Mimar

I have a one-page itinerary with stops, hotel addresses and contact numbers, and possible sights (with their open days/hours.) I make multiple copies, one for each suitcase in case they're lost, one for my plastic pocket of paper confirmations, and one uploaded to my Kindle (directly in Word format, no need to save in PDF.) I also leave a copy of this itinerary at home and email one to my son. I switched from a manila envelope to a plastic sleeve when the manila envelope wore out during one busy trip.

On the back of my hotel confirmation, I print a map and/or directions to the hotel.

My Kindle also has guidebooks, foreign language dictionaries and dictionaries of gastronomic terms. In addition to my books to read on the trip. (I used to pack about 8 paperbacks to read. My bag was always searched. I think those rectangle-oid shapes looked suspicious in the x-ray.)

We carry copies of our passports but also store them in the cloud, along with other valuable information, like credit card numbers and emergency phone numbers, the latter in coded format.

I consult quidebooks quite a lot in planning but if I bring any other than on the Kindle, it's a Michelin Green Guide. Once somebody in Paris stole my book of gastronomic terms out of my backpack.

Our next trip (to Spain) will be our first with a smartphone. We're already using it instead of a portable GPS. (Downloaded offline maps.) And instead of a camera; it takes better photos. I'm interested how else the smartphone will aid our travel.

griz_fan

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned Evernote yet. Far and away the best 'electronic' option. I create a notebook for my trip. Since Evernote has browser plugins and a mobile app, not to mention an email address, I have tons of ways to gather information on the trip, including directly typing it in. I create note entries for all my critical information, I scanned in passports, etc.. and saved those to my trip notebook. When ever I get a confirmation email (air, hotel, etc...) I forward it to my Evernote address, the list goes on.
For the month of my trip, I paid $5/month for the premium version, which allows me to store all my notebook content on my iPhone for offline use, which is really handy.
I just got back from a 19 day trip to Europe for my family of 6, and we managed 99% of things using Evernote and my iPhone. Having a smart phone with a SIM card for local providers was so incredibly useful, and having all my notes, receipts, confirmations, etc.. in my hand (easy to to search, too) was a big help, especially when waiting in line, etc...

NewbE

Well, I didn't know about Evernote--thanks, griz_fan! I like the option of paying $5 for just one month at a time, as opposed to an annual fee. I will now go look into Evernote...

dwdvagamundo

Like most above, I printout airline info, car, hotel, etc. reservations and throw them away as I go. They're also in my E-mail accounts which I can access through my iPhone (I buy a block of data roaming so I don't have to worry about going over, and switch to wi-fi in the room at nite, but that's a back-up and paper is my go-to "technology". I bring paper maps, but also will use Google maps from time to time--particularly if I get lost, as I don't generally use a GPS.

We usually bring a guidebook with a good map in back. Usually only one of the many we consulted prior to the trip. Sometimes we'll write down or print off a list of the things we want to do in a given area but generally store that kind of info in my brain. Phone numbers are in my phone.

kawh

paper in a big ziplock baggie and toss as we go.

also, hubbie does a calendar of our trip on his email webpage through comcast. anyone can do this.

the calendar has the hotel or activity name, which is a link to that website. family and friends can see just where we are each day.

finally, i have backup copies of all reservations in a specific travel file in my email. if all the papers are lost, we still can get to them that way.

NewbE

Gosh, Evernote looks terrific, thanks again, griz! My BIL gave it a ringing endorsement as well, he uses it to help run his company. I think it will be useful for me for travel, of course, but also for home projects, medical info, pet info... looking forward to digging into it.

mr_go

I married someone who's really organized.

Hey, it works for me. {shrug}

Cowboy1968

This won't be very helpful but I try to use any trip to the South as an excuse to take a break from being an über-organized Northern European.
All you need is a handful of euros, a car with at leat 3 out of 5 gears working the way they should, and Adriano Celentano's Azzuro at full volume while you go down Strada del Sole..
Buon viaggio!

sandralist

>>>Once somebody in Paris stole my book of gastronomic terms out of my backpack.


Interesting!

suze

I still use paper. I don't travel with a cell phone or use apps. I organize by city using clear 'sheet protectors' sleeves (like you'd put in a 3 ring binder).

I keep anything I want to keep in it, add business cards, postcards, etc. as I go along, then when I'm home that becomes my trip journal for reference later on (for posting here).

Ian

Paper. I fill a binder with sheet protectors & stuff it. Local maps. My restaurant list. Tickets. Confirmations. A one page history of a site etc. As we go along I subtract my stuff & add brochures, postcards & other gathered lit. By nature, I am not an organized person but I am for travel. That's why our trips work. My wife just comes along for the ride.

I only use my iPad for general surfing & email while I'm out.

Ian

MonicaRichards

I have a folder for every vacation. I print a calendar and staple it to the front inside (just Outlook calendar that is also on my phone with all addresses and phone numbers for all hotels on the day we need it). Then I put all receipts from online reservations in order that I will need them. If there was a particular restaurant I wanted to try it would go in the calendar (I would move the appointment if I needed to, it would be just for reference) or I would have a printout from their webpage or whatever.

NewbE

<I only use my iPad for general surfing & email while I'm out.>
I understand not relying exclusively on a device, but for pity's sake, if you have it with you anyway, why not make use of some of the organizing tools that are out there??

I started reading this thread feeling agnostic on the subject of paper, but now I feel that clinging to old methods is...old. Sorry, I know that sounds rude. Maybe it is rude. And of course to each his own. But if the question is what is best to do, surely a three ring binder, a series of folders, a ziploc bag of notes--these aren't the best we can do in 2014. Especially when so many of us have devices that could launch the space shuttle, could we but figure out how.

cobbie2

I use Worldmate and also have printed copies of flight and hotel info. I can e-mail the Worldmate info to my family. Maybe it's like TripIt??

kawh

more than a few times this summer (month-long trip)we ran out of juice or didn't have wifi on our ipads and were glad to have the paper until we could get settled and charged.

it is old, i confess. give a month on the cheap without paper a try. see how it goes, and would love to see a trip report on it. maybe i could be convinced.

bilboburgler

My trouble with being an early adaptor of electronic goods for planning is that over the years I've found, batteries run out when you least want them, electronic goods weigh too much, take up so much space in pockets, wifi is so variable, electronic goods are easily damaged and easily stolen.

On the other hand I have spent most of a very wet holiday developing a 200 page website