The International Trip Packing List We Use for Family Travel

Packing for an international trip can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re traveling with kids. After months of living in Mexico and traveling through Europe as a family, we’ve learned that packing less actually makes traveling easier. Every item needs to earn its place in our suitcase. Here’s our list of items we actually bring while traveling with our family, and a few items we skip.

Over the years of traveling with kids, we’ve refined our international trip packing list through plenty of trial and error. We focus on versatile clothing, practical travel gear, and essentials that help our family stay comfortable while exploring new countries. Whether we’re walking through ancient ruins in Italy, riding trains across Europe, or settling into a vacation rental in Mexico, this packing system has served us well.

If you’re planning your first international family vacation, this packing list will help you feel organized and confident before you leave.

Our Family Packing Philosophy

Instead of packing for every possible situation, we pack for our most likely ones.

Our goal is simple:

• Pack light enough to move easily
• Bring clothing that mixes and matches
• Leave room for souvenirs
• Buy inexpensive items after we arrive if we need them

We’ve discovered that nearly everything can be purchased overseas. Packing lighter gives us more flexibility and makes airport days much less stressful.

Here’s our vacation packing list (per person) for our family of 6. I often reference this list while packing for our next trip!

Clothes

• t-shirts (6)
• jeans or leggings (6)
• underwear (7) Bra (2)
• socks (6 pairs)
• jacket medium weight
• hoodie
• pajamas (4)
• swimsuit (2)
• comfortable walking & hiking shoes
• flip flops or sandals

Cosmetics

• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• dental floss
• wet brush / hair brush
• hair ties
• travel hair spray
• hair straightener
• makeup
• makeup remover
• compact mirror
• face wash
• lotion
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• deodorant
• shaving cream
• razor
• travel shampoo & conditioner
• travel body wash
• Tylenol & Ibuprofen
• allergy medication
• first aid kit

Gear

• small pillow
• blanket
• hat
• sunglasses
• concealed money belt

Electronics

• cell phone
• waterproof phone pouch
• camera
• lightweight tripod
• laptop
• kindle or tablet
• USB chargers
• international power adapter

What We Always Pack in Our Carry-On

After years of traveling with our kids, we’ve learned that well packed carry-ons are so helpful on a long flight! Our carry-on bags hold everything we need to stay comfortable during our travel day. From passports and tablets to snacks and extra water, these are the essentials we never board a plane without.

• passports
• kids tablets & phones with downloaded movies
• headphones or AirPods
• chargers
• salty and sweet snacks
• refillable water bottles
• change of clothes for kids
• Tylenol or Ibuprofen
• baby wipes & extra diapers

What We No Longer Pack

• too many shoes
• bulky towels
• full-size toiletries
• “just in case” outfits
• large toys

Our Favorite Packing Tips

• Roll clothes instead of folding
• Use packing cubes
• Wear bulky shoes on the plane
• Keep one change of clothes in a carry-on
• Download maps before you travel
• Leave extra room for souvenirs

Strategic Packing

Packing for an international family trip takes a little planning, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Before every trip, we think through the weather, our itinerary, and how often we’ll be able to do laundry. We try to pack light enough to move around easily, while still bringing everything we need for a comfortable adventure.

For longer trips, we usually pack about a week’s worth of clothing and plan to wash laundry along the way. This approach keeps our luggage manageable, especially when we’re traveling between multiple cities or countries. We always pack comfortable walking shoes, lightweight layers, swimsuits when needed, and jackets for cooler evenings. My girls also enjoy choosing a new outfit or two during our travels, which has become a fun tradition.

We also make space for the travel gear that makes life easier. An international power adapter and a small power strip help us keep phones, cameras, and other devices charged, even when hotel outlets are limited. I almost always pack both my iPhone and my Nikon DSLR camera. My phone is perfect for everyday moments, while my DSLR captures the landscapes, architecture, and historic sites we love exploring.

Of course, even the most organized packing list isn’t perfect. Over the years, we’ve learned that most forgotten items can be replaced once we arrive. Every trip teaches us something new, and we usually adjust our packing list before the next adventure. The goal isn’t to pack perfectly. It’s to pack thoughtfully so you can spend less time worrying about your luggage and more time making memories together.

I hope our international trip packing list and travel tips are helpful for your next family adventure!