Family Travel: Our Travel Toiletries List
Hey there, fellow travelers! Of the many questions we get from our YouTube viewers and blog subscribers, what to pack for a family vacation is always a frequent one. We’ve shared a few packing lists specific to a destination, but today we’re sharing our toiletries packing list. These travel must-haves are the things we never leave home without, plus a few extra “nice to have” items. We like to travel light, so everything on this toiletries packing list is well worth the space and weight.
Packing Cubes: Packing cubes are a great way to stay organized while traveling. I have one packing cube that I use exclusively for my toiletries. My packing cube of choice is a Sea to Summit cube that probably has over 300,000 travel miles on it. It holds up well! Here are some of the toiletries that I bring along on every trip.
Washcloths: these aren’t often supplied in hotels outside of the U.S. I like EZ-Towels, which are a compressed towelette that expands when wet. You can buy them in a tube of ten, which is perfect for our family trips. I also really like Norwex cloths with Bac-Loc, which locks out bacteria. They are self-cleaning and they dry quickly, which is important for travel!
Laundry Detergent: we do laundry while traveling a lot! I like the Norwex brand laundry detergent because a little goes a long way. You can get two sinkfuls of laundry out of a teaspoon of detergent. I like to store it in a silicone resealable bag from Blue Avocado. They are sturdier than a regular Ziploc bag so you can use them over and over.
Reviver Clothing Swipes: since we tend to take longer trips, and try to pack light, these Reviver Clothing Swipes are a lifesaver between laundry days. We do re-wear our clothes a few times before washing, so these wipes are great for giving your worn clothes a scent-boost. Febreze is great, but that cuts into your carryon liquid allowance, so I like having a non-liquid alternative.
Poo-Pourri: When you have four people sharing one bathroom, it’s nice to have something to keep the WC smelling fresh. I always have a travel size of Poo-Pourri in my bag!
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Downy Wrinkle Release: we really pack our clothes down to fit into two carryon suitcases. Downy Wrinkle Release is great for fixing some of the wrinkles, and it also adds a fresh scent to our clothes.
Sewing Kit: a travel sewing kit always comes in handy, and barely takes up any room. Most hotels will provide one if it’s not already in the room, so grab one and throw it in your travel kit.
Contact Lens Solution: if you wear contact lenses, you’ll need lens solution each night!
Thermometer: When traveling with kids, if they get sick, I want to be able to see if they have a fever. Without hunting down a thermometer and then converting from Celcius to Fahrenheit.
Manicure Kit: No, this isn’t about vanity. These little manicure kits come in handy so often when traveling! Tweezers, nail clippers, and a nail file get used often on our trips.
Saline Spray: I do not get on a plane without saline spray. It keeps my nose from drying out in the dry plane air.
Shampoo Bar: Naples Soap Company makes a great shampoo bar that I bring on trips. It saves me from bringing liquid shampoo and is better quality than what most hotels provide. They also make a conditioner bar.
Silicone Travel Bottles: if I do pack a liquid shampoo or conditioner, it goes in a silicone refillable travel bottle. You can fill them with your own product from home, and they are much more resilient than a typical plastic travel bottle. I haven’t had one leak yet!
Origins Face Wash: the reason I like this Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash so much is that it’s a cream-to-foam cleanser, so you barely need any at all to clean your face. That means a small travel size can last for one or more trips.
Foreo Luna: as I get older, I pay more attention to my skincare routine, and the Foreo Luna is a gamechanger. It’s a bit of an investment at first, but it really deep cleans your skin, and it can last up to 400 uses on a single charge. It barely weighs anything, so it’s easy to take along and keep up your skincare routine on the road.
Moisturizer: travel can really take a toll on your skin. From different climates and humidity levels, I try to maintain the same skincare routine I have at home. I love Nerium Day Cream and Night Cream. I love that it’s just one step to moisturize and you’re done. While it’s not the most practical packaging for travel, it does simplify my skincare routine. I also really love the Nerium Eye Serum, which works wonders after an exhausting long-haul flight.
Shaving Cream: I love Cremo Shaving Cream because a little bit goes a long way. A 3-oz tube has lasted Mark and me over 12 weeks of traveling.
Luggage Locks: I also love our Sea to Summit luggage locks. They are lightweight and TSA-approved. I tend to lose keys or worry about losing keys, so this lock has a key-card that unlocks it. I can slip it in my wallet with the rest of our credit cards and it’s much less likely to be lost.
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After much trial and error and years of traveling, these are my best travel toiletries that come with me on every trip. What traveling must-haves would you add to this list? Anything we should test out on our next trip? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking for more travel packing tips, check out these blog posts: