So, you and your family have booked a much-needed holiday together? You’ll be bursting with excitement at the prospect of an extended stay in sunny climes with beautiful beaches. Whether it’s Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria or one of the smaller islands you’ll be in for a treat when you get there. It’s no wonder the Canary Islands are such a popular holiday destination. The weather is generally quite reliable and there are so many attractions and amenities for people of all ages and all walks of life.
Packing for package holidays is quite a daunting task – especially for a family. You’ll need to travel as light as possible – the Canary Islands are most easily accessed by plane so you’ll be limited as to what you can carry. Here are our tips for travelling light and making life as easy as possible for yourselves!
Lists of Lists!
The first thing you should do is get listing! Make a separate list for each member of the family and one overall list for things that everyone will need. Lists are your best friend – you won’t forget anything that way. Spend some time thinking each eventuality through and keep the lists in a handy place so you can always add to them. Have a look online for other people’s suggested lists of what to pack to give you some ideas. You can keep the lists in your bag so that you can count everything back in when the time comes to leave – a great way of making sure nothing is left behind.
Check the Forecast
It’ll pay to keep a close eye on the weather forecast in the days leading up to the time you leave. That will give you the best clues on what sort of clothes to pack. Bear in mind that the weather will be warmer but the evenings may well still feel a little bit chilly. Make sure everyone has an extra layer with them so that they can cover up if it gets cold. And pack loads of sun cream – don’t let a holiday be ruined by chronic sunburn!
Bags of Bags!
Assign each member of the family their own suitcase, telling them they must fit everything they want to take within it. It will help to keep volumes down. Have a separate handbag for flying that has a dedicated compartment for everybody’s passports – it is a good idea to keep them all together, along with your flight documents. Remember you are usually limited as to the weight and size of hand luggage on package holiday flights so take the time to make sure you comply with the rules or you will risk being charged more.
The key to a stress-free holiday is plenty of organisation beforehand. You’ll be free to enjoy your holiday safe in the knowledge that everything you need is with you. The more organised you are the more you will get out of your holiday so make sure you dedicate plenty of time beforehand to plan your packing. Have a wonderful holiday!
Photo by: Michael Scheffler
