Family Holiday Packing List With All The Essentials (Plus The Extra Bits You Forget!)

Packing for a holiday can be stressful, especially when you've got children to think about.

While a family holiday can be lots of fun (and is often much needed), there's always the worry of leaving something important behind. When it comes to making sure you're organised and can go away stress-free, a holiday packing list is absolutely essential for remembering everything.

Luckily, we've compiled a packing list of everything you could possibly need for your family trip, from the bare essentials to extra add-ons, so that you can leave your worries behind. Whether you're travelling abroad or staying in the country, check out our family holiday checklist below!
 

Holidaying with children means there is so much more to take with you, and so much more that you could possibly forget. Make sure you consider this list of all of these kids holiday essentials for each person before you go away - perfect for whether you're a family of four or a larger family!

1) Clothes, pyjamas, socks, and underwear for each day, plus spares.

2) Any clothing accessories for possible weather such as hats, sunglasses, gloves, or scarves.

3) Swimwear (if applicable), armbands, and goggles.

4) Shoes, sandals, and slippers.

5) Plenty of nappies (if needed).

6) A baby carrier and/or a lightweight pushchair.

7) If you've got a baby, don't forget your sterilising products for bottles, formula, dummies, bottles, bibs, a breast pump, changing mat, and baby changing bag.

8) Bathroom essentials such as shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, towels (if needed), deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, hairbands, hairdryers, shaving gel, razors, talcum powder, and any feminine hygiene products.

9) Sun cream.

10) Water bottles, snacks, and baby food - either for your journey or for your stay.

11) A small first aid kit, including any essential medicines, plasters, bandages, and general medication.

12) A portable booster seat.

13) A day bag or a rucksack that can be used to take out on each day of your trip.

14) A potty (depending on the age of your children).

15) Cameras, smartphones, iPads, tablets, or even a night light - and chargers or batteries for each!

16) Glasses, contact lenses, or sunglasses.

17) Makeup and any perfume.

18) A small selection of toys or entertainment for children such as books, puzzles, teddies, small toys, and so on.

19) Your purse or wallet with your bank cards and ID.

20) Wet wipes and a packet of tissues.

21) Cutlery, cups, and plates for the children if they are not supplied at your holiday destination.

22) Earphones or headphones.

23) Umbrellas in case of wet weather.

24) Don’t forget your keys and car keys!

If you're planning on staying within the UK for your trip, make sure to check out our holiday checklist for families below with any additional items you might need to take.

1) A travel cot.

2) A booster seat for long car journeys, and a portable high chair if needed.

3) Food, snacks, and drinks if you're in self-catering accommodation. It's also a great idea to check if there are one or two supermarkets nearby.

4) A bucket and spade for beach trips.

5) Tents, sleeping bags, torches, camping chairs, matches, cooking utensils, and cutlery - if you're going camping.

6) A map of the local area/directions for wherever you're travelling to.

7) A picnic blanket and a picnic bag.

8) Wellies and waterproof jackets.

If you're looking for a packing list for family holiday abroad, we've got you covered. Flying with children can be stressful, so we've done our best to make sure that you remember everything for your holiday with our packing list!

1) Travel adaptors for the country you're visiting.

2) Beach/swimming towels if the accommodation does not provide any.

3) Sun cream and aftersun moisturiser.

4) Printed copies of your flight confirmation, boarding passes, hotel reservation, taxi bookings, etc.

5) Each member of the family's passports, driving license, or visa (if needed). It's also a great idea to check that everyone's passport has the required length of time remaining on it well before you travel!

6) Cash in the local currency of wherever you're flying to.

7) Bug spray, or mosquito repellent.

8) Blow up pillows and/or blankets for travel.

9) Valid travel and health insurance documents.

10) One hand luggage for each person, within the size limit of the airline.

We may have already rounded up all of the essentials, but here are a few extra travel items that you may want to consider taking along on your holiday with you.

1) A guide book of the local area and attractions, or a phrasebook to help you communicate (if abroad).

2) Small beach toys/small inflatable pool toys.

3) Bikes and helmets if you're planning on doing any cycling.

4) Entertainment such as a deck of cards, a colouring book, or a board game - to keep the kids occupied.

5) A portable DVD player.

6) Extra snuggly blankets.

Finding packing lists that cater to the extra precautions needed to be taken for COVID-19 can be difficult, so we've rounded up everything you could possibly think of to take to make sure that your trip is extra safe and that you're as risk-free as can be!

Top Tip: In these uncertain times, it's a great idea to read any cancellation policies for your holiday beforehand (along with the current situation in the area, how they are taking safety precautions for visitors, whether or not any rules are being enforced, which restaurants, attractions, and swimming pools are actually open and so on). When planning your holiday, keep an eye on the number of cases in the area and (if going abroad) if the government is considering adding the country to the quarantine list.

Don't Forget To Pack:

1) At least one reusable face mask for each member of the family, or several disposable ones.

2) Bottles of hand sanitiser.

3) Cleaning wipes.

4) Your bank card, to avoid handling cash when out and about.

5) Up to date travel and health insurance.

6) A basic first aid kit, with a thermometer to monitor temperatures, and paracetamol.

7) Snacks, drinks, and/or food for your trip. It's important to research in advance whether or not the places that you are visiting are serving food during your stay.