Packing List – What to take on the plane, bus or train
The information I am about to share here to help create your packing list is very much similar to what you will get from luxury travel experts. My family travel tips are however more geared towards single family travel, a nitch in which I fall as a single mum.
Get yourself a good backpack each with lots of pockets and load up with:
Blanket and Pillow: Get a blanket and pillow as soon as you are on the plane, or bring your own. You can get both of you a blanket and pillow as soon as you get on the aircraft – yes they do run out. If you are cold you will not sleep.
Camera: Keep hidden or safely tucked away. You don’t want to get to your destination and realize that it is gone.
Chargers: Label each cord and place in a soft zip-up bag
Chewing Gum: For flight ascent and decent, chew and don’t swallow. Pop those ears – give your child a few lollies if too young for gum, or a drink.
A spare top and pants are really handy should your child spill food, drink or vomit on you – yes gross!
The flat roll up bottles can be purchased at Big W, House & Garden, or online and can vary in price from $3 – $20.
They can be frozen, and pressed flat when not in use, and have a clip to hang off your bag or belt.
Earphone 2-jack: You can both then listen to the same song or watch a movie together. No one wants to hear your dulcet tones bellowing out, so do remember, you have them on in public.
Feminine hygiene: Tampons or pads. Remember, travel is great for getting your cycle out of sync, so expect the unexpected.
Food – Snacks: Take sealed packets of snacks. Sealed cookies, natural sugar lollies, muesli bars etc are sometimes allowed.
Food – Tins: Take a couple of tins of food that can be eaten cold. My son will eat cold baked beans, tinned fruit etc. This comes in handy if they don’t like the airline meal or for late arrivals where there is no food at the other end, or when you are taking connecting flights.
Also if refueling at airports etc, you may not have that currencies cash to get a small snack or drink.
A starving child is not a happy child.
Hair: Hairbrush or comb. Hair tied back (if you have long hair)
Jackets & Wraps
- Rain jacket or disposable poncho
- Cardigan or jacket (non-crease – suggest black)
- Pashmina (doubles as a blanket)
Laptop: Have one for each. Again, you might want to do your personal stuff on the laptop and therefore, have your child glued to his own laptop will allow you to concentrate on what you are doing.
Money: Have enough cash to swap when you arrive for a couple of days living, taxi or bus ride etc. – swap at the Bureau de Change on arrival.
Mints: Keep that breath fresh – for the sake of your fellow traveler.
Socks: Preferably in summer not to be worn on the plane, so those pinkies can breathe, and no-one wants to smell cheesy feet!
Stationery: Pencil case with Coloring pencils, textas, eraser, pencil sharpener, plastic scissors, ruler, small roll sticky tape, glue stick etc
Toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss: Floss doubles as a string. Please keep your halitosis to yourself – nothing worse than having a long trip next to a stinker!
Toys: Small movable or interplay. Pack of cards is also a good option.
Travel Sickness Bands: You get 4 of these for about $2.50 including postage when you buy on eBay. Reusable, washable, One size fit all.
Works by applying pressure on the Nei-Kuan acupressure point Put the button facing downward over the Nei-Kuan point, and press the button for 1-2 minutes.
Must be worn on BOTH wrists, so as you get two sets, perfect for one each.
Underwear – spares: Handy for plane delays, breakdowns, and childhood accidents
Other items include
- Refresher /antiseptic wipes / towels
- Lip moisturizer
- Electronic Games, DS etc
- Face Moisturiser
- Connect the Wrist Strap: (see child safety)
Questions and Comments
- What other packing list tips do you have?
- Kindly share your opinions and comments below.
