Staying organized at home can be difficult enough, but when you’re removed from your routine things can get off the rails pretty quickly.
Here are a few tips that may help you stay a bit more organized on your next vacation.
Packing cubes – whether your preferred packing style is to fold or to roll, either will work in a good set of packing cubes. You can use them a number of ways. Put entire outfits in them, keep your items separate by packing pants together, dresses together, etc. The best part is when you arrive at your destination and unpack (yep, that’s the next tip) you can simply pull the cubes out and the organization remains.
Unpack on arrival – You can’t utilize what you can’t see – empty your suitcase when you arrive so you’ll get a refresh of the items you brought and can more easily get up and out in the mornings. No more digging through a suitcase to find what you need.
Collapsible valet – these are fantastic and pack flat in your luggage. When you remove your watch, jewelry and empty your pockets at the end of the day put everything in the valet. No more worries about leaving something behind since it’s all in one spot. Disclaimer – the first time I used one of these was at at a conference, it was great for making sure I had everything together, the downside was that I left the room key in the valet at least three times and had to get a new key at the front desk because I didn’t grab the key on the way out. When purchasing a valet I would suggest a bright color if you can find one. Mine is black leather and the black room key seemed to disappear inside.
Keep your list with you – when you finish packing, don’t throw your packing list away, put it in your suitcase or carry on. When it’s time to pack up and move on, or return home you can check the list again to make sure you haven’t left any items behind.
Travel journal – keep a daily log of the things you do while on vacation. When you return home people are going to want to know what you did, where you ate and what you saw. Spending a few minutes each evening recapping your day will help you remember the name of that gelato shop, or the bakery that had the best croissants you’ve ever tasted. You may find that information will come in handy on your next trip as well.