Travel preparation and packing tips

The Well Organized Woman, Claire Kurtz, is a certified personal assistant who helps men and women increase their quality of life through organization and timesaving techniques. Here are her tips for peaceful and stressful travel preparation and packing.

ON PREPARING

• If you are considering using a trusted pet sitting service or kennel, make sure you book your service early.

• A week before you leave, create a simple prep schedule. You want to be able to pack and prepare your house in the easiest and least stressful way possible. Complete a major and minor task each day of the week, such as purchasing a hostess gift and packing an item or two in your suitcase.

• Do yourself a favor and shop for non-perishables two days before you leave so that you?ll return to a house stocked with toilet paper, paper towels, drinks, snacks and perhaps a homemade frozen meal in the freezer that can be defrosted and popped in the oven upon your return.

• Develop a return-home routine: Start a load of laundry, set out your one-dish meal to defrost, unpack your suitcase and download all of your pictures!

• Develop a travel exchange with a neighbor. When either of you go out of town, the other can gather mail or newspapers, take your trash to the end of the driveway, etc. Leave a copy of your itinerary and contact numbers with that same neighbor in case an emergency involving your house or pets should occur.

ON PACKING

• To save yourself a major headache, send gifts ahead via the post office or other shipping service, already wrapped. When you arrive, you can unpack the box and place gifts under the tree.

• Base your travel wardrobe around a one color – black or brown – so that all shoes and accessories match the clothing you bring. Be brutal; limit yourself to two pair of shoes besides what you wear on the plane. Pack items that can do double duty such as a dress that you can wear to a cocktail part one night and then dress down with a cardigan and flats the next day.

• Don’t get carried away with your carry-on! Be honest! You really can only read one book on a typical flight – not three. Even if you have to purchase a new book or magazine at the airport for the flight home, it will keep your bag lighter in the long run.

• Tuck a garbage bag into your suitcase and use it to keep dirty clothes (folded!) separate from clean and ready-to-be-dropped-into-the-washer clothes when you arrive home.

• This is your vacation – don?t be afraid to go without your laptop. Your laptop can be physical as well as mental baggage. Can you live without it?