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Family vacations are a great time to create lasting memories with your loved ones, but they also require lots of planning to ensure everything goes smoothly. That includes packing the essentials. Whether you’re keeping the kids entertained or staying prepared for minor hiccups, having the right travel items can help you be prepared for anything and make your trip as fun as possible.
In this article, we’ll share 6 vacation must-haves every family should bring along when they’re on vacation.
1. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is essential if anyone experiences an injury or doesn’t feel well during travel, such as scrapes, bruises, or allergic reactions.
The first aid kit can help fix minor issues quickly or help out if more serious matters require a medical visit.
Make sure your first aid kit contains things like:
- Band-aids
- Burn cream
- Allergy medications
- Pain relievers
- Motion sickness tablets (for planes and boats)
- Prescription medications, if any
2. Insurance Policies
Travel insurance can protect you financially if something goes wrong with your trip. For example, if you lose a bag or have a medical emergency while on vacation, your travel insurance may help you.
Travel insurance is just one policy, though. Life insurance policies can be there in case the unexpected happens while traveling or at home. It’s always a good idea to have a form of life insurance like whole life or universal life insurance and make sure your policy is current before you travel.
3. Travel Documents
Having all your travel documents on hand can help you make your trip smoother and avoid any delays or complications.
Some documents you should include are:
- Passports
- Photo IDs
- Boarding passes
- Insurance cards and documents (health, travel, and life insurance)
Prepare all your travel documents leading up to the trip and keep them where you won’t forget them store them so you can grab them quickly and go.
4. Healthy Snacks and Water
Someone’s bound to get hungry while traveling to and from the destination or while you’re out and about. Bringing some healthy snacks can help you keep that hunger at bay without purchasing expensive and unhealthy airport or rest-stop food.
Some examples of filling, healthy snacks you can carry around include:
- Trail mix
- Dried fruits
- Protein bars
- Jerky
Bring lots of water, if possible, to stay hydrated in case of delays or a lack of immediate access to water.
5. Comfortable Shoes and Clothing
Comfortable, destination-appropriate clothing can make the trip fun for the whole family. If you’re going on a trip to the beach, you can pack some swimsuits, sandals, and towels to enjoy the water. Bring some longer sleeves in case of weather changes or chillier environments, like a restaurant or museum blasting the air conditioning.
On the other hand, if you’re going into the mountains, supportive hiking boots and warmer gear can help you enjoy the views free of pain or being cold.
Regardless of the destination, however, bringing a sturdy and supportive pair of sneakers can make walking around the area comfortable and easy on your feet.
Finally, bring some pajamas or sweatpants to get comfortable at night and get a full night’s sleep.
6. Entertainment For Kids
Children can get bored on long flights or road trips, so don’t forget to pack some age-appropriate entertainment for them.
A few ideas for entertainment to bring include:
- Board/card games
- Coloring books
- Portable puzzles
- Favorite blanket or stuffed animal
- Tablets with pre-downloaded games or activities
You can also play fun games with the kids for road trips, such as iSpy, Name That Tune, or Spot the License Plate.
A good mix of entertainment options will help the kids pass the time and keep their attention off the long flight or road trip.
Pack These for Your Next Family Vacation
Having a few essentials with you on your family vacations can make the trip smoother and more memorable.
Bring a first-aid kit, travel documents, insurance policy information, healthy snacks, comfortable clothes, and entertainment for the kids.
Make a list of these and other frequent travel items and keep that list somewhere safe. Refer to the list whenever you’re preparing to travel to save time so you can focus more on making memories with your loved ones.
Reviewed and edited by Albert Fang.
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Article Title: Six Vacation Must-Haves for Family Trips
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