Updated: April 2020

Alas, summer vacation has begun and we are setting our sights on vacation.  For some, summer vacation means sending your teen/tween to sleep away camp (for packing tips for sleep away camp, see the blog post of triple threat mommy), for some it means day camp, and for some it consists of lots of little weekend sojourns near or far.  For our family,  summer vacation means traveling to Europe for up to 6 weeks and immersing ourselves in the food, culture, and people. Trips with kids has evolved over the years to trips with teens and we have picked up some packing tips along the way.  Learn about the 5 packing essentials I can’t live without here.

During our first year, we arrived at our destination in Italy packed with 4 rather large suitcases (one for each member of the family), and two very tired parents. Because we were going to be gone for a long time, we packed a lot!  Since then we have learned a lot.  Packing for a trip with kids can be challenging.  While some of what we learned has come with experience, some has come with the growth of our children from young girls to capable tweens and teens.  Here are our 4 most crucial  packing tips when traveling with teens.  

1. Kids carry what they pack

This may not have been possible four years ago, but now my 11 and 13 year old girls are perfectly capable of managing their own luggage…as long as it is the right luggage!  When preparing for a long trip, think very carefully about what type of traveling you are doing.  If you plan to travel by car most of the time, be sure you choose luggage that will fit in the trunk of a small European car.  If much of your trip will be done by train, consider choosing something that is not a traditional suitcase, like a large touring backpack.  

This summer we will be traveling through 5 countries over 30 days which includes 4 trains, 2 flights and one boat.  Due to the fact that we are moving around a lot, we opted for touring backpacks.  We have found them to be remarkably convenient and we have used them for years now.  Choose a pack with lots of pockets for better organization.  Kids age 7-10 years can typically carry a backpack 18-25L  For kids age 10-14, I recommend a 25-35L backpack.  Teens age 15 and up, as well as adults, can usually manage a pack that holds up to 50-60L. I am partial to the Osprey backpacks.  I like this one for younger kids and this one for older kids.  If you have trouble finding the right size for kids, consider the smaller women’s backpacks.  

2. You need less than you think

Inevitably, kids want to pack lots of extras when traveling.  I remember one summer where the kids had an entire suitcase just for their stuffed animals!  To help combat this, see #1 above.  Other ways to reduce what you pack include buying shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, and beauty products when you arrive.  On our first trip abroad, we went prepared with enough products to last the whole month (right down to a bar of soap!) We learned that not only are all of these products available in other countries (duh!) but it was actually really fun to make a field trip out of gathering what we would need when we arrive.

Apothecaries in Europe are a window into the soul of the country you are visiting. Sometimes museum like in nature, this shopping experience is a great opportunity for your teen to learn how other cultures live and the things they find important.  American kids are used to a plethora of choices on the shelves in pharmacies and grocery stores.  Last I looked there were more than 10 different kinds of toothpastes alone.  What better way to immerse yourself in a culture than discovering what kinds of toothpaste are available in Switzerland for example.  Who knows, they may even find a brand or style they like better.  Last summer we found a sunscreen in Spain that I loved so much that now I cannot live without it.  Not to mention, every time we use it, just the smell of it brings back wonderful memories.

 

Another benefit to starting your trip off at an apothecary is the exposure to the language.  It’s fun to try and find the Czech word for shampoo or the Italian word for deodorant! In fact, you can make a game of it – let them see how many words they can find that are like the English word.  Kids will feel empowered to be able to say a few words in the language of the country they are visiting. 

3. Do laundry along the way

Laundromats are a cultural experience that both myself and my kids have enjoyed while traveling.  We have, over the years learned that no matter how long the trip, packing clothes for 8 days and undergarments for 10 days seems to do the trick.  We plan to do laundry every 8-10 days. 

 A mind numbing task at home, doing laundry on the road is an adventure and there are lots of opportunities to learn along the way.  First task, find the laundromat. Asking directions is a basic part of travel and the quicker your kids learn how to follow instructions the better.  Whether in English or in the language of the country, it can be a fun challenge for kids to help you find your way to the nearest laundromat.  When you arrive, kids can help figure out the task of buying soap, starting the washer and running the dryer.  (Aside: one product I always bring with me abroad are Tide To Go Stain Sticks. When you are traveling with limited clothing, stains can be a game changer!) What seems like an opportunity to learn some words or phrases in a new language also has the added benefit of teaching your child about a chore they can help with at home without them even realizing it.  Note that dryers in laundromats usually run super hot so clothes dry much more quickly, thereby making the laundry process a pretty quick one.

4. Use compression bags

The summer we discovered a one of my favorite packing tips.  Compression bags were a game changer for us. Packing for a trip with teens just got a lot more organized.  Compression bags are large “Ziploc-like” bags that, when zipped, and rolled properly, vacuum pack your clothing into a bag that is half the size of what you started with! Using compression bags we packed the following items into a backpack for one month:

• 3 dresses
• 4 pairs of shorts
• 9 shirts
• 1 pair of long pants
• 1 sweater
• 3 pairs of shoes
• 2 pairs of pjs
• underwear for 10 days
• a toiletry bag containing a toothbrush, a hairbrush, and some emergency supplies

Total backpack weight : 15-18lbs.  Perfect size for a child 11-15 years of age to carry!  Note that it is useful for kids to wear pants, a sweater and their heaviest pair of shoes on the plane so they have some options for cooler days.

In addition to huge space savers, compression bags are good organizers.  Since backpacks tend to have one large compartment, packing all shirts and dresses in one compression bag and all bottoms and pjs in another, allows my kids to easily pack and unpack on their own.

We hope you found some good packing tips for traveling with teens.  Did we miss one of your favorite packing hacks? Let us know in the comments.  Want more teen advice?

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