Strapping kids to the roof is not an option.
June 3, 2009 7:10 AM Subscribe
Traveling through Southern Germany & Switzerland in a rental car with two adults and three kids for 2.5 weeks. Best strategies for making it all fit?
Car is this one . The car is free so just getting a bigger car is not an option. We live in NYC and have a minvan, and we manage to fill the trunk on car trips. I am looking for startegies on squeezing everthing we will need into this (much smaller) trunk.
The trip is 17 days. I will have access to laundry along the way, but probably not more than twice. We'll be enjoying summer weather in the Black Forest, but also wintery glacier viewing in the Jungfrau. The kids are 4, 7, and 9, so the clothes are small, but they'll need everything from bathing suits to coats and hats. Not to mention two adults' worth of clothes.
I'd also like to be able to carry along some non parishable snacks and perhaps a small cooler for lunches on our day trips.
I know people travel with nothing but a backpack...but how? Any tips or strategies for packing a large variety of necessities lightly to all fit in this trunk?
Car is this one . The car is free so just getting a bigger car is not an option. We live in NYC and have a minvan, and we manage to fill the trunk on car trips. I am looking for startegies on squeezing everthing we will need into this (much smaller) trunk.
The trip is 17 days. I will have access to laundry along the way, but probably not more than twice. We'll be enjoying summer weather in the Black Forest, but also wintery glacier viewing in the Jungfrau. The kids are 4, 7, and 9, so the clothes are small, but they'll need everything from bathing suits to coats and hats. Not to mention two adults' worth of clothes.
I'd also like to be able to carry along some non parishable snacks and perhaps a small cooler for lunches on our day trips.
I know people travel with nothing but a backpack...but how? Any tips or strategies for packing a large variety of necessities lightly to all fit in this trunk?
Response by poster: sorry if I wasn't clear: it's the two extremely different climates that is creating the problem, basically packing for a winter trip (for the high Alps) and a summer trip at the same time but without doubling the luggage.
posted by agentwills at 9:42 AM on June 3, 2009
posted by agentwills at 9:42 AM on June 3, 2009
Strapping the kids to the roof isn't an option, but what about luggage? Could you get/rent a luggage rack for the length of the trip?
posted by sandraregina at 12:34 PM on June 3, 2009
posted by sandraregina at 12:34 PM on June 3, 2009
Best answer: Sorry for the late response, extra busy at work.
The Alps in summer aren't exactly "winter". I think all that will be needed would be long underwear and parkas with hoods. You might try layers as opposed to big puffy parkas. A fleece jacket and shell work great and don't take up much space. The shell can then function as a raincoat, which you should have anyway. I think an approach where you start with the available space (4 suitcases) and then simply choose what you really need as you attempt to fit everything might help you prioritize. Don't take many toys! Your kids will discover Kinder Eggs and life will be beautiful.
In many years of travel, I've never underpacked, if you know what I mean. There's always a bunch of things I carried but didn't didn't use.
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 7:22 AM on June 4, 2009
The Alps in summer aren't exactly "winter". I think all that will be needed would be long underwear and parkas with hoods. You might try layers as opposed to big puffy parkas. A fleece jacket and shell work great and don't take up much space. The shell can then function as a raincoat, which you should have anyway. I think an approach where you start with the available space (4 suitcases) and then simply choose what you really need as you attempt to fit everything might help you prioritize. Don't take many toys! Your kids will discover Kinder Eggs and life will be beautiful.
In many years of travel, I've never underpacked, if you know what I mean. There's always a bunch of things I carried but didn't didn't use.
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 7:22 AM on June 4, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 9:23 AM on June 3, 2009