Packing Tips From a Globetrotting Family

Many parents believe the family that plays together stays together. And, on occasion, some really special memories and inspirations can come from journeys the said family embarks on together. That was the case for Ian and Brittany Bentley, now parents of two sons, a biological daughter and two adopted Ethiopian daughters, who came away from their early stays in Ethiopia with the concept of Parker Clay, named for their sons and a line of leather luggage and travel bags that more than justify their premium price tags.

“Providing premium jobs to skilled artisans at our two production facilities in Ethiopia is key to supporting community transformation,” stated Ian Bentley,  co-founder and CEO, Parker Clay. “A job for each one of our artisans means more than just a paycheck. It offers a means to support themselves and their families and build a better life for their children. Meanwhile, we want our kids to be exposed to different people and cultures, and learn through this that we all actually have more similarities than we do differences in terms of our basic needs. Our hope is that by having our kids travel with us and have some involvement in what we do, they are learning to be flexible when things don’t go according to plan, and, most importantly to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.”   

The Bentleys often travel to Ethiopia on a regular basis with their kids, as well as to other destinations, offering a variety of important life lessons and outdoor adventures. For this reason, being extra prepared for long-haul travel can impact the success of their trips.

“With five kids, packing minimally is definitely something we have to think about because there are so many of us,” he says. “The first step is knowing where we’re going, if there will be an opportunity to do laundry, and what facilities are available at the destination. From there, we pack simple clothing for the whole family that can be dressed up or down depending on what we’ll be doing. We use the Parker Clay Montecito Weekender as a baseline for what gear my wife and I can pack and then follow suit for the kids.”

Ian also offers the following suggestions to keep the journey to the destination and the time spent there both manageable and comfortable:

• Become familiar with what conditions will be like at your destination. As the Bentleys travel to Ethiopia, they know from experience random thunderstorms are common and always bring a raincoat for everyone.
• Once you discern the actual time spent traveling, be sure you have a few movies downloaded on portable devices for long flights, but also be sure to limit screen time to an appropriate number of hours.
• Be sure everyone is wearing comfortable clothing on the airplane, and pack back-up clothes in their carry-ons as young kids will always manage to spill something on themselves and you. “When your 3-year-old daughter only wants to wear ballerina outfits, you better make sure you are prepared with a few colors on hand,” he says.
• Noise-cancelling headphones are also a game changer on long flights. Make the investment.
• Research the airports where your family will have long layovers to find out what amenities and activities are provided for families. If there is a pool at the hotel airport, for example, make sure to take advantage. (Pro tip: Layovers in Dubai are great for this.)