15 Things I Never Pack for a Family Vacation Anymore
I used to pack for every possible scenario. Extra outfits. Too many shoes. Enough snacks to survive being stranded at the airport for three days. After enough family trips, I finally learned that packing more doesn’t make traveling with kids easier.
15 Things I Stopped Packing
After plenty of family trips, I’ve learned that more stuff doesn’t make traveling with kids easier. Here’s what I stopped packing, what I bring instead, and the little changes that have made our family vacations so much easier.
An Outfit for Every Single Day
I used to think a 7-day trip meant packing seven completely different outfits for everyone—plus a few extras “just in case.” In reality, we always end up reaching for the same comfortable favorites, and half the clothes come home untouched.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I pack fewer pieces that can easily be mixed and matched. A few basic bottoms, coordinating tops, and one or two lightweight layers give us plenty of outfit options without stuffing the suitcase.
MOM TIP: Keep each outfit together when you pack so there’s no digging around the suitcase trying to find a matching shirt and bottoms. It makes getting kids dressed in a hotel room so much quicker and easier.
Full-Size Toiletries
Full-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash take up way too much room—and there’s nothing worse than opening your suitcase to find shampoo all over your clothes.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I transfer just what we’ll need into small travel-size bottles and containers. It saves space, keeps everything organized, and means I’m not hauling our entire bathroom on vacation.
MOM TIP: Before putting the cap back on, place a small piece of plastic wrap over the bottle opening. It adds an extra layer of protection against leaks inside your suitcase.
Too Many Shoes
Shoes take up so much suitcase space, and I used to pack way too many pairs thinking we might need different ones for every activity. Most of the time, we ended up wearing the same favorites over and over anyway.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I keep it simple with a comfortable pair of walking shoes, sandals or flip-flops, and one other pair if we actually have plans that require them. We also wear our bulkiest shoes on travel days so they aren’t taking up valuable suitcase space.
MOM TIP: Grab a few cheap shower caps and slip them over the bottoms of your shoes before packing. It keeps dirty soles from touching all those clean clothes.
A Huge Pile of Toys
I used to think bringing a bunch of toys would keep the kids entertained while traveling, but most of them ended up sitting untouched in the suitcase. Kids somehow find the most random things entertaining when they’re somewhere new anyway.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I let each kid bring a few small favorites and pack a couple of easy activities like coloring books or something they can play with quietly. Keeping it simple means fewer things to pack.
MOM TIP: Bring a roll of blue painter’s tape! You can make roads on the hotel floor for toy cars, create shapes and games, or let the kids make tape art. It peels right off without leaving a sticky mess behind.
Bulky Beach Towels
Beach towels take up a ridiculous amount of suitcase space, especially when you’re packing one for everyone in the family. And once they’re wet, they’re heavy, take forever to dry, and aren’t exactly something you want stuffed back into your luggage.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: First, I check whether our hotel, resort, or vacation rental provides beach towels. If we really do need to bring our own, I pack lightweight quick-dry or Turkish-style towels that fold up much smaller than traditional beach towels.
MOM TIP: Always check with your hotel or Airbnb before packing beach gear. Many places already provide towels—and sometimes even chairs, umbrellas, coolers, or beach toys—so you may be able to leave a lot more at home.
Too Many 'Just in Case' Clothes
I used to pack for every possible mess—spills, blowouts, muddy clothes, unexpected weather—you name it. A couple of backup outfits quickly turned into half a suitcase of clothes that usually came home completely untouched.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I bring a reasonable number of backup outfits for the kids and plan to wash something if we have a bigger-than-expected mess. A few travel laundry detergent sheets take up almost no room and are perfect for washing something in the hotel sink.
MOM TIP: Keep a stain remover pen or wipes in your diaper bag or travel bag. Treating spills right away can save an outfit and means you don’t need to pack five backups for every day.
A Different Purse for Every Outfit
Before kids, I might have cared about having a purse that matched every outfit. On a family vacation, I just want one bag that holds everything I need without constantly switching my wallet, phone, and other essentials from bag to bag.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I bring one lightweight crossbody bag in a neutral color that works with everything. It’s easy to carry, doesn’t take up much room, and becomes my go-to bag for the entire trip.
MOM TIP: A crossbody keeps your hands free for all the things that actually matter on a family trip—pushing the stroller, holding little hands, carrying snacks, and, most importantly, holding your coffee.
Huge Packs of Diapers
Diapers take up a shocking amount of suitcase space, and I quickly learned that I don’t need to bring an entire package when we’re traveling somewhere with stores nearby.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I pack enough diapers for travel day, the first day or two of the trip, plus a few extras for unexpected delays or extra changes. Then we make a quick Target or grocery-store run once we arrive and grab what we need for the rest of the vacation.
MOM TIP: Lay diapers flat along the bottom or sides of your suitcase instead of packing them in one big stack. They fit into those awkward empty spaces perfectly and leave more room for everything else.
Every Baby Item We Own
Traveling with a baby already comes with a lot of stuff, and I used to feel like we needed to bring half the nursery with us. Between the monitor, sound machine, stroller, feeding gear, and sleep essentials, it can feel like you’re moving into the hotel instead of going on vacation.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I only bring the baby gear we know we’ll actually use and look for ways to borrow or rent the bulky stuff at our destination. Baby gear rental services can be especially helpful for things like cribs, high chairs, toys, and other items I don’t want to drag through the airport.
MOM TIP: Check with your hotel or vacation rental before packing bulky baby gear. Many hotels have cribs or Pack ‘n Plays available, but quantities can be limited, so I always request one ahead of time rather than waiting until we arrive.
Tons of Snacks
I will always travel with snacks when we have kids with us, but I’ve learned we definitely don’t need to pack enough for the entire vacation. They take up a ton of room, and somehow half of them end up crushed at the bottom of the bag anyway.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I pack plenty of our favorite snacks for the travel day plus a few extras for delays or emergencies. Once we arrive, we make a quick grocery-store run and stock up on fresh fruit, drinks, breakfast foods, and snacks for the rest of the trip.
MOM TIP: Use a divided snack container for travel day so everyone has a variety of little snacks to choose from without carrying a bunch of separate bags.
Things the Hotel Provides
I used to pack things without even thinking about whether our hotel already had them. Hair dryers, shampoo, body wash, towels, and other basics can take up valuable suitcase space when there may already be plenty waiting in the room.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: Before I start packing, I check the hotel’s website or room amenities to see what’s included. If I know they provide it, it stays home.
MOM TIP: Don’t be afraid to ask the front desk for things you need. Many hotels have extras like trash bags, laundry bags, cups, toiletries, and other basic items available upon request.
Too Many Pajamas
I used to pack a fresh pair of pajamas for every single night of the trip, but kids really don’t need seven different pairs of pajamas for a one-week vacation. They take up way more suitcase space than you’d think, especially when you’re packing for multiple kids.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I usually pack two or three pairs of comfortable, lightweight pajamas per child and rotate them throughout the trip. If we’re staying somewhere with a washer and dryer, even better.
MOM TIP: Choose lightweight pajamas that are easy to wash and quick to dry.
Expensive Jewelry
Between beaches, pools, theme parks, airports, and busy days chasing kids around, vacation is the last place I want to worry about losing something expensive or sentimental. If I would be devastated if it disappeared, I’d rather leave it safely at home.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I keep jewelry simple while traveling and bring inexpensive everyday pieces that work with everything.
MOM TIP: Simple jewelry is also much easier when traveling with little ones. Skip anything overly dangly or easy for tiny hands to grab and stick with comfortable pieces you can wear all day.
A Giant 'Emergency' Meds Cabinet
I like being prepared when we travel, especially with kids, but that doesn’t mean I need to bring our entire medicine cabinet. Full boxes and bottles of every possible medicine add up quickly and usually come home completely untouched.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: I pack a small, organized travel medicine kit with our regular medications and a few basic essentials that make sense for our family and destination.
MOM TIP: If we’re staying somewhere with easy access to a pharmacy or store, I pack lighter. For cruises, international trips, or more remote destinations, I bring a more complete supply.
Things I Can Buy There
One of the biggest things that helped me stop overpacking was realizing I don’t have to bring absolutely everything from home. Things like extra wipes, sunscreen, snacks, bottled water, diapers, and beach toys can usually be picked up once we arrive instead of taking up valuable suitcase space.
WHAT I DO INSTEAD: If we’re traveling somewhere with easy access to stores, we plan a quick grocery or Target run near the beginning of the trip
MOM TIP: If you’re traveling internationally, visiting a local grocery store can actually be part of the fun! My kids love seeing all the different snacks and treats, and we usually let everyone pick something new to try.
The Old Way vs. The New Way
THE OLD WAY
- Pack for every hypothetical scenario
- Bring backups for the backups
- Fill every single inch of suitcase space
- Lug heavy baggage through crowded airports
- Dig through endless clutter to find one shirt
THE NEW WAY
- Pack strictly for the trip we're actually taking
- Choose travel-size essentials
- Use hotel amenities and local services
- Pack Less. Travel Easier.
- Keep everything organized and instantly visible
Less to pack. Less to carry. More time to actually enjoy the trip.
Packing for a family vacation soon?
Save this list for your next family vacation—and when the suitcase starts getting a little too full, come back for a quick reminder of what you can probably leave at home.
Real trips. Honest tips. Easier planning for busy families.
Plan.Travel.Often. Take it and go.