Trip Planner

A trip planner is the best way to get organized for a vacation. You can use it every step of the way, from choosing your vacation destination right through preserving your vacation memories. Whether you purchase a Travel Planneror create your own, it's easy to learn how to organize a trip.

Creating a Trip Planner

All you need is a three ring binder, some sheets of lined, loose leaf paper, divider tabs, pocket folders, plastic sheet protectors and photo album pages.

Use the loose leaf paper to take notes, record thoughts and create packing, to-do and shopping lists while planning your vacation. Use the divider tabs to separate your planner into easily identifiable sections. During the planning process, the plastic sheet protectors can be used to hold computer print-outs such as directions and restaurant menus. They can also be used to hold pamphlets or brochures with information about your destination.

During your vacation you will, no doubt, collect mementos such as ticket stubs, autographs and other memorabilia. The plastic sheet protectors can be used to turn these items into a scrapbook of your trip. Finally, you can use the photo album pages to hold photographs taken during your travels.

Your trip planner will become an all-inclusive memorial of your vacation from the planning stages right through your return home. Years later, you will be able to recall every detail of your trip by looking through your planner and smiling at all of the memories.

How to Organize a Trip

The best way to organize a trip is to break the process down into small, simple steps. Begin with choosing your destination. Once that is done, move on to the next logical step, planning your activities, for instance. Here are a few ideas to use your trip planner to get organized:

Choose Your Destination

If you are trying to decide between multiple destinations, use your trip planner to make pro and con lists and narrow it down to your final vacation destination. Your lists could include cost, travel time, weather and interesting activities at each destination. Use the lists to weigh the pros and cons and choose your destination.

Organize With Lists.

Use your trip planner to create your travel packing lists. Make a separate list for each family member. Each time you think of something you want to remember to pack, write it down on your packing list. Your packing list should include clothing, toiletries, medications and other essentials that will be needed during your trip.

If you will require groceries at your destination, use your planner to create a grocery list so you will know in advance what you will need to purchase when you get there. When you think of something you want to remember to buy, add it to your grocery list.

Make a travel list including snacks, toys, books and games you want to bring to keep everyone happy and entertained while traveling.

Plan Your Activities

Print a weather forecast for the days you will be vacationing. Use the forecast to decide which days you will do indoor versus outdoor activities. Place the printed forecast in a plastic sheet protector in your travel binder for ease of reference.

If there are certain activities you want to be sure to have the opportunity to do on your trip, it might be a good idea to make those reservations or purchase the tickets in advance. Be sure to print all confirmation pages and keep them in your binder. You can also print driving directions to these destinations and make any notes about what you would like to see or do at these destinations. You can use divider tabs to create a section of your binder for each activity.

If there are restaurants that you don't want to miss dining at, make those reservations in advance as well. Print the menus, if available online, the reservation confirmations as well as driving directions and place them in your binder.

Get Ready to Travel

Once all of your travel arrangements and reservations have been made, designate a section of your travel planner for travel-related paperwork such as itineraries, boarding passes, and hotel and rental car confirmations. Bring your planner with you as you travel, knowing that everything you need to get to your final destination is organized and at your fingertips.

Turn Your Trip Into a Lasting Memory.

When you return from your trip you can turn your trip planner into a memory book, saving ticket stubs, menus, mementos and photos from your vacation. For years to come you will be able to look back upon your vacation and remember it from the planning stages right through the trip itself.

Happy travels!