Suggestions to buy to keep all important documents in?

[Jillpie]

I love to be organized and this is our biggest trip ever in April. It is 12 days. Going from DW, to the cruise, back to DW. I have DVC reservation papers, flight papers, phone numbers and we'll have the cruise docs. I have looked at a travel store at the mall that carries luggage, but really didn't see anything that would fit the bill. Somebody on this board mentioned something they saw at Michael's store awhile back? Anybody have any suggestions that we could easily carry on the plane with us?

 

[Sarangel]

Try
Levenger. They carry a lot of high-end document cases that will have pockets for everything you could possibly want to take with you & keep organized. I've found that their stuff will give me ideas for things that might work from a discount office supply place. Any way, good luck.

PS. The Road Scholar case is on sale

 

[eander5696]

Hi There! I went to a local travel store here in my city and got a "Passport carrier" that is much like the one that is listed above. It will fit my passport, my neices passport, and travel documents. I am JUST like you, and want to have it all in one location, and easily accessible. Ive also heard that Walgreens carries something like this as well, for not quite as expensive as the one on Levenger.

On a separate note, what does everyone recommend for excursions? A canvas tote? A backpack? A fanny pack? An oversized purse? A beach bag? As you can tell, I have all these bags on my floor, Im trying to decide which one is the best option! Thanks!

 

[Jillpie]

Sarangel, thanks, but that link is not working for me.

 

[Jillpie]

Eander, thank you. Is that passport holder big enough to hold regular size paperwork in? Or does it just fit a passport? I don't know, it sounds kind of small for what I might be looking for, but I can't quite picture it.

 

[eander5696]

You know what, I can't imagine it in my head right now, but Im going home for lunch and will report back then!

 

[disneybride96]

Last trip I used a half size, plastic expandable file folder from Walmart. Worked pretty well, but just a little big.
I just ordered this Ticket Organizer from LL Bean:

 

[disneybride96]

Originally posted by eander5696

On a separate note, what does everyone recommend for excursions? A canvas tote? A backpack? A fanny pack? An oversized purse? A beach bag? As you can tell, I have all these bags on my floor, Im trying to decide which one is the best option! Thanks!

Guess it would depend what you are doing. I would say less is better. I am struggling over taking my good digital camera. I could take my older one, but I really want to take some good pictures on the islands. I tell myself that that camera is to expensive to take, but then I wonder why I have it if I don't use it! I guess this all relates to having to tote a larger bag!

But back on topic....If you want something larger than a fanny pack, I opt for a backpack. DH would carry that, but probably not my oversized purse.

We are on the same cruise! What excursions are you doing? I private messaged you!

 

[TiggerKing]

Another thing you might want to consider, that is economical and will hold full size pages, are the expanding poly file folders (see link below for the ones Staples carries). You can get them with pockets and a closing flap. I used to travel extensively for work and used them for everything from hotel confirmations to maps and plane tickets.

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Brow...es&bcDeptId=1458&bcDeptName=Expandable+Filing

 

[Zandy595]

I just got this 7 Pocket Expanding Letter Size File Folder FREE (after rebate) from Walgreens. I used it to hold all my important documents when I evacuated my house during Frances. I think it will work great for our upcoming cruise.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

The passport holders won't hold the cruise docs, but they are great for plane tickets and passports.

If you want a GREAT bag, i just bought a backpack-sling from Old Navy for my husband for the cruise -- he's in love with it, and it was only $12:

Man Sling

Very manly and a nice size, and comfortable.

 

[TiggerKing]

Zandy, that is exactly the type of thing I was talking about!

 

[mmouse37]

FYI....the pic that Zandy posted is very similar to what I bring when we cruise....and....as an added benefit is that it fits most of the photos we have purchased at Shutters onboard and keeps them safe for the return home!!!

MJ

 

[Jillpie]

Thank you everyone! The expandable file folder looks like just the thing I was looking for, I think I'll have to take a look at Staples over the weekend. How do you bring it on the plane with you, in a duffle or do you carry it on seperately?

 

[KathyTX]

Another vote for the transparent vinyl expanding files here!

You can pick them up at any office supply, drug store, Target, Walmart, etc.... I like to use a large one , plus a smaller letter-size one that I put the airline tickets, passports in. The small one fits easily into the big one, and keeps those small but very important papers together.

I keep all reservation confirmations, phone number lists, schedules, tickets, etc in the folder, and use it to hold and protect photos and other keepsakes on the way home.

Because I keep all of my travel documents and notes in the file, I keep it handy in my carry on. I usually have a small duffel or tote, and I just stick it in there.

I also make sure the folder is clearly labeled with my name, destination and cell phone number, just in case...

 

[tvguy]

A travel store should have something.
Our travel agent always gives us a plastic document holder with their name on it that snaps shut with our documents, so we never have to buy anything, and have a collection of them from past cruises.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

Originally posted by KathyTX
Another vote for the transparent vinyl expanding files here!

You can pick them up at any office supply, drug store, Target, Walmart, etc.... I like to use a large one , plus a smaller letter-size one that I put the airline tickets, passports in. The small one fits easily into the big one, and keeps those small but very important papers together.

I keep all reservation confirmations, phone number lists, schedules, tickets, etc in the folder, and use it to hold and protect photos and other keepsakes on the way home.

Because I keep all of my travel documents and notes in the file, I keep it handy in my carry on. I usually have a small duffel or tote, and I just stick it in there.

I also make sure the folder is clearly labeled with my name, destination and cell phone number, just in case...

I picked up one of these from walmart for like $1.97. It works great.

It has all of our pre-trip papers (hotel and car rental confirms, maps, my DD8's travel journal, music cd's DH created with Disney music, different colored highlighters, magnetic door signs)

It will also hold our birth certificates and cruise documents when the time comes.

And there is even space for our paper souveniers.

You can get them in a variety of sizes, some even have 10 seperate slots.

Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[East Coaster]

I am also using the plastic expandable file folder. I purchased ours right after we booked our trip so I would have some place to put all of our receipts, itineraries, passports, etc. So far it's working out great!

As you cans see we have awhile to wait for our trip, can't wait to put the real tickets and cruise documents in the folder and leave town!!

 

[Masonpips]

Originally posted by Jillpie
Thank you everyone! The expandable file folder looks like just the thing I was looking for, I think I'll have to take a look at Staples over the weekend. How do you bring it on the plane with you, in a duffle or do you carry it on seperately?

Another vote for the plastic folder system and I slide it my carryon tote-bag.

We always have the kids with their wheeled-backpacks, dh has an over-the-shoulder backpack and I carry my tote. I hate carrying on a lot of luggage and basically make sure the kids have a change of clothes in theirs, we have shorts/t's in dh's backpack and the essentials (camera, video camera, any medicines and contact stuff). My tote only has a small puse, my folder and any books I plan on reading on the plane.

 

[ciadriamom]

For our trip I purchased a 1/2" binder and page protector inserts. It holds all of the documents and I can put them back to back making for easy reading and/or reference. I purchased the small three ring pencil holders that snap into binders for our DCL docs, since they are bulky and business card pages work well for id's, business cards, etc.

If you are as completely anal as I am, I even bought dividers and seperated the docs e.g. flight, hotels, car, cruise, lists, etc.

I plan on fitting this into a modest sized tote that I saw in WalMart today with the cutest picture of TinkerBell on it. Perfect for traveling. Will allow me to fit the binder, camera, etc. without adding too much weight to my shoulder and leaving my hands free to deal with the kids and luggage.