Are you planning a family vacation? While vacations are fun and often help you relax, regroup, and enjoy your family, it can often be stressful before your trip. With everything you need to do before you leave, you’ll probably need your vacation time just to relax.
Last summer, before heading out on our European family vacation, I spent weeks preparing for our trip. Whether you are going on a quick weekend getaway or an epic European vacation, here is a vacation checklist of some of the things that you may need to do before you go for a stress-free vacation, including things to pack.
Did we leave anything out? Leave us a comment, and we’ll regularly update this post.
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Note that this may not be a completely comprehensive travel checklist. We are not responsible for omissions. Use it as a starting point for your next family vacation.
Vacation Checklist For Your Family Vacation
Packing Your Bags: Travel Packing List
This is the most obvious but also the most stressful. I have the most difficult time figuring out exactly how much I need to bring on my vacation. It’s a delicate balance between packing everything you may possibly need and keeping your bags lightweight.
You’ll need to decide how many bags to bring depending on your plans. If you are flying, you’ll typically be allowed a personal item and a carry-on bag (although some airlines may charge for the carry-on).
Most airlines (except Southwest Airlines) charge for checked bags. It’s a good idea to check with your airline before packing so that you can be prepared. This post can give you some ideas about whether to pack only carry-on bags or include a checked bag.
Before you start packing, check the weather for your upcoming vacation. If you are going to multiple destinations, make sure to check each spot.
I remember going to Hawaii and San Francisco on our honeymoon completely forgetting that San Francisco weather can be chilly. I added a few San Francisco sweatshirts to my wardrobe during that trip!
Packing lists
We have travel ultimate packing lists here that you can download. These vacation packing checklists may not include everything you need, but they should be a good start.
If you are traveling to Europe, you can check out our Europe packing list with additional items. Our travel packing lists are separated based on the type of trip you are taking (with different lists for a beach vacation, theme park vacation, and city vacation).
If you take medication, make sure you refill your prescription before leaving. If you need a prescription for the refill, you’ll want to ensure you have plenty of time to talk to your doctor.
Packing Cubes
One of our top travel tips is to use packing cubes. They can help you pack light and are a great way to separate outfits for each family member. When we switch hotels on vacation, I find packing cubes especially helpful. That way, we have our outfits divided by location and don’t need to unpack the items we don’t need.
Find packing cubes to buy here.
If you are flying, you’ll want to pack your carry-on bags with things you may need on the flight. In addition to things like my phone and charger, I also like to carry a small first aid kit with essential medications (including my daughter’s Epi-Pen), a water bottle, and a snack. You’ll also want to include important paperwork and valuables.
Prepare Your Home When You Go On Vacation
You’ll want to ensure you have your mail held before you leave. I also generally tell a neighbor that I am going on vacation so that she can make sure that no packages are sitting outside our house while we are away. Even if you hold your mail, some items can show up.
If you have a pet, in addition to arranging pet care, you’ll want to ensure that all shots are up to date. This may involve getting a vet appointment, so do this early. Our kennel gets especially booked up during school vacations and holidays, so make that reservation early.
Verify All Plans For Your Family Vacation
I’ve heard nightmare stories of people who accidentally booked their flights for the wrong weekend or who forgot to book a hotel. Recently, the airlines also changed many of my flights. Before you leave, just re-verify your plans, ensuring everything is set exactly as you want it to be.
If you are flying, now is an excellent time to ensure your seat assignments haven’t changed. I’ve experienced a change in seating that I was unaware of, and it’s always better for you to be aware of it sooner, especially if that change means you are no longer sitting next to your kids. Sometimes, this is a result of a change of aircraft.
Get All Travel Documents Ready
Check passports, driver’s licenses, and other IDs now. Also, make sure that your credit cards haven’t expired or will not expire soon.
I’ve known people who have tried to rent a car with an expired driver’s license and were turned away. It’s easy to miss – so it’s always better to check beforehand. Remember that you may need a Real ID to fly soon.
In addition, pull all the paperwork you need to bring, including vacation documentation, boarding passes, confirmations, etc. While you may have some of this information in your email, I always find it easier to bring along a printed copy so I’m not stuck looking it up if I need it.
If you are traveling internationally, know the name and address of where you are staying so you can add it to the customs paperwork if that is asked.
Prepare Your Phone For International Travel
If you travel out of the country, you’ll want to talk to your wireless provider to find out if you have coverage. If not, you may choose to purchase an international plan. Even if you don’t have wireless coverage, you can still use Google Maps – you just need to download the area that you need to your phone while you are on WiFi.
You may also want to download some apps to make your vacation more efficient. Do this in advance so you don’t have to do it on the road.
How do you prepare to go on vacation? Is there anything else we should add to our vacation checklist?
