Organizing for Travel

Apr 1, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Jan 27

Tips to travel with less hassle and more comfort.

I usually LOVE to travel near and far, but I'm a bit rusty with packing and planning after being cooped up for the last two years...

I do remember - not waiting until the last day to gather supplies is SO much less stressful!

I feel a stab of anxiety when I'm on a trip and remember something I forgot to pack, so here are some tips for happier travels...

Here's what I recommend for organizing to travel

(Not recommended for the day before traveling! Save your sanity and do this ahead of time :)

Gather EVERYTHING having to do with travel. Pretend like you're leaving for a trip this weekend (see the list below to jog your memory).
Think about what's missing, what you'd like to replace and what you can easily purchase to make packing easier (travel sized toothpaste, etc.)
Find storage places to keep travel supplies together (see ideas below)
Put travel supplies back in those places every time you travel
Keep these storage places open and accessible
Download & print this airport / plane travel bag checklist (link below the image)

Ideas for travel supply storage:

Keep all suitcases and most travel supplies together (including neck pillows, money belts and other travel specific items)
Keep a self care travel bag packed (see the checklist above)
Store where they're easy to reach but out of the way
Have dedicated space for these items where nothing else goes

I have a space in my bathroom dedicated to self care travel supplies. Over time I've collected travel-sized items, a couple different sized bags to carry them in and a few ziplock bags for liquids.

Ideas for always-packed self care kit:

In a self care bag I keep just for travel...

toothbrush
toothpaste
earplugs (in the small round white thing)
eye cover
hair ties
scrunchy
packable hairbrush (the blue Conair thing - it folds)
comb
bobby pins
hair clips
nail clippers
nail file
tampons
pads
shaver (I wax before I go)
cotton pads for toner
mouth guard container (as I'm packing I put it on top so I remember to grab the mouth guard)
tweezers
ibuprofen
sleeping pills (I use hydroxyzine, a prescription antihistamine so it doubles as first aid)
I add earrings and necklaces to a ziplock the day I leave

In a large ziplock bag for travel-sized liquids:

shampoo
conditioner
dry shampoo
hairspray
Dr. Bronner's soap
Thayer's witch hazel toner (I use as a face cleanser as well)
eyedrops
I add whatever face and body lotion I'm using at the time to the liquids bag on the day of the trip