One of my favorite days of the year.  A day dedicated to celebrating being a mom.  If you’re looking for some gift inspiration, take a look at these best Mother’s Day gifts picked specifically for travelers.  Some gifts are practical and some are just for fun.  All will be perfect for the travel loving mom.

If you’re a mom, what gifts would you like to receive?

10 Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Travelers

While I don’t travel with a lot of jewelry, a jewelry bag does come in handy. It’s nice to be able to swap out a necklace during a trip or just to have somewhere to stash my jewelry at night instead of leaving it laying on the hotel side table with all the kids stuff. Anther option to the one pictured above is this fun Polka Dot jewelry bag.

Give mom the practical gift of luggage tags. I want this Vintage Suitcase Luggage Tag. It will look so cute on my suitcase.

No wardrobe is complete without a couple cute Travel Tees.  There are a bunch of styles available – perfect for any travel lovin’ Mom.

How about a World Map Travel Mug for all those busy work or travel days?  It ensures long lasting temperature and is made to order.

[Read more…]

It’s taken me YEARS to get over being a serial overpacker. I was famous for throwing in a few extra outfits and shoes “just in case.” Ninety percent of the time I’d come home after the trip and still have those extra outfits tucked away, never worn.

Once we moved to Europe, I had to learn how to pack lightly for a vacation. Hauling huge suitcases on and off trains & paying double the ticket price to check a suitcase just wasn’t going to happen. We really didn’t need all that extra STUFF anyways.   Seriously, it’s okay to only have 2 pairs of shoes.

So how do you go from overpacking to packing light? A lot of practice and planning.  Have you ever heard the phrase, “take half of the stuff you were planning to bring and twice the money?” It’s a true statement. Most travelers overpack and under budget.  The budgeting tips are for another time, we’re going to get into ways to help pack light for a vacation.

How to Pack Lightly for a Vacation

First, pick your suitcase. The challenge is to accept that you can only bring what fits in your cabin luggage. Period.

I’ve even managed to pack for a 2-week holiday and get all the clothes for 4 people in a single carry-on sized suitcase. Granted, the toiletries went in another bag, but you get the idea.  It can be done.

My European modus operandi is to pack for our family of four,  in 2 or 3 carry-on suitcases plus a backpack.  Typically, the European airlines only allow one carry-on per person. Some don’t even allow a personal bag, such as a purse in addition to that bag. Make sure to check the size allowances before making the trip as well.  US and European carry-on size restrictions aren’t always the same!

Think in layers when laying out potential outfits. Find a light sweater or jacket that can go over your tops. If chilly weather is forecast, pack a thin top to wear under your clothes for added warmth. You can always remove layers and throw them in the backpack as the day heats up.

If you pack it, you must be able to wear it more than once. When picking out what clothes to pack for your next holiday, think about what can be worn multiple times. You don’t need 3 sweaters.   Stick with the one that can work with multiple outfits.

I also try to stick with the same color palette when packing.  Personally, I tend to pack black with a few colorful tops to change things up. You also want to pack items that won’t show stains. The key is to be able to wear it multiple times before washing. Drinking white wine instead of red can also be helpful!

[Read more…]

{Click to Pin It}

Take a peak inside my kiddos travel activity box.  My kids are 9 and 11, so these items are designed for older kids.  There are so many different items you can pack in a travel activity box for kids, but this will give you some ideas of things to pack for your next adventure.

We have 2 Sterilite Notebook Cases in different colors. These are no longer available, but a scrapbook case or similar could work just as well.  I like that these fit notebook size items but aren’t so big that the kids try to pack their entire rooms.

Travel Activity Box for Kids:

1. Paperback chapter book
2. Drawing pad and/or activity book
3. Pencil pouch with colored pencils/crayons/markers/pencils (kids choice). I usually add 2 pencils to each bag and split a box of colored pencils between the kids.  We also have a tiny pencil sharpener that the kiddos share.
4. Stickers (My 9 year old likes these, but my 11 year old doesn’t)
5. DS with 2 games (1 game in player and 1 in my purse) *This only comes on road trips now that we have iPads.
6. Playing cards – fun for the whole family!
7. Silly putty
8. Journal for recording our travels
9. Magazines such as Highlights or Ranger Rick (these can be trashed or given away after reading) Tip – cut off the mailing address label before leaving home to avoid having personal info floating around during your trip.

[Read more…]

Traveling is one of the best forms of education a child can get. With countless enriching and fulfilling experiences, any trip away is sure to provide valuable life lessons that can’t be matched from a textbook or in front of a television.

However, although in theory it all sounds like sunshine and daisies, the practicalities of the situation can be very different. Keeping kids quiet and occupied during long journeys can be a nightmare and avoiding temper tantrums is a tactical operation for all parents.

Luckily, the invention of the tablet has become a lifesaver in this situation! Stocking up your device with a wide range of activities can keep the kids occupied for hours and allow parents to negotiate the linguistics of any trip in peace.

How to Stock Your Tablet For a Trip With Children

Games

There are countless great games to play on tablets regardless of what make or model you have. However, the thing that parents perhaps don’t consider, in regard to this, when taking a trip with their children is that the lack of internet access will make a lot of these games unusable.

Because of this, it’s essential you fill up your tablet with games that have an offline mode before you set off. Some of the best include Cars: Fast as Lightning, which is a highly customized racing game that fits in perfectly with the traveling theme! It’s available for free download on Android, and although it includes in-app purchases, they can’t be bought when offline so the little ones can’t rack up a major bill without you noticing!

[Read more…]