Have a great time!!

Some suggestions:-

1. If you're going somewhere humid, consider two pairs of bathers, as they might not dry overnight - and/or you might want to swim more than once a day! Consider also your own floatation devices, as they cost an absolute bomb in touristy areas ...

2. Hand sanitiser, if your kids (like mine) touch ALL THE THINGS

3. Buy bug spray there - our bug spray works super well here, but not at all overseas - different bugs, I guess ... so all our sprays and wristbands were just a waste of luggage space, as we had to buy them more over there anyway.

4. Pack a small amount of extras in your handluggage (pads, wipes, tissues, moisturiser, lip balm, nappies, medication, etc) just in case your baggage is lost or delayed. Take a small amount - enough to get you through 24 hours, just in case.

5. Have some new stuff for the plane ride there and back - some small new gift, to keep them occupied if and when the current favourites have lost their appeal, and some extra snacks. Most flights offer plenty of food, but if the kids get out of sorts sometimes the old favourites (a ziplock bag of sultanas, and another of crackers, here) hit the spot.

6. If you're going somewhere hot, take extra sarongs, or things that you can just drape and wear.

7. Extra batteries for the camera.

8. Playing cards. Or a small adult game, for you.

9. Don't overestimate how much reading you'll do ... I often take 5-6 books, and find that (now that I have kids!) I'm lucky to finish one or two ... the plane ride for me was 5% watching a movie, 10% managing people eating, 85% keeping the kids entertained, and 0% reading any of the stuff I wanted to read or do!

10. Is your 2yo TT? Is it worth taking one of those insert toddler seat?

11. I took a bunch of colouring stuff and mazes and dot the dots, and pencils and crayons, and the kids were not remotely interested ... but I did think it would be worthwhile! Maybe it would work for you? It didn't take up much room in the hand luggage.

12. A cloth nappy in the hand luggage for spills (on the plane, and while away) was very versatile and worthwhile.

13. Laptop with external harddrive or similar with some movies, and headphones (preferably with double adaptor for the headphones) if the plane isn't going to have things for them to watch, or if there's a risk of rainy days with no other entertainment available.

14. chuppa chups to suck on the way up and down, if the kidlets have sensitive ears.

15. loads of plastic shopping bags, if you're likely to need to tote wet togs or dirty nappies around.

16. a list of people and addresses (or f you're super organised, printed labels with names and addresses) for any postcards you will need to send.

17. a list of any key critical words and pronunciations for where you're going "can you please help me get a taxi?" "do you know where the *** hotel is?" "one black coffee, please" "no, I will only pay $***"


umm ... that's all I can think of, now