I couldn't resist jumping in here. We're a family that has been on an open ended, non-stop world tour since 2006. We've been to 4 continents, 32 countries & over 175,000 miles so far.

We have mastered the "family traveling light" art in spades & we breeze through airport flights or cargo ships or any mode that we travel. We've traveled as a family since my child was 2 weeks old, but this trip started when she was 5 and she is now 9 (and is years ahead of age peers in school even though she has never owned a nintendo or ipod).

Even when we are going to 3 seasons of weather for months at a time, we each just carry a small daypack each and that includes at least 1 laptop and homeschool supplies!

Trust me, families can travel light!! ;) Simplicity can be so enriching and will also save you a bundle!

Posted By soultravelers3 on February 3, 2010, 5:49 PM

The fact is that I do see parents lugging a ton of stuff, often because they're afraid that they won't be able to find it on the other end.

Diapers. Because, you know, they don't sell those anywhere but maybe Toledo.

Bags and boxes of snacks. Because, you know, no one else in the world eats food.

Toys. Because there are no toy shops on the planet.

Okay, sorry to be a smart aleck. Kids DO require more gear schlepping, I grant that, but maybe not as much as people think.

Can you ditch the car seats and use a CARES harness instead? Can you buy a cheapo foldup stroller when you arrive and give it away before returning home? (I find sidewalks in much of Europe and Asia to be totally unfriendly to strollers anyway, so I used a backpack with my kids - total lifesaver, especially in subway systems.)

If your kids can pull a carryon suitcase, then by all means take advantage of the fact that everyone gets one suitcase. Little kiddie clothes don't take up that much room, so Mom and Dad can put "spillover" stuff into the kid's suitcases. That way you have four people and four carryons. Further, on most airlines you each can have a carryon plus one personal item, so Mom/Dad/each kid also carry a small backpack.

I'm sorry, if you can't get all of your gear into four carryons and four backpacks....start taking road trips.

Posted By Sheila Scarborough on February 3, 2010, 5:55 PM

We don't travel light, and I'm ok with that. So long as I'm not asking you to carry my bag(s), what does it matter?

Posted By Corinne on February 3, 2010, 9:36 PM

Wow, what to take? I say whatever it takes to keep the kiddos entertained and "well behaved". Not an easy task. We always find the best way to lighten load is cut down on the adult gear.

Posted By Kelly Stone on February 3, 2010, 10:07 PM

G
I have some questions as I am rather puzzled.
Why take a stroller? Can't your kids walk? Why do 2 adults need 3 computers & 4 cameras? Can't you share? My family of 4 have never taken more than 1 computer, 2 cameras & NEVER a stroller & we have travelled internationally as a family once or twice a year since the teenage girls were a few months old. Why bother traveling if you are going to take 90% of your house with you?

Posted By R U Kidding on February 3, 2010, 10:27 PM

Just a thought for everyone who's bashing the electronics: 20 bucks says YOU don't want to be stuck on the 14 hr international flight with small kids who are cooped up, bored, and are told that they'll have to take turns on the Nintendo. Personally, I am a fan of packing light, and I don't haul any electronics other than a cell and IPod. But I am also young, single, childless, and have the financial means to pick up any items I may find I need at my destination. Different rules apply for different circumstances, and pushing parents to whittle down their gear too far (or too quickly in the case of kids used to more stuff on hand) can cause as many headaches as hauling too much luggage through JFK.

Posted By Leah on February 4, 2010, 3:45 AM

I'm going to take a slightly different view.

When we took the family to Oz, it was one bag and one carry-on each. The only exception was for the six year old, he had a carry-on as well, but for the trip we split shifts carrying his bag since it was such a long trip. Granted, we probably could have just done a carry-on if we knew we were going to have a washer/dryer in our apartment.

Each family has their needs/wants/etc. On a trip like this, if you don't mind being a packmule it's well worth it to just bring it along as opposed to regretting leaving it at home.

Posted By Brian Wohlgemuth on February 4, 2010, 7:53 AM

To me this discussion is more related to everyone's cultural expectations, which generally are fairly fixed, not how to pack.

If your family is one that requires a bunch of stuff then you will need to bring it with you. If your family is one that knows how to self entertain, self propel themselves and such than you can pack lightly.

It is completely unreasonable to claim that you don't need a Nintendo for each child if that is what they have at home and in the van. Just as it is completely fair to say that a child who doesn't watch TV at home doesn't need their own portable DVD player.

My wife and I with no kids can travel lightly because we are willing to reuse cloths and go without certain things, mostly because we are comfortable to do the same at home. We could not expect someone who wears three different outfits (with corresponding shoes) in the average day to do the same and pack as light as us...

Posted By Iolaire McFadden on February 4, 2010, 9:53 AM

Just say "no" to carrying all of that extra baggage! Have the kids play games that don't need to be carried, like memory games and I Spy-type games. One electronic device can serve many purposes these days, so you don't need more, especially with WiFi. You can pack light. These days, you don't even need to carry a car seat! There are special straps (See them on FamilyTravelPlanet.com) where you can just put them in a carry-on bag and forget about hauling a heavy seat around. Those days are over. With new lightweight strollers and ways to rent equiptment at your destination or ship ahead, you just don't need to forget about packing light! Trust me, you'll be happy you did.
Jennifer Michaels, Family Travel Expert

Posted By Jennifer Michaels on February 4, 2010, 10:16 AM

I have traveled with my 3 children since each was weeks old, throughout the country and in Europe. When traveling on planes, trains or boats, anywhere that there are large groups of people, I brought whatever would keep the crying, fussing and general bothersome behaviors of my toddlers and babies to a minimum. That means I brought (and still bring)toys, Nintendos, Ipods, computers and video players to keep the young ones quiet. I wonder if the people who are criticizing this practice are also the same people who complain so loudly about screaming children in airplanes....

Posted By Chris on February 4, 2010, 10:41 AM

Bringing your own car seat is essential for a multi-week trip if you plan on renting a car. Yes, agencies do rent if you want to pay fees as high as $15-$20 a day per seat! You also don't know what the condition of the seat is before you arrive. Some are filthy and you have no way of knowing if the seat was involved in an accident. If they are traveling to the US, many states now require booster seats until a child is 8 years old. I would never dream of taking my child in the car without a car seat - why someone would consider doing it on an aircraft is beyond me. I'd also guess that the same people that say it isn't necessary to bring 2 nintendos would be quick to complain if a bored child got a little loud on the flight. A handheld game isn't much bigger than the average iPhone so I don't see why bringing 2 would be an issue. Do you and your spouse share a phone on your trip if you both have one at home? What about the paperback you're reading? I doubt it.

Posted By Jill on February 4, 2010, 12:12 PM

Even if we're going away for a week or longer, my wife and I never pack more than 3 or 4 days worth of clothes for us and our kids. We just figure on doing laundry. Sure, it takes up some time and can be annoying, but you (and the kids) will need some down time anyway. A lot of vacation rentals have washers and dryers, and we've also used our share of laundromats. We've actually met a lot of interesting people and gotten some great tips on restaurants, local attractions, and good parks and playgrounds while at laundromats. The people there are almost always locals, and they often have kids -- so chances are the tips are solid, and they make sense for families.

Posted By bradtuttle on February 4, 2010, 12:36 PM

ummm, what ever happened to reading and coloring in a coloring book, where's the crayons/pads/pencils and a little imagination goes along way. Too many high maintenance families and not enough commom sense ones. So what it's a long flight. Your not living on the plane so dont pack as if you are. Be creative with your kids, stop using high tech toys to do your job. Being a parent means 24/7 and it means using your adult brain and not your best buy visa. Seriously!

Posted By sayingitlikeitis on February 4, 2010, 3:33 PM

Necessity is the mother of invention. Packing light is a necessity in our household of two adults and two kids. Strategic packing is the key ingredient. You need to have a good packing list, and be strategic and sparing in your choices. Even a two-year old can carry his own little backpack with his essential special items (which you need to vet - no rocks allowed!). And you can pull a child's suitcase along with your own (if necessary) - they are built small and light.

Though our children are tween-age now, even when they were babies and we travelled abroad (2 times/year), we packed carry-ons only, and packed light. Amusements were many but not in quantity; a couple small books, imaginative toys like lego, playmobil, polly pockets, & even toy soldiers. Some bought especially for the flight and presented as a surprise for the trip - hours of entertainment, at little cost, and little packing space.

Strollers: one umbrella-foldable to go in the overhead bin, or pick one up at the destination. My $10 stroller bought in 1998 latest 5 weeks on cobblestones all over Europe, and back home again! Car seat: carry-on with a child or check in if bigger of if you can't borrow or you don't wish to rent at the destination. (daily rental costs can add up). Bring ziploc baggies of powder laundry soap for sink-washing of frequently worn items. Ask hosts and locals for laundry facilities & options.

Personal choices will play a role in what we choose to pack. The first time we allowed our kids to bring & use electronics (one iPod - shared!, two DS) was last year. On the flights themselves nowadays, there is (almost too much) TV & film entertainment available. You can watch TV for as long as the flight lasts, and a lot of kids (and adults) do just that.

If packing light is a priority, you can make it happen.

Posted By travelling_mom on February 4, 2010, 3:50 PM

Everyone's idea of what is NECESSARY varies - not only with the family - but with the destination and the duration of the trip. Kids need to be entertained and you aren't going to get a child who is used to playing electronic games to suddenly play 'I spy' and no one wants to sit near a whining, unhappy child.

Traveling light has a lot of advantages - FREEDOM is the single most enjoyable result. But, sometimes compromise is in order.

If you are used to lugging a lot of luggage and just have to take everything 'just in case' - then go for it. But, trying to 'make do' has its advantages. Simplifying things simplifies the trip in every way. It is a goal. Goals are often reached with baby steps.

Do what is in the best interests of your family. It really isn't my business if someone wants to take several cameras (each kind has its own merits). And taking two cell phones is something we would definitely do - a good way to stay in touch - anywhere. I personally cannot imagine taking this amount of paraphernalia - we always carried our babies/small kids in backpacks. But, now with the laws the way they are - car seats are required and who wants to put their child in a dirty car seat? I can see both sides of this situation. Everyone has to do what they feel is necessary for an enjoyable trip.

Posted By CMM on February 4, 2010, 9:51 PM

'Light' travel, like waking-up early, is perceived as morally better. It provokes strong opinions and feeling of superiority among the light travelers.

I'm not sure why. What's being judged?

We took 2 kids with 3 computers, 2 DS blah blah blah on a month long trip to the middle east, including time in the Sahara.

It didn't feel like it was that much stuff. How big is a DS?

If you can't 'handle' all the stuff, or it affects your travel negatively. But otherwise, pile it on!

Posted By CreekmoreWorld on February 5, 2010, 7:55 AM

I'm a life-long traveler with many trips to Europe: if the kids need the electronics to keep them happy, the electronics are the most important item you can pack. Doing laundry is the best advice you can take, for both the space-saving and the "meet the locals in the laundromat" reasons. Each situation is unique, just consider carefully your decisions.

Posted By Tom on February 8, 2010, 9:49 AM

If I can do a 5 day business trip with the types of clients who notice if you repeat an outfit - and you run into them over and over again - in carryon - or a 3 wk SE Asian photo tour with DSLR and laptop - anyone should be able to do it.

Confused about kids who need strollers and car seats also needing cameras however. Doesnt make any sense. I completely get why they would have small Gameboy and DVD players. But each of them could have a day pack and you check the expandable carryon rollaboard.

More importantly - if you have kids and all this carryon luggage - you need to board when the announcement is made that any people traveling with small children should board. Why are the families always the last ones on the plane, then scurrying around to fit what seems like 30 bags in the overhead? I just witnessed the same set of disorganized (American) parents in the terminal going and coming back from Mexico City with 3 young kids and 10 carryons! Why couldnt they board early and get organized instead of strolling on as the doors were closing both flights, then expecting everyone to move to accommodate them? Better yet, the parents grabbed the exit rows and left the kids 3 rows back with the bags!

Posted By Eva on February 8, 2010, 10:36 AM

Come on! Do babies and toddlers really use Ipods and nintendos, etc. ?

Posted By Tawanda on February 8, 2010, 10:37 AM

Yes, Tawanda - toddlers use Ipods. There are lots of apps these days centered for toddlers. My 2 year old's favorite is a shapes game that helps her learn her shapes. It's educational, and it keeps her entertained for hours when she needs to be quiet on the plane. That being said, we always travel with carry-ons only. I don't bring a computer, because if I absolutely need the internet I can do it on my Ipod. For us, vacation is about escaping our everyday life. My daughter has a very small backpack that we fill with crayons and paper to keep herself entertained. We usually bring 2 or 3 books for her to read, plus whatever blanket and stuffed animal she needs to be comfortable. That's it! We do always check the carseat, because I really don't trust the ones from the rental companies. Plus, airlines check carseats for free, so why would you pay $20 a day for a rental? I don't understand the need for more stuff, as for us the point of traveling is to enjoy the area and experience everything it has to offer. If we were stuck behind computers and video games all the time then we might as well have stayed home.

Posted By Kelly on February 8, 2010, 12:25 PM

CreekmoreWorld- light packers don't think of themselves as morally better, just happier. I have seen "G" on some of my trips. I thought he was moving! Check out onebag.com for pointers.

Posted By TravlinFool on February 8, 2010, 1:02 PM

I read this post and felt overwhelmed by the amount of stuff this family travels with. I thought about it though, and wondered--who cares? If they don't mind hauling all that stuff around, I certainly don't. I don't know what mom and dad need to entertain their kids, and if it keeps them from crying and fussing on ony airplane I am on, I say, YES, YES, YES! Load it up and keep those kiddies happy!

Posted By Lisa on February 8, 2010, 1:13 PM

I know I'm late to the party, but now that this string has been in the Newsletter, I thought I'd chime in with my advice...traveled for years with 2 kids, often by myself. There is nothing cuter than those little ducks rolling their carryons confidently through the airport!

-If you are going for weeks (or anytime over 1 week), you only need 4-6 of any clothing item. When kids were growing fast, when they were little, I'd buy 2-3 lightweight, quick dry (convertable)pants and tops and plan to do laundry. That, and one pair of walking shoes, one sandal/water shoe, pjs, a bathing suit (or 2 for sun spots), a fleece, a hat and a good roll up rain jacket has taken them all over the globe. I'd often have these in their closet set aside especially for travel.

-As you are tossing stuff you think you can't live without into a bag, remember that there are very few places in the world you can't get what you need with a little cash and a credit card. The exception are your credit card/cash, travel docs, meds, and any must have comfort item (buddy or blankie) I put these on a final check list and check it before leaving the house, everything else we can improvise!

-If you are visiting a place or family you see every year, see if you can borrow a corner or closet to stash stuff you'll use every visit. I have water noodles, a boogie board, lawn chair and exercise ball stashed at my mothers FL home!) Also, we have gone to the beach, purchased a $2 pail and shovel kit there and just given it to another child as we leave.

-The next time you travel, when you return, look at the things you did not actually use or wear, don't bring it again.

-especially with younger kids, it is critical for them to learn to make do/entertain themselves. This is the time these skills are learned and once they figure it out you will never need to tote stuff for them again when you travel! Well, at least not so much;-)

JMHO...and advice that has worked for my two globetrotters!

Posted By FamilyGoBoston on February 8, 2010, 1:18 PM

I raised three children and NEVER travelled on a plane or other enclosed, cramped quarters type mode of transportation with them when they were young. I did this on purpose, to avoid the unhappy crying, kicking the back-of-the-seat situations that do occur.
We took short road trips, or we segmented our travel into bearable portions so that no one was stressed past the point of endurance, and we all came away with wonderful memories of good times.
If you don't have to fly with kids, then don't. Utilize willing and able family (if available) to care for the kids while you and your mate take your trip. Very young children don't remember these trips anyways. But you will if they fuss and cry for hours on end, and so will your fellow passengers.

Posted By Seasoned mom on February 8, 2010, 1:33 PM

To Corrinne: "We don't travel light, and I'm ok with that. So long as I'm not asking you to carry my bag(s), what does it matter?"

It matters because a) you take up all my overhead bin space, b) you knock people over at the baggage claim trying to amass your gazillion pieces of luggage, c) once you get your aforementioned gazillion pieces of luggage, you pile it on a cart and proceed to literally knock over small children and elderly people (yes, I've actually seen this happen) because you can't see over or around all your crap.

Posted By Vanessa on February 8, 2010, 1:34 PM

We flew to a destination where my family tent camped for two weeks. We have two kids and two adults in our family. We packed our clothes and all of our camping equipment (inlcuding tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses, stove and a cooler) into six bags. Had one small carry on a piece. No electronics besides flashlights. It was the time of our lives... Packing light was necessary!

Posted By Joe S. on February 8, 2010, 1:59 PM

I've read the many well-written comments on both the "bring it all" and the "leave it home" camps. I fall firmly in with Tom and the others who urge acceptance that each family situation is unique. Most of my international travel with babies & children was done in the 90's. My eldest child had ADD, so keeping him entertained was always a challenge on the long flights. I'd tell "G" to change the pre-trip mindset. We rehearsed with the kids that this was an ADVENTURE - meaning, we would not be bringing all the props of home with us. My family's top travel strategies were:

Baby backpacks are a must.
Light weight foldable strollers give Mom & Dad's sore backs a rest.
Bring the car seat - because in the 90's, we did not find rentals available in much of Europe.
Keep clothes & toys to a minimum. Handheld electronics weren't an option for us then. Now? I'd say keep it small - and only what is necessary for the long plane ride.

Asking locals for advice, making use of local laundromats and stores, is all part of the travel experience!

Btw - thanks JMHO, awesome travel advice! :)

Posted By WallysMom on February 8, 2010, 2:15 PM

If you are willing to pay the fees and haul all the gear, go ahead. Hey, take more along if you don't mind. If you want to pack lighter, avoid fees, et cetera, there are plenty of people who can offer advice.

All the advice and checklists fall apart for me when it comes to that last 30 minutes before having to leave the house. I suck at packing but don't want my travel budget being spent on ancillary fees, sore hands and shoulders, and no foot room on airplanes. So, I pack a little less each trip.

I get sick of people telling other people how to manage their family. It is inappropriate, disrespectful and judgmental. I do think that a lot of people want to genuinely help and that is why they offer advice in blogs and comments. Rent or carry a carseat, DS or coloring books, one or four cameras, it is a parent's choice based on how they balance their own priorities.

(While you can buy diapers almost anywhere, you can't buy them on board an airplane or in many airports so you need to bring enough in carry on to cover for bad luck, delays, cancellations and other joys of flying these days.)

Posted By Backpack to Buggy on February 8, 2010, 2:41 PM

Wow, I'm famous!
But because my comment was excerpted, what was left out was that when I travel alone, I travel with a Ryan Air ready carry on (which left me quite sad when stuck in London for 4 days over the holidays- with clothes only for two and no laundry capability).

Also left out, the traveling from snow to sun. Buying snow suits in NY and leaving them behind to buy sun suits and snorkels in Florida is a bit too wasteful for us. One child 3- therefore stroller. They cost over $10/day to rent at Disney. Car seats, required by law, over $15/day last time I checked. Cameras- do people really share? Truthfully, I think I'm packing light if I only bring two lenses.Should we share toothbrushes too?

Don't travel? Well, I guess my parents don't need to see the grandkids. After all, if you live in Europe, it serves you right to never see family again.

Leave it all behind- this isn't just a trip for fun.Personally, I'd rather go to an all-inclusive in Turkey. Would you like to be stuck with grown-ups, with 10s of hours traveling, without what you like? I have my Kindle- they have their toys. I'm doing laundry at my mom's- I'm afraid the only toys she has around are those for the 60 and up set.

Computers- darn work for not allowing personal stuff on it. Darn us for wanting to use our own personal things. etc.

As for overhead space- we aren't over bagged- but I see a lot of people who think it's ok to use our space.

Board early- some of these airlines think it's ok to separate children under 8 from parents when booking, then after one complains, they say"Fix it at the airport". You should see them running to fix it then!I especially love the airlines who try to charge to give seats, even for minors traveling with parents, or to board early, even for those carrying an infant in arms!

But it's always interesting to hear from other folks. And I should clip this for my five seconds of fame!

Posted By G on February 8, 2010, 3:05 PM

I totally agree with Lisa's post above. When first reading G's list of "necessary" travel items, I definitely thought it was excessive. But, it's not like they can take it all as carry-on and impact the rest of us who do manage to travel with a reasonable amount of luggage. And I imagine that the amount of baggage fees they're paying is in some way helping the airlines stay afloat. But, what I agree with the most in Lisa's comment is that if these items keep their children from being pills on the plane, then HECK YES, bring it all on! But, I have a feeling that kids with so many luxuries like that probably still act like pills on the plane.

Posted By Jessica on February 8, 2010, 3:08 PM

I pack light, light enough that strangers in airports have asked how I do it. However, everyone's idea of packing light and indeed, every trip, is different. While in my mind G's packing is excessive, they have packed what they thought they needed and to my mind that is really what we all do.

Posted By Winnie on February 8, 2010, 3:50 PM

Personally, I would rather bring extra clothes than do laundry on vacation. And I bring a lot of books. To each his own.

Posted By Elaine on February 8, 2010, 3:56 PM

Pack however you want. If you travel light it offers one set of advantages and if you travel with a lot of stuff it offers a different set. Of course, both styles come with different sets of "costs" as well. The choice is a personal one. There is no right answer.

Posted By rjt on February 8, 2010, 4:27 PM

Do we have to take any advice as a personal attack?
Let's see... It started with the discussion 'about whether shipping your bags to your destination is smart' on an open public forum. Poster A volunteers her (or his) opinion and add the description of how his (her) family is travelling - as an example and as an argument against shipping. Later posts argue for, or against, using the example which was voluntarily provided by A. It is no more 'telling A how to manage his family,' than the first post by A is 'telling that every family must travel with 3/4 of computer per breathing body.'
There are many arguments for carrying a lot (if you pack our own caw, you can count on your own milk; if you loose your credit cards, you can have an improvised garage sale), and travelling light (you can take a bike instead of a plane to get from NY to Paris ...if it floats). And, no, I am not telling you how to manage your family.

Posted By SueSho on February 8, 2010, 4:31 PM

At Eva, who saw parents in the exit row w/their kids and bags several rows back....That's against the rule, although it's an often unenforced one. Those traveling with children, elderly, disabled, infirm, or anyone to whom or for whom they would naturally feel a responsibility are not allowed to sit in exit rows. Read the safety briefing cards, people. Often flight attendants are unaware of this kind of situation.

Posted By Toni on February 8, 2010, 4:32 PM

Also...the Skymall catalog carries a car safety seat that morphs into a stroller, and it sounds exactly what the defensive parents need to cut down on their load.

Posted By Toni on February 8, 2010, 4:33 PM

Also, why in the h*ll would any responsible parent buy a seat for a child and CHECK a carseat? WHY? That child should be IN that carseat ON THE PLANE.

Posted By Toni on February 8, 2010, 4:38 PM

And yes, it IS my business, and not just because I'm a flight attendant. It IS my business when you take up all the OHB room with your family's "necessities." It IS my business when the flight is delayed because you can't find space nearby for all your stuff. It IS my business when you awaken other passengers all night long, hopping up and down out of your seat to noisily snap open a bin and rummage around to find the special gadget or toy your spoiled, demanding child is clamoring for (which is too often a poor substiture for YOUR attention). You say you bring all this stuff to keep your child entertained and happy. Well, I'm a well-traveled mom, too, and I can tell you that my son knew how to behave whether he was being "adequately entertained" or not. I did not think that it was my privilege to shut my eyes and read a magazine on a flight, either. It's your job to quietly interact with your child on board.
Who on earth suggested bringing LEGOS on a flight?

Posted By Toni on February 8, 2010, 4:43 PM

And it is very much everyone's business when, for example, you are flying on one of the "free checked bags" airlines. If I'm on board with my under-the-seat-in-front-of-me sized bag and you drag everything you own to the airport, I'm subsidizing YOUR STUFF in the cost of my airfare. Families that pack like this are a GREAT argument for unbundling prices and fees for checked bags. You can't live without it? You pack it, you pay for it.

Posted By Toni on February 8, 2010, 4:47 PM

And how come it is that the parents who babysit their kids with all these toys never seem to have headphones for the portable DVD players?

Posted By Toni on February 8, 2010, 5:06 PM

G, whatever works for you, Buddy. Though, I think your list can be further refined and not affect the enjoyment of the trip by all participants (case in point, universal adapters are a God-send and total reuseable for other electronics).

Posted By Annimam on February 8, 2010, 6:18 PM

A comment about a different problem with packing light. My husband and I enjoy cruise ship travel. For our anniversary last year we flew to Barcelona, took a 1 wk Mediterranean Cruise followed by a 2 wk Trans Atlantic cruise back to the US. We are a retired couple, on a tight budget and save diligently in order to take these trips.

We wanted to pack light because the baggage fees for our flights from the west coast to Barcelona entailed changing planes 4 times with the accompanying baggage fees per bag per flight, however, we ended up having a couple of bags each which added considerably to the cost of our flights.

The problem with trying to pack light for cruise travel is the dress requirements on the cruise ships--2 to 3 formal dress nights, men needing a suit and coat at dinner other nights, and women needing cocktail dresses, dress shoes, etc., besides all of the casual wear, walking shoes, jackets, etc. With no laundry facilities available on cruise ships we had to have more than 4 outfits apiece! I realize there are a few casual dining venues aboard, but we shouldn’t have to forgo dining in the main dining room just because we couldn’t fit enough clothes for a 3 week trip into one carry one bag! I would like to see the cruise ships consider the baggage problems and downgrade the dress requirements. One coat and one dressy dress should be enough to meet the dining room requirements or they should have washer and dryer facilities available for their passengers. Just a thought!

Posted By Txsun on February 9, 2010, 1:31 AM

The latest medical advice is NO electronics for kids under 1 or, preferably, 2. And this is in fact the age to teach kids to self-entertain or self-soothe, unless you really want a teen who expects an entertainment system (with surround sound and big screen) and a computer in their bedroom, plus a cell phone to order pizza so they never need to emerge or interact with you. A slight (but only slight) exaggeration--as a parent and teacher I deplore the use of electronic "games" for anything more than 1 hour daily and as anything but a reward for good behavior and fulfilling whatever responsibilites parents have allotted.

Posted By Leslie on February 9, 2010, 5:01 AM

Personally, I am a little overwhelmed with G's packing list, but if s/he wants to pack like that, it isn't really my business. As another reference point, we are also a family with 2 kids (ages 3 and 6) who have traveled for weeks at a time abroad (Asia, Australia/NZ, Europe), and we generally limit ourselves to 2 rolling carry-on bags (which contain all of our clothes, diapers, a cloth child carrier, and 2 portable travel car seats), 2 regular-sized backpacks (entertainment for all and work), and a small, lightweight stroller. Even that amount of gear often feels overwhelming to me, and I am looking forward to the day when diapers, stroller, and car seats can be left behind!

Posted By Mechteach on February 9, 2010, 7:42 AM

I think Toni needs a vacation!

Posted By Cyndy on February 9, 2010, 9:18 AM

I've been reading the post from G and some of the other commentaries. As a mother of two young children who began travelling extensively FROM BIRTH, I'd like to remind people that travel today is very different from travel when we were kids. I do bring 2 Ninetendo DS units with me - do you understand the fights and aggravation it causes otherwise? I bring one laptop that hubby and I share, and one camera. When the kids were younger, I certainly did bring my own car seats and stroller. For those of you commenting otherwise, have you ever actually tried renting a car seat from one of the agencies? The first and only time I did, I ended up with one seat that was still damp with urine from the previous user, and one that the clips didn't fasten. There were no others for the agency to give and the reality of it is that when the law says the child has to be in a seat, there is no lee-way around that. It was disgusting and after that incident, I vowed to just bring my own, knowing it had my own level of clean and worked. I'd like to see one of those people that commented negatively about car seats put their precious cargo in a damp, urine infested seat! And as for food and toys, have you seen the prices of food and toys in the airport? Not to mention diapers, IF you can find a store in the terminal that has them in the correct size? And when your flight is delayed or cancelled, do you want to be around hungry, cranky children with nothing to do for the past 5+ hours? I think not. To those of you chiming in, do you remember how boring it was to look out the window or stare at the airport walls for all that time when you were 5 years old? I am not saying pack the entire house for a trip, but really, families have to pack smart, not light.

Posted By KPR on February 9, 2010, 12:43 PM

Packing and traveling light are certainly matters of choice, but I take exception to the comment that children need to be entertained. Children need to learn to entertain themselves and parents need to help them. This means that when you travel with children, you need to focus your attention on them, not on watching movies or reading. As the parent of three children I know this is not always easy, but one of the responsibilities of parenthood that too many parents seem to forget. My children were not allowed to run up and down yelling except on a playground or a sports field. They were allowed to have electronic games only when they could save enough allowance and/or chore money to buy them themselves. They did perfect the art of good conversation at a relatively young age and often managed to make new friends when we traveled. It is a matter of personal choice, but I think we need to use every opportunity we can to teach our children to interact with people and not just wait to be entertained.

Posted By Janet on February 10, 2010, 11:51 AM

These comments reminded me of a time when we traveled with our first baby when she was 6 months old. It is funny now but not so then... While waiting for the plane to board I had to go to the bathroom so I left husband, baby and several carry on items at the gate. When I returned they were no where to be seen and people were boarding. I figured he had gotten on the plane so I boarded and immediately recognized the crying baby sound. My husband had lugged her and all our stuff onto the plane when they announced boarding for families with young children (without waiting for me to help). He set her on the seat so he could arrange all the stuff and she promptly fell head first out of the seat onto the floor. Luckily she was okay and I was able to settle her down before too long (before the plane took off) but I know my husband heard a thing or two from me (and probably other passengers) about trying to do all that himself. I don't think he tried that again...

Posted By JP on February 11, 2010, 5:02 PM

Actually, Vanessa, I believe it's those that choose to not check bags that take up all the overhead bin space. My diaper bag and carry-on fit under the seats in front of us. I need quick access to them anyway.

And my husband's quite tall, he has no difficulty seeing over the luggage cart. If he knocked you over trying to amass our gazillion pieces of luggage, I do apologize. I'm sure he was trying to avoid the many elderly people and young children crowding the baggage carousel ;)

Posted By Corinne on February 17, 2010, 10:47 PM

I am amazed that people get so sensitive about some of these travel issues. I have been living overseas for four years (with wife and now 1.5 year old) and we are constantly tweaking our methods to try to find the best fit. We lug a heavy duty stroller around because the benefits out weigh the annoyance - it can serve as baggage transport, storage and makeshift bed for our son.

Yes unless you are on the road constantly (or traveling to more remote locations) most essential Western baby products from home one can find in shops abroad. I can't speak for the whole world here...but I know that I have either seen or bought Pampers in Cyprus, Turkey, Russia and China.

"Heavy Packers" are just a fact of life. Before moving to China we lived on the island of Cyprus for three years. Each time I was at the airport I was amazed that tourists coming in for short stays, planning to do nothing but lounge on the beach, had two massive, heavy rolling suitcases.

"Heavy packers" quit whining or examine your priorities. "Light packers," quite whining...heavy packers are as much a fact of traveling as missed flights, hand washed clothes and mistakes in guidebooks.

Posted By Simms on February 23, 2010, 9:43 PM

I am having such fun reading through this discussion thread!
First of all, I think there are minimalists and there are those solo travelers who travel with 13 leopard print suitcases and a stroller for their dog. Families are the same way.
Second, experience is a great teacher. The first time my family of 5 traveled on an extended overseas trip, we packed everything but the kitchen sink. What wasn't stolen (long story, our fault), we ended up leaving there. We have packed lightly ever since.
Third, there are some parents who pack enough electronics for your preschoolers to start your own Techno Expo. It is so not necessary. As I like to tell my kids, being bored is good. Moments of boredom is where genius is born!

Posted By Kristy on February 25, 2010, 9:26 AM