Family Travel Tips & Checklist

Getting ready to go on a family vacation can be an exciting time and being prepared will help make things go more smoothly…

If you’re family is traveling to a foreign country:

Check Foreign Entry Requirements: http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html
(Note: If Mom and Dad aren’t traveling together with a child, many countries are now requiring a notarized consent from the absent parent for children under 18.)
Check Travel Health Warnings: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
Check for Travel Warnings: http://travel.state.gov/travel/warnings.html
Check Vaccination Requirements: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm

Home Checklist:

Make arrangements for someone to feed the pets, water the plants, and bring up the mail.
If there are no pets feed, make arrangements to have your mail held at the post office and stop newspaper delivery.
Leave contact information and itinerary with a house sitter, neighbor, or friend that wouldn’t mind checking on your property while you’re away.
Use automatic timers for lights and radio or TV.
Lock all windows and doors including basements and garages.
Pay bills or get information to pay bills via phone or internet. (Note: Don't send post dated checks... companies will not wait to cash them!)
Remove all foods that may spoil from refrigerator.

Airline Travel Tips:

Check your airline’s luggage restrictions and limits. (Note: The number one most confiscated item is nail scissors. Make sure you put them in your luggage and not your carry-on!)
Put identification on the outside and inside of all luggage.
Use locks on all luggage.
Check FAA regulations for list of what you can’t carry on-board: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
To help with trip planning, the TSA has a web site to check estimated security checkpoint wait times at airports: http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html

Carry-on Checklist:

Camera, film, video, extra batteries. (Note: Undeveloped film and cameras with film need to be in your carry-on baggage, but high-speed film is still at x-ray risk, so ask to remove it and have it hand checked or purchase a lead pouch.)
Tickets, ID, passport, itinerary, traveler’s checks, money, maps, keys, medical insurance cards.
Jewelry, medications, and other important or high value items.
Cell phone and charger.
If there’s room, it wouldn’t hurt to have an emergency outfit just in case your luggage is, shall we say… delayed.
If you’re traveling with children, make room for a change of clothes in case of a spill on the plane!
Kids get a carry on too! Let them bring their own backpack of toys and books.
Snacks
Sunglasses
If your kids have difficulty during plane pressurization, bring lollipops and let them have them prior to taking off. Gum will work too, they just need to do some extra swallowing!
Wet wipes
If traveling with a baby: diapers, wipes, prepared bottles, bib, towel.

Luggage Packing Tips:

Put all liquids in plastic containers filled no more than ¾ of the way and then place in zip lock bags.
Bring a plastic bag for dirty clothes.
Put a unique marking on your luggage for easy spotting.

Family Packing Checklist

Toiletries:

Sunscreen & Lip balm
Soap
Lotion
Hair Products – shampoo & conditioner, brush, & comb, dryer, & accessories
Deodorant
Teeth – toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Razors & shaving cream
Nails – clipper, file, polish & remover
Q-tips
Bug repellant
Eyeglass case / contact lens case and solution
Mom’s make-up
Baby’s diapers, wipes, Desitin, powder, shampoo, soap, bibs, changing pad, car seat, pacifiers, plastic bags for diapers.
First aid supplies – band-aids, disinfectants, sunburn ointment, bug bite ointment

Other:

Clothes:

Related Links:

Vacation Shopping Guide