Before You Go, Organize

You’ve arrived!  Your vacation is just beginning!  But, oops, you already know you’ve forgotten your toothbrush, your warm jacket and your host’s phone number.  Your child is whining for her (forgotten) favorite toy and you have only five dollars in your pocket, not enough for cab fare.  Next time, you vow, you will be better organized.

Consulting a professional organizer is one way to make that happen in all areas of your life.  Meanwhile, Dhawn Hansen of Hansen Turner Solutions and Brita Bolane, President of pare it down, inc., both members of the National Association of Professional Organizers, San Diego chapter (www.naposandiego.com ), offer a few tips for your next journey. “Preparation will help alleviate much of the stress that travelers face,”  Dhawn says.

Like nearly every organized person’s advice, theirs begins with this maxim: Create a list of what you’ll need.  Make sure your child’s favorite toy or blanket is on it.  Take the list with you to help you gather everything for your return trip.

Dhawn suggests an additional checklist of things you need to take care of before you leave.  Arranging for a pet sitter, stopping mail or newspaper deliveries, paying bills and reviewing important work assignments with a co-worker or assistant are just a few common and important tasks. If you are a frequent traveler, create a checklist form to use   every time you travel, she says.

What you’ll need in another locale may be warmer or lighter clothing, so check the weather at your destination before you pack, Brita says.

And for additional, sometimes critical, information about your travel plans, check with the Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov/index.shtm) for the latest guidelines. They have travel information related to air travel, highways, maritime, mass transit and railroads.

If you’re traveling to a foreign country, plan far ahead. Talk to your current cell phone provider to see if your own phone gets coverage to the country you’re traveling to. If not, consider renting an international cell phone. Check out www.cellularabroad.com for cell phone rentals.

Also check out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, www.cdc.gov/travel to see if you need vaccines before you go. Print out and keep all your itineraries, tickets, passes, shot records and phone numbers in one bag or large envelope. If you put everything in one designated place, you’ll need only to grab it when you leave.

Make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with someone who is not traveling with you,say both Dhawn and Brita. In an emergency at home, your friend will know how to reach you. Make two copies of all your credit cards and your passport, too.  Pack one copy and leave the other with your friend so you can report losses or thefts promptly.
Pack your medications and anything that can spill into water-tight containers (Ziploc bags are good), Brita says. Take along a couple extra bags for items you may purchase later.

Dhawn recommends that frequent travelers purchase and maintain a toiletries travel bag with duplicates of all the items you use at home but may forget to pack, such as toothbrush, lotions and cosmetics. Replenish all the items as soon as you get home, rather than waiting until you pack for next time. In your carry-on bag, pack your emergency contact information, insurance cards and extra cash.

The day before you leave, confirm your reservations with the airlines, rental car company and hotel. You can also get an impromptu local weather report from the reservation desk.

Remember, though, that you can’t plan for every eventuality.

“Never assume everything will go perfectly when traveling,” Brita says. “Be prepared for delays or inconveniences.” Travel is an adventure, and the unforeseen incidents make some of the best stories to tell afterwards.