How to Plan, Pack, and Stay Organized on Every Trip
As someone who loves to stay organized and plan ahead, I understand how important it is to stay on top of things both before and during your travels. While traveling can bring incredible experiences, it can also be stressful at times. By preparing in advance, keeping things organized, and knowing how to make a flexible plan, you can eliminate many of those stressors and focus on enjoying your trip.
Itineraries & Bookings
When you start booking your trip—whether that’s flights, accommodations, tours, or attractions—you’ll likely experience an influx of confirmation emails. To make things easier, create a separate folder in your inbox named after your destination. This way, you can quickly find booking details without scrolling through dozens of unrelated messages.
When planning your itinerary, start by writing a rough outline on paper. This helps you visualize your schedule and avoid overbooking yourself.
My biggest piece of advice when creating an itinerary is to leave room for flexibility. Don’t plan every minute—unexpected changes or spontaneous adventures are part of what makes travel memorable. Giving yourself unstructured time to wander, explore, or simply relax will make your experience more enjoyable and less stressful.
Once you’ve created your rough itinerary, you can use my itinerary template, which includes all the key information I find useful to write down.
To keep track of your yearly flights and travel details, I also created a Google Sheet flight tracker that makes it easy to store, update, and share your travel information with others.
Useful Packing Accessories
Overconsumption is a growing issue, especially with travel influencers promoting endless “must-have” products. In reality, many of those items take up space and rarely get used. After trying out a variety of travel accessories, here are the ones I use on nearly every trip:
Compression packing cubes: Great for saving space without the hassle of a vacuum or pump.
Hanging packing cube with dividers: Perfect for organizing outfits and easily fits into a carry-on.
Neck pillow and eye mask: Ideal for long-haul flights. If you have space, a small travel blanket is also worth bringing.
Clear liquid bag: Most airports require liquids to be in a clear bag, but keep a clear plastic bag on hand too—some airports are strict about this rule.
Necessities bag: I always keep a small pouch in my personal item with essentials like hand sanitizer, lip balm, lotion, antibacterial wipes, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, and a mini toothbrush and toothpaste. Opt for sample sizes to save space.
Tote bag: Lightweight and foldable, it’s great for both airports and to bring on your daily excursions.
Reusable water bottle: Save money (and plastic) by bringing a refillable water bottle. I use a smaller one that clips easily to my bag.
Products That Didn’t Work for Me
Foot hammock: I found these impractical since most tray tables can’t handle the weight—it can even disturb the person in front of you.
Luggage cup holder attachments: These tend to get in the way. Instead, I recommend investing in luggage that already includes a built-in cup holder, like the Swiss Gear carry-on.
Too many liquids or beauty products: Stick to what you truly use daily. Extra products only add clutter and weight.
My advice while packing is to only include items you use on a daily basis. When you are traveling, it is rare that you would have the time to try out new products or introduce a new step into your routine. By keeping it simple you will save time, space and effort in packing.
Conclusion
Staying organized while traveling doesn’t have to mean overplanning. With the right tools, habits, and a little flexibility, you can simplify your experience and focus on what truly matters—making unforgettable memories along the way.
For more ways to stay organized and travel easier, check out my blog on the Best Travel Apps for 2025.
