Our Travel Shopping List

This is a list of products that we have used and recommend (unless noted – ex. I don’t know for certain it was that exact brand of colored pencils but I still feel pretty confident recommending them). Many have just made our life easier. Some we stumbled upon. Some we meticulously researched. Not all are travel related. Some I just really like in our daily lives. I will get a small percentage if you make purchase through Amazon via my site which will help me keep this site up to date (otherwise I’ll eventually have to get a “real job”). To be completely honest I’ll need to get a “real” job anyway when we return to the “real” world but any money that this site does happen to make will help rationalize the time it takes to keep it updated. I hope you find something wonderful!

Travel Accessories

CozyPhone Kids Headphones.

My top recommendation for plane travel with kids are these CozyPhone Kids Headphones. We love them. Each kid has a different animal and they double as masks. M even uses them with white noise to help her go to sleep ( then as soon as she is asleep I frantically take them off since sleeping kids and cords scare me but regardless these things are great). We have a Unicorn, Fox and Green Monster – all are adorable.
Travel Money Belt

This Travel Money Belt is soft and it fits nicely around my waist and under my clothes. It’s perfect for workout clothing and fits everything I need without being bulky.
Travel Tags

Don’t forget your travel tags for your checked and carry on baggage or … you could just leave your 6yo son’s entire wardrobe in Copenhagen – and never see it again.
Men’s Travel Money Belt

This is very similar to the belt my hubby will sometimes wear. It has just enough hiding space to hide a few extra bills. It’s a nice back up plan.
A Phone Wallet Case

This is not the exact one I have (the kids and hubby picked one up for me for a Christmas Present) but it is pretty similar. What I asked for Christmas was for a small wallet to hold a few cards, what I got instead was an I Phone Wallet Case. Don’t tell the hubby but I’m actually starting to like it. I do kind of miss my I phone ring and it takes longer to take a photo but I haven’t lost my ID in several weeks. It’s also just enough extra cushion to save it on a mild drop. I think it’s pretty stylish and they seemed to be the think to have in Denmark. Make sure whichever one you get it is slim. Big is a no go for traveling.
Plastic Uno and Playing Cards

This are great cards for travel and kids. They don’t bend as easily and they can get wet.
I Phone Ring

If you don’t end up with a wallet case at least get an IPhone Ring. These are great when traveling in crowds (great in New Orleans or parades). Just attach it to your hard case, stick you finger through when you hold the phone and no dropping or pick pocketing. I’m not sure why you would need a 4 pack but that’s the one I found.

Electronics

Travel Adapters and Plugs:

I recommend ordering adapters before you go. It’s way cheaper then buying at the airport (the ones I saw were $30 a piece) and way easier then driving around town looking for just the right one while all your computers, phones, and devices slowly go dead. A 3 pack would be perfect and these are not the ones we got – we were those other people. If you’re going to the EU and UK you may be better buying a more expensive universal. Regardless it’s better to bring these with you. We finally found some leaving Denmark. I recommending just getting them now. Also consider getting European USB chargers and/or may be computer adapters. Please check with your computer charger first and make sure it is compatible with European plugs. If you plan to charge everything in one spot one universal with USB plugs may be all you need. If you generally have things charging all over the place you may want to purchase other options.
Kindle

I absolutely recommend getting a Kindle and signing consider signing up for kindle unlimited. I’ve become a big reader and it’s really important for the kids to read as much as possible. I prefer the paperwhite versions. They are easier to read in the sunlight and do not strain the eyes like other electronics. We have one for the family but 2 would be better so that more of us can read at a time. I have an older version but if I was to buy a new one this is what I would get.
Also I recommend going ahead and getting a Kindle Case to protect your Kindle. I also like that the covers make them seem a little less electronically. This is not the one we have but it looks nice.

Laptops

This is the Computer that my 10yo daughter has used for the last 3 years. It’s sturdy, simple, and easy to use.
I’m actually using it now to build this webpage. It’s a chromebook and not going to be able to do heavy lifting that other systems can but for internet and photo sorting it works just fine. The ideal laptop for travel is one that is small, hardy, still quick, but that won’t break the bank if it gets lost or broken.

ASUS
We bought my 6 yo son this (I’m not sure if there is a touchscreen version). It’s a small, sturdy laptop that travels well. I’ve used it for myself and it does perfectly fine with everything I have asked it to do (except not being a touchscreen). It’s a great for homeschool, internet, and the easy stuff.

Car Seat Accessories

Car Seat Hand Truck

This Car Seat Hand Truck has been amazing for us going through the airport. Ours has been well used and now passed down to my sister. Just attach it to your normal car seat and you can easy get through the airport. We used this hand truck up until age 2-3 and it’s especially helpful if you’re taking your carseat on the plane. Generally we just check the hand at the airplane door and then carry our carseat the rest of the way on the plane. It’s a must for people that fly frequently with kids.
Bubble Bum

This is a great booster seat for travel. It is small enough to pack in a bag and we use it for our 6 year old. It’s not going to be as safe as a full high back booster but if a high back booster is not a reasonable option then this it’s a really good, easy alternative. If you have a super wiggle youngster then you will need to keep checking to make sure it stays in the correct place but that’s going to be the case for any booster. We’ll likely also use this for when our kids are traveling with friends when we return home. It auto-inflates which means you don’t have to worry about your youngster deflating the seat on the road.
Ride Safer Travel Vest

If Ride Safer Travel Vest this was in our budget I would have 2 but they did not make money sense to us on this trip. These travel vests have good use ratings and they are approved as child safety devices in the US. I watched the crash test videos and from a layman’s perspective and they looked really good when you don’t have access to a seat with side impact protection. They are not approved in Europe as car seats so if you rent a car in Europe you will need to get an European approved seat. I wanted to use these mostly for taxi rides because most countries do not require car seats in taxi’s. However, just because you are in a cab does not make your child any safer than a private vehicle. It’s also really difficult to carry a car seat wherever you go and I find taxi drivers can sometimes give a pretty good stink eye when I jump in state give me a few minutes and start ratcheting down a car seat. We did the math and we had basically had 2-4 short cab rides where we did not have car seats and we couldn’t make ourselves spend the $150. If you have the budget or you may be in a lot of cabs then this is a really good option.
MiFold Grab and Go Booster

MiFold Grab and Go Booster is similar to the Bubble Bum in concept. It’s small, portable and fits nicely in to luggage. It works by positioning the seat belt in a better position around a child vs raising the child up. If you have an especially wiggly child it may not be a good option and some reviews state that it can be uncomfortable or slippery. High back boosters are the way to go when you can but if a high back is not an option or you have older children that still needs a booster this is a good alternative. We choose to go with the Bubble Bum and it has worked well for us so far but this is another option.

Luggage:

We recently changed to mostly backpacks. These are the ones we are using and so far they’ve all been great. They are budget friendly and have all held up nicely.
The hubby has this one
:
This is a 90L duffel bag that that can be used as a back back. This can fit a lot of stuff. It must be checked but has been a great large bag that my husband can easily carry.
Carry On for Electronics

We have been using this bag mostly for electronics and as a carry on. It’s a nice looking bag with lots of different options and functions. If you want a convenient bag with style, this is your bag.
50L Backpack

This is a great backpack or it was, until we left in in Copenhagen. I liked it so much we plan to order another one. It has plenty of pockets and my 6 year old can carry it comfortably. It’s sturdy and can be used as a carry on.
60L Backpack

This is my bag. It can hold a lot and will need to be checked when full. It’s so far been sturdy and generally it’s easy to carry for the amount of weight that it can hold.

Gifts for Travelers:

These are great ideas for frequent travelers. I may not own any of these but they are at the top of my wish list.

Scratch off maps:

I love maps, especially cool looking ones. These are great and what a fun way to remember where you have been.

This one I did buy as a gift. It’s pretty, makes a great piece of art for the wall and is a wonderful way to remember the trip.

For the Beach:

Solar Recovery Spray
12 oz (for home) 2 oz for (travel)
Honestly I don’t have room for this in my bag right now but I carried it with us as far as I could. I love this Solar Recovery Spray (for travel size click here). If you are in a place where you may be sun overexposed this stuff is awesome. We found this spray when M got too much sun while staying in Seaside Florida. It was recommended to us by one a local clerk and I now I do not travel to a sunny location without it. Any time we get too much sun I use it. I grew up on the beach and I have tried everything to help with sunburns (yes, we use a lot of sunscreen but there is only so much sunscreen and shade and clothing can do when you’re on a boat all day). This is so much better than any other product I have tried. This spray significantly decreases redness, pain, dryness and itching. If you are going to be in the sun and you have a little room in your bag – this spray is a must.
Color Science Sunforgetable spf 50 Powder Sunscreen

I have to admit – I paid no where near full price for this Color Science Sunforgetable spf 50 Powder Sunscreen but it’s great. I’ve had it about 2 years, we use it fairly often for the 5 of us and we still have a half of a bottle left. This fits easily in a purse and it’s not a liquid so no problems going through security at the airport. I still apply base layers of sunscreen. Where this product is especially handy is if you forget to apply sunscreen before you leave the house or when you’re worried about applying a sticky, sweaty cream. You just dust it on. No screaming kids. The kids love to put it on and it works. I can not vouch for the other brands since this is the brand that I have but it may be worth trying a cheaper option. It’s just really nice to have a easy, no fuss sunscreen option that’s always ready to go if needed.
Puddle Jumpers
These Puddle Jumper life vests are small. If you have a little spare room in your bags you may be able to pack them. If space not that big of a problem, these things are great.
Inflatable Life Vest

We carried this inflatable vest with us for our 3 year old. She loved it. This vest is meant to be used with close supervision only. It did allow her to safely swim within arms reach of us and it did keep her from sinking. It also can be deflated to size reasonable enough to take in our travel luggage.
Turkish Towels

I recommend taking 1-2 thin but large towels. The softer the better. We got ours from Costa Rica but these Turkish Beach Towels should work nicely. We use them for towels, blankets, pillows, rain coats and many other things. We just roll them up and attach them to the outer part of our carry on back packs and use them for whatever we need.
In my beach bag we also carry lots of sunscreen lotion, a small bottle of vinegar (for jellyfish stings), a small container of baby powder (helps the sand not stick so much to your legs), and a couple of beach toys. We try and bring just a few towels to sit on as well.