Let’s face it: even if you’re the most meticulous planner, stepping into a new place can still feel a bit like you’re in a whirlwind. From navigating unfamiliar streets to remembering where you packed your toothbrush, travel can sometimes feel a little chaotic. But it doesn’t have to be!
With a few simple organization tricks up your sleeve, you can take the stress out of traveling and focus on the fun stuff. Whether you’re a seasoned jet-setter or a newbie adventurer, these tips will help you stay calm, collected, and ready for whatever your journey throws your way. So, buckle up and get ready to discover how a little organization can turn any trip into a breeze!
Download an Itinerary App
It’s no longer necessary to keep track of printouts of timetables, maps, directions, hotel reservations, rental car confirmations, and flight information. You can arrange all of your itineraries on your smartphone with the aid of itinerary apps.
TripIt is the best of the bunch. TripIt will create a comprehensive itinerary for you if you forward confirmation emails to it. You can then edit your itinerary by adding maps, instructions, and notes. Group travel is made simple thanks to the option to share your account with others.
Use a Packing List Before, During and After Your Trip
Before you even take your bag out of the closet, you should make a packing list. Download a copy of my Ultimate Packing List here to get started. But what about while you’re traveling?
Try printing a second copy and placing it in your luggage. In this way, you can compare it to your belongings when traveling to make sure you don’t forget anything. You can also cross things off as you neatly pack them back into your suitcase at the end of a nice vacation.
Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are a travel organization must as far as I’m concerned. I’m such a fan of them that I wrote a whole blog about them here, which you can check out if you want to get the most out of making use of them.
Keep Your Tech Organized
Do you bring a lot of gadgets on your travels? Don’t we all these days? Chances are that you are only too aware of how quickly cables can tangle and devices can disappear.
Cocoon manufactures a number of accessory organizers that keep your chargers, headphones, backup storage, and other accessories in place (some even come with pockets for your tablet and computer). These compact, portable cases are indispensable while traveling and fit effortlessly into carry-on luggage, and I can highly recommend them for travel organization no matter where you are headed.
Hang Your Toiletries
The difficulty of keeping all those tiny travel items accessible and tidy is well known to anyone who lugs along a large toiletry bag. A hanging version is the answer; you can hang it up at the hotel to see everything inside at once, and still zip it up and store it away when necessary.
The unisex toiletry kit from 42 Travel features mesh pockets that allow you to see inside its biggest compartments when it is hanging, and it’s made from sturdy, high-density, water-resistant fabric that’s very durable and even quite attractive.
Organize a Car’s Seatback
Before you realize you need something you packed away in the trunk, family car trips are fun. Using a seatback organizer makes it simple to have everything you need close at hand. This insulated multi-pocket version from Autoark offers exterior compartments for all of your smaller essentials in addition to a main bag that is large enough to hold food and beverages.
Organize Your Underwear!
Underwear can only be packed by trying uncomfortably to fold it, failing miserably, balling it up, and stuffing it in the corner of your luggage, right? Wrong. Particularly for women packing bras and other intimates that risk getting misplaced or harmed in a stuffed suitcase, underwear bags are a life-changing travel gear.
The Underwear Pouch v2 by Mochithings contains discrete top-flap pockets, a detachable zipped pouch, and a zippered portion ideal for stacking bras or other undergarments. When you need them, all of your little essentials will be nearby rather than hidden or spilling out when you open your bag.
Use Plastic Bags
Simple plastic baggies come in handy for packing a variety of items, including jewelry, damp objects, dirty clothes, and carry-on liquids. One of the simplest travel organizing suggestions on this list is to keep a few Ziploc kitchen baggies hidden in your suitcase. You can also invest in reusable multi-sized ones like Travelon Packing Pouches.
Unpack Immediately
Living out of a suitcase can lead to a disorganized vacation. Even if your vacation is brief, always unpack as soon as you get to your destination.
Arrange your shoes in the closet, fold your clothes and put them in dresser drawers, hang up any wrinkle-prone apparel, and unpack your toiletries in the bathroom rather than leaving them in their quart-sized plastic bags. This way, you won’t be selecting garments from a disorganized heap on the floor, which will make you feel more at ease and relaxed.
Recreate a Little Bit of Home
Even the neatest person can get messy in a hotel room for whatever reason (and turns the naturally disorganized into a hot travel mess). Making my surroundings feel as much like home as I can is something I usually do when staying in a hotel.
I keep my purse, keys, wallet, lip balm, and other items near my door on a table in my home, so I do the same in my hotel room by setting a bowl or box there. By doing this, I never forget to get something important before leaving for the day.
When I can, I unpack my clothes into the same dresser-drawer arrangement that I have in my own dresser at home, and I set up my bathroom’s supplies and cosmetics in a similar way. I even use the same spot to charge my iPhone as I do at home. It could come off as a little type A, but it helps me stay organized while on stressful trips and makes sure I never forget anything. And it should really help you too.
Need help with organization this summer? Whatever help you need, we are available to offer it across the Greater Houston area in person or anywhere in the world via virtual organizing sessions. To get started right away, book an appointment here, or contact us here to chat about your specific project needs here.
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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