Traveling is one of my passions.

I love meeting new people, seeing how they live and talking to people from all over the world.

Coordinating all the details and organizing all the clothes can quickly become overwhelming, here’s how I organize my trip:

1. Start making lists well in advance. These can include lists of things to pack, things to do, things to see, foods to try, etc.

2. Always carry extra plastic bags for dirty clothes, shoes, etc.

3. You don’t have to plan activities for each and every day, but at least if you have a rainy day, you can look through your list and choose an indoor activity.

4. Expect to buy things while you’re on vacation, so plan for this and take less with you. Plan to take 10kg less than your baggage allowance so you have enough room for all your purchases.

5. Decide on a color palette and stick with it. I usually wear fall colors like brown, yellow, orange and green. Each pair of pants will match each of the tops.

6. Count the number of days you will be away and plan just enough clothes, remembering that you always need more tops than bottoms. Even so, you won’t wear all your clothes. Take note of all the clothes you didn’t wear so you don’t pack too much next time.

7. Pack travel-size toiletries or if you have some old hotel toiletries, use them. I keep my toiletry bag permanently packed and replace it immediately when I return from a trip. This saves a lot of time because all I have to do is pack clothes.

8. Always carry a backpack. There’s a reason these are so popular with tourists: your hands are free to eat, navigate, carry your water, etc.

9. If you read the Bible, the next time you leave, don’t take the entire Bible with you. Just go to an online site and print a chapter for each day you’ll be away. You can try a different version of the Bible than you normally use to add variety. The added convenience is that you don’t have to bring these pages with you.

10. Whether you’re flying or driving, grab any magazines or e-books that have been piling up around your house. You can catch up on your reading and again leave the magazine or e-book in the airport lounge. I love doing this and it’s the best way to catch up on reading magazines.

11. Take a notebook to journal or take some notes about the places you visit. It will help you remember your vacation more clearly, especially once you’re back home.

And now that you’re organized, have a great time and enjoy your vacation.