It’s the time of year when a lot of writers think of going to writer’s conferences (and those of you in the northern hemisphere are planning your summer holidays). I’ve done a lot of travelling over the years, both alone (for writer’s conferences or business) or with my family.

Here are a few travel tips I’ve picked up along the way:

1. Plan Ahead

You don’t want to get to the airport for the trip of a lifetime and discover your passport has expired (yes, I’ve seen that). Planning ahead can help avoid these little “issues”. I use lists.

Travel List

All travel documents and sundries, including:

• Tickets
• Passports (if required)
• Booking confirmations (e.g transport, rental car, hotel/s, conference)
• Travel Insurance information

Packing List

I have two lists: a family list, and individual lists for each child. I have these saved, so I just need to update the clothing items for the season and the number of nights we’re away.

Family List

The family list includes:

• A family toilet bag
• A basic first aid/medicine kit (because someone always catches something)
• Kindle and phone, and their chargers (wall and car adaptor)
• Any non-clothing items I need to remember (like books!)

I try and focus on the things that I either won’t be able to buy at my destination, or things that will be overpriced. Forget shampoo? No problem. Most hotels have shampoo in the room and you’ll always be able to buy something, even if it’s not your preferred brand. But if your children forget the charger to their favourite electronic device … that’s challenging.

The Individual Lists

I use packing lists for myself and for the children, and have since my son was about ten. He enjoys packing his own suitcase, and I enjoy not having to do it for him. But he’s a boy, and boys … let’s just say they have different priorities. So I give him a list, which includes minor items like hairbrush and toothbrush. I’ve found these are the items he “forgets” if he doesn’t get a list (even for an overnight stay).

Travel Light

This is the advice “everyone” always gives, but they don’t necessarily tell you how to achieve it (I have a couple of suggestions that work for me below). There are two reasons to pack light:

• It’s easier to carry (or drag)
• It gives you room to buy souvenirs

Packing light is especially important if you’re travelling with small children, who might not be entitled to their own luggage allowance but who require a lot of paraphernalia …

A lot of travel advice says not to check luggage if you don’t have to. Well, if you have small children, you have to check the luggage. There is no way you can navigate through an airport with one stroller, two sleeping children, and three dragalong cases, no matter how small. So check the cases and use a backpack or shoulder bag as your cabin baggage.

I packed light even before we had children. My husband and I once did a six-week trip through the Greek Islands, Egypt, Israel and Jordan. When we got on the plane at Heathrow, my backpack weighed 11 kgs (around 25 pounds). Yes, it did weigh a little (lot) more on the return trip, but at I could still carry it easily, and didn’t have to worry about it being overweight.

My top tips for travelling light are:

Save the sample sizes

You know how when you buy makeup or skincare there is sometimes a gift-with-purchase? I save those product samples and put them in my holiday toilet bag. Then I don’t need to carry full-sized bottles.

Watch the Shoes

Shoes are bulky. More to the point, they take a lot of space in your luggage. Sure, you can stuff things inside them, but better to take fewer pairs (and definitely don’t take the boxes).

When I go on holiday, I take as few pairs of shoes as possible, all in the same colour, or coordinating colours. For example, I took three pairs of shoes on that six-week holiday—good walking shoes (because I knew we were going to be doing a lot of walking), jandals (aka thongs or flip-flops), and a pair of nice sandals suitable for shopping or meals out. I then coordinate my entire travel wardrobe around those three or four pairs of shoes. Yes, it gets boring. But I can wear all my other nice things when I get home.

Plan Coordinating Outfits

This goes along with the shoes. I have two basic colour “themes” in my wardrobe: black and navy. When I go on holiday, I take one theme, and I make sure that I have at least two tops to go with every bottom (skirt, shorts or trousers), and at least two bottoms I can wear with every top. It adds variety, and helps me not get too bored with limited wardrobe choices on a long holiday.

Okay, those are my tips. What tips do you have to share? And do you have any exciting travel plans?