Introduction to Family Packing Hacks
Family beach holidays are my favourite thing in the world but I was not so keen on the packing!
My children are all old enough to go on holiday by themselves now but I’ve picked up a few tips along the way, which I would love to share with you. These are family hacks I swear by after 21 years of beach holidays with my three children.
From sand-covered clothes to snack demands and sun-cream battles (we still have those!), the key to a smooth trip starts with what (and how) you pack.
These are the family hacks I swear by after years of sun, sea, and suitcase lessons. Most of them, we still adhere to even now!
🌟Includes a Free Family Beach Holiday Packing List!!
Contents
- Introduction to Family Packing Hacks
- 1. Family Packing List
- 2. Packing Cubes: Preferably One Colour Per Person
- 3. Microfibre or Lightweight Beach Towels
- 4. Inflatables, Beach Balls & Snorkels
- 5. Pack Two Pairs of Shoes Max
- 6. Quiet Travel Toys, Tablet Entertainment & Snuggly Hoodie
- 7. One Toiletry Kit per Bathroom
- 8. Kid Friendly Sun-Creams
- 9. Pack Reusable Water Bottles & Beach Snacks
- 10. Mini Beach Backpacks for the Kids
- Share Your Best Family Beach Holiday Packing Hacks!
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1. Family Packing List
My children are fiercely independent and always have been. They were so excited about their summer beach holiday, they would be packing their bags as soon as they got a glimpse of a suitcase.
The problem was of course they would pack either too much or not enough and needed mum and dad to repack everything.
I didn’t want to curb their enthusiasm so I made a family packing list, printed them out and they would use that to pack their stuff.
We would then do a quick check and (maybe a refold) with the list. It worked and I only had to pack for myself – so much easier! And yes – they still ask for the list now!
👇 Download Your Free Family Beach Holiday Travel Packing List
2. Packing Cubes: Preferably One Colour Per Person
Especially useful if you are all sharing cases and it helps keep everyone’s beachwear and evening outfits organised.
🌟Tip: Roll clothes or fold Marie Kondo style for even more space.
Ziplock Outfits for the Little Ones
Pack a full beach day outfit per bag (including pants and swimwear). Easy to grab and change into – and handy for keeping sandy clothes separate later!
Vacuum Pack Bulky Items
Great for swim towels, spare blankets or hoodies for cooler nights. Compress them to save room.
3. Microfibre or Lightweight Beach Towels
I used to find our bulky beach towels really annoying. They took up too much space in the suitcase, took hours to dry and needed washing after a couple of days.
I swapped to lightweight, fast drying beach towels and I never looked back. So much easier to fit in your beach bags, and they dry really quickly.
4. Inflatables, Beach Balls & Snorkels
Inflatable rings, seats, and beach balls take up hardly any space and provide hours of fun.
We buy ‘all-in-one’ snorkel masks that cover the whole face, it’s much easier to use – especially for little ones.
👉 Check out all-in-one snorkel masks on Amazon
The first couple of times we went on villa holidays, we bought inflatables when we got to our destination and left them for the next family.
This was a costly mistake and one I soon realised was very expensive. I don’t want to end up spending money on inflatables, snorkels etc every time we go away so I take the same ones with me.
They’re actually pretty small when deflated. I just wash off the sand and seawater and keep them in a packing cube separated from everything else.
5. Pack Two Pairs of Shoes Max
Shoes take up too much space so now I have a rule: Wear a comfy pair (like trainers) for the journey and pack a pair of flip-flops or waterproof sandals for the beach and one pair of flat, smart sandals for evenings. Done.
6. Quiet Travel Toys, Tablet Entertainment & Snuggly Hoodie
Sticker books, crayons, a pack of cards, mini games and a loaded tablet (with headphones!) make flights or transfers way easier. Choose lightweight, quiet options.
🌟Tip: Take a firestick, just in case you want to watch a movie.
We love playing card games in the shade during the midday sun but when they were younger we would make this ‘siesta time’, or stick on their favourite film. This would give them a break from the sun but also meant they were happy staying out later in the evenings.
Take Snuggly Hoodies For Travel Days
We always take warm hoodies for the plane journey and cooler evenings.
7. One Toiletry Kit per Bathroom
I hate going back and forth from room to room with toothpaste, shampoo, etc so I have one toiletry kit per bathroom.
🌟Tip: I buy the toiletries in the airport, or supermarket when we arrive to save space and weight. Plus, it gives me an extra bag to sneak a few more items on board.
8. Kid Friendly Sun-Creams
Until they grew up, sun-cream was the bane of our beach holidays. Re-applying, kids refusing to put it on – absolute pain!
It never completely solved the issues but we found that they were much better with sprays, rather than cream and specialised face sun-creams prevented stingy eyes.
We also used swim tops when they were really young, especially for my son because he hated having sun-cream applied.
The one thing I always buy before we leave is sun-cream because it is so expensive abroad.
🌟 Tip: I find Aldi sun-cream is excellent and cheap. I wrap it in a plastic bag in in case of any mishaps!
9. Pack Reusable Water Bottles & Beach Snacks
Kids burn up a lot of energy at the pool and beach, which can lead to niggly behaviour. We could always tell when it was snack time because they started getting crotchety with each other.
Fill up at your accommodation and keep kids fuelled at the beach without splashing out at the café every hour.
🌟 Tip: Pack resealable snack bags to reduce sand invasion!
10. Mini Beach Backpacks for the Kids
Again, I liked to foster independence and not have all my children continuously asking me for their stuff.
Each child carried their own towel, snorkel, snack, and bottle. Light, waterproof bags give them independence and save your shoulders.
Plus, they can use them as their entertainment packs on the journey.
Share Your Best Family Beach Holiday Packing Hacks!
I hope you’ve found these packing hacks useful. May your beach holiday start before you even hit the sand. Fewer bags, fewer meltdowns, and more time soaking up the sun!! 🏖️
🌟Don't Forget to Download Your Free Family Beach Holiday Packing List!!
👇Share your family beach holiday packing hacks in the comments!👇
🌟 Blogs to read:🔗 Tips for a Happy Family Holiday
🔗 How to Book a Cheap Family Holiday
Essential DIY Travel First Aid Kit – Checklist
Make planning a trip yourself simple and stress-free with our ‘how to’ guides in the DIY Travel Planning Hub for tips on flights, accommodation, transport, itineraries and more – all in one place.
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