Everything you need, with room to spare…
There are two kinds of travelers in the world: those who pack light and those who wish they had. To include everything needed in as little space as possible on your next family vacation, follow these helpful guidelines compiled by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). As some of the most travel-wise people in the world, their members know the techniques of efficient packing for all types of family vacations.
Make a Plan and Stick to it!
A packing list eliminates the panic of last-second packing for your family, serves as a handy guide for repacking at the end of a trip, and can be beneficial in the unfortunate event of lost of stolen luggage.
When planning the wardrobes for you and your children, consider the events you will participate in both day and night and write down a possible outfit for each person, for each activity. Crosscheck this list to ensure it covers multiple occasions. Pack clothes that coordinate well together, based on complimentary colors.
Check the weather forecast for your destination and plan accordingly. Also, be sure to know the local traditions, where your son’s t-shirt for dinner could be a serious blunder, or bare shoulders may bar entrance into such places as St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. For almost all outdoor activities, take pieces that can be layered.
Your family’s vacation is not a business trip, so forget dress clothes for every occasion. Besides, the world at large has relaxed its dress code, showing almost universal leniency to tourists.
To Pack or Not to Pack? That Is The Question
Now that everyone’s wardrobe is thoroughly planned, stick with it. When packing, lay out the items you intend to take and re-examine your list. If at all possible, weed out single use items and extras.
Jewelry – don’t take what you don’t want to lose, and leave behind any flashy pieces that could attract thieves.
When it comes to the question of toiletries, travel kits are always the answer. Most personal toiletry items come in inexpensive travel sizes; so purchase these whenever you see them, so you don’t arrive with a half-empty bottle of shampoo.
With each item you intend to bring, visualize how to make it smaller, like photocopying certain pages and maps from guidebooks, instead of bringing the entire book. Choose a regular toothbrush and razor over electric models.
Once your travel kit is complete, be sure to pack it in your carry-on bag to avoid a mess in your checked luggage, and to have on hand during the flight.
The Art of Packing
Now that you know what to bring on your family vacation, let the packing begin. Iron everything before placing it in the suitcase. If it goes in crisp and clean, odds are more in its favor of coming out the same. Button all buttons and zip all zippers.
The interlocking method of folding clothes is ideal for suitcases. Overlap two pieces of clothing flat and then fold them into each other so that each piece cushions the other to aid in defying wrinkles. Placing a piece of tissue paper between each layer may seem like overkill, but it should help prevent wrinkling.
If using the fold and stack method, try to think chronologically, placing the items to be worn first on the top. This will prevent rummaging around the suitcase for a specific item while disrupting the rest.
Always pack tightly. Packing loosely wastes precious space and causes clothes to wrinkle. Eliminate wasted space, such as the insides of shoes, which are perfect for socks or underwear. Also, your supply of disposable diapers can be used to protect cameras and small electrical items, and they can be folded or rolled to fill small voids in the suitcase.
Always carry travel documents, medication, jewelry, traveler’s checks, keys and other valuables in your carry-on luggage. Items such as these should never be packed in checked luggage.
Label each piece of luggage, inside and out, with your name and telephone number, but not your home address. If you must use an address, use an office address. Remove any old baggage claim checks to avoid confusion (this is good to do before returning home as well).
Unpack as completely as possible as soon as you get to your destination to prevent further wrinkles. When repacking, remember that balled up dirty laundry takes more space than carefully folded clothes, so repack your used clothing identically to your original packing method.
Want to lighten your load even more? Check out our Web Resources page. In the Vacationers: Supplies & Products section you’ll find several sources of ship-ahead baby and child supplies. Why drag along diapers, baby food, wipes, etc.? Order what you need and have it waiting for you when you arrive. This is a great weight and space saving idea. It also saves time, since you never need to make a trip to the store, either before your departure, or at your destination. 
