5 Tips for Packing in a Carry-on for a Family of 5 for 10 Days

My family of 5 (2 adults and 3 kids) just wrapped up a 10-night trip to France and managed to pack everything in 5 carry-on bags. There is already so much margin for error on a trip with kids, so we really wanted to eliminate the opportunity to have our bags lost by carrying everything on. Not only does this save you the hassle of having to wait in line (sometimes for nearly an hour) at the front end of your trip, but this means when you arrive at your destination your fun can begin right away because there is no waiting for bags that you hope arrived at the same time as you. Here are my best tips for making this work:

1. Use Packing Cubes

You know that feeling when you pack a bag so full you think it will never zip but then you sit or lay on top of it and it somehow zips? Well packing cubes allows you to do this X2. You can zip and squish in far more clothes than you could without these handy contraptions, and it also helps you stay organized and neat along the way!

2. Try to Stay Somewhere with Laundry

I know it’s not always possible to have a washer and dryer everywhere you stay, but if you can find a location with laundry available or with laundry services it will be a game-changer. Not only does this allow you to pack less because you can wash and re-wear, but it means you eliminate the stress of having dirty, wet, stinky kids clothes stinking up your suitcases if and when they make a mess (I’ve never met a kid who didn’t get dirty.) If you have nailed having kids with no messes please share your life-changing advice with me and I’ll be eternally grateful ☺ I will say, my husband and I were able to pack for the entire trip even and we didn’t do laundry (only the kids) so it’s still possible even without laundry access.

3. Limit Your Shoes

As someone who likes to vary my shoe selection per outfit, this is a hard one for me but honestly the shoes take up more room than clothes ever will. Limit each person to 2-3 shoes max. Wear your largest pair of shoes on the plane and pack your smaller shoes in your carry-on suitcase or personal item/backpack.

4. Plan Outfits Ahead of Time

By planning your outfits ahead of time including coordinating them with your 2-3 pairs of shoes it will help ensure you aren’t packing unnecessary items. I can’t even count the number of times I have gotten to the end of a trip and had so many clothing items I never touched still in my bag. This can also be fun if you enjoy pre-vacation shopping like me so you can buy some new outfits that make you feel incredible to go along with your incredible trip.

5. Use the Hotel Toiletries or Buy Once You Arrive

You can’t take liquids larger than 3 ounces in a carry-on bag and if you are traveling for 10 days it’s unlikely you can fit enough of your at-home shampoo, face wash and body wash in those 3 oz travel sized containers. Most hotels have perfectly acceptable toiletries (including a hairdryer) for you – especially if you like the nice bougie places like me. If they don’t, you can always hit up a local drugstore to grab a few items to use while traveling.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with checking a bag but as someone who wants to eliminate any unnecessary stress on a trip, I can assure you that carrying on will save you time and headaches in the long run!

~Until next time!