Guest author: Astrid Biemann
Summer’s finally here! The days are long, the air smells like freedom, and the only decision left is: heading to the lake or public pool? Or maybe a campfire with toasted bread on a stick to end the day? Pure bliss. But before the fun begins, there’s packing to be done. In my case, there is no way around a packing list on which I can tick off every item to ensure I don't forget anything – and also to avoid losing track and packing too much.
After all, I'm not just packing for myself, but for my kids too (who would probably only bring games and stuffed toys if it were up to them).
So instead, I plan ahead. I check the weather app religiously and mentally run through the many times my kids’ shirts will likely end up covered in chocolate ice cream. Because let’s face it – I can’t exactly fit their entire wardrobe in a suitcase. As much as I’d like to.
Tips and tricks for packing light
Whether by train, car, bus or plane: I always try to pack as little as humanly possible. Because unless we’re road-tripping in our campervan, we have to carry all that stuff. And the kids? They’re far too busy racing into our holiday rental to care about bringing their luggage. (Their top priority: Who gets which bed?)
So, to prevent the zippers on your suitcases from bursting, I listed a few tried-and-trusted tricks that made our trips a lot easier:
- Downsize your toiletries. I reuse travel-size bottles from the drugstore and refill them with our usual shampoo and shower gel before each trip. It’s lighter, cheaper, and produces less waste.
- Plan full outfits in advance. No more wondering which shirt goes with which shorts. It’s a real time-saver! Just grab, dress, done.
- Bring laundry soap or check if your destination has a washing machine. Then you can wash dirty clothes during your trip and pack less.
- Opt for versatile gear. Our zip-off pants double as long trousers and shorts. And our Keen sandals are water-friendly, so you can leave your kids’ pool shoes at home. Or maybe you want to go straight from the beach to the restaurant? No problem with shorts that can also be worn as swimming trunks!
Your printable packing list for your next summer vacation
Some things make it onto every packing list – such as underwear, sunscreen, and other items. Depending on your destination, a few things will differ though. Are you heading to the beach or the mountains? And do you want to relax or go on an adventure? Here’s my go-to checklist for (almost) every kind of summer vacation with your kids:
The essentials
Clothing
- Underwear
- Long and short pants – or better yet: both in one (hello, zip-offs!)
- Merino t-shirts; they dry quickly and don’t smell right away
- Sweaters or a fleece jacket for chilly nights
- Rain jacket and rain pants (just in case)
- Comfortable and waterproof shoes
- Sandals that double as beach shoes
- Sun hat or cap
- Socks that dry fast so they won’t smell
- Swim trunks that can also be worn as regular shorts
- Pajamas – or just bring along our soft, breathable merino thermal underwear
Toiletries
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF 50
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Shampoo and shower gel
- Moisturizer / Body lotion
- Washcloth
- Hairbrush
- Laundry Soap
- Band-aids and disinfectant spray (better safe than sorry)
- Any necessary medications
Other must-haves
- Travel games or a deck of cards (the latter offers a variety of different games without taking up too much space)
- A beach towel (preferably one made of microfiber since those are super lightweight and fold up very small)
- Passport or ID
- Health insurance cards
- Sunglasses
- A good book
- Refillable water bottle
Parents Only
- Cell phone and charging cable
- Wallet
- Flight or train tickets and booking confirmations
Packing list for hiking trips with kids
- Backpack
- Hiking shoes
- Merino hiking socks
- Mosquito repellent
- Hiking maps
- Granola bars
Need inspiration on where to go? Then check out our favorite hiking trails in Switzerland.
Packing list for beach trips with kids
- Big beach towel and extra towels
- Bucket, shovel and dip net
- At the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts: a multi-use neckwarmer that doubles as a headband
Packing list for camping trips with kids
- Sleeping bag and camping mat / air mattress
- Small pillow Bug spray
- Flashlight and batteries
- Nightlight
- Camping dishes and utensils
- Carabiner hooks
- Rope, zip ties, duct tape (McGyver knows what for ;) )
- Toilet paper
- Picnic blanket
- Tick remover
- Cooler bag
- Pocket knife
Packing list for long car rides
- Audiobooks
- Headphones
- Snacks and drinks
- Stuffed toy and a small blanket
- Neck cushion
- Travel-size games, coloring book and crayons
- Sick bags
- Tissues
- For parents: a thermos bottle for that much-needed coffee break (which usually can be refilled at the next roadhouse)
The ultimate checklist for outdoorsy families
My family and I love to spend as much time outside as possible. Preferably from sunrise to sunset until we pass out from exhaustion (despite hoping to finally see our first shooting star in the sky). But this also means that our clothes have to endure a lot during our trips: from spontaneous dips into the lake to tree climbing.
So, I always pack clothes that mix and match easily, dry quickly, and are resilient. This reduces the risk of us having to spend a day in our rental because we have run out of clean and dry clothes to wear. After all, we want to experience a lot during our vacation and the best summer memories are created outdoors!
