Having the right toys for downtime on a vacation can really help you to relax and regroup after a long day. They also help on the plane, in restaurants, wherever really. If you’re out of ideas, then check out my list below for hotel and travel toys you haven’t seen yet.
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On our last trip, I was for once more than prepared with small toys and activities for our toddler and four-year-old. And trust me, it was a game-changer.
Compared to the time in Cabo when I didn’t bring enough, wrongly betting on the idea that the tablet would keep him entertained. Or the time that I brought too many things that he needed help with – mistake!
Bring plenty of toys that your little ones can do independently in case you are tired from travel, or jet lag, or just parent life. (well, with supervision).
You may not have the energy to build a 50-piece miniature wooden tractor from the Dollar Store. True story. That’s the last time I’ll buy a travel activity without closely examining it first. I had no idea what I had signed up for. A meltdown it turns out – that’s what I signed up for.
Table of Contents
- Things You Already Have at Home
- Items In Your Hotel or Vacation Rental
- Spend-Worthy Hotel and Travel Toys You Haven’t Seen Yet
In an effort to avoid one of those, bring some of these:
Things You Already Have at Home
- Small, light ball: Elle loves throwing and chasing after it. This helped burn off some quick energy on our road trip stops
- Balloons: Blow ’em up when you get there and have a hit. How high can your little one count?
- Spice container and Q-tips: create a fine motor game with an empty clean container. Your toddler will love the challenge of putting q-tips into the holes, or even just screwing the lid on and off
- Anything magnetic: Jameson loved finding items that the magnet would cling to. Hand over that bottle opener… just don’t lose it kiddo
Items In Your Hotel or Vacation Rental
If you run out of toys or games, get creative with things already laying around
- Cups! Set up bowling or an obstacle course. Coin toss, stacking contest… Alright, that’s all I got.
- Toiletries: Jameson loves building towns and random things out of little toiletry bottles. Get that imagination rollin’!
- Kitchen items: What child doesn’t love a bunch of random kitchen items? Throw them in a box and let them dig through and have at it. See the truck mat picture below… next to it is the hotel “tower” he constructed with cups and plates.
- Build a fort! What a perfect place to build a fort. Pillows and blankets galore!
Spend-Worthy Hotel and Travel Toys You Haven’t Seen Yet
Alright, now for some ideas that are worth your weight in plastic.
Suction toys!!! One of my favorites!
Anything that suctions will hold a toddler’s short attention span. This suction toy can be used in or out of the bath, since they have no holes in them where mold can grow. It has kept our little ones happier than any other toy (with the exception of the kids’ tablet, of course). That one is safe, 100% silicone, and comes with a mesh bag that can be hung by the tub.
So if you only buy one toy, this is it!
We had a different one that came in an egg, and Ella loved pulling the rubber suction thingamajiggies in and out of the egg holder and then suctioning them to the sliding glass door of our vacation rental. See the Instagram reel of her cracking up. She actually watched that video about 30 times. No joke.
My son “suctioned” them all over the place, lol, but really loved building creatures and towers out of them. Very cool.
They had a blast with these suction toys in the bath also. Told you these were a travel mom’s dream.
Suction Spinner Toy
These suction spinner toys are perfect for the plane because they aren’t as tiny. They will stay put so you aren’t searching on the ground for them.
Portable Drawing Tablet
This LCD Portable Drawing Tablet is my daughter’s new fave. She even sleeps with it now!
It clips onto her backpack so it’s easy to travel with, without taking up any extra space. It’s completely toddler friendly. She doesn’t need any help with it.
It’s durable and mess-free, erases effortlessly, and is perfect for on-the-go creativity. Good thing we have a blue one for my son so they aren’t fighting over this one.
Buckle Learning Toy
For ages 1 to 6, fine motor or sensory activities will hold your child’s attention the longest. They are eager to learn and develop those skills. It also will help them dress themselves sooner!
This cute buckle toy is small enough for any kind of travel – plane or car.
Or get the buckle activity backpack! It’s the cutest little size for your little one to carry a few small toys of their own.
These small busy boards are even easier to travel with.
Toy Smart Phone
Let me introduce you to a kids’ toy smart phone, a toy that kids actually love! Mine have been fighting over the one for weeks.
Collapsible Beach Toys
Not only are these the perfect space-savers for the beach, but they’re also great toys for the bath, pool and hotel. Toddlers love piling stuff into a bucket. And doing it over and over again. Our girl had to carry hers everywhere on our last Atlantis Bahamas trip!
Pull-Back Cars
Friction-powered dinosaur cars are a great toy especially for siblings to race each other. They had a blast together. It also got them running off some energy.
Or opt for a cute little mat for entire truck town:
The mat rolls pretty small as well. Jameson used to love this travel truck set at around 3 years old but it’s out of stock now (I sold too many!?), but this one is nearly the same size with better looking trucks. Crucial.
Window Crayons
A small part of me still gets nervous every time I whip out these crayons. But I’ve left them on our home windows for days, with no issues getting them clean after. You will need to clean the window twice, otherwise it leaves a foggy film. A wet towel and a dry towel do the trick. Nothing else needed.
Mess Free FingerPrint Coloring
This mess free fingerprint coloring set look so fun! On my list to get for both kids for our next trip. Safe to use in the Tesla, what do you think Dada???
Racing Tape
Bring a few classic small cars from home and some racing tape and you’ve got yourself a fun day at the track. In a jam and can’t wait the one-day delivery for Amazon Prime? Just bring some electrical tape or blue painter’s tape. They’ll have a ball just playing with tape, too.
Re-usable Sticker Sets
Colorforms Travel Sets are super thin and light, with all kinds of options like Minnie Mouse, Jurassic Park, Paw Patrol and more. If you have time, look for them at Target or Dollar Store where they will be cheaper.
I hope we put some sunscreen on those legs.
Travel Activity Tray
These activity trays come with dry erase activity boards, a detachable tablet holder, downloadable activity sheets, dry erase markers, and of course a firm surface so your little one can draw, color, or play with playdough in their lap:
My 3-year-old felt special when she got to use this tray during brother’s Ninja classes. She did playdough and colored throughout his 45-minute classes.
Magnetic Puzzles
These magnetic puzzles are thin and take up very little space, but they do have a bit of weight to them since they are magnetic. Jameson loves the vehicles version but they also have farm and princess themes.
(One of) The Most Versatile (and Controversial) Hotel and Travel Toys You Haven’t Seen Yet
If you only get one “toy” for a vacation, then I’d definitely pick a kids tablet.
***Reminder: If you are new to two playful kiddos, you might need double of some of these! Sharing might not be a lesson you feel like teaching after hiking 4 hours with a toddler on your back. Or your partner’s back I should say in my case.
Well, that should be enough to cover a pretty long vacation. Hope you got some fresh ideas. If you need more, my post on plane activities has a ton.
Leave a comment below with your child’s favorite travel toy!
