Whether it’s for a reunion or you and your kids’ favorite annual trip, there’s nothing like hitting the road with your family. But as fun as family trips are, anyone who’s ever been on one will tell you that it’s not without its challenges. And forgetting to pack things is one of the most common.
If you want to make sure you and your family have everything they need when they arrive at their intended destination, check out the packing mistakes to avoid for your next trip.
Not Packing for the Trip Itself
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” And the same can be applied to packing. Yes, you need to make sure everyone has enough pairs of pants for the days you’ll be gone. But if you have kids, you’ll also need enough activities to keep them entertained for the hours it’ll take to get to your venue.
Here are a few things to consider adding to your child’s carry-on:
- Video games and chargers
- Books or Audiobooks
- Preloaded kid-friendly apps
- Coloring and activity books
- One favorite toy
Neglecting Venues
Vacations are typically more laidback scenarios, so usually our mindset is to focus on comfortable, casual clothing. But, depending on where you go, it pays to have outfits for different scenarios.
For example, you should have casual clothes you can throw on over a bathing suit. But one of the more common packing mistakes you’ll want to avoid is not having a nicer outfit packed just in case you want to go out to a restaurant or play.
Not Considering Weather
On an average day, not dressing for the weather is a minor inconvenience. When you’re on a trip, it can make fun activities become a drag. When you sit down to pack, it’s good to ask yourself a few weather-related questions, such as:
- How cold will it be this time of year?
- How does the average temperature in that region differ from your own?
- Do you expect it to rain or snow while you’re there?
- Are you planning on spending extended periods of time outdoors?
- Will you be outside at night and during the day?
- Will it be colder in some parts of the trip than others? (For example, if you plan on going up to the mountains for part of the trip)
Remember, it isn’t only the cold and wet weather you need to prepare for. If you’re going somewhere where it’s sunny, you’ll want to make sure you and your family have well-chosen travel hats to keep the sun out of your eyes.
