Organizing for Travel

Pack Travel Basics In Advance

Basic First Aid Supplies

• Small packets of sugar to stop bleeding if you have nothing else.

• Baking soda is good for so many things that I always keep a small container of it in the larger pieces of luggage, and maybe in one carry-on as well. It's great for sunburn relief.
• Some type of antiseptic. If all else fails, use Vodka - small bottles of vodka bought at the liquor store are great.

• Sterile Gauze. I also keep large pieces of white t-shirt fabric that's been washed, bleached, and placed in Zip-Lock freezer bags. I've wished several times that I'd taken a lot more of this fabric. It is good for so many things.

• Adhesive tape, Dermicil Tape or Micropore Tape. Don't forget some folks are allergic to regular adhesive tape.

• Antibiotic Ointment (like Neosporin).

• Band-aids (several sizes and types).

• Sterile Cotton Balls.

• A bar of soap wrapped in a clean wash cloth with several sizes of safety pins attached.

Toiletries

• Toothbrushes and Toothpaste. I buy the small individual sizes of toothpaste and inexpensive toothbrushes just for traveling.

• Deodorant (again, find the small or sample sizes and keep them for travel).

• Shampoo and hair conditioner in a tube.

• Body lotion in a tube

• Your favorite bath soap. I keep a new bar of TONE wrapped in a clean wash cloth in every single piece of luggage (even carry-ons). Add a few safety pins to the wash cloth for any clothing emergency.

Other Useful Items

• Several sizes of safety pins.

• Small pill bottles with needles, thread and a few buttons of various sizes. You will not be allowed to take scissors or knives of any kind.

• Wire or plastic clothes hangers laid on the bottoms of large luggage pieces before adding the clothes.

• 2 Old Clean Pillow Cases. I can't tell you how many times in the night I've had to change a child's pillow case. They also come in very handy as a dirty-clothes bag or toy bag.

• A few plastic clothespins. They come in handy for lots of things (closing bags of chips is a good example).

• About 25 feet of good strong twine or braided yarn for things you can't even imagine right now. It'll make handy clotheslines for damp bathing suits for one thing. You'll think of other ways to use this too.

• Small packets of salt, pepper, sugar and coffee creamer. You can collect extras from one hotel to another if you forget them. The packets of plastic flatware with paper napkins, salt and pepper are perfect.

• Post Cards. Use local ones when possible. You can usually find them on sale at drug stores.

• Tablet and pens (I don't know if pens are allowed now or not).

• Postage Stamps. If traveling outside of our country, you'll most likely have to use the destination country's postage stamps.

I print out several lists and keep one in every piece of luggage, noting which piece of luggage things are in when possible. You will not believe how much time this is going to save you in searching for what you need when you need it. Keep in mind that everybody's list is going to be a little bit different. Only you can predict what your family might want or could possibly need. You'll be adding and deleting from this list every year for the rest of your life, so don't feel that you need to carve it in stone.

By pookarina from Boca Raton, FL

Organizing in Advance for Traveling

Now I have a bin in my bathroom that I have labeled "Travel". In it I have travel size bottles for shampoo/conditioner, lotions, mouthwash, a small spray bottle for hair spray, and all the other things. There's even a mini hair dryer in there. In this bin I also keep travel size pet food dishes, and any other travel size pet needs. And there are 2 seven day pill dispensers for any meds I may be on.

On my computer I have a file titled "Travel" and 3 sub-files under it titled "Summer", "Winter", and "Spring/Fall". Each sub-file has a list of everything I will need for a trip during that season of the year. The only thing I have to do is go through and put how many of each I will need depending on how long I will be gone. Then I print out the list and put it in a page protector and put it in my suitcase.

As I pack I refer to the list, checking each item off as it gets packed. The night before leaving I go through and recheck the list against the suitcase just to be sure. This way I know I have everything and nothing is forgotten.

Now if a last minute trip comes up (which happens a lot in our family!), I can be packed and ready to go in a matter of 1-2 hours, and not have forgotten a thing.

By Cricketnc from Parkton, NC

Master List for Travel

I simply made some "master travel lists". I originally made one list for Spring/Summer and one for Fall/Winter. Here is a sample of my Summer list.

For The Dogs:

• Food and water dishes
• Food, treats, and bottles of water
• Collars with rabies and ID tags, leashes
• Toys
• One small blanket for each dog

I take a current close-up photo of each dog just in case we are separated. I take these photos not more than one week prior to the trip. This would be a good idea if you have children too.

For Me:

I make a separate list for my husband and anyone else going.

• Clothing: On my list, I list how many of each type of clothing per day.
• Personal care: I have a small bin in my linen closet with travel size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soaps, travel razors, etc. On my list I specify what to take out of all these.
• Glucose monitor (I'm diabetic)
• Medications and vitamins: I list each one and fill a weekly or daily container.
• Snacks: Since I'm diabetic I can't just stop for cokes and chips, so I pack some non-perishable snacks and drinks.
• Purse
• Wallet: I list each and every one from my driver's license, cash, credit cards and any other wallet items I may need.
• Keys
• Eye glasses and/or contacts
• Any other purse items I may need are listed separately.
• Emergency contact information
• List of all medications and medical conditions, including blood type, etc.

Other items:

• Book, magazine
• Road maps
• Magnifying glass (those maps are printed so tiny!)
• Sunglasses
• CD's/audio books
• Cell phone with charger (both house and car)
• Camera with extra batteries.

Not more than one week prior to the trip I take a photo of each person going, including myself (separate photo for each) and keep them in my purse.

Also, about a week or so before the trip I take this list, and print a separate list which is kept on the fridge and to which I add any incidentals (gifts, or whatever) to take. I check off each item as I put it into the suitcases or the car or my purse. Then the night before the trip, I go back with this list and double check everything.

Many of these items are always kept in a bin labeled "Travel". This way all I have to do is refer to my list and pull out the needed items. This list sounds extensive, but it's really not once I start gathering it all together. Much of it is things that I normally carry with me daily.

I made up these "master lists" long before any scheduled trip. That way I was able to go back through them slowly and customize them so they are more realistic for my needs.

This gives you the idea. And like I said, it can be altered to fit each person's needs. But I used to forget things every time I took a trip. Since I started keeping this list (I laminated the list and keep it inside my "Travel" bin), I have never forgotten a thing.

By Cricket from NC

Make Inventory Lists for Travel

By Linda from IL

Tackle Box for Travel Organizer

Organized for Travel

For longer trips I do the same thing, only this time pack clothes and pack my accessory bag in the suitcase, too. I write the outfit name on the zippered bag. (i.e. green outfit)

By justfluffyme from Weatherford, TX

Spreadsheet for Travel Items

For a particular trip, as items are packed, that code is used alongside the item. The sheets are kept (if you are so inclined) and can be used to remember the dates of the various trips. We use this every time and is an invaluable item in our trip preparation.

By Joy from Adelaide, South Australia