Packing Essentials
Here are a few things that we absolutely could not have done without on our extended trip to Southeast Asia:
Travel Insurance Details
Yes, we did need it. Have it handy either on paper or on phones.
Mosquito Kit
Eurax cream (also Lanacane as an alternative) for dealing with the after-effects of mosquito bites
Mosquito Zapper - a nifty little device that can take the 'sting' out of any bite soon after it occurs (we got ours on Amazon)
Hydration
Robinsons Squeezy Mini Cordials (our children hate drinking water without cordial and I need them hydrated which beats the angst over sugar!)
Flight
Lollipops to suck for take off to help the ears
Headphones with aeroplane cable
Gear
More swimsuits than we first thought - many have died out here through sheer use! Though, you can also buy in the night markets.
Goggles and snorkel masks (also easily bought in Thailand if you don't have)
Crocs or equivalent beach/sea shoes
Organisation while moving around
Packing cubes - a revelation! Great for keeping everyone’s belongings organised and easy to access. Assign a colour to each family member for stress-free packing and unpacking.
Travel Towels
Compact, quick-drying microfibre towels are a lifesaver for pool days, beach trips, or unexpected spills. They take up minimal space and dry quickly in humid climates.Basic First Aid Kit
Include plasters, antiseptic wipes, antihistamines, and any necessary medication. Southeast Asia is an adventure, but bumps and scrapes can happen!Sunscreen and After-Sun Lotion
High SPF sunscreen is essential for tropical climates. We like the Once-a-Day P30 or Calypso 30 or 50. And we have taught our children to apply it themselves properly.Snacks and Reusable Snack Bags
Pack non-perishable favourites like dried fruit, crackers, or granola bars. Reusable snack bags cut down on single-use plastics and are great for on-the-go nibbling to keep the energy up.Bug Spray
We did not need a net anywhere we stayed. The mossies were worse in the south on the islands than in the north or Bangkok.Lightweight Blanket or Travel Pillow
Useful for keeping kids cozy on planes, buses, or long journeys. A compact option won’t take up too much space in your luggage.
Entertainment
Small puzzles, books or downloads on devices, such as you allow them to have, for much needed downtime after being in a pool or waterpark exhausting themselves all day long.
Stuff We Packed But Shouldn't
We booked 3 x 23KG bags for our international flights for four of us. However, baggage restrictions on internal flights vary and you need to pack to your lightest flight restriction. Knowing this, we were still up to our max, which restricted our joy of purchasing in the night markets! It became Lorne's refrain - "yes, if it's less than half a gram!" We had to get very creative being here over Christmas with what we could buy! More on that in a separate post.
Clothes
Our kids lived in approximately one pair of shorts, wore the same two tops, one occasional dress (bought at the night market) and then they found elephant pants and forever lived in those. We (I) did the classic of - we never see them wear their lovely summer outfits (UK summers not ideal for these) and I want to see them worn before they grow out of them!), so we overpacked clothes. If you need more, buy them cheap in Thailand.
Winter Coats
We left the UK on 1 December so it was cold. Still no need for a coat and all the fleeces though. Once you've left the house with them, you are carrying them around for the whole trip. Suck up a brief moment of cold in between your airport hotel and the terminal to avoid this. Everywhere else is heated!
Flight
Piles of non-screen entertainment to keep the children occupied over the long flights. Who were we trying to kid? Leave it all at home and resign yourself to square-eyed children. They'll watch precious little while travelling.
Cuddly toys
Our kids insisted, but the moment they were in Thailand, forgot all about them. Deadweight! No attachment issues here!
Homeschooling resources in paper and hard copy.
A serious weight issue here. There are lots of good online resources and you are better bringing paper and notepads.
Christmas Overseas with Kids and No Baggage Tolerance
Wrapping paper was not really an easy thing to come by in the islands of Thailand. So we got creative. We went foraging for wrapping paper! Nature provided. It is not every Christmas you get to open presents wrapped in banana leaves, decorated with flowers and grasses.
