Whether you’re taking the entire family to Orlando for an unforgettable Disney experience or just escaping to a cabin in the mountains for a romantic getaway, you want to leave work life and stress behind. By doing so, you can relax to the fullest extent of the word. By doing just a little bit of prep before you leave, you can avoid the little scramblings—missed turns, getting lost, forgetting your toothpaste or bathing suit, missing a luau because you didn’t check ahead to see that they only go on Saturdays and not Sundays—that add up to precious lost time. Here’s how to stay organized on vacation.

Relax and stay organized on vacation

Pack Smart & Stay Organized on Vacation

When it comes to staying organized on vacation, nothing works as good as a checklist. Whether you use an old-fashioned pen and paper or a smartphone checklist app like Evernote or todoist, you’ll never get to the beach without your snorkel again. To make your checklist brainstorming even simpler, browse travelchecklist.com for the perfect template.

Another important piece of the packing smart pie is to choose the right luggage. Will you be moving around a lot, whether changing places you stay or walking around a lot during the day? Ditch the heavy suitcase or roller luggage for a suitcase-backpack combination instead, like this one. You’ll have the organization and structure of a standard suitcase with the mobility of a backpack.

Plan What You’ll Wear Before You Leave

There’s nothing like staring at a mess of clothes deciding on what you should wear, too many choices, to slow down a good time. It might seem easy to throw everything in “just in case” but you’ll be weighing yourself down (literally), increasing your bag fees, and giving yourself too many choices—and on vacation, you need to fully appreciate every single moment you get to relax! Stay organized on vacation and plan out your outfits beforehand so that you know what you’ll feel comfortable in, what goes or looks good together, and what will be the most sensible depending on the weather/circumstances of your trip. Pack layers, so that you can always be prepared, and base it on the capsule wardrobe. Keep your shoes to 2 pairs max if possible. You can always use a washing machine if need be.

Itinerary

We know, and we get it—you’ve got enough spreadsheets to update every day at work, right? But this is one that’s sure to put a smile on your face—it’s full of all the adventures you’ll be having, after all!

Use this itinerary template to map out where you’ll be going and when, as well as any important extra details like transportation, cost, etc.

Technology

If you’re like us, you can never seem to find that darn phone charger cord. Make sure you never run out of juice on your phone for pictures on the go. While you’re at it, make sure you’ve got all necessary backups, batteries, and portable devices (especially portable phone chargers) like these. This will certainly help stay organized on vacation.

ORLANDO TOURIST TIP: If visiting any of the Orlando theme parks, be sure to download their app to your smartphone. This will help make your day at the attractions much more enjoyable. Some apps can help schedule your ride-times, help locate where you are in the park, find restrooms and more!

By doing a bit of research beforehand, you’ll maximize your free time in paradise and have your best vacation yet.


About Our Guest Author: Taylor McKinney is a Marketing Associate at TrustRadius, a trusted website for B2B software reviews. When she is not writing small business trends she is enjoying Austin’s culture with her husband and two kids.