How do you stay organized in the hotel?

[sanjacprof]

We are used to staying in a condo when we go to Branson every year, where there is plenty of room. Next summer we will be staying on-site at Wilderness Lodge, and I would like to know some tips on how to stay organized in a small room vs. a condo.

Thanks!!!!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

On our trip in October I brought an over the door shoe organizer - I read about it on these boards. Some people use to organize toiletries but I used it for shoes. We're a family of 5 so we had lots of shoes and it worked great. The kids would have the lower rows w/DD2 having the bottom row and she could get her own shoes and all the kids would put their shoes back when we came in our room. It helped a lot w/o tripping on shoes and the kids knew where they were.

Before we left the kids and I made to-do charts for each of them. It listed w/words or pics what to do to get ready to go to the theme parks, the pool, etc. It helped getting out of our room on time w/o "Mom, what I do next?" over and over.

We had a backpack that contained all the essentials for the theme parks. So before we left I made a list of whats in the bag on the computer and printed it off . When I needed more diapers or I used a bandaid or the wipes needed refilling or the kids used some of the extra clothes, I just checked off the appropriate box on the list. After the kids went to bed, I'd look at the list and know what I needed to refill/replace and it would be ready to go again. This helped a lot as it saved me from having to try to remember everything!

Thats just a few I'll probably remember more later.

 

[LowesChevy]

There are some tips we use when vacationing:

We always unpack out clothes when we get to the room and place the suitcases in the corner to get them out of the way. I do not want to think about packing suitcases till a day or two before I leave.

Bring some hangers with you to hang up longer pants, polo or button up shirts so they are not so wrinkle and not taking up drawer space. There are few drawers available in hotel rooms, so we make use of the top shelf in the closet as well.

The pop up clothes hamper tip works really well. We could wedge the mesh hamper in above the safe closet at the Polynesian. Then when we came back to the room one afternoon we go to the pool and do a load of laundry or two.

Bring only the number of shoes you need-the closet space is tight. My mom used to always bring high heels-she said forget that, unless you are going to V&As for dinner otherwise, sneakers and sandals are good.

Bathroom storage can also be tight-we each have our own bathroom bag, but we share a toothpaste, combs, hair product, Listerine a pack of q-tips etc-hey we are family .

I hope these tips help you-have fun

 

[java]

We used the over the door hanger thing for our toiletries and it worked great. No searching for the deodorant or your toothbrush on a mobbed counter.
Pop up hamper worked great to store all the dirty clothes as opposed to those tiny bags
ZIPLOC is your friend. I used it to pack. For my little guys we had a socks bag, an underwear bag, a pajama bag and a matching outfits bag, dress clothes bag and park wear bag. For the bigger kids it was underwear in one, pj's in another.
For me it was socks in one,underwear in another, Dress tops in one.
They really eased up the "where is my?" in the rooms.

 

[OKW Lover]

Staying organized in a hotel room is easier than when you are in a condo. There are fewer places to put stuff. We usually unpack our clothes and put them in the draws and closets. We put the toiletries in the bathroom. Then, as we take off our dirty clothes, we toss them into the empty suitcases.

 

[casaazul]

When our son was younger we packed each days outfit in a ziplock. He helped pick out which outfit for which day. Then all he had to do was grab a bag and get dressed. Now we just need much bigger ziplocks (13+ yo, lol)

Enjoy your trip.

 

[disnut8]

Unpack. If there's not enough room for all the clothes, leave what you don't immediately need in the suitcases and then put those out of the way (stand them up in the closet area or stack them up in the same place - if you don't need the connecticing door, use that area in front of it).

If you have hanging things, hang more than one thing on a hanger. Then you don't have to take hangers with you. Use the open area under the nightstand for shoes. Gets them off the floor and all shoes are in one place. Use the top of the TV for wallets, change, etc. They are out of the way and everything is in one place. Immediately "download" your wallets. You don't need a Kroger card or family photos while you are in the parks. Put all these things in the safe, lock it and put the key somewhere that you will remember. Use the nightstand drawers. Establish areas on the dresser for certain things. Food items in one place, brouchures in another place. Use the area under the sinks for backpacks, etc.

Try and keep the table empty as much as you can. Use that as your "clear" area.

One things I've done ever since I was a kid is to have a "ditty bag". A small bag where I have travel size containers of everything. You don't need big bottles to clutter up the bathroom sink area. Have one bag for each person. And everything needs to go back in that bag before you leave for the day. THis is invaluable since you just pack the ditty bag and don't have to worry about forgetting anything. And when you get home, your supplies are still there so you don't have to unpack immediately.

 

[ROBIN4NY]

This is such a great thread!! You all have such wonderful ideas

 

[fla4fun]

I usually hang the shirt and shorts/jeans on the same hanger, so I can just grab a hanger in the morning on the way to the shower.

I nest my suitcases inside each other, so they don't take up as much room in the closet. If there's not enough drawer space, I'll leave one out on a stand with underwear and socks that won't go in a drawer.

 

[lunalibre]

We had 5 in a room at POR on our last trip. I can't recommend the over-the-door shoe holders enough!!! That was a huge help for keeping all the toiletries organized. I think next time I'll bring a second one to hold everyone's spare pairs of shoes.

Instead of a pop-up hamper, I had a giant washable laundry bag. I took all the clothes down to the laundry and threw the dirty bag in with one load. My bag came out of the wash practically dry, and then it was certainly dry by the time I needed to take the clothes back to the room to fold.

Everyone had their own belt bag with their own stuff in it. We made sure we repacked the bags with necessaries the night before. The bags had sunscreen, lip balm, etc. At night we kept the cameras sitting right next to the belt bags so we couldn't forget them the next morning.

Hat storage for us was a bit of an issue. If we put the hats in the closet, we'd forget to pick them up in the morning. We finally managed to arrange them with the belt bags, but it was a bit precarious on the little table we had. I'll have to figure something out for that for next time.

Next time I will bring more spare envelopes. I had brought a stack to leave for Mousekeeping, but it was also helpful to put receipts in envelopes. We were then able to double check the room charges. Next time I plan to put the food charges in one envelope and merchandise charges in another. It'll save some digging for receipts if we have to return/exchange something (which we did).

One other thing we used that has been a godsend for traveling is a mesh pouch that I hang with suction cups on the back of the shower. It has pockets for everyone's little bottles of shampoo, razors, etc. I also put clothespins in here for hanging swimsuits. I got mine at the Container Store, but I'm sure they're other places too. The shower at POR was big enough that we didn't exactly need this at Disney, but we've used it for every other trip we've taken.

Oh, my kids also had their own little backpack-sized rolling carry-ons that carried all their toys/books/fun stuff. We had a rule that anything they got out of the suitcases had to be put back before bed and before leaving the room. This way none of their "friends" could get lost in the sheets and it kept down the clutter.

Also, before we left I made checklists for EVERYTHING. Yes, this insanity happens when you have a year to plan. I had checklists for what we wanted in the belt bags for the parks, what to take to the water parks, and a list of everything we packed. My DH thought I was NUTS until we had been at the World for a couple of days and he saw how helpful it was. It also meant we didn't forget anything in the hotel room when we left!

Have fun!

 

[missypie]

I bring about 6 shallow plastic baskets (maybe 8" x 4"). They are fantastic for organizing toiletries in the bathroom and keys and room cards in the room.

I use a pop-up hamper as a "park basket." Everything that can or may go to the parks with us goes in there....umbrellas, bags, etc.

I use the over the door shoe organizer but was surprised to find that there was no where in the Poly bathroom for it to hang (no robe hook on the door.) I ended up hanging it in the closet and using it for sunscreen, flip flops, etc.

I always ask Mousekeeping for extra hangers (I say exactly how many I want.)

 

[java]

I
I use the over the door shoe organizer but was surprised to find that there was no where in the Poly bathroom for it to hang (no robe hook on the door.) I ended up hanging it in the closet and using it for sunscreen, flip flops, etc.

We actually used the over the door hanger at the Poly-Over the door We faced it into the bathroom and it worked just fine. That is one big bathroom.

 

[diskids2]

We are a family of four (4) and we do these things that help us organize:

1. We unpack....as many have said....this is the biggest organizational tool.

2. We bring the plastic shoe rack. We each get one row and usually there are two rows left. We put our shoes in it so that they are not all over the floor.

3. I take four plastic small buckets, like from the $1 store, and each person puts their toiletries in it. We use family toothpaste, listerine.

4. We go for ten days, but pack for five. We ALWAYS have time to do laundry in the middle of our trip.

5. Each person gets one drawer and the clothes go in as well as any unique items, in plastic zip locks or other related cases such as make up or hair brushes.

6. The small table is always CLEAR. When we get back we put away any packages that have been delivered. We use that area to unload and re-load.

7. Every night each person SETS up their own backpack with what they need to take to the park and the backpack is placed on the clear table.

8. In the safe inside the room, we put money, which has been divided into envelopes. However we decide to budget for that trip. Examples include: Mousekeeping by day, souvenier money with names, food money by day (if we are not using the cc for that particular item). Also, in the safe...return trip documents, like airline tickets.

9. We bring a laundry bag...we find it is easier then the popup as it is "smooshable" (is that a word, LOL!). It fits on the floor of the closet. All dirty clothes go in it NO MATTER WHAT.

10. I find that being diligent with the kids and my DH (cough, cough) and keeping them organized is the key. My biggest problem is that everyone is tired when we come back from the parks. But I really enforce the unpack of backpacks and the repacking at night. I even help when they look like they are ready to scream. Keep in mind my kids are 13 and 17.


Some things I did when my children were smaller:

1. I did the one outfit per day in a zip loc bag. I had them help me pack it when we were home. In each bag, I also put a cute note from me....like I love you hugs and kisses. This helped them get 'unsleepy" in the morning.

2. Even when they were really small....like 4-5....they had their own backpack with their own stuff...autograph book, etc.

3. I used to make clean up games....to unpack the back pack or shower, bathe, or even brush teeth....to make them stay organized. Usually during the day at the park....they wanted something...even if it was small...and of course, I can't get them everything, so I would say no and then buy it and slip it in the next day's ziploc or use it as a reward in the game....not every day and not over the top I'm talking a $1 type thing.

I hope this helps.

 

[pooh2001]

we ditto dis2kids

The small containers (each has their own from the $1 store) for hair brushes, everyone own toothpaste (go figure - we do cinnamon, strawberry, Crest & Colgate - hey to each their own) - any makeup, deodorants, etc.
We ditch most toletries and the containers before we go home - more room in the suitcase.

Everyone has their own fanny pack to keep their cell phone, camera, ipod, keys, lipbalm, whatever.

I bring many plastic hangers, which were saved during the past year, to hang as much clothes as possible. I keep a section of the closet for each person, so the clothes do not mingle with anothers (or my DH does not wear my older teen DS clothes - they are very close in size)


We also bring 4 large plastic cups which fit into the cardboard drink holders from fast food places (McDonald's, Burger King). We place the 4 plastic cups into the cardboard drink holder. We use the cups to store each of our tooth brushes. The drink holder with the toothbrushes is placed on the top shelf of the closet - away from any counter top which may be cleaned.

Suitcases - we store on in the closet as a laundry basket. Do the laundry and repack the clothes for the trip home. Other suitcases are stored on the side of the bed, behind a chair, on the side of the wall near the window or door. Anywhere we can place them away from being bumped. We have 4 large suitcases.

Personal items - books, ipods, magazines - are placed in Nike nylon backpacks. I guess because our kids are older, their items are smaller - but just cost more

Best idea - plan, plan,plan.... do not over pack. You can always do some laundry, buy an item you really need (I once forgot my DH shaving items), or call the front desk and say 'help where can I buy/find .......).