I like to think that I am quite an organised traveller. I make lists, I pack long before I am travelling and I organise my ‘important folder’ to take with me.
Truth be told, despite all this. I can still be a panicky traveller and do a lot of last minute checks (and double checks) before I go out the door (mental check of passport, money, phone, flight tickets).
What is an important folder, and why should you organise one for your travels?
An important folder was a name coined my lovely mum a long time ago. Possibly when I first started to travel on my own (to Philadelphia, USA) or when I moved out of home to study. Either way, the important folder is basically a folder full of all your important documents you need on your travels (pretty self-explanatory really)
When I told a colleague at work about this recently, she pulled a face; but I personally think it is essential. Everything you need is together in one place, so when you need to pull out a piece of paper at the airport or hostel, you are not flustered looking for a folded piece of paper. It is all in one neat folder. It is also quite thin, and easy to pack, and weighs virtually nothing.
I realise some people may feel that this could be a security risk. What if the whole folder gets stolen?
I also keep electronic copies (scanned usually, or most confirmations these days are via email) on my computer (I email them to myself).
I keep a separate photocopy of my passport in another location when travelling, as well as leaving copies of everything in my important folder with someone. For my next trip I am leaving my copies with my flatmate.
What do I keep in my ‘important folder’?
- Flight confirmations
- A photocopy of my passport
- Travel insurance certificate
- A paper copy of any Visas I may need
- Confirmations of other things including hostels, car hire, train/theatre tickets
- Maps/walking directions to places
Good thing to have along when traveling and helps us stay organized. Thanks for the idea.
[…] little while ago, I wrote about the need for an important folder, which is basically the name I have given to the way I carry around all the documents I need when I […]
[…] said pointing at the card. I re read it, thinking “what does he want”. I then took out my important folder, which contained a money bag with $100 in US notes, so I flashed this at him. He said “ok […]