5 Family Packing Tips and Major Travel Sale at The Container Store

This post is sponsored by The Container Store, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that allow City Peach to run full-time.

Here’s the situation in my house: I can be high maintenance or extremely low maintenance. Blame it on being a Gemini, and maybe this is a good thing… that I can accommodate how ‘extra’ I am being based on my situation. If I am going on a trip by myself like Fashion Week in NYC, or a blogger media trip, I am all about bringing more than necessary and covering all outfit options. However, I have kids and know when to reel it in. When we go on family trips, I can pack for a week extremely minimally because there is no time for me anyway, ha! I make sure to pack smart outfit wise, and make sure all of our stuff fits in a reasonable amount of luggage. Here are my packing tips for traveling with your family, which can apply to any kind of vacation or even just navigating around with kids in general!

1. Since it’s summer, think about getting shoes wet/sandy and pack a good/cute pair and a pair you don’t mind getting dirty. I will pack a pair of tennis shoes and then crocs/mini melissa shoes for the kids. Both will look just fine in photos and be wearable for anything you do together
2. Create outfits that are interchangeable. I make sure I have my favorite comfortable wide-leg pants that I love wearing, but if they get dirty, my top will still go with a maxi skirt or denim. I pack a ton of small tanks and tees that don’t take up a ton of room but can still allow me to have a lot of choices when traveling. And one (denim) jacket that goes with everything but will save you when it’s chilly.
3. When choosing outfits to take, be ok with anything you pack being in family photos. This is huge because I know most families want to capture a staged family photo shoot while on vacation and that doesn’t always go to plan with kids. This way you can grab an alternative and still be ok with the turnout. Also, if you are packing cute yet affordable clothes, that one shot where everyone is looking and actually together is the ‘money shot’. It doesn’t always happen in a ‘photo shoot’, it could happen at Publix, or getting ice cream. This way you all aren’t in play clothes, but vacation play clothes. This might sound insane, but I have helped so many families plan for photo shoots and I know personally, but best photos of my own family are those captured candidly doing something totally different than an actual photo shoot. I get my kids’ the cutest outfits at our local consignment store for SO cheap, all designer and matching. 
4. Roll everything! This is the best way to make the most out of packing a suitcase, especially one that houses the entire family’s stuff. 
5. Utilize travel bags that separate items. I love to have a bag for toiletries, one for future dirty clothes, jewelry for me so it doesn’t get lost, a toy bag, a restaurant toy bag, one for diapers and wipes… This keeps you the most organized when you honestly don’t have time to think on the go. You can just grab what you need and don’t have to mess up your entire packing system if you need to run into a restaurant and only need toys and wipes (me always). 

I also want to tell you about a major sale going on! First of all, did you know The Container Store carries travel products? They do and they are really good. I love The Container Store from everything involving organization, pantry containers, closet bins, to now, luggage and travel essentials! The sale is happening now, will run until June 24th, and will include luggage, bags, organization essentials (think travel bottles/bags and accessory organizers) and even travel gadgets. This is honestly the place to grab suitcases/luggage at really good prices. I snapped up this oversized suitcase for family travel and chose it because it can be squeezed in with other bags in the trunk.

I hope you can utilize my packing tips for either yourself, or if you are in charge of packing up your entire family on vacation! If you have any additional packing tips that you live by, leave them in the comments, I would love to know!