What essentials should you pack for a family Activity Holiday?
☀️ We’ve been operating Family Active Holidays in Croatia for over two decades.
The 10 essential items to pack for a 7 night Active Summer itinerary are:
- Wearing UV-50 Water Tops – means you’ll be using less suncream. Better for your skin, better for the environment.
- Bring an Ocean Friendly Suncream. Making small adjustments helps protect our environment for the future. Before travelling, do make every effort to buy Ocean caring suncream.
- A sports hat, giving your head some needed shade.
- Refillable water bottles.
- First-aid essentials like: Plasters, bite cream, antiseptic wipes, insect repellent, after-sun lotion, and child/adult pain relief.
- Long-Life Shopping bag. Reduce plastic consumption during your stay by bringing a shopping bag.
- Daytime ruck sack to carry water, towels and various essentials.
- Quick Dry-Towels – are easy to pack, light weight and perfect for on-the-go water activities.
- Bring one large beach towel per person. Hotels will not allow guests to take towels outside the property.
- Plug Adapters and wires. Check you’ve packed the correct connections for your devices.
Currency in Croatia
Croatia uses EUROS. You’ll find plenty of ATM machines in towns and coastal resorts. Using credit cards in Croatian cities is very normal and widely accepted. If going to remote or countryside areas, bring cash. For coastal and beach restaurants, tavernas, konobas always ask if they accept cards as a method of payment.
✅ Top Tip when using ATM machines in Europe:
Do remember, that many ATMs have daily withdrawal limits of 300 Euros per transaction. So plan ahead, and think about your family per day spend. Also remember, that ATMs are designed to confuse the user, so you make the wrong
How to avoid those nasty ATM extra fee charges ?
- Always press “no” – when asked – to be charged in British pounds
- Always Confirm Withdrawl in local currency
- Always Choose PAY in local currency
- Always DECLINE conversion rate by the ATM
- Your home BANK should always do the conversion
Clothes washing facilities
There are inexpensive & convenient washing machine facilties locally. So families can certainly consider reducing their travel lugguage, in favour of washing-on-the-go!
Foot wear
Trainers with a good grip are essential for all family adventure holidays. We also recommend light weight water shoes, that protect your toes. These can be used for various activities and very handy on pebble beaches. Sand beaches are rare in Croatia.
Skin care
Although not compulsory we recommend organic suncream which is bio-degradable. Nature is our playground and every little effort makes a difference. Wearing a UV top means less suncream and less plastic consumption. It’s also saving you lotion money.
We always recommend to families to bring bite relief cream and a few useful first aid essentials – like plasters & painkillers. Mosquito bands and insect repellant are needed in Croatia. Mosquito plugs might be useful, remember they must have a European adapter.
Drinking water
Staying hydrated is really important. To reduce your plastic footprint, we encourage you to bring a metal re-usuable flask. Tap water in Croatia is clean. It’s even better knowing that less plastic is going back into the eco-system.
Do take the time to read our Responsible Tourism article. An excellent article, discussing how to travel, work and live greener. Good to know, by booking with us you are already helping the planet.
We plant one Olive Tree per family booking. Great for your carbon footprint.
Health
Our guides will have dry bags. If you require our guides to carry your medicine, please just ask. If you are not feeling well, please tell our staff.
Insurance
As per our terms & Conditions you are expected to have the right travel & activity insurance. To check onto the trip on arrival, you’ll need to hand over your insurance & passport details. Any rafting, tubing or river kayaking is Graded 1-3. Some families are appropriately insured through their bank or business – but might not have a particular certificate to show as proof. That is absolutely fine. Simply hand write the following details: Name of insurer. Your reference number. Emergency number to activate the insurance.
Essential Reminders to Pack for Any Type of holiday
Whether an active holiday or flopping out on the beach. You should never forget the family essentials.
- Passports. Check it’s in date.
- Travel visas (if necessary)
- Travel insurance documents
- Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC)
- Holiday Documents – confirmation packs
- Insect repellent and first aid.
- Toiletries – from aftershave to tooth brushes.
- Correct Currency
- Travel plugs & Adaptors
- Charging Cables
- Devices, e.g. iPads, phones and kindles.
- Download Movies, Podcasts, Audio Books
- Sunscreen and after-sun
Reminders for Mums & Dads
Grown ups have a few more quirks than their own kids. Here’s a helpful reminder list:
- Gym or sports kit
- Bringing a Back pillow
- Sleep Eye Mask
- Ear Plugs
- Snoring & Sleep devices
- Toilet fragrance Spray
- Glasses & Protective cases
- Driving Licence
- Pet Sitter details
- Watered House Plants
- Told the Neighbours you’ll be away
- Put the bins away / emptied the inside bins
- Set House Alarm
- Checked in on-line
- Before leaving the house, check the roads to airport
- Floss kits
- Nail file and scissors
- Period products
- Photocopy passports – hold them digitally
- Print all the Accommodation addresses – add to top of bag
- Share Insurance Details on WhatsApp to family Chat
- Check the Local Weather Report Before travelling
- SPF lip balm
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