Anyone who truly knows me knows that when it comes to vacations or traveling, I’m a bit of an OCD/organization freak. (If only this carried over to my housekeeping style!) I make lists like nobody’s business. LOL! All jokes aside, I must say, I have pretty much gotten travel organization down to a science. So, I decided to share a few of my favorite tips and tricks.
1. Start planning early! Regardless of what anyone says, it’s never too early to start your itinerary. Even if you don’t have exact dates, you can always plan the timing of activities that interest you or your family and start to get an idea of the overall cost of the trip. I change and adjust my itinerary many times before the final draft. This is also a fun time for older children to contribute ideas and build their excitement.
2. If your trip is planned far enough in advance, the clothing is from a different season, which means it can be packed without being missed from a wardrobe. This is especially true for children’s clothing and is a much-appreciated time saver for my family. This also comes in handy for personal care items such as sunscreen or tanning oils. My family keeps a separate hygiene bag packed specifically for travel. It contains all of your normal travel-sized personal care items and is refilled as needed each time we return from a trip. This way it’s one less thing to worry about, and we know it’s always ready to go. If you aren't able to pack seasons in advance, just remember not to over-pack. 1-2 outfits per day is more than enough for almost any traveler. Remember, don't stress the small stuff. More than likely, wherever you are going has a store that will carry anything you might have forgotten.
3. Do your research! Read reviews, rules, and fine print before you buy into anything. Always purchase tickets through verified websites. If you are ever unsure, call the attraction. They can tell you exactly who is authorized to sell their tickets and who isn’t. I always buy our tickets directly through the attraction website simply because that’s what I’m comfortable with. In my opinion, the couple of dollars discount offered by someone else usually comes with a catch that isn’t worth the hassle. If the few dollars is a big deal, most of the time, you can call the phone sales department for the attraction and they will match the verified discount over the phone and email or will-call your tickets for you.
4. Pay online in advance for as much of your trip as possible. Most places provide tickets that can be scanned or verified right from your phone. Not only does this allow you to space out payments over the course of your planning months, but it also provides you with many discounts and bonuses that you wouldn’t otherwise receive. Paying for your activities in advance also reduces the amount of cash or cards you must carry around. Nobody likes having to budget in your head while you’re trying to relax and enjoy your vacation. If you pay in advance you can travel worry-free!
5. Share your itinerary! Anyone who is of reading age can have a copy. Adults can have electronic or paper copies. Use both and then decide what’s most convenient and practical for your family. With their own itinerary, everyone is always in the loop and knows the day’s plans. It helps teens and older children to plan their own outfits and accessories according to the day’s activities.
I hope this helps give direction to anyone out there stressing about how to organize a trip. I love the planning and organizing phase of travel. It always gets my family even more excited about the upcoming activities and sights. As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to send me a message here or any of my social media pages. Safe travels!
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