packable gift ideas for travelling Christmas?

[MoJangled]

We're off to spend Xmas with my parents abroad, so everything must be small/light. I need ideas for DH, DS (3), assorted nieces 8-12, glam rock DSis, city boy DBIL, and of course parents. Any inspiration out there?

Me, I'm easy. What could be smaller/lighter than diamonds?

I'm in a similar situation - I've already ordered loads of stuff and had it delivered to our destination (pil), I'll just wrap stuff the day before. I'm also making some wall/desk calendars and other 'flat stuff' with all the pics from the last year using photobox, I should be able to squeeze them into my carry on case... guess I'll pack it all in a box at the other end and get it sent back by post if I can't get all our presents in the cases on the way home

Liking the idea of getting it sent straight there - will have to check availability cost of things being sent to France. Although explaining to DS why his new whatever isn't immediately available on returning home might be an ishoo if I have to post it back!

Had thought of making photo books on Vistaprint for parents and DSis - nice and flat!

More please?

For your ds - pop up tent or tunnel? Also sticker books.

For adults - vouchers! Maybe jewellery for dsis?

For nieces - iTunes vounchers for older ones? Or little jewellery or accessories from places like Claires Accessories.

Oh, also for ds, Schleich animals are little but lovely.

I'm giving all kids in the family pjs and a matching book this year nice and light and easy

The older children and adults should be very doable. I'd be inclined to stick to vouchers, flat or very tiny gifts and save all the room for your 3 year old DS.

You may be able to squeeze a folding tri-scooter into a good sized suitcase. They're not too heavy either, but look suitably impressive as a main present when assembled.

Oh, and if your DS is a fairly 'grown up' 3, I can recommend the Playmobil take along sets and Playmobil carry case sets. Depends on how he is with small pieces, though.

Train sets are another gift that's big when assembled, but packs down small. BRIO would probably be too heavy, but I've seen the Thomas take and play range in shops, which is plastic and looks a bit lighter, or Tomy Tomica Hypercity track sets are very light weight, although you may need to repackage into smaller boxes.

I know you said you are doing calendars but as well a I wonder if you video your DS at events/doing stuff ? If so you could make a min film of all this years action perhaps with him at the end singing or adding a message for your Parents that you could put on DVD for them .

Nice make up/nail varnish for DSis. Nice gloves for DBiL (got DP some lovely red cashmere ones in a pre-Christmas sale), or a belt or something. Cashmere bedsocks (matching?) for them.

DVDs for children.

Are you flying? Have the people buying your family presents remembered this? You will need to get everything home, so buying lightweight gifts might not be helpful in the long run if they are replaced with heavier ones for the return.

Clothes, socks, gloves, scarf & hat all pack quite well. Instead of wrapping before you go try putting gifts into christmas gift bags (flat for travel) so paper doesnt rip or look smushed when you get there.

Books are often quite good, altho can be heavy and dvd's are easy to pack.

This is brilliant! Was away last night and delighted to come back to lots of help. Thanks very much. So far I'm loving: vouchers, jewellery, cashmere bedsocks, iTunes, the video of DS, tri-scooter, and boxes of things that get big when made up. Will check out the schleich animals too.

We are flying, so I thought I'd better book an extra hold bag for the way back, as I expect my DPs to get tempted despite instructions!

When are you returning? if not too long after xmas, could the kids have a letter from Santa with a pic of the present saying his sleigh was too full to take (eg) bike to france so he has dropped it off at home waiting for them?

Some more toys that pack small/flat but are big when set up:

Table top puppet theatres

fold out Post Office

Door way puppet theatres

Any of the Love My Street pop up shops/buildings

Duplo is light, if not particularly small. However, if you bought one of the starter boxes, you could squeeze a lot more bricks and sets into the same box if you removed the cardboard boxes and just included the bags of pieces and instructions.

Another thought; some toys/gifts could be removed from their boxes, packed loose in the suitcase with the boxes carefully flatpacked for re-assembly abroad. Just don't forget the double sided sticky tape!

Superb box tip.

I will use the letter from Santa as a fall-back plan if my crafty shopping/packing wiles fail...

Oo mojangled glad to have found your OP. I'm needing to do the same for Christmas so glad of the ideas. We re going to Canada to see relatives. A ds4 and dd2... Think my playmobil pirate ship eBay bargain will never make it All back to uk there's so many bits.
Dd not coming off v well though just now on present front.
Coming from a history of gp massively overbuying so wondering how we ll all manage a 'slim' Yule.