The Ultimate Family Packing List (adjustable for any trip)

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Last updated on July 26, 2026

Packing for a family holiday can feel like a mammoth and mind-boggling task. There are so many variables to think about, from the weather to your baggage allowance, and it’s so easy to overpack.

But after years of travelling with kids, from UK weekends to month-long road trips, we now have a master family packing list that we use for almost every holiday. I simply duplicate the list before each trip, remove anything we won’t need and add a few destination-specific extras.

This is the family packing list we actually use, including clothes, toiletries, medicines, entertainment and all the little things that are easy to forget.

It’s designed to be adaptable, so you can use it for everything from a beach holiday to a city break or family road trip. We also have a baby packing list as that’s a little more complicated.

Our golden packing rule

We use this packing list for pretty much every trip. Whether we’re away for a week or a month, we pack the same amount of clothing and just do laundry once a week. It keeps our bags lighter and makes packing much less of a headache.

Our golden packing rule: If we’re travelling for more than a week, we don’t pack more clothes. We simply pack for seven days and plan to do a load of laundry each week. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep luggage manageable, even on weeks-long trips. If we’re going for less than a week, we reduce the amount of clothes to the days travelling.

The clothing quantities below are what we pack for a week without doing any laundry. We use the same list for two, three or four-week trips, but arrange to wash everything at the end of each week.

Of course, we tweak it slightly depending on the destination and type of trip. The biggest changes tend to be for winter holidays, when we add in ski trousers, ski jackets, down vests, hats, scarves and gloves.

Layering is key for colder trips, rather than filling your suitcase with lots of bulky jumpers. For a more detailed list of what to take somewhere particularly cold, see our complete Lapland packing list.

Before you start packing

Before getting everything out, check:

  • The weather forecast (check the ‘feels like’ temperature as well as the standard one).
  • Whether your accommodation has laundry facilities or if there’s a service nearby
  • Whether towels are provided
  • Whether you need to bring toiletries
  • Your airline’s baggage allowance
  • Which electrical adaptors you’ll need
  • Whether specialist equipment can be hired at your destination

I also recommend making a separate list of anything you can’t pack until the last minute, such as phones, chargers, favourite soft toys and medicines kept in the fridge.

The biggest secret to successful packing

The most important secret to successful packing is using packing cubes. I don’t know what I did without them! Not only do they keep everything nice and organised, but they also help save space. I tend to use normal ones like this, but you can also get vacuum packing cubes, which shrink things down even further.

We all use two each – one for clothing, and one for socks, undies and PJs. And I also bring extra ones for things like towels, swimming gear, wet weather clothing, etc (whatever is needed on each particular trip).

I also find them super useful on road trips when we’re just staying one night somewhere. Instead of bringing in the whole suitcase, I just bring in what we need for that night in a packing cube.

Family toiletries packing list

We normally share toiletries wherever possible rather than taking separate products for every family member. Decanting products into smaller travel bottles also saves lots of space on shorter trips.

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Body wash
  • Kids’ body wash/shampoo
  • Face wash
  • Micellar water
  • Serums
  • Moisturiser
  • Deodorant
  • Body lotion
  • Toothpaste
  • Kids’ toothpaste
  • Toothbrushes
  • Factor 50 sunscreen
  • Facial sunscreen
  • Tweezers
  • Razor
  • Lip balm
  • Period products
  • Nail clippers
  • Hairbrush
  • Hairbands and clips
  • Make-up bag
  • Contact lenses and solution (if needed)

My make-up bag is fairly minimal and normally contains mascara, concealer, cream blush and lipstick.

For sunny trips, we always bring plenty of high-factor sunscreen from home. Our eldest is allergic to some suntan lotion ingredients, so we need to be sure we have enough for him. But, we also buy some locally for ourselves if it looks like we might run out.

Remember, with toiletries, you can nearly always buy anything you forget locally. It might not be your usual product, but it’ll do you for the holiday.

Family medical packing list

Your family medical kit will depend on your children’s ages, health needs and destination.

I normally itemise our prescription medicines (including asthma, thyroid and allergy medicines), but have just put them as one item here. You can adjust that according to your own family’s needs.

  • Regular prescription medicines
  • Copies of prescriptions
  • Thermometer
  • Children’s ibuprofen
  • Children’s paracetamol
  • Adult ibuprofen and paracetamol
  • Plasters of many sizes
  • Blister plasters
  • Antiseptic wipes or cream
  • Bactroban
  • Insect bite cream
  • Travel sickness medication, if needed
  • Rehydration sachets
  • Hand sanitiser

Always keep essential medication in your hand luggage rather than checking it into the hold. We also split critical medicines between two bags where possible, so everything isn’t in one place.

Check the rules before travelling with prescription medication, especially if you need to carry large quantities, needles or controlled medicines.

And don’t forget suitable travel insurance. Declare any relevant medical conditions when buying the policy and keep the policy number and emergency contact details somewhere easy to find. We use True Traveller.

Electronics packing list

Our electronics list is longer than most because Steve and I both work in travel media and take a lot of camera equipment. I’ve excluded our DSLR, drone and Insta360 from this list, but you might want to add them in. If you do, remember their chargers and spare batteries.

  • Mobile phones
  • Phone chargers
  • Tablet
  • Tablet charger
  • Headphones for everyone
  • Power banks
  • Travel adaptors
  • Multi-port USB charger
  • AirTags or other luggage trackers
  • Kindle or e-reader

A multi-port charger is one of our most useful family travel items. It means we can charge several devices from one plug, which is especially handy in hotels where sockets are sometimes limited.

Remember to download anything you’ll need before leaving home, including films, audiobooks and podcasts. You don’t want to rely on having good Wi-Fi while travelling. Although an eSIM is incredibly useful for that. We love Holafly as it comes with unlimited data. I have a 10% discount code you can use here.

If taking a drone, check the local regulations before you go. The rules vary widely, and drones are restricted or prohibited in some countries, cities and national parks. For example, you can’t even take one into Morocco and it’ll likely be confiscated at the airport.

Entertainment for travelling with kids

We try not to pack too many toys, especially now the boys are older. Instead, we choose a small collection of things that can be used repeatedly. I’ve written a guide to my favourite travel activities for kids.

Our usual formula is:

  • Something to read
  • Something creative
  • Something the children can do independently
  • A game we can all play together
  • A familiar comfort item

Here’s what we usually take for the kids:

  • Travel card games
  • Children’s books
  • Kindle for longer trips
  • Activity books
  • Sketchbooks
  • Colouring pens
  • Plus-Plus
  • A favourite soft toy for each child
  • Tablet (they don’t have their own, but use ours on the plane)
  • Children’s headphones

What we take for us

  • Books
  • Kindle for longer trips
  • Adult headphones
  • Headphone splitter so we can watch things together

Our favourite travel card games include Sushi Go, I Found It, Uno, Exploding Kittens, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and Top Trumps. Card games are ideal because they take up very little room and can be played in airports, restaurants, hotel rooms and campervans.

See our guide to the best travel card games for families for lots more ideas.

I always pack sketchbooks and pens, even if we’re trying to travel particularly light. They’re useful for everything from drawing and journalling to playing noughts and crosses while waiting for food.

Important documents and cards

Here are some of those key documents and cards you need for a smooth trip.

  • Passports
  • Bank cards
  • International bank card (I use Wise)
  • Driving licence
  • Credit card (necessary for car hire)
  • A small amount of cash
  • Visas or travel authorisations
  • Travel insurance details
  • Booking confirmations
  • House and car keys

Other family travel essentials

These are some of the miscellaneous things that don’t fit neatly into another category but come on almost every trip.

  • Refillable water bottles
  • Snack boxes
  • Snacks for the journey
  • Day bag – we bring bum/sling bags for everyone.
  • Laundry bag
  • Reusable shopping bag
  • Wet wipes
  • Tissues
  • Zip-lock or reusable waterproof bags (in case you still need them at security)
  • Pens
  • Sunglasses cases
  • Travel umbrella, if needed

We use Wise for spending abroad and always travel with at least two different bank cards, ideally kept in separate bags. Don’t forget the driver’s credit card if you’re hiring a car.

Refillable water bottles and snack boxes are particularly useful when travelling with children. Even if we’re flying somewhere with plenty of shops and restaurants, there always seems to be a moment when someone is suddenly starving and there’s nowhere convenient to buy food they actually like.

Family holiday clothing list

This is what we pack for one week without laundry. For longer trips, we pack the same amount and wash our clothes every seven days. The exact items change slightly depending on the weather and itinerary, but the quantities tend to stay similar.

The lists below are for a warm-weather or summer family holiday. You can use it as a guideline because, while you don’t need more than this, you might want more if you’re keen to get use out of your summer clothes! Feel free to pack more so long as you have the luggage allowance for it – but if you’re keen to save space, this will be fine.

Women’s summer holiday packing list

This is my personal packing list, so adapt it to suit your own style. I tend to pack lightweight clothes that can be mixed and matched, plus a few pieces that work for slightly smarter dinners or evenings out. My absolute favourite brand is Beyond Nine, which I wear all the time and are particularly comfy for travel days.

  • 6 x tops
  • 3 x shorts
  • 2 x lightweight trousers
  • 2 x dresses
  • Sandals
  • Trainers
  • 3 x socks
  • 7 x underwear
  • 3 x bras
  • 2 x swimsuits
  • 1 x loose shirt
  • 1 x shawl/wrap
  • 1 x lightweight cardigan/jumper
  • Sunhat
  • Baseball cap
  • 2 x Pyjamas
  • 1 x lightweight jacket
  • Sunglasses
  • Day bag
  • Jewellery
  • Headscarf
  • Waterproof jacket, if needed

A loose shirt is one of my most useful travel items. I wear it over swimsuits, as a light layer in the evening and for covering my shoulders in the sun.

A shawl or large scarf is similarly versatile. It can be used as an extra layer on a flight, a beach cover-up, a picnic blanket or for covering shoulders when visiting religious sites.

Kids’ summer holiday packing list

This is what we pack for each of our children for a week. We normally take slightly more tops and shorts for the kids than for ourselves because they’re more likely to get dirty.

  • 7 x tops
  • 5 x shorts
  • 2 x lightweight trousers
  • Crocs or sandals
  • Trainers
  • 5 x socks
  • 7 x underwear
  • 2 x swimsuits
  • 1 x loose shirt
  • 2 x lightweight jumpers
  • Baseball cap or sunhat
  • 2 x pyjamas
  • 1 x lightweight jacket
  • Sunglasses
  • Swim goggles
  • Lightweight snood
  • Wetsuit, if needed
  • Waterproof jacket, if needed

We often pack two swimsuits for the children so they always have a dry one available. This is especially useful on beach holidays or trips where they’ll be swimming every day.

Wetsuits depend entirely on the destination. They aren’t necessary for every beach holiday, but we often take them for swimming and surfing in the UK or anywhere with cooler water.

A lightweight snood is handy for windy days, boat trips and cold air-conditioned journeys without taking up much suitcase space.

What to pack for a winter family holiday

For winter trips, we use the same basic packing list but replace the summer clothing with warmer options.

We focus on layers rather than taking lots of bulky clothes. A typical winter outfit might include a base layer, long-sleeved top, lightweight fleece or jumper, down vest and waterproof outer layer.

We generally add:

  • 5 x jumpers
  • Thermal base layers
  • Fleece or lightweight mid-layers
  • Down vest
  • Ski jacket or insulated waterproof coat
  • Ski trousers or waterproof trousers
  • Warm hat
  • Scarf or snood
  • Waterproof gloves
  • Warm socks
  • Waterproof boots
  • Snow boots, if needed
  • Hand warmers
  • Lip balm
  • High-factor sunscreen

See our complete Lapland packing list for more detail about dressing children for freezing temperatures and snowy conditions.

Optional items for a beach holiday

Add these to the main checklist for a beach or pool holiday:

  • Beach bag
  • Beach towels, if not provided. We love Dock & Bay towels.
  • Water shoes
  • Dry bag
  • Waterproof phone pouch
  • Small beach toys if going by car
  • Inflatable armbands or swim aids, if needed
  • Aloe vera gel

We don’t normally take beach toys when flying – we’ll either use what the hotel provides, or buy something small. The exception is inflatables, which we sometimes pack if we know there will be lots of pool time.

What to pack in your hand luggage when travelling with kids

For flights, we keep the essentials in our hand luggage in case our checked baggage is delayed.

Our family hand luggage normally contains:

  • Passports and travel documents
  • Wallet and bank cards
  • Phones
  • Essential medicines
  • Chargers and power bank
  • Valuables and camera equipment
  • Water bottles to fill after security
  • Snacks
  • Children’s entertainment
  • Headphones
  • One change of clothes for each child
  • Spare underwear
  • Toothbrushes and basic toiletries
  • Lightweight jumper or extra layer
  • Shawl/wrap
  • Wet wipes and tissues
  • Empty reusable bags
  • Any comfort toys needed for the journey

I also take a photograph of our passports, insurance documents and important bookings, and keep digital copies somewhere I can access from another device.

What bags and suitcases to use for family travel

Our suitcase and bag choices vary depending on the trip and the airline. Our normal configuration is one large suitcase for me and Steve, and a smaller one between our two sons. We then take one backpack each as hand luggage.

If the checked-in luggage fees are expensive and a carry-on bag is included/cheaper, we split our main luggage between one hold bag and a couple of wheelie carry-ons.

Our main luggage bags

We have two main luggage bags: the Samsonite Flux and the Osprey xxxx. The Samsonite is slightly larger but a bit more cumbersome for road trips, so we tend to use that for shorter trips where we’re not changing accommodation frequently.

For the kids, we use this duffle by Walker Family Goods. I adore that brand and the family that runs it. Ideally I’d have their brand for everything!

Our carry-on wheelie bags

If using a carry-on wheelie bag, we bring these bags

  • The Samsonite Spark, which is the right size for most airlines.
  • We also have a Storksak bag, but that’s been discontinued.

Our hand luggage bags

We use these backpacks for our hand luggage – they all qualify for ‘personal item’ status on most airlines.

  • I use my normal everyday backpack – the xxxxx – which I love.
  • The kids use their schoolbags – currently this Pokemon one, and this Minecraft one.
  • And Steve has used this bag for years, which fits all his camera equipment

Our daypacks/bum bags

Once in a destination, we use these everyday bags

  • Walker Family Goods bum bag – the kids have these for collecting treasures etc
  • I use this sling bag by Passenger as it’s really roomy and can hold my water bottle, camera and phone.
  • Steve isn’t a fan of sling bags, so he often brings a backpack or tote depending on what we need that day.

Things people commonly forget to pack

Even with a detailed checklist, these are some of the things most likely to be left behind:

  • Chargers
  • Travel adaptors
  • Swim goggles
  • Sunglasses
  • Children’s comfort toys
  • Prescription medicines
  • Hairbrushes
  • Toothbrushes
  • Pyjamas
  • Waterproof jackets
  • Downloaded entertainment
  • Bank cards
  • Driving licences
  • Laundry bags
  • Refillable water bottles
  • Snacks
  • Hats
  • Phone power banks
  • House keys for your return

It can help to leave your suitcase open somewhere visible for a day or two before leaving. Whenever you remember something, add it straight away rather than assuming you’ll remember it later.

A final family packing tip

Don’t treat any packing list as a set of rules. Use it as a starting point and adapt it to your family, destination and style of travel.

Someone staying in a luxury hotel will need to pack very different clothing to someone on a rugged road trip, but the principles remain the same.

things from a family camping or moving between several locations. Likewise, a child who loves drawing may get far more use from a sketchbook than a bag of toys.

Our list has changed as the children have grown, but the basic system has stayed the same: pack for seven days, keep things versatile and take only the entertainment we know they’ll genuinely use.

And most importantly, remember that unless you’re heading somewhere very remote, forgetting a non-essential item rarely ruins a holiday. In most places, you can buy or borrow what you need.