Keeping a motel room organized?
 

I am going on a trip to Washington DC with my daughters class soon. We will have 4 15 year old girls plus myself in 1 room with 1 bathroom. Any ideas on how to keep the room/bathroom organized? We will be there for 5 nights/6 days.

Is that even legal ??

Sending my condolences.
I'm am going to suggest that each girl bring a large canvas bag (can be folded into luggage) and at the hotel put in all beauty paraphernalia, toothbrushes,jammies, etc. Set up a schedule for shower and hair washing time (some may be night washers some morning washers). Set a reasonable time limit. Hair can be dried in main room. Before leaving the room in the morning all belongings are in suitcases with canvas bag sitting on top. Put as much stuff in the closet as you can fit.
Good luck!

Each girl uses a gallon sized ziplock freezer bag with her name in marker on the outside. That holds all the bathroom gear.

Like going thru TSA with your liquids in a ziplock, set this limit and make everyone stick to it :-)

SAnParis2, I've done it. Some hotels are fine with five people in a four-person room and will provide a cot for the fifth.

I'd suggest not leaving toiletries in the shower and minimal ones in the bathroom; everyone gets their own corner for their suitcase. Honestly, though, it'll work out how it works out. I might focus my energies more on accepting minor chaos for a few days. :)

Because it is a class trip, I'm guessing the motel knows how there will be 5 sleeping in the room. So I'll answer the question...

Buy a shoe holder/over the door shower organizer with clear pockets on it. They sell these with a hanger at the top so you can hook it over the door. Each guest gets a couple of pockets for their toiletries. This will clear the clutter off the counter.

You might want to get another one as a place for everyone to put the stuff that ends up on table tops (iPods, cell phones, change, etc.). I'd actually label the pockets so everyone knows exactly which one is theirs, but I'm OCD...LOL!

If they are typical teenage girls and love to have bathroom time, decide as a group how long each person has to use the bathroom. I'm talking about for a shower, getting ready in the morning, obviously not for the other use. It sounds draconian but if everyone takes 30 mins each morning someone is getting up with the rooster - not likely to happen with teenagers. Bring a timer and set it then there are no arguments about how long they've actually been in the washroom.

Have a few in your group bring a blowdryer so not everyone is trying to use the ONE in the bathroom (that may not detach from the wall and is often quite weak).

That's a start anyway...enjoy-la!

I hope the motel room setup is the kind where you have the:
bathtub and toilet inside the room, and
sink/vanity on the outside of the room

That way, all of you can utilize the facilities much more efficiently. If one person is taking a shower, at least another person (or 2) can use the sink/vanity area.

If the motel room is not set up that way, ie, everything INSIDE the bathroom, it may be wise to ask 2 of the girls to take their showers at night while the rest take showers in the morning...

We went on a cruise once and had a tiny, tiny cabin. The only way we survived was to completely unpack and and use the drawers and closets. Here are my suggestions:

1. Go to the dollar store and pick up lots of hangers. Then you can actually use the closet and and let the girls hang their clothes.

2. Make every girl bring a hanging shower caddy. Something like this:
http://tinyurl.com/btez7j

3. Maybe bring a hanging shelf unit and give every girl a shelf or two. Like this:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10569435
or
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4888331

Or maybe even a shoe rack for the door. You could put more than just shoes in it:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=8195155

I would put the empty suitcases back in the car (if you have one) or put somewhere up high.

The dollar store might have some of the organizers too.

Basically make a place for everything and everything in its place. Otherwise there will be half empty suitcases all over the room!

The replies you've gotten thus far are great. I'd only add maybe bring an extension cord or two. Sometimes the outlets are in awkward places. If you're blow-drying or styling your hair outside of the bathroom, you still want to be in front of a mirror, which may not be near an outlet.

Do you know about plastic shoe holders that you can hang on the door? Bring one along, label the pockets, so each girl can keep the toiletries there.

Something like this, they may be sold in pharmacies, maybe hardware stores, Targets, Walmarts

http://www.google.com/products?q=ove...rganizer&hl=en

All great suggestions - Just know it will not be tidy and to remeber not to get stressed from it!!! :)

I have 2 girls so I know how it is in the motel!!!

Better you than me. When we traveled with my teen/tween stepdaughters they always had their own room - just to avoid this kind of problem. I never saw what their room looked like - and really didn't care.

Back in the day when I lived in a house with one bathroom with two teenage girls and two toddlers in diapers, we had a rule: If you're in the bathroom, you had better be using the plumbing. Mirror-based primping, hair drying, etc., can be done elsewhere.

LOL. When I saw your subject line, my immediate response was "Don't bring any teenage girls!" But that's the whole point of this trip!

Great suggestions from everyone. The short version is: (1) time limits in the bathroom (2) a bag where everything goes before you leave the room (3) a bag for toiletries and nothing left on the counter. I would add (4) draw straws for who showers at night so it is fair to everyone.

The one thing I would be concerned about in the recommendations is multiple hair dryers in operation at the same time. You may pop a breaker.

Thank you so much for all of the great ideas! Of course the motel knows there will be 5 of us staying in our room. We are staying at an Embassy Suites with 2 Queen beds & a sofa Sleeper! I do realize that our room will get messy & was just looking for ideas on how we can keep it somewhat organized. Thanks again & I will post comments on how it went.

I noticed that the extension cord was already mentioned. How about a power strip instead? You know all of those cell phones and ipods HAVE to be charged at the same time. ;)

I've also picked up a mesh hamper at a local pharmacy. I fold it flat and take with me on every trip.
The link I've posted is similar to what I use.

http://www.amazon.com/Mesh-Folding-H.../dp/B000KK1UOK

Felicia, the Embassy Suites is perfect for you! I'd give the girls the two queen beds and I would take the pull out sofa, that way you actually have a room of your own. I would also ask to have a room close to a pubic bathroom so that if someone has to use the toilet and someone's in the shower, as that will probably be a constant, a toilet would be available.

Hi FeliciaT!

I traveled with a high school band to DC a few years back. One thing I would find out right away is your group leaders hotel policy.

We stayed in a nice hotel (Hilton or Embassy, I think) that catered to business people during the week, but started letting school groups stay there on the weekends. The staff wasn't used to dealing with highschools, and we ended up with some very strict policies regarding the kids moving about place (couldn't leave room without chaperone, not allowed in fitness center, etc.). After speaking with the general manager, the band director decided the kids were to be confined to their rooms after dinner-a very unpopular decision!

Luckily, I got wind of it early. I had been assigned 4 "problem" students, and knew they were going to be very upset! During lunch, I ran to a nearby grocery store for provisions. Having snacks, cards, and magazines was a hit and made things alot easier! I also brought some small handheld electronic games that were popular on the buses.

It turned out the band director had made a wise decision. Another school group was staying there at the same time. There was an incident, and the director was able to state with confidence that our students couldn't have been involved.

As far as staying organized, I'd try to convince each girl to pack lightly, and have them keep things in their own bags, to be tucked under the beds if possible. This way, each girl is responsible for her own stuff, there is no possibility of "cross use" unless it's offered, and no need to bring extra stuff.

I hope you have a great time! It was fun watching the kids reactions to all the sights!

Yeah, I once got comped a night at an Embassy Suites because I complained about the antics of a school group that had kept me up all night.

Back in the olden days we took a plastic bucket to the bathroom with all of our stuff inside. I think something like that would help. I like the mesh laundry hamper idea too. Anything to keep all the "stuff" in one place for each girl. Have fun. All of the two bedded Embassy Suites I've stayed in had plenty of room.