Our family travel packing checklist
The master list we copy for every trip and trim to fit. There's a full version for 10-day trips and a lighter one for long weekends, but the categories never change. Pack by person so nobody's swimsuit gets left behind.
What to pack
Clothing & shoes
- Underwear, socks, sleepwear
- Casual tops & bottoms, pants/jeans, shorts
- Athletic shirts & bottoms
- Sweaters, sweatshirts, a shawl/scarf
- Dresses / a nicer outfit for a night out
- Swimsuits & cover-ups, goggles
- Sneakers, sandals, one pair of dress shoes
- Cold-weather: hats, beanies, gloves
- Belts, sunglasses (with a case)
Toiletries & grooming
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, tongue cleaner
- Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, body spray/perfume
- Razor & shaving supplies, hair trimmer + charger
- Brush/comb, hair clips, styling tools, hair spray
- Face cleanser, moisturizer, makeup + remover, skincare
- Sunscreen, lotion, nail clippers & file, jewelry
Health & first-aid
- Medications & vitamins, pain relievers (pills + roll-on)
- First-aid kit, thermometer, aloe gel
- Eye drops, contacts + solution + backup glasses
- Insect repellent, hand sanitizer, tissues
- Braces / retainer supplies, hot packs for hands/feet
Carry-on & tech
- Passports / visa / IDs, printed tickets, cash
- Phones + chargers, laptop + charger, Fitbit chargers
- International power adapter, car charger, phone car mount
- Headphones, books / e-books, paper & pen
- Empty water bottle, snacks, gum/mints, lip balm
- Travel blanket, sleep mask, umbrella/poncho
- Big camera, luggage scale for the trip home
Before you leave: the door checklist
The five-minute list that saves the trip. Run it every single time.
- Tell the bank - set a travel notice on the cards so nothing gets frozen abroad.
- Cash - a little local currency for the first day before you find an ATM.
- House - garbage out, thermostat set, Ring/alarm armed, all doors & windows locked.
- Cars - lock the cars in the garage.
- Adapters & chargers - the thing everyone forgets; pack them last so they're on top.
- Snacks & empty water bottles - fill the bottles after security; snacks keep travel day civil.
This checklist is part of our full trip planning guide - how we build itineraries, plus the real plans from every trip we've taken.