Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own and honest.
With summer upon us and holidays and vacations on their way, it’s time to get ready for warm weather, packing, and road trips or plane travel- whatever suits you.  The hardest part of travel is just that- the traveling, especially if you have kids.  Here are a few items that can make your trip that much easier.

My son’s new favorite piece of luggage is his VRUM suitcase, officially called VRÜM Ride-On Storage.  This rolling suitcase comes in several licensed characters, like SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Kids can pack it up, ride on top of it, and roll it along as they make their way to their hotel room.  My son loves it because not only is it one of his favorite characters, but it’s easy to pack, hard covered (so no biggie if it falls over), and has straps inside to secure all his toys so they don’t hurt themselves- very important.  It can be a little unwieldy when you try to pull it behind you (it doesn’t want to move in a straight line) but is light to carry if your child doesn’t over-pack it. It “locks” shut with a twist, so things won’t fall out, either. By Wicked Cool Toys, available for $39.99 on https://shop.govrum.com

Skip Hop Zoo Travel Blankets are adorable, fun, and functional.  Not only that, but the price is right for only $20- this is a great gift for any child with a summer birthday, or “just because”- not to mention truly perfect for travel. This portable mini-pillow is just the right size for little heads, and has a handle on it as well for toting about. Grab it and go, no matter if you are hitting the road or catching a flight, this will be your child’s new best buddy.  One part stuffed animal, one part pillow, one part blanket, these creatures all all cuddle. Out of the stuffed animal, your child can easily pull out a soft blanket to snuggle on trips, and use the animal as a pillow.  They can play with the stuffed toy or just hug it as well after they stuff the blanket back inside- and yes, it’s easy enough for them to do it (perhaps kids under 3 will need some help).   Available in Ladybug, Monkey and Owl for $20 at: http://www.skiphop.com/product/zootravelblankets.html

When the going gets tough, the tough get packing.  But mom and dad should not have to carry everything- let the kids do their part. Let them carry their own rolling luggage. Olive Kids and Wildkin  have options for kids big and small, with prints ranging from cute animals to sophisticated prints for teens (and even mom and dad to use).  The rolling backbacks have plenty of room, pockets, mesh dividers, water bottle pockets, and more.   Use the handle and wheel it about, or toss it over your shoulder and carry it as a backpack.  Wildkin offers duffels, tote bags, larger rolling luggage for bigger kids, and more.  They are made to last, and available in just about every size you could need.  The patterns are not only pretty, but will stand out- which matters on a luggage carousel or in a plane. Luggage is available for $49.99 and up at http://www.wildkin.com/B_LUGGAGE.html

One thing I can get picky with is packing shoes.  I don’t like to pack shoes in with the rest of the clothing and luggage- shoes are just so dirty and often smelly. I use plastic grocery bags or I pack them in separate compartments- or both.  Eagle Creek has come up with a great way to pack shoes without being gross- the Pack-It Specter™ Shoe Sac by Eagle Creek.  This is pretty neat, and you don’t need to waste a zillion plastic bags. It is ultra light weight, comes in several colors, and is water repellant- so even if your shoes are a bit wet or muddy, you don’t need to worry when packing them up.  The bag has a quick grab handle, so you can grab it and toss it in the car if you just want to have a change of shoes handy as well. The Shoe Sac is a great option for those who travel often, or just like to pack well when they do. It’s also washable, hang to dry.  Available for $18 at http://shop.eaglecreek.com/