Holiday Travel Tip: Ship Items Ahead

Leave some legroom for the family when you ship bulky items ahead.

December 15, 2015

Tamela Rich,

Cramped cars make for cranky kids.

If you're headed out for Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year's destinations, take a moment to pare down what you take in your luggage. Then select the things you'll ship ahead instead of packing in the car.

If you ship to a hotel or resort, call the property and advise them that boxes are coming. The bellman will keep them safe for you.

Tips for Giving Yourself Leg Room

When you pack light and pack right, you’ll have more space for fun activities that your kids will love. These tips will help:

Choose a wardrobe that only requires one pair of shoes
If you must bring boots, wear them as them as you travel instead of packing them in the suitcase; you’ll have more room in the suitcase
Leave the hair dryer and other appliances at home
Pack interchangeable wardrobe pieces: every top should match every bottom
Don’t travel with more diapers than you’ll use on the trip. Ship ahead or buy when you arrive
Ship bulky items like winter sports gear ahead to your destination
Give everyone the same size suitcase. Whatever doesn’t fit stays at home
Ditch the hard-shelled luggage in favor of duffel bags or even trash bags to maximize space

I shared these tips and other packing suggestions with WBTV.

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Tips for Packing the Car

Place snacks within easy reach of the kids so parents don’t have to turn around from the front seat to help
Use toaster oven pans and cookie sheets as lap desks. Magnets will hold papers, and the lip of the pan will keep crayons from flying out of reach as the car takes curves
Pack a plastic bag or small duffel that carries everyone’s overnight needs. This way when you pull over you don’t have to unpack and repack the entire car
Include toiletries, PJs and a change of undies in the plastic bin, but go ahead and wear the same clothes another day.
Put the things you will not need to use during the trip on the bottom of the stack
Be sure you have an emergency kit with tools, flashlight and so forth