How Do You Keep Your Paperwork Organized?

[Zandy595]

I'm interested in finding out how everyone keeps their cruise documents, birth certificates and any other required paperwork organized and easy to get to. Our birth certificates are old (guess that means we're old too) and I want to protect them from getting mutilated in my carry-on.

 

[BethA]

I use the passporter and take out any pages we don't need. That way everything is organized and protected.

 

[markey]

I have a system that works for me.
I have 5x10 (about at work can't measure) pencil (I think) cases. They are a solid color in the back and clear plastic in the front with a zipper accross the top. I got different colors and organize each one with the papers I need for different legs of our trip. In one color will be air tickets and the necessary ID, which will have to be transferred as the trip goes on. Then the rental car or cars in another. Hotels will be in one, theme park tickets if going. I put the excursions and ship ID needed in another, and then have one larger one for ship docs which will hold all the other ones as well. It's real easy when we get to the place to just get one pack out and have all the info. I just didn't like having to hunt for things, too afraid that something would drop out and I might loose it. I carry everything in a small carry on which I also use as my purse so I only have one thing to take care of.

 

[TheWog]

I use a 3-ring binder with plastic sheet protectors for all paperwork that I gather. I put the BC's in there so you can see them as well as copies of them and the passports, itineraries, any info or coupons I have gathered, like that. very handy.

For passports and airline documents I have a document holder that is about 6-8 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. It carries all your airline paperwork, passports, some cash, etc. You can put any valet tickets, parking tickets or anything else you need in it. They have them on the Coach website for an example, but you can get similar ones anywhere. They will also hold your BC's folded up.

http://coach.com/shop/category_l.asp?category_id=170

 

[mmouse37]

I use a .69 two-pocket folder from Staples for my travel papers. Each cruise or vacation I take gets a new folder. I put my travel papers in the folder in the order I will need them....plane tickets first, then rental confirmation, hotel confirmation, cruise docs, etc. go in one pocket of the folder. I also keep a separate list of all confirmation #'s and phone #'s in case I lose something. Any papers pertaining to the trip goes in that folder in the other pocket up to the date of departure. I give it a once over before we leave and then take it with us.

I bring an extra one along to put all my Navigator's, post cards, dining tickets, momentos, receipts, etc. for the trip home.

Works very well for me. I have passports so those stay pretty protected with their own cover (they go in the folder as well).

MJ

 

[jrabbit]

The best way to protect your birth certificates is to get passports. Passports are built with travel in mind. They are a small bound "book" with a durable cover, whereas the birth certificate is "just a piece of paper" waiting to get something spilled on it, torn or accidently tossed (since it's just a piece of paper).

 

[two-foxes]

I have used the plastic "accordian" (I didn't spell it right, but you know....) style organizer. It is similar to a coupon organizer, but you can get them in slightly larger sizes. A passport easily fits in one, as well as normal sized sheets of paper folded into thirds. It has maybe 10 separate sections so you can lable and organize accordingly. You can buy these at Target and Walmart for like $5 or so.

 

[Zandy595]

TheWog ~ I like your idea about the 3-ring binder with plastic sheet protectors. I had originally thought about putting our BC's in the sheet protectors and just putting them into a folder, but a binder is probably a better idea. I can just turn pages, instead of taking everything out of the folder and possibly misplacing something.

 

[kcashner]

I have an organizer that my TA gave us (free!). It works really well for 2-4 people, but wouldn't be big enough beyond that.

 

[TheWog]

Zandy - it really works great. you can use as many as you like, you can put your flight info in one to refer to gates and departure times, etc., clear visible copies, any port info and coupons are easy to see. My DW thinks I'm a kook, but oh well. She loves it when there are no hitches too.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by two-foxes
I have used the plastic "accordian" (I didn't spell it right, but you know....) style organizer. It is similar to a coupon organizer, but you can get them in slightly larger sizes. A passport easily fits in one, as well as normal sized sheets of paper folded into thirds. It has maybe 10 separate sections so you can lable and organize accordingly. You can buy these at Target and Walmart for like $5 or so.

That's exactly what I did and it was perfect! Got mine at Target. I labled each pocket for cruise docs, hotel info, car rental, birth certicates, I even had a pocket for each island with stuff I had printed out and a pocket for money and traveler's checks. It felt so good being that organized....and that accordian envelope fit nicely into the safe in the cabin.

 

[two-foxes]

The 3 ring binder is also a great idea.....that is how I currently have our upcoming info organized. However, when it comes time to head out for our trip (Finally!!!!) I will transfer it all to the accordian organizer because it fits into my purse/carry on, so I will be able to carry it where ever and access it easier, plus the safe thing, too. Both sound like great ideas....as long as you know where everything is!

 

[brack]

Originally posted by two-foxes
I have used the plastic "accordian" (I didn't spell it right, but you know....) style organizer. It is similar to a coupon organizer, but you can get them in slightly larger sizes. A passport easily fits in one, as well as normal sized sheets of paper folded into thirds. It has maybe 10 separate sections so you can lable and organize accordingly. You can buy these at Target and Walmart for like $5 or so.

I buy one of these in the 8x10 size from Walmart for each cruise. It holds everything neatly, is easy to carry for airports and after the cruise we leave the documents in them so we know where they are for the next cruise. It also gives us a record of each cruise.

 

[gottaluvdis]

Originally posted by brack
I buy one of these in the 8x10 size from Walmart for each cruise. It holds everything neatly, is easy to carry for airports and after the cruise we leave the documents in them so we know where they are for the next cruise. It also gives us a record of each cruise.

That's exactly what I used as well, and I also purchased mine at WalMart. It has the elastic band thingy that wraps nicely around the accordion. Mine has a faux alligator like design. It's big enough for 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper without folding, but skinny enough to fit in the front pocket of our carry on bag. I needed this for the cruise because there was so much extra paperwork, but on a normal trip I usually get away with a pocket folder.

 

[jrabbit]

How Do You Keep Your Paperwork

ALWAYS bring DW!!

 

[piglet33]

Originally posted by BethA
I use the passporter and take out any pages we don't need. That way everything is organized and protected.

Yep, me too. I love my Passporter. I don't know what I'd do without it.

 

[MrsPete]

We made our reservations through AAA, and our documents arrived in a black nylon fold-over case that closed with velcro (of course it has AAA embroidered on the front). It had two pockets inside, and it was nice enough that I kept it for future trips. In fact, our birth certificates are still in it.