Do you keep a travel drawer?
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
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Do you keep a travel drawer?
I do. It's not where I keep souvenirs of prior trips, but where I keep things that I generally need when I travel abroad and wouldn't otherwise use.
Mine contains...
1. my children's passports (mine is in my purse, where it always is, and my husband's is, well, someplace---he's hoping he can lay his hands on it next time around)
2. Two European plug adapters
3. Foreign currency (sorted)
4. European currency flat iron for hair
5. Small hair dryer (U.S. and European)
6. Noise-cancelling head phones.
7. Small umbrellas
What's in yours?
Mine contains...
1. my children's passports (mine is in my purse, where it always is, and my husband's is, well, someplace---he's hoping he can lay his hands on it next time around)
2. Two European plug adapters
3. Foreign currency (sorted)
4. European currency flat iron for hair
5. Small hair dryer (U.S. and European)
6. Noise-cancelling head phones.
7. Small umbrellas
What's in yours?
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,605
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My spare bedroom is kind of a 'travel room' - I call it "the staging area". I have two large 'rubbermaid' bins. One is for supplies (various baggies with sample size items, cold-weather undies, etc) and one is for the articles we always take (my travel purse, leg stashes, wine kit, adaptor plugs, etc).
The bed is usually a mess, where I've dumped out our suitcases, pockets, handbag, backpacks, etc and often stays in that condition by the time I'm packing for something else.
I'm not going to list everything found in there, as it would be embarrassing!
The bed is usually a mess, where I've dumped out our suitcases, pockets, handbag, backpacks, etc and often stays in that condition by the time I'm packing for something else.
I'm not going to list everything found in there, as it would be embarrassing!
#4

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 35,162
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no, I wish I could keep everything for travel in one drawer, but it would be impossible--not enough space. Especially when adding appliances (which I don't do).
Some of the things you have in yours are things I use all the time, so I wouldn't put them in a special drawer -- like small umbrellas. I do have a hair dryer, but it's dual voltage so I wouldn't put it away.
I have sort of a travel "box" in a spare room, with small sizes of toiletries, plug adaptors, things like that. I never would keep my passport and money in that -- I keep my passport in a metal fireproof box with important papers, and I keep foreign currency in a special box in my desk. I have about five different currencies in there now: euro, koruna, GBP, Canadian, and zloties, and a few Swiss francs. I keep electronic stuff like portable headphones, CD players, etc., in a box for stereo equipment and electronics.
Some of the things you have in yours are things I use all the time, so I wouldn't put them in a special drawer -- like small umbrellas. I do have a hair dryer, but it's dual voltage so I wouldn't put it away.
I have sort of a travel "box" in a spare room, with small sizes of toiletries, plug adaptors, things like that. I never would keep my passport and money in that -- I keep my passport in a metal fireproof box with important papers, and I keep foreign currency in a special box in my desk. I have about five different currencies in there now: euro, koruna, GBP, Canadian, and zloties, and a few Swiss francs. I keep electronic stuff like portable headphones, CD players, etc., in a box for stereo equipment and electronics.
#6
Joined: Jan 2004
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travel cabinet includes -
plug adapters
extra luggage tags
extra luggage locks
Extra ribbon to ID luggage
the little disposalbe rain ponchos
travel size stuff (shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, etc)
extra passport size photos
Since we live in a 220 environment - hair dryer, curling iron, etc are in my bathroom
Our passports and yellow vaccination cards are in my husband's "drawer" in the dining room buffet - as are FF mileage cards, extra insurance cards, etc
We have SOOOO much misc currency around - most of it is just sitting in various drawers. If anyone needs money from Russia, UAE, India, UK, Egypt, South Africa, Czech Republic, New Zealand, China or Republic of Georgia.....just let me know!!!!!
plug adapters
extra luggage tags
extra luggage locks
Extra ribbon to ID luggage
the little disposalbe rain ponchos
travel size stuff (shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, etc)
extra passport size photos
Since we live in a 220 environment - hair dryer, curling iron, etc are in my bathroom
Our passports and yellow vaccination cards are in my husband's "drawer" in the dining room buffet - as are FF mileage cards, extra insurance cards, etc
We have SOOOO much misc currency around - most of it is just sitting in various drawers. If anyone needs money from Russia, UAE, India, UK, Egypt, South Africa, Czech Republic, New Zealand, China or Republic of Georgia.....just let me know!!!!!
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#8
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,337
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Yes - we have a drawer for much of the same already mentioned. Currency (with our strong Canadian dollar we just purchased a whole schwackload of euros and pounds yesterday to add to our collection); luggage tags; passport; photocopies of driver's license, medical insurance, etc.; extra pair of glasses; money belt.
#9
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
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A drawer in my bedroom. It contains passports, vaccination books,DEET, Avon Skin-so-soft dry oil spray, first aid kit, multi voltage battery and phone chargers, with car adapters, purses of different currencies, a couple of microfibre towels, a travel alarm, a torch, plug adapters, and a few other odds and ends.
#10
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
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I didn't say my drawer was particularly tidy, suze, just that I've got one! Mine's the top drawer of my lingerie chest, and it shares space with scarves and nice jewelry.
Grcxx3's piles of money all over the place is what led me to consolidate my funds (so that I'll have them next time I go and won't have to hunt for them) in the first place, and putting passports in with them seemed a reasonable thing to do. Casual inspection of my desk drawer here at work reveals a Deutsche mark coin and a 50 lire coin. Oh, and a loony---what a nice surprise1
The small umbrellas are because small umbrellas in my house seem to grow legs and walk away. Or into the backpacks of my children. So I keep a couple in my travel drawer so that I don't have to go searching for them.
My toiletries travel stuff stays in the bathroom cabinet. I use it for domestric travel as well, of course.
Grcxx3's piles of money all over the place is what led me to consolidate my funds (so that I'll have them next time I go and won't have to hunt for them) in the first place, and putting passports in with them seemed a reasonable thing to do. Casual inspection of my desk drawer here at work reveals a Deutsche mark coin and a 50 lire coin. Oh, and a loony---what a nice surprise1
The small umbrellas are because small umbrellas in my house seem to grow legs and walk away. Or into the backpacks of my children. So I keep a couple in my travel drawer so that I don't have to go searching for them.
My toiletries travel stuff stays in the bathroom cabinet. I use it for domestric travel as well, of course.
#11
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,521
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DEET. Heh heh.
I live in Atlanta, so DEET isn't something I take on trips, but something that I carry around with me in my purse. Along with a really good product for applying to mosquito bites after the fact, After Bite.
I live in Atlanta, so DEET isn't something I take on trips, but something that I carry around with me in my purse. Along with a really good product for applying to mosquito bites after the fact, After Bite.
#13
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,069
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I have a plastic tub - the kind you get to store your Xmas decorations in. I keep the money belts, travel wallets, dual-voltage hair dryer, travel iron, etc.
It's bulging and there are things stacked on top that won't fit inside
It's bulging and there are things stacked on top that won't fit inside
#16
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,700
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I keep the stuff (electric things, small umbrella, etc.) for trips to Europe in one suitcase that I use for those trips. It is a larger case and better constructed than those I use for domestic travel. The maps, guidebooks, internet print-outs and all that, I keep in a bookshelf in the living room, close at hand, because it seems like most evenings I need to look up something and then the evening ends up passing with me reading guidebooks.
#17
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 237
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Therese, I hadn't thought of it in such organized terms, but I have learned to keep my travel things together in a box in the spare room. I think I'm now going to get a plastic bin, though, a la Travelnut and name it my travel drawer to give it bit more dignity!
I throw things in as I think of them so I won't forget them when it's time to pack. Like you, I have my plug adapters; a travel iron, (call me anal); copies of passport, credit cards (with the number to call in case one is stolen); eyeshades in case the hotel rooms aren't dark enough; a very small flashlight (in case the rooms are TOO dark -- or the power goes out); a rubber doorstop because I often travel alone and it makes me feel a bit more secure!
I also keep an eye out for travel-sized toiletries, which I'll toss in; a few purse-sized bottles of hand sanitizer; extra set of contact lenses; my travel purse; a few clothespins (handy for handwashing or closing things up)
I think I should throw my spare eyeglasses in there now, so I don't forget them for my next trip.
I throw things in as I think of them so I won't forget them when it's time to pack. Like you, I have my plug adapters; a travel iron, (call me anal); copies of passport, credit cards (with the number to call in case one is stolen); eyeshades in case the hotel rooms aren't dark enough; a very small flashlight (in case the rooms are TOO dark -- or the power goes out); a rubber doorstop because I often travel alone and it makes me feel a bit more secure!
I also keep an eye out for travel-sized toiletries, which I'll toss in; a few purse-sized bottles of hand sanitizer; extra set of contact lenses; my travel purse; a few clothespins (handy for handwashing or closing things up)
I think I should throw my spare eyeglasses in there now, so I don't forget them for my next trip.
#18
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,408
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I've got a big plastic tub filled with stuff. I really need to go through it and weed some stuff out.
Plus, I have 2.5 36" wide bookshelves filled with guidebooks and travel related books!
I also keep my toiletries bag stocked so that's always ready to go.
Plus, I have 2.5 36" wide bookshelves filled with guidebooks and travel related books!
I also keep my toiletries bag stocked so that's always ready to go.
#19
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
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I have a travel "basement" - the lower shelf of the bookcase, a travel drawer and a travel file on my computer.
When I am getting ready, I print out a detailed list of things to pack off my travel file, and mark them off as I toss things in a bag.
My travel list has parts: clothing, medications, documents, cosmetics, things to do before leaving.
When I am getting ready, I print out a detailed list of things to pack off my travel file, and mark them off as I toss things in a bag.
My travel list has parts: clothing, medications, documents, cosmetics, things to do before leaving.

