I like to make a general list of things we all need like toiletries, medications, passports, etc. And then make individual lists for each person. As I write this, I am preparing for our Christmas Market trip to Vienna. And so I am really thinking through what I do and why I do it. I think for me, it comes down to where things are located, so I keep all our "general travel supplies" in a closet in our spare room, and then my kids each have their own room.  So my best advice would be, if you're going to make lists do so in whatever way makes the most sense to you. For me, I prefer to have things listed based on where I will find them in my house. This way I can complete a list without running allover the place, and I can chip away at the task of packing a little at a time. 

I am going to link some of the tried and true items I found and been using.  I am only linking things that I personally have purchased and used, however I want to be transparent and say that I am an Amazon Associate. I signed up to do this as a way to earn back some small income for the time I put into making this blog. However, I would never promote anything that I have not personally used and found useful. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

First things first, what kind of bags do we use, and what is essential to every trip. 

We are 4 people, 2 adults and 2 children. Even when we go on longer trips like 16 days, we limit the checked luggage to 2 bags. It would be too much to bring more since we also have to push a stroller, and if we rent a car we couldn't fit more.  We have found that the best kind of luggage to have is the kind with 4 wheels, they roll the easiest, and even our 8 year old can help with pushing one. We have been through a few, but the most reliable and long lasting one we have found to be is by Travelpro- it is lightweight, 4 wheels, functional, and affordable. We like the soft outside because we find them easier to pack. We have a smaller carry-on size and a 2 bigger checked-luggage size ones. We only use the carry-on size one for shorter trips where we only need 1 of the larger checked sized ones. 

Favorite carry on:

https://amzn.to/4nI9NIY

Favorite luggage:

https://amzn.to/3Jrqaf0

If we are checking 2 bigger bags, we only take smaller carry on bags. Usually backpacks and my absolute favorite bag that comes with me on every trip- my Foldie, I swear by it! It folds into itself and ends up as a tiny pouch which makes it super easy to store, but it can expand to a huge bag, big enough to be the only bag I take for myself if I am going on a quick work trip. Also, it is a regulation carry on bag even in its expanded state, and it has a flap on the back that allows you to slide it onto the handle of your larger rolling luggage (hands free!).  As a matter of fact I have two of them, and it is my secret weapon to getting home my precious souvenirs, especially the breakables. I always pack an empty one folded into a small pouch, and then fill it up for our trip home. If I am bringing home liquids like olive oil or wine that need to be checked, I just fill my Foldie with heavier things I had in the luggage on my way over, and put the liquids in the checked-bag. Must have Foldie:  https://amzn.to/4oYrBAD

I almost always swap out my regular at-home pocketbook for my Cross Body bag. This forces me to pick only the essentials to carry around with me on our trip. And also gives me easy access to things like my phone or band-aids, because as a mom I tend to be multitasking at all times.  I found this one and i love it because its much bigger than you'd think while still being compact and it does not get heavy. Also, it is stylish, matches everything, and can be dressed up if needed.  https://amzn.to/4osXcub

The BEST way to stay organized, especially when you have children's clothes is by using packing cubes. I don't even know how I would find their tiny socks in our bag without packing cubes! To make getting ready in the mornings easier, I make a cube for each person with all their underclothes in it. If its a summer trip, I do the same with bathing suits. Then I will use some more for the kids clothes, and to organize things such as electronics. These are the ones I use:  https://amzn.to/4oqIHqP

If we are renting a car, we usually rent a car seat for our younger child from the rental car company. But to save some money we do bring our own booster seat from home for our older child. I like mine because it has a flap on the back to slide it onto the handle of the larger rolling luggage, just like my Foldie! This is the one I have: https://amzn.to/4oTZLoX

 My opinion on the great stroller debate is that I would rather have one than not. Even if I don’t usually use one at home. We sued a double stroller until my oldest was 7, and I literally could not push it anymore because he weighed too much. I think it’s a safe and convenient way of getting around with my kids especially in crowded places like airports, train stations, and theme parks. We also make good use of the basket under the stroller so we don’t have to carry a million things. We don’t have to limit our plans, if we are out late, the kids can just pass out, also having the stroller allows them to do more since they can take breaks from walking. That being said, I like to take a lightweight, easy folding, umbrella stroller. Chances are you will be folding and unfolding the stroller a lot more than you do at home, and you’ll need to get it through airport security, into cabs, etc. This is the umbrella stroller we have, and it’s great: https://amzn.to/3JxSFYp

When we needed a double stroller, I opted to take a simple lightweight, easy fold umbrella option. Mind you, on our first trip my daughter was not even 2 yet. And this worked fine, it reclined enough for her to sleep, and the 5 point harness strapped her in safely. This is the one we used: https://amzn.to/4pjSGys

OK so now that we have the tools, HOW do I make the packing lists for all the stuff we need to bring?

I start by thinking through a typical day for each person in the season that matches the climate where we are going. That is important because you may be traveling to someplace that has different weather from the current weather where you live, and you don't want to forget things! 

1

First thing in the morning usually starts in the bathroom. So I think of what toiletries we all need. I am very easy going and low maintenance in this arena.  If I am going to a hotel, I will use whatever products they provide.  Lots of vacation rentals will have basic necessities available for your use, they may even detail this in their listing. BUT if there is something I need that may not be supplied, I buy empty travel size bottles and bring it on my carry-on. The reason is that bringing the whole bottle will weigh a lot, and we are always close to the weight limit on our luggage! Also, there is less of a likelihood of something exploding and making a mess if you are carrying it on.  These are the ones I use, I love that they come with labels:  https://amzn.to/3LMXZro

We always bring our hanging toiletry bag so that when we get to our destination we can hang it up on a towel hook and it takes up less space. This is the one we love:  https://amzn.to/3JqlnKN

My sister-in-law introduced me to this compact pill organizer, and it is seriously the best one I have ever had. You can clearly label everything, and it stores a lot of stuff!  https://amzn.to/4qT4ysM

PRO TIP- if you need a blow dryer, and the place you are staying does not have one. Do not bring your blow dryer from home to Europe, it will  not work. They have a different electricity system than we do and some higher power things like a blow dryer will not work. I love this one because it folds and takes up less luggage space: https://amzn.to/4qT33La

 After I cover all the bathroom necessities, I outline how many days and how many nights we will be gone, what kind of activities we will be doing, and any special things we might need to bring. I make sure to take into account that if this is a long trip, I will be doing laundry, and we will be rewearing things.

Then I make simple lists for each person such as:

Me:

t-shirts x5

shorts x3

pants x2

socks x4

bathing suits x2

You get it!

2

Now on to other things we need every day- electronics!

 I normally just take the wires I use at home for my electronics, but my husband loves this compact charging station https://amzn.to/4oWk3hW  It keeps his electronics neat and organized in one place.

On thing I MUST have with me on every trip is a portable charger. This is a non-negotiable. If you are in Disney, you rely on your phone the entire time, and you will need to recharge it. If you are using maps or GPS to help you get around, it will drain your battery, camera, Google translate, you name it you need your phone.  This is the one we use, you can get multiple charges out of it, it has more than one cord, and the plug folds in:  https://amzn.to/47LSkt9

If you are traveling someplace that uses different wall plugs than you, you will need adaptors. My favorites have the ability to charge multiple devices at once using one wall outlet. I particularly like this because you never know what you are getting in terms of numbers of outlets you can use at your accommodation, and we have many things that need to be charged. These are my favorite ones: https://amzn.to/3JJNNiL

If we are renting an apartment or a place with more than one bedroom, we always make sure to bring a baby monitor. This helps give us peace of mind. We take it out on the balcony with us after the kids are sleeping, and we know we will hear them. The first time we went, I took my Vtech from home, and I found out the hard way that it is not compatible with the electricity. Similarly to the blow dryer situation I explained above. This one works great, and it can also run on battery just in case you need it in a place with no outlet, like say a balcony LOL: https://amzn.to/3JNguvc

We also always travel with our kids’ sound machine. They sleep with one every night at home, so we take it with us so they have the best chance of getting a god night sleep. Unfortunately, our is so old they don’t sell it anymore, I think it has been discontinued. But I did investigating, and this one looks like a great option- its small, and has a nightlight feature: https://amzn.to/3LqKXzW  But I would say if you use one at home, just take that one since it is familiar!

Recently, I have become more and more paranoid about safety. So I started taking a portable carbon monoxide detector with me. These are not standard in hotels or vacation rentals- even in the US! Of course the listing might specify they have one, then disregard. But if you tend to be on the cautious side, this is the one I got and so far so good: https://amzn.to/47TXJyd

OK I know the world is sharply divided on this one, but we do allow our kids to use tablets. We got them the kid friendly Amazon tablet. Before we leave we download their favorite shows and movies on Netflix and Disney+ this way we are sure they will be available for them whether or not we have Wifi.  They really do come in handy during travel, on the plane, in the car, and if we are just trying to relax at a café or bar. I’m not going to lie, we do use them at restaurants too while we are waiting for food. This is the one we have: https://amzn.to/4812DL4  

And sort of hand in hand with that, we bring foldable headphones with us. If they are going to watch a movie they need them, and the ear buds a plane gives you usually do not work for kids. We have these, and the fact that they fold is great for storage: https://amzn.to/3JxUG6V

One other thing my kids love having is their own digital camera. They feel empowered to be able to take pictures, and it is a simple strategy to keep them engaged while sightseeing and at museums, etc. We have a very simple small one, easy to use, compact, and affordable: https://amzn.to/47t2akK And this is the carry case we have for it: https://amzn.to/3JPSMP2

3

Other things we pack that are not specific to one person:

Since we have young kids, we don’t usually have the opportunity to “go out” and enjoy the nightlife. So, we usually try to get a room with a balcony and buy wine for the room. I have been in the situation of having to get really creative to open a wine bottle. So now I just keep a simple wine opener in my luggage. Many hotels and apartments will have one, but just in case. Pro tip- don’t try to carry it on, I have had it taken away by TSA: https://amzn.to/43XvmxU 

I love this simple first aid kit, its compact and has everything you need: https://amzn.to/47JHaoN

These blister patches have saved me on more than one occasion. When you’re doing Disney you’re doing like 30,000 steps a day! https://amzn.to/3LOGSW9

I love these small, disposable sunscreen packets. They are small enough to carry on, you can slip them into your crossbody and you don’t have to bother carrying around a whole bottle. And they have a lot more in them than you think. I can usually use one packet to cover both kids completely for the beach. https://amzn.to/3LqQF4Q

Stain spray is a MUST. Especially when you have kids, and even more so when you will be rewearing everything you pack. I don’t know how they do it but Miss Mouths gets pretty much anything out, I swear. This is by far the best stain spray I have found: https://amzn.to/3JCSTO0

MUST havs I always have in my bag:

Tissue packets https://amzn.to/4p24zcb

Chap stick https://amzn.to/4omNZng

Electrolyte packets https://amzn.to/4qOCPcC

Wipes https://amzn.to/49CMxso

Kids sleep masks https://amzn.to/4oWoqJz

Adult sleep masks https://amzn.to/3LqOy0S

4

These things are specific to kids and babies

When my kids were still highchair age, and not able to properly eat off a plate, I always made sure I had table covers for restaurants: https://amzn.to/4nIbDJG

 Even though both my kids are potty trained I still bring bed liners just in case. They can always have an accident, and especially when they are exhausted: https://amzn.to/3WMV8kG

My son tends to be a “pukey” kid. He gets motion sickness, he throws up if he eats too many treats, let me just say it would be hard for me to think of a trip where he didn’t throw up. So we always carry barf bags: https://amzn.to/47rJstO

My youngest is still too small to sit on a toilet seat so I always take this travel potty seat with us: https://amzn.to/4oQo2MA  I personally don’t carry this everywhere with us. If we are out and about I just hold her. But I like to keep this in the apartment or hotel this way I don’t have to take her to the bathroom every time she has to go.

One year my son got binoculars for Christmas and they were a huge hit! He loves to take them to places like the Zoo, on a cruise, or even the balcony of our room. It keeps him curious and engaged. We have this small affordable pair: https://amzn.to/4qOEDCk

We take kids’ sunglasses with us when we go away. These saved us the the whitewashed towns of Puglia. Everything is white limestone and it is SO bright! https://amzn.to/3JCkyP2

My son is older now, and he likes the idea of carrying his own necessities. So we got him this Pokeman Crossbody in an attempt to teach him personal responsibility: https://amzn.to/3LoXDY5

Aside from the tablets, I like to keep the entertainment simple and straightforward. I used to lug around multiple coloring books, sticker books, crayons, etc- it got to be out of hand. Of late I simplified it, and the kids are just as happy if not happier since there are fewer choices.

I love this erasable drawing pad its small, lightweight, and reusable: https://amzn.to/4oZNkIp

These scratch pads are nice to have in a pinch to mix things up: https://amzn.to/3JOuuVG

Instead of carrying around boxes of crayons, I now opt for these all-in-one multicolor pens: https://amzn.to/4nEZDIX

These small notepads are great for drawing, sketching, and journaling: https://amzn.to/4ouiAiZ

5

If we are going on a beach trip, these are my essentials.

When we were preparing for our first trip in 2022, I discovered collapsible buckets, and I have never looked back. These are amazing: https://amzn.to/43kAufs 

We tend to take trips to places with serene beaches, so these pool and beach  are a great way to be able to relax in the water, and they are super light and easy to pack: https://amzn.to/43iRR0c

I always bring brightly colored water wings, don’t get blue they will be hard to spot in the water! https://amzn.to/3LqMqGl

I have this lightweight, sand-repellant beach blanket. It is super light to pack, dries super fast, and you can just fill the corners with sand and it will not blow away: https://amzn.to/3LwwSRm

I bring facemask goggles so the kids can explore the marine life: https://amzn.to/4hLzhUh

We bring these light, compact, easy to pack nets for the beach for some more exploration: https://amzn.to/3Xjaf5u

For some beach entertainment, I have these lightweight water shooter toys: https://amzn.to/3WFEqUp

My daughter and I both have curly hair, so we need to have our detangler, and brush for beachy hair. I love this pain free brush: https://amzn.to/47udwF5

And these hair products: https://amzn.to/4ovG5YU & https://amzn.to/498XFNs

Whether we are at home or on a trip, my favorite beach activity is searching for shells. I have collection of shells, I make all kinds of crafts with them. My kids also love taking walks with me on the beach to search for shells. After we go on our search and collect the shells, I like to bring these cheap paint pallets to the beach. Just fill a bucket with water give each kid a pallet and let them go to town painting their treasures. My kids can do this for hours, and it gives us free souvenirs! https://amzn.to/49GsQQo

I love this sunscreen applicator, it takes the mess out of sunscreen application. BUT I do not take it with me for sandy beaches because the sand will get all clogged in the roller: https://amzn.to/4oux2rh