How will this physically work?

[agas]

So for Xmas this year (presuming we're fully out of lockdown), we are going to my husband's family. We will be taking our Dc, 4 and 2 years old but we have a problem. We don't know how we'll fit everything there/back. We're flying and we're only taking 2 suitcases but we'll be gone for about 2 weeks so we need a fair amount of clothes so the majority of one suitcase will be filled with clothes. The second will have the gifts but I honestly can't see where we will fit everything, especially into one suitcase. This obviously rules out physically big gifts too but I just don't know how we'll do it. Any advice? TIA.

We do it every other year (used to anyway), we post all presents and ours get posted back. Only way we could do it. Also use the washing machine we are there so in theory not to pack much..in theory...

DHL or similar all gifts in advance, only way.

Who are you buying for? Would give tokens work and ask for same back?
Presumably where you are you'll have washing facilities so plan to do at least 1 wash of everything.

Instead of presents could you pay for something when you’re there? So if it’s a young family, treat them to a pantomime trip or similar?

When we've been in a different country to our 'home' country for Christmas, we only take small presents for the children/ourselves, and have a second 'Christmas' when we get back.

Wonder how much the postage will be

Take two large rucksacks as well? You get one hold luggage per passenger (presuming even your two year old will get one as they're too old to sit on a lap)

How far away is the country you’re visiting? Would it be possible to buy gifts for your hosts and smaller gifts your children in that country’s amazon (or equivalent)and have them shipped directly there? Or buy them while you’re there
If Santa is bringing bigger gifts for your kids (toy kitchen or bike etc ) id have that at home for when you get back - ideally if you had a friend or relative set it up for you while you’re gone , the 2 year old won’t really understand but the 4 year old could be told Oh Santa knew you’d need this here ?
Ask your hosts not to buy you gifts Or if they really want to (very small ones) so you don’t have much to bring back ?

My friend goes to her family every xmas. She orders all their xmas stuff on Amazon (including her own kids gifts) and has them delivered to her mums in advance. All she has to take then are clothes. I dont know whether this would be possible for you.

Gift cards maybe? Or as others have said you can purchase gift and get them sent there instead of your home.

We take one suitcase per person paying for a seat on the plane. We take a folded spare bag inside one suitcase, because we have a large family and the youngest kids (so we receive more than we give, in cubic cm) and pay for that excess baggage if we need to use it. We don't take our presents for the kids with us - we do that after Xmas back at home. We also bag up the car seats/pram/travel cot and roll towels and cot sheets etc into those, if we have a space issue.

Take more bags? Ship all gifts there in advance? Ship your clothing? Buy toiletries online and ship directly to your destination.

We gave also done things like have cheap baby equipment purchased online and shipped directly to our destination. Then we donate when we are leaving. Or, my parents live part of the year in a tourist town. The charity shops are full of items with people who have done what we did in other locations, so I have my parents buy stuff from the charity shop before we arrive, we use it while there, then they donate it back. This is how dd has had a bicycle to ride each year at grandma’s house.

We use amazon in the country of delivery. So us amazon for us gifts etc.

And take minimum stuff and wash. We leave for a month most summers with a small bag each.

Gift cards. Or one "special" gift each to open in the day and the rest sent directly home. You can get by with a bag of clothes each if you wear the bulkiest items (jeans & boots), then aim for five days of clothes, rolled up and compressed in the rucksack or bag.

Order gifts online from the country you are visiting to be delivered to them- giftwrapped- if you can.
Buy all toiletries etc out there if possible
Take an extra suitcase and pay the difference if you have to.