7 simple travel routines that ensure you have everything with you the next time you leave your hotel

Have you ever leaned back comfortably in your seat whether on a plane, bus, train, or any other mode of transport and thought, “Yes, we did it. Everything went according to plan. We made it, and now I can finally relax” only to suddenly realize with a jolt that you’ve forgotten something important back in your hotel room?

I’ve lost several things during my travels. Some more important than others… But actually, as of September 7, 2018, it’s been many years since I have lost anything important on our travels. Our travel routines have made sure of that… I’d like to share them with you. But why bother making travel routines about it?

Some things don’t matter that much if they get left behind. Sometimes I’ve forgotten something, shrugged my shoulders, and thought, “Well, maybe the cleaning lady got a little extra to take home that day.” But There are also things that are pretty important never to forget. Yes, things that can have major consequences for your trip if you forget them.

The nightmare scenario that often comes back to me was when we were at an airport a few years ago and witnessed a woman missing her flight because she had left her purse in the restaurant. I’ll never forget the panic in her eyes as she frantically searched and asked if we had seen her purse. But the worst part was when she realized she had missed her flight it sent a chill down my spine. It wasn’t funny. And let’s be honest, it could happen to any of us.

So let’s face it. The risk of forgetting important things is always present when we leave a place where we’ve been staying, where we only have a short time to pack, check out, and catch a plane, train, bus, etc. And the risk isn’t any smaller if, like us, you’re traveling as a family and your children scatter their toys everywhere and think it’s fun to mix them with the interior of your accommodation.

And since we as parents are responsible for making sure that everything ends up in the backpack and isn’t left behind, it’s also up to us to manage the process and make traveling a good experience for everyone. That’s why we’ve made it a habit to follow seven simple travel routines that ensure we take all our belongings with us when we leave our accommodations.

We are very grateful for this today, as we can now look back on nine years of traveling without having forgotten anything important. 7. 9. 13. I think our son is happy about that too. And a happy boy means happy parents.

Do you and your family also tend to forget things at your accommodations when you travel?

Then read on, maybe our travel routines here can put a stop to that on your next trips. There is nothing complicated about our routines, but they work for us, maybe they will work for you too?

7 simple travel routines that ensure you have all your things with you the next time you leave the hotel

The travel routines are simple and easy the trick is to remember them and get everyone in the family to participate. Not just once. Not every time.

We have listed them in the order that works best for us, but perhaps there are other routines and orders that suit you and your family better?

1. Get yourself ready first. Everyone does what they need to do to get ready for the trip. This could be brushing your teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc.
2. Everyone packs their own things + any shared items. The advantage of packing your own things is that everyone takes responsibility for making sure their own things are packed.
3. Tidy up.
4. As suitcases and bags are packed, place them by the door/exit. Do the same with the outerwear you will be wearing.
5. Then, as you get ready, everyone checks the rooms to make sure everything has been packed. Remember to also check:
   1. drawers
   2. cupboards
   3. above cupboards
   4. under beds, cupboards, etc.
   5. behind curtains
   6. in beds, under duvets and pillows, on the balcony, and other clever hiding places
6. Once everyone has checked a room and it is ‘clear’, the door is closed and not opened again.
7. Before leaving the hotel room, check that you have remembered:
   1. mobile phone
   2. passport
   3. tickets
   4. wallet/credit cards/money
   5. keys

These simple travel routines can easily be transferred to other places where you settle down on your trip, e.g. at the airport, in restaurants, on ferries, etc. Of course, moderated according to the situation.

We have done this so many times now that it has become routine. It suits us well and makes us feel safe leaving our hotel rooms to explore the world. Not least because we can enjoy the trip we are about to embark on without a cold shiver running down our spine because we discover we have forgotten something and cannot go back.

I hope you can use our routines as inspiration to create your own routines that ensure you have everything you need and can enjoy your trip.

Our routines are always up for an upgrade, and we’d love to hear from you!

What are your travel routines like do you have any tips you’d like to share with us?

Otherwise, have a great trip out there!