I enjoy the charm of my Travel Organizer (and its Contents Revealed)
I stumbled upon the concept of a "travel drawer" on Lifehacker, where Kristin Wong discussed it back in 2016. I initially scoffed at the idea of dedicating an entire drawer to items used only during travel. Yet, now I own one, and I can't imagine living without it. Allow me to share what I keep in mine and how it's transformed my packing and unpacking experience.
What is a travel drawer, and why should you have one?
A travel drawer is a permanent space in your home reserved for items you use solely during travel. As Kristin Wong explained, packing involves gathering all the necessary items such as passports, travel adapters, chargers, and toiletries. By keeping these items in a single location, packing becomes more efficient and less time-consuming.
My travel drawer is a rolling plastic tote box that resides beneath my bed. I store my passport separately, but the rest of the items described by Kristin are located there. My beloved toiletries bag, travel adapters, and packing cubes all call this drawer home. And not only does it make packing more convenient, but it also simplifies the unpacking process as well. Upon returning home, I can dump my dirty clothes in the laundry and quickly place my travel items back in their designated spots within seconds.
In theory, a suitcase could serve as a travel drawer. However, I find that a suitcase is not the most practical place to store travel items. You may only need certain items for specific types of travel (e.g., flying versus road trips), and keeping them all in a single suitcase can result in a cluttered and disorganized mess. If you opt for this approach, I recommend keeping travel items in a separate bag or box within the suitcase.
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What I keep in my travel drawer
I was hesitant to dedicate a drawer to travel items due to the belief that I didn't have enough of them. However, I was surprised to discover that I had more than I initially thought once I started gathering them together. Designating a specific space for travel items also allowed me to curate a thoughtful collection of my most useful items. No more searching for a place to store my toiletry bag or debating whether to bring a specific mug only to have it lost among my other mugs.
Below, I have listed some of my favorite travel items that reside in my travel drawer. I would also recommend checking out my colleague Allie Reinmann's list of travel essentials, which you can find linked below.
Packing cubes
I swear by packing cubes! They have genuinely changed my life. My travel drawer is filled with various sizes and types of packing cubes, as I need plenty of them to accommodate our family's needs. I have regular-sized packing cubes, compression cubes, and my new favorite, the clean/dirty packing cube. The clean/dirty packing cube features a divider that allows you to keep dirty and clean clothes separated while traveling, eliminating the need for a separate laundry bag.
Pop-up laundry hamper
$14.99 at Amazon
A pop-up laundry hamper is essential for dealing with dirty clothes during your hotel stay. It's much more convenient to toss your dirty clothes into a hamper at the end of the day rather than stuffing them into a drawer or leaving them on the floor. Any basic pop-up hamper will do; simply pick one up during your next back-to-school sale.
Charger organizer
There are many ways to organize your cables and adapters, but I prefer using this roll-up organizer. The roll-up design makes it easy to pack and unpack, and the compartments keep your cables tidy. For my phone, I use a magnetic charging puck that can be connected to any USB-C cable, eliminating the need for a dedicated magnetic charger or a lighting cable.
Sleep shorts
I have a bad habit of forgetting to pack PJs. Even when they're on my packing list, I find myself debating which pair to bring. On a trip where I forgot to pack any sleeping clothes, I purchased a pair of thin, soft sleep shorts. The best part is that they now serve as my "travel pajamas" and reside in my travel drawer. I never forget to pack them anymore.
Hanging toiletry bag
I prefer using a hanging toiletry bag while traveling because it doesn't require packing or unpacking. My favorite is this compact design from Travelon. Another travel pro tip: include a single shower curtain hook to hang your toiletry bag wherever you go, even if the hotel doesn't have a hook that fits the small built-in hook.
Inside the cosmetic bag, majority of the items are common, and I won't burden you with them. For instance, I carry a foldable toothbrush and a compact toothpaste tube. I rarely carry shampoo or soap; a lodging or a local pharmacy will supply those necessities. However, there are two particular items I'd like to emphasize, as they save considerable space, time, and hassle. The first is a tiny razor housed in its compact cover. Mine is the Venus Mini, although it appears to be out of production now, but here's an alternative with the same design.
$4.99 at Amazon
Travel Razors for Women, Including 1 Handle and 5 Cartridges, Compact Mini Razor with Travel Case, Portable Toiletries for Women, Pink £12.99 at Amazon £12.99 at Amazon
The second, which fits conveniently in my small cosmetic bag, is often referred to as a "pocket pharmacy." It's a pill organizer, but unlike the usual weekly schedule, it's a tiny assortment of items you might or might not require. I have ibuprofen in mine for post-weightlifting muscle soreness (My travels mainly revolve around weightlifting competitions). I have Claritin in case I encounter something I'm sensitive to. I have melatonin tablets in case I need assistance sleeping. The best pocket pharmacies come with tiny stickers to label every compartment.
Pill Organizer with 161 Medicine Labels, Travel Daily Pill Container, Mini Medication Organizer, Storage Pill Organizer, Pill Case, Weekly Pill Organizer (Grey) £4.99 at Amazon £4.99 at Amazon
This surprising versatile 50-pence tumbler
During my travels, I picked up a 50-pence plastic cup from Walmart, never envisioning it would become so important to me. It's not only ideal for drinking water, but it's also microwave-friendly, serving as a mug if you desire a warm drink. Its size is sufficient for consuming a decent portion of cereal or oatmeal with a spoon (or a compact travel spork). I acquired four more for our family vacation, and the kids soon started saving a little milk from breakfast and using it to prepare hot cocoa at night. Choose a different color for each family member, and kindly rinse the milk immediately following use, if you will.
The travel drawer I mentioned earlier is particularly useful when packing for various types of travel. It allows me to easily access and organize my travel adapters, chargers, and toiletries for each trip.
Furthermore, having a dedicated travel drawer has helped me keep track of my travel mug, which is a versatile 50-pence tumbler I picked up on a previous trip. Now, I can easily find it and use it for drinks or even cereal during my travels.
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