12 Easy Ways to Stay Organized on Your Next Trip

Pack exactly what you need and only the items that you feel good in. "I know I tend to throw in the most random items at the last minute when I go on a trip, things like long dangling earrings and huge statement necklaces, hoping to wear these impulse buys that I never wear at home," says Shara Koplowitz, an expert organizer.

Start by writing out a list of everything you have planned for every single day (morning through bedtime) of your trip, including travel days. "The hardest part is being realistic. If you work out once in a while at home, are you really going to work out every day while traveling?" says Koplowitz. This initial list of your daily plans will help you identify what outfits you will need, and from there, you fill in the details from head to toe, morning to bedtime.

For example, if you’re attending a destination wedding, you will list your outfit for the wedding on one of the days. After filling in your daily plans, you will pull all of the things you will need for each event.

"By prepping for each individual day (as best you can), you are less likely to forget anything or feel the need to throw additional 'just in case pieces' in at the last minute," says Koplowitz. Feel free to take pictures of outfits too. It will help you to get dressed later when you're on the go. Take stuff like earrings or belts and put them in pouches so they aren't hard to find later. AOA Studio Canvas Pouches are just $1 each and come in sizes for hair tools, laundry, shoes, bathing suits, makeup, and eyeglasses.

Place clothing into drawers (already sorted), and if drawers aren't available or you are only staying a day or two in each place, keep items in pouches. "Put your hair, makeup, skincare, and shower pouches in the bathroom and leave items in their pouches to keep things contained and less messy," says Koplowitz.

Hang anything that needs to be hung and put shoes in the closet. "Use your room safe to store your travel documents and jewelry. Take a picture of your itinerary/tickets so you don't have to carry them around with you but you can easily reference them," she says.

"Put your laundry bag somewhere convenient and out of the way (like the back of the bathroom door) or in your suitcase to keep the room clear. Put your empty pouches, carry-on bag, and airplane accessories in your suitcase as well. Your suitcase is also a good place to store purchases, as this will help keep the room less messy too," says Koplowitz.

Bankroll Garment Bag ($150, originally $200) combines a suitcase and garment bag into one carry-on so you need less luggage and you don't have to fold your large clothes — you gently roll them up instead.

Stay digitally organized with an app like TripIt. You upload all your booking information onto it and it makes you an itinerary for your trip. You can also share your travel information with the other people on your trip so everyone has all the details — friends and family at home can track your flights. Use it for everything from check-in and flight connections to keeping track of car rental and hotel information.