Summer Travel Made Easy, Tips for the Whole Family!
It’s SUMMER!! That means no school…trips to grandma and grandpa’s house… pool parties and days at the beach. It also means family vacations! Where are you going? This Summer is going to be a special one for our family…read on to see where we are headed!
This post is sponsored by Bed Bath & Beyond.
Our family is going to Europe!! What??? Denmark to be exact! So excited and so overwhelmed! 🙂 But I’m partnering with my friends from Bed Bath & Beyond to get everything we need to make our trip a success! And I’m passing my tips and tricks on to you as well.
Our girls are not fans of flying so we don’t travel on planes too much. But…because we want to get there before Summer is over…we have to fly…a ship would take too long! 😉 The most important thing to check before flying is the baggage requirements. This means not only how many pieces are allowed but also size and weight. They are very specific so check your airlines.
Luggage was obviously the first thing I looked for. I wanted lightweight, yet strong pieces. And if you’ve ever searched the baggage claim for your luggage you understand why I was excited to get some “colorful and stylish” pieces for everyone. We might actually find ours this time. 😉 No basic black here!
With a family of 5 we have a lot of luggage! I couldn’t even fit it all in one photo, but you get the idea. Each person has their own color and the kids couldn’t feel cooler about it! Points for Mom!
I’ve mentioned the Beyond+ Membership with Bed Bath & Beyond before and I’m here to tell you it’s SO WORTH it! It saves you 20% off your order and gives you free shipping for a year. When I compared the prices for luggage on Bed Bath & Beyond to the local stores I always shop at…there was no comparison. Some of the sets we got came with 3 pieces of luggage, yet fit together easily for storage.
Something we learned…our airline flies direct from our hometown to our destination…DIRECT!!! AND it’s the same price as all the other airlines with connecting flights. The catch is they only fly direct on Monday’s. So check the airlines to see if they have similar flights out of your hometown that will save you time and money!
Now for the Packing!
Because we all know packing can be the worst part of vacations…here are some tips I’ve found to help and things you don’t want to forget!
- Use packing cubes. These cubes are a must! It makes accessing your clothes easier, they stack neatly in your luggage and your clothes will be less creased. For me as a Mom who gets the privilege of doing the laundry when we get home, it makes it easy b/c I just grab and go…to the washer! 😉
- Check your Electronics. Be sure to check that you have the correct adapters and chargers for the country you will be visiting. Make sure you have all the charging cords for your phones, cameras, iPods, tablets or anything else needing to be recharged. To keep the cords, adapters, and chargers in one place I got a small pouch to hold all of these items. And make sure you download music and online books before you leave!
- Another thing I would recommend bringing is a power bank. The last thing you want is to be out for the day and your battery is dead. No pictures, no calls, no fun!
- Be sure to pack all your prescribed medications and take some extra with you in case of an emergency. One thing I also pack and encourage you to do as well is bring all the OTC medications you may need. My must haves are Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, Alka Seltzer, and Airborne. One way to keep them stored and organized is with something like this pill organizer. And don’t forget to pack the bandaids!
- One of my least favorite things to pack are the toiletries. I mean do they realize how much stuff a woman uses when they make up these regulations???!! But regardless, since they didn’t ask me, I have to bring only what I really need and stay within the guidelines. 😉 Since I won’t be able to pack everything in my carry on, I’ll have to put some in my checked luggage. I had a friend who had her shampoo leak all over her clothes, so I was excited to find these travel bottles with a locking top. Smart!! And for an added layer of protection, I’d encourage you to put them in a large Ziploc bag. This site will tell you exactly what is allowed on a flight per TSA regulations.
- Keep your ID and money safe. Unfortunately, we have to think of safety when traveling. Sometimes this includes the things we can’t even see. I got these great Document Holders to carry my passport, ID, credit cards and money. The special RFID material blocks illegal scanning devices. I got some smaller RFID wallets
for the kids.
- Another unfortunate necessity…lock your luggage. Some of the luggage comes with TSA approved locks, but in case they don’t be sure to get some TSA approved locks to secure your luggage.
- I’ve been encouraging my family to pack clothing that can be mixed and matched, layered and comfortable. Pack colors that go well together and don’t forget comfortable shoes. Be sure to have a lightweight jacket and if it’s water resistant even better. You may have heard of capsule wardrobes…if not here is a link to learn more.
- To keep my jewelry and accessories organized I got this organizer. For me, I always pack a few long necklaces, some earrings and bracelets to mix and match. I also bring safety pins because you just never know when you might need one!
- I got a couple of mini umbrellas to pack again, just in case…good for rain and sun! Speaking of sun don’t forget the sunscreen! Add your destination to your weather app so you can keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared.
- Be sure and stay hydrated while traveling! Sometimes we forget to drink water like we would at home. I was so excited to find these cool collapsible water bottles at Bed Bath & Beyond. Now we can be sure we always have a bottle of water with us wherever we go!
Goes from this…
To this…
- Last but not least I got these travel neck pillows. We will have a long flight so these will come in handy! And they are one size fits all. 😉
Well, I think we are set! All I need now is for someone to come over and actually help me pack it all. Anyone? Anyone? 🙂
It’s always so much work to pack but I’m excited because I think I have everything I need!
A few more tips I’ve learned especially if you are traveling to another country…
Be sure to download maps of your destination.
Get some money exchanged before you leave so you have the local currency on hand when arriving.
Contact your credit card companies and cell phone carrier to get the info on international travel fees and coverage.
Read as much as you can online because there are tips everywhere! But most of all have fun and take lots of photos!!!
I hope some of these tips have helped you. It helped me just writing them all down. If you have some to share, please tell me below! I’ll link all the items I’ve shared below and be sure to check Bed Bath & Beyond for all your travel needs…I’m telling you they will have it! And use the Beyond+ membership for 20% off because you want to save that money for your vacation!
Links to items shown from Bed Bath & Beyond
Now it’s your turn…tell me where you’re going this Summer or where have you been??? 🙂
Thanks for following along!! Join me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest where I’ll be sharing more photos and ideas. Also, sign up to follow me here on the Blog so you don’t miss my upcoming posts! If you have any questions or comments on anything I’ve shared here…send me a comment below! I’d love to hear from you!
See you soon!
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