It’s that time of year when we need to escape the winter in favor of some warmer weather! This time, we’re taking a trip to Playa Mujeres, Mexico. Our kids look forward to dipping their feet in the ocean and playing in the sand, while my husband and I can’t wait to relax with some good food and drinks. We really savour the moments when we get to recharge, reconnect, and have some fun in the sun as a family.
To make the most of our trip, we try to plan ahead and pack the necessities to make us comfortable while we’re away. Taking time to prepare also means not paying for overpriced items you forgot at your destination.
It’s easy to overpack, especially when traveling with kids. It can also be overwhelming just trying to figure out how to pack light! My instinct is to pack a ridiculous amount of outfits and shoes for the family, in addition to everything in the bathroom. But after packing for multiple family trips, I finally have a solid system. The first half is having a packing list, which helps remove the stress of packing (because you’re confident you have the essentials) and reduces the temptation to overpack. The second half is using accessories that make packing more convenient and efficient.
This week, I’m sharing our warm weather packing list for our upcoming trip to Mexico, which can also be used as a guide for any vacation destination. It includes some basics I’ve shared before on maximizing space for our trips to the Amalfi Coast and Rome, as well as some new-found packing accessories and special items I like to squeeze in.
Hopefully this guide helps make packing for your family quicker and easier, so you can focus on the good stuff!
Packing Accessories
Packing Cubes
The biggest space and time saver for packing (and unpacking) are these packing cubes. This set comes in large, medium, small, and slim sizes. It’s amazing at keeping clothes compact and organized. The sheer mesh material allows the clothes to breathe, while still maintaining a cube shape.
My strategy when packing for the family is to limit each cube to one family member’s clothing or to a clothing category (i.e., the family’s pajamas or swimwear). This makes unpacking easy because all the items are already sorted and can be easily emptied into a drawer. If I’m really tight on space, I also use these compression cubes, which are similar to the regular ones but have an additional zipper around the sides that compress it.
Travel Shoe Bags
Shoes for the entire family can add up to a lot and these work wonderfully to keep them organized and protected from everything else. It’s shaped like a shoebox with a foldable structure and made of machine-washable nylon. The large compartment can fit one pair of mens shoes or multiple pairs of womens and kids shoes. It also has a smaller mesh pocket that can fit slimmer shoes or sandals.
Clear Travel Bags
These multi-purpose bags are useful for holding all sorts of items. It comes in a set of two large bags and four small bags. I use the two large bags to hold toys and activities for each of the kids. The smaller bags are carry-on size and TSA approved. They’re great for holding small beach items like sunblock and the kids sunglasses, which would normally get lost in a large beach bag. I also use a small bag as a DIY first aid kit.
Travel Cord Organizer
It’s always a pleasant surprise when I go to grab a charger, cables, or headphones and find it un-tangled! This organizer makes it easy to keep all cords and accessories neatly stored and easily accessible in a compact, flat zippered bag. I can fit two iPhone headphones, a camera battery charger, two iPhone adapters, two iPhone lightning cables, an HDMI cord, and a portable external battery.
Makeup Case
Quite possibly the best makeup case ever! I use it for both home and travel. The adjustable compartments organize all makeup and the pockets hold and cover all of my makeup brushes. There’s even a side zipper pocket stores my makeup towelettes and oil blotting sheets. It’s lightweight, waterproof, and just the right size to keep my makeup secure. I don’t have to worry about it being tossed around in a suitcase.
Hanging Travel Toiletry Case
When checking a bag, I’ve been using this, which is a major step up from my old toiletry case. There are so many internal and external compartments, which are great for holding all items, big or small. It also has a hook so you can hang it on a towel rack or shower curtain rod if there’s limited counter space. The bag itself is durable and can easily be wiped clean.
Camera Bag Insert
I usually take most of our pictures on my phone during vacations, but try to capture portraits and landscapes on our camera for better quality. This camera bag insert protects our camera and accessories in a soft structured drawstring bag. It’s significantly less bulky than our regular camera bag and easily fits into my Goyard St. Louis PM tote bag or diaper bag for quick access.
Warm Weather Packing List
(click here for the checklist)
Beach Day Essentials
- Kids’ Sun Hats – The kids have been wearing this type of hat since they were babies. It’s quick-drying, adjustable, and provides sun protection for the head, eyes, and neck.
- Waterproof Phone Bag – Since we spend a lot of time at the beach and pool, this has been perfect for preventing both sand particles from getting into the crevices and water damage.
- Portable Fan – We love warm weather, but when it gets too hot we like to keep the kids (and ourselves) cool with this portable fan. It has a 2-in-1 design so it can be clipped to the stroller or you can stand it on a flat surface. It comes with two lithium batteries that can be recharged via USB.
- Kids Sunblock –The kids were sensitive to adult sunblock as babies and this has always worked well for their skin. It has SPF 50+, with high levels of water resistance, both UVA and UVB protection, and applies/absorbs easily without an oily residue.
- Face Sunscreen –This is my favorite face sunscreen because it has SPF 46, both UVA and UVB protection, and is a non-greasy formula that easily absorbs into the skin.
- Sunblock – We used to just use the kids’ sunblock, but decided to give this one a try. The non-greasy, water-resistant formula is great for keeping our skin hydrated while protecting from the sun. It has SPF 50 and both UVA and UVB protection.
- Kids Water Shoes – This protects the kids’ feet from the hot sand and seashells on the beach and from slipping by the pool.
- Pool Floaty
- Beach Toys
- Sunglasses
- Beach Bag
Kids’ Stuff
- Single Strollers – We prefer using two single strollers versus double strollers so we can separate the kids if needed.
- Sun Shield
- Food Scissors – This comes in handy during meal times to cut the kids’ food into smaller pieces.
- Water Bottle – It’s important to stay hydrated while in the sun so we keep this with us to give the kids access to water at all times.
- Bottle Brush Cleaner/Dish Soap
- Pacifier
- Diapers
- Wipes
Cleansing Wipes
- Hand Sanitizing Wipes – When we don’t have quick access to soap and water we use these sanitizing wipes to clean our hands. We prefer these over liquid hand sanitizer because it also works to wipe food debris and other messes.
- Disinfecting Wipes – This is a must when traveling to disinfect the surfaces around our airplane seats and commonly used surfaces in our hotel room.
- Water Wipes – These are made with 99.9% water and we use them for refreshing hands and faces, wiping spills on clothes and bags, and anything else that doesn’t require sanitizing.
- Bug Repellent Wipes – Last year we went to Punta Cana and got so many mosquito bites outdoors and from one mosquito in our room that terrorized us every night. I heard these are great for preventing insect bites. They’re chemical free and safe to use on kids, so we’re excited to give these a try.
Electronics
- DSLR – We’ve had this camera for over 8 years and still works great.
- DSLR Tripod
- Camera Remote
- SD iPhone Adapter – I use this to transfer camera pictures instantly to my phone.
- Phone Tripod – This selfie stick can extend up to 4’ and I use this attachment to turn it into a steady tripod.
- Selfie Stick –This works as both a selfie stick and an adjustable tripod (up to 2’).
- iPad + iPad Cover
- Phone Chargers
- Laptop
Toiletries
- Curling Iron – This heats up quickly and creates perfect curls that last.
- Hair Clips/ Hair Ties/ Hair Rollers
- Hair Serum – After I wash my hair, I apply this to my ends to keep them smooth and soft.
- Hair Texture Spray – My go-to product for adding texture and creating volume for my hair.
- Hair Mousse – Niu has been using this for years
- Hair Pomade – I use this to tame my baby hairs. A little bit goes a long way and I love the compact packaging.
- Shower Comb and Hairbrush
- Shampoo/Conditioner and Color Shampoo/Color Conditioner
- Body Lotion
- Face Moisturizer – I use this lightweight moisturizer at home and was so happy to see that it comes in a travel size for easy transportation.
- Makeup Removing Towelettes – These remove my makeup effortlessly and don’t make my skin feel tight like other ones I’ve tried.
- Face Wash – Another go-to I’ve been using for years.
- Face Serum – I’ve been using this for years to hydrate my skin and smooth my complexion.
- Eye Cream – Extremely moisturizing for my eyes.
- Toothbrush – This is a high quality and affordable electric toothbrush duo that we use at home. It has three modes and a smart timer. We love the sleek black and white design and that it comes with a travel case and extra heads.
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Mouth Wash
- Deodorant
- Men’s Electric Shaver
- Mouth Guard
Extras
- DIY First Aid Kit – Boo boos and sickness can happen while on vacation so I always carry a mini first aid kit. I use the small bag from this kit and add eyedrops, adult Advil, kids Motrin, Tums, Pepto Bismol, cough drops, sore throat lozenges, a thermometer, Band-Aids, Neosporin, nail clippers, and tweezers.
- Portable Steamer – I hate ironing and this quickly steams out wrinkles. It’s small, compact, and so easy to use! I also use it at home and for travel.
- Vanity Mirror – I always travel with a vanity mirror so I can comfortably get ready in any space and not be restricted to the bathroom.
- Indoor Slippers – Not all resorts offer slippers, so we have our own designated travel slippers to keep our feet happy and clean while we’re in our room. They’re soft, comfortable, and machine washable.
What are some extras you pack to make traveling easier?
