Travel Must Haves (After 3 Weeks in Europe with Kids!)

The Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller has been our most used piece of gear on this trip by far. With all the walking through cities and airports, our 4-year-old has used it daily for breaks, longer walks, and even for several naps. Even our 6-year-old has hopped in more than we expected when his legs got tired.

We brought it onboard every flight, no gate-checking required, and it fits easily in the overhead bin. The one-handed, one-second fold has been a lifesaver, especially in tight spots or when juggling luggage and kids.

We used to pair it with the buggy board (sold separately) when our son was younger, which was a great option for two kids. We’ve outgrown it now, but it’s still worth mentioning if you have a toddler and a preschooler.

One of my favorite features is the the backpack transport bag designed specifically for the Butterfly. Not only does it make carrying the stroller easier when boarding flights or changing hotels, but it's also been incredibly handy as an extra bag. Between cities, we’ve thrown in shoes, Starbucks mugs we collected, wine glasses from Italy, and even our overnight flight supplies that we won’t need again until the trip home. It’s surprisingly spacious and has come in clutch multiple times.

Note: Both the stroller AND buggy board fit inside the backpack, although admittedly it’s a bit of a tight squeeze.

If you've been following me me for a while, you'll know I've been a HUGE fan of the Yoto Mini Player and we've used it pretty much daily for nearly 4 years now. It's hands down the best screen-free device that exists for travel. It’s a simple, easy-to-use audio device that plays books, music, and podcasts for my kids. It keeps them entertained without the use of screens, which is perfect for long flights, car rides, or downtime on any trip. The fact that it doesn’t need Wi-Fi is a huge plus, and it can play radio stations and the daily Yoto podcast. Plus, you can create your own Make Your Own cards to add personalized stories, audiobooks, or music! It’s compact, portable, and the absolute best travel companion for kids.

• Plays audiobooks and music

• Screen-free and easy for kids to use

• Great for all ages (even younger kids can listen on their own)

• No Wi-Fi required

• Create your own cards to add stories or music

Use the code below to get 10% off 👇

(discount applies to any order above the price of a Yoto Mini $69.99 USD or $99.99 CAD)

My favourite way to travel with our cards and avoid losing them is to use these adhesive hanging tabs on each Yoto card and then use these wire ring loops to keep everything together. We also love using this zippered credit card holder for storing all of our Yoto cards (it holds up to 40 cards!)

A great travel hack is to bring a blank Make Your Own Card, and everytime your kids want a new card, you can just access your Yoto Card Library from the app on your phone and let them link it to the Make Your Own Card. Here are 10 More Yoto Mini Travel Hacks you may not know about. 

After three weeks of sweaty train stations, playground chasing, and long travel days, I can confidently say these are the four pieces I’ve worn on repeat and would pack again in a heartbeat:

1. Flowy Skorts
These and these have been my go-to. They look like a cute flowy skirt but are actually shorts underneath, which makes them perfect for chasing kids, bending down, or climbing stairs with a suitcase. They keep you cool in the heat, are easy to dress up or down, and make me feel put together without any effort. Fit true to size (I'm 5'9" and wear a size Small).

2. Built-In Bra Tank Tops
Bras are the worst on travel days, especially in hot weather. These ribbed racerback tank tops with built-in bras have been a total win. They're very flattering, super comfy, and breathable. I bought them in three colours because they go with everything, and I haven’t wanted to wear anything else.

3. Viral Crocs Sandals (with Back Strap)
I searched high and low for the perfect sandals that could handle walking, the beach, and still look nice. These viral Crocs sandals were it. They slip on like flip-flops but have a back strap for support. I’ve worn them nonstop through cities, airports, and beaches, and I haven’t gotten a single blister, even from day one.

4. Roncy Pack Cross-Body Bag
I’ve been using this small black leather cross-body from Roncy Packs every day to keep my phone, wallet, and essentials close. It’s especially helpful since Europe is known for pickpocketing. This bag is hands-free, stylish, and still looks perfect after dozens of trips. The quality is amazing, and I love knowing it was made by a local, Toronto-based and women-run business using upcycled materials. (I also own and love the medium and large sizes, both of which I use regularly). 

Two years later, and our Magnetic Travel Kit is STILL the most played-with travel toy. I designed this kit to be compact, mess-free, and perfect for keeping kids busy on the go. The tin itself doubles as a play area , which makes it even more convenient for travel. The magnetic pieces allow kids to build cars, people, and more, and it’s incredibly open-ended—there are endless ways to play, no matter the age. My kids always find new ways to engage with it every time we travel. It's my best-selling product, loved by thousands of families around the world, and it’s also included in the Ultimate Travel Kit Bundle.

• Mess-free, compact and very open-ended

• Tin doubles as a play area

• Includes magnetic magnetic tiles, cubes, rods, cars, bendy people and road tape

• Click here and here to see how versatile this travel toy is! 

Now that my son is old enough (almost 7), we’ve started using the hiccapop UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat for travel and it has made life so much easier. It’s incredibly compact, weighs next to nothing, and rolls up rolls up tightly in its own travel bag when deflated to easily fit in a large purse or backpack. We threw in the bottom of our stroller and pulled it out whenever we need it for taxis or unexpected rides.

It inflates by mouth in just 20 seconds and deflates just as quickly when we’re done. It's ultra cushiony and my 6-year-old finds it really comfortable even on longer drives, and I love that we’re not stuck hauling a bulky booster everywhere we go.

It’s honestly one of the easiest travel boosters out there. No dragging seats through airports or stressing about last-minute car rides.

Note: I was able to order it to Canada from Amazon.com and just pay the duties and shipping

The RideSafer Travel Vest has been an absolute game changer for us. Once my older kid reached the booster seat age, I knew I needed something lightweight, portable, and easy to use for taxis, ride shares, and travel. This vest is perfect for that! It folds easily into a backpack, making it super easy to carry and store—no more bulky booster seats!

The RideSafer Travel Vest is crash-tested and meets all safety standards, so I know my child is secure on the go. It’s incredibly convenient when you’re traveling and needing to use taxis or Ubers. Plus, the design makes it super easy to put on, and it fits comfortably on your child.

What I love about the RideSafer Vest:

• Portable, lightweight and fits in a backpack

• Crash-tested and safety-certified to meet federal standards (FMVSS213)

• Super easy to use with a 3-clip design to position the seatbelt correctly

• Perfect for travel and solves the Uber/taxi problem

For families who have kids who’ve outgrown a traditional car seat, this vest is a life-saver. It’s super convenient, especially if you’re hopping between taxis, Ubers, or even renting cars.

Important note: It’s not a car seat and should not be used for young children who still need a traditional car seat. It’s best for kids aged 4 or 5+.

We didn’t bring an iPad on this trip, and honestly haven’t missed it thanks to this external Portable Monitor. My husband likes to have a second screen when he works from home, so he brought it to connect to his laptop while travelling, but it’s actually turned out to be one of our favourite family travel hacks. We’ve been able to stream shows and movies for the kids using one of our laptops and mirror it on the screen. So we can have them both watching side by side, or have one of us working on the laptop while they watch their movie on the screen. 

The screen itself is just 1.6 lbs, super slim, and fits perfectly on the airplane tray table. It connects with a single USB-C cable for both power and video, so setup is easy with no extra drivers or cords to fuss with. When not in use, the magnetic cover keeps it protected in our carry-on.

The travel screen also has a headphone jack. We used our Yoto wireless headphones  and daisy-chained them so both kids could listen simultaneously. You can do this same setup with a Yoto Mini too if you're sharing a single device. 

The Mini Jetsetter Kids Travel Activity Bag is my go-to for keeping my kids entertained and organized during our travels. I personally designed this bag to meet the needs of my family, and it’s been a total game-changer. Whether we’re flying, on a road trip, or simply spending a day out, this bag makes it easy to stay organized. 

With its detachable pouches , I can customize the contents depending on the day’s activities, whether it’s for a long flight or a quick outing. It’s a practical solution for keeping everything in one place and easily accessible.

Why you'll love it:

• Customizable with detachable pouches – tailor it to your trip with the right activities for your day

• Keeps everything organized – from toys to snacks, everything has a place

• Perfect for on-the-go – lightweight, compact, and easy to carry

• Durable and stylish – fits perfectly in your carry-on, stroller basket, or even a backpack

• Wanna see it in action? Click here to watch the video!

Hanging Packing Bags for Kids Clothes

I also use these bags to pack my kids’ clothes. Instead of unpacking into drawers or using packing cubes, I hang one of the travel activity bags for each child. Each bag has 4 pockets - one for socks & undies, one for tops, one for bottoms, and one for PJs/books. This is what I used to pack for 6 weeks of travel with the kids. This system keeps everything at eye level, super easy to access, and off the floor. Everything stays really organized for each child and goes into their backpack when we're packing up and hopping between hotels. 

Between the kids’ Yotos, our laptops, iPhones, various bluetooth devices, and backup chargers, we always have a dozen things that need charging at any given moment. That’s why this 6-in-1 Europe adapter has been such a lifesaver during our trip!

It turns a single European Type C outlet into 2 North American plugs + 2 USB-A + 2 USB-C ports, so we can charge up to 6 devices at once. It’s compact, has a little LED indicator light so you know it’s working, and fits easily into any day bag. Just make sure your devices are dual voltage (100–250V) since it’s not a voltage converter.

We’ve used it everywhere across Europe - Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland - and haven’t needed anything else.

And then when we’re out and about, we rely on our Anker portable chargers to keep everything running.

We travel with two:

• The Anker Magnetic Battery (MagGo) snaps right onto the back of our iPhones and also acts as a foldable stand for watching videos. It’s slim, wireless, and doesn’t take up much space, which is great for long days of sightseeing! Because I take so many photos and videos when we travel, my phone battery drains pretty quickly so I rely on this charger to make it through the day and ensure I have juice left for that end of day Google Maps route to get us back to our hotel.  

• The Anker PowerCore 20,000 mAh is our power workhorse. It can charge multiple devices several times over, has two USB ports, and keeps going all day. We toss it in the backpack and it’s been great for the kids’ Yoto or other devices when we’re out for full days.

Why we love them:

• One is compact and wireless (great for phones)

• The other is high-capacity (great for everything else)

• Both have saved us on train rides, car rides, and days when we’re out nonstop (and I'm taking way too many photos and videos that drain my battery)

I never travel without this blowup footrest for long flights (one for each child). It inflates quickly and goes in the empty space between their seat and the seat in from of them, creating a flat surface for your kids to lie down and sleep. It’s lightweight, compact, and super affordable compared to more expensive travel beds. Plus, it’s much easier to pack, which is a huge bonus. Some airlines don’t allow inflatable footrests or beds, so if they say no for any reason, you won’t feel bad that you spent a lot of money on it or sacrificed packing space.

• Fast + easy to inflate (by mouth and without any special pump) and quickly deflate

• Great for creating a flat sleeping area on long flights

• Affordable and compact

Note: In both pictures below, my kids are using the inflatable footrests as pillows, but they should actually be positioned the other way around with their seatbelts on for safety.

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