Plan smart for your next family trip
By MiniTime
Expert Advice
Nothing like a couple of long trudges through the airport corralling kids and shouldering 40-pound carry-ons to convince you not to drag your entire family’s collection of worldly possessions with you every time you go globe-trotting. Think you can’t spare a thing? Here’s your guide to what to leave behind so you come away from your trip with shared memories instead of slipped discs.
Guidebooks: We here at MiniTime would like to welcome you to the Internet. Please feel free to print out all the info you need on whatever attractions, landmarks, and restaurants you’d like to visit. Even printouts for a long trip
chock full of sightseeing will still only take up a fraction of the space that a bulky bound guidebook would.
Just-in-case jackets: The solution to cold weather isn’t more clothes in your bags, it’s more clothes on your bodies. Layering clothes saves you from bringing additional sets for each family member just in case it should get chilly.
Dress-up clothes: This goes for formal clothes too. Don’t bring a special set of clothes for each family member on the off chance you’ll feel like a fancy dinner one night — just make sure everyone’s packed some of their nicer regular clothes to throw on for a big evening instead.
Extra toiletries: If you’ve got hair gel in your bag, there’s no need for your kids to bring their own. Ditto for toothpaste, lotion and conditioner. As for basics like shampoo and soap, most hotels and vacation rentals keep a stock of toiletries available for guests, so there’s no need to bring them at all.
Hairdryer: Most hotel rooms and vacation rentals have one they’d be more than happy to let you use. If in doubt, call ahead to confirm.
Sporting equipment such as snorkel gear and boogie boards: If you’re going somewhere you’ll want to use these things, chances are, other families will too — and there will be somewhere you can rent them.
Cribs, travel cots, etc.: No sense bringing your own crib if you can borrow one when you get there. Check on MiniTime (hey, that’s us!) to see if your hotel or vacation rental has amenities that you can leave at home. Or if you’re staying with family, call them up and see what they can borrow. After all, dragging an air mattress around with you will quickly deflate your family fun.
