. Honestly, even as an adult I feel the same. To borrow from Marie Kondo, everything I pack should “spark joy”: toiletries that make me feel beautiful, a book I can’t wait to start, and the clothes I reach for first instead of the ones I only wear because I ‘really’ need to do laundry are all items that are really worth bringing with me.
3. Nothing should be just for one use. In our early days traveling as a family of 4 with my own kids, I decided I was going to do it right. I laid out an outfit for each day on my bedroom floor, and then pajamas, swim stuff, etc., all in a big line. Then I did the same for my son, in a line right under my own, and then again for my daughter. I had made a grid, making sure each category was filled for each of us. I felt super organized. The reality though, is that was a surefire recipe for overpacking. Lots of it came back unworn. Knowing your needs is important. For families with younger kids, they may need more than one outfit a day. What’s important is to know how often you and your kids go through a change of clothes and plan accordingly. Bottoms and even tops can be worn at least twice before washing, barring major messes. Tide pens are a great addition, too. Even if packing an outfit per day per person isn’t a big problem on shorter trips, for trips longer than a week, it becomes very impractical. Suitcases are limited, and when flying, oversize and overweight luggage fees can stack up pretty quickly. Even on a road trip, trunk tetris can get challenging quickly when there are multiple passengers. So, packing efficiently is important.
4. Think in terms of categories rather than outfits. Rather than planning a great outfit for each day/evening/activity (shoes and accessories included, of course), know the number of each of these events and divide by how many wears you get per item. So if there are 8 semi-formal dinners and you can wear each piece 3 times, then 3 tops and 3 bottoms in this category should do it. Making sure they all go with each other means you can still wear 8 different outfits. Also consider that if these are only for dinners out, they are only worn for a few hours and can therefore be reworn more than something you are in all day or through the heat of the day. Thinking in categories is especially important for shoes and bags, and only one per category. Longer trips don’t mean more of these items, just more use for each of them. Neutral shoes go with more, but neutral doesn’t have to mean boring (or even just black). Metallics count as neutrals, and neutrals include everything from light cream to dark navy, and yes, black. I’m planning to take the following shoe categories on my next trip: good walking sneakers, beach sandals, comfy flat sandals, and heeled sandals. That should cover everything from the pool to semi-formal. If I have the space, I might throw in the mesh flats I mentioned in my spring fashion article. Two swimsuits should mostly cover needs, one to wear and one hanging to dry from the day before. Maybe a third if you are in the pool or at the beach every day.
5. Make everything you pack mix and match, if at all possible. Knowing me, I would never advocate feeling boring. Rewearing items doesn’t mean rewearing the exact same outfit. Packing mostly neutrals makes this easy (article on mixing colors), but if you like color, it’s easy to add colored pieces to pair with the neutrals. If you plan to wear multiple colors together, make sure they are all in the same family. That way they can go with each other well. For girls and women, we need to factor in dresses and colorful skirts, this makes planning colors that work together even more important. Accessories are great too. Changing up the jacket or shoes or adding a belt can make the same dress have different looks. A light jacket is even good for warm-weather locations. It can be a lifesaver in the evenings or if the A/C is a bit too nippy.

Traveling as a family does involve some extra logistics, but planning ahead well makes a huge difference. If you are planning a trip with your family, I wish you safe travels and hope you make lots of special memories.