7 Things I Do the Night Before a Trip

1. Charge everything that has a battery, around seven

Around seven, I gather my phone, the camera, the spare battery and the power bank in one spot. I charge it all at the same time, ideally near the front door, so nothing gets left in an outlet behind the couch.

Before I started doing this, the two things I usually forgot were the power bank and the camera battery. You can get by without either one, but it gets annoying fast when your phone is also your ticket, your map and where your confirmation numbers live. You don't have to charge absolutely everything, but do charge whatever you'll actually use on the first day of the trip.

2. Clear the memory card and pack the camera

Around 7:30 p.m., I move the photos off the memory card and make sure the card is back in the camera. I've stood on a train platform with my camera ready and the memory card still at home in my computer.

Then I put the camera where I can reach it without opening the whole bag. I often take a few pictures on the way to the airport or the train station. That's also when I find out if the battery door, the charger or a spare card is missing.

3. Set out my passport, cards and some cash

Around eight, I put my passport, my wallet and two cards on the table. I keep the two cards in separate places while I travel, so one lost wallet can't take everything with it.

I also keep about $30 in cash in the house, mostly for getting to O'Hare or for when a card reader acts up. I just want to be able to get going without hunting for an ATM at 5:40 a.m.

4. Check the weather and the ride in from the airport

Around 8:15 p.m., I look at the weather for the day I arrive and at how I'll get from the airport or the station to where I'm staying. I want to know roughly where the stop is, what the ride costs and how late it runs.

Then I take screenshots of the address, the booking details and the first part of the route. My phone usually works when I land, but I don't count on it. If you get in late, it's nice to already know whether the next bus or train leaves in 12 minutes or 45.

5. Save tickets and times offline

At 8:30 p.m., I open the most important ticket for the next day and save it so I can find it without a connection. I also screenshot the departure time and the platform or terminal if that information is already out.

This one comes from a missed train. My ticket was in my email, my phone was at 3% and I spent several minutes on the wrong platform. The routine helps, but not always. Once the platform changed after I'd taken the screenshot, so I still check the departure boards when I get there.

6. Lay out my clothes and pack what I'll need first

Around nine, I lay out the clothes I'll travel in, jacket and shoes included. Then I put the things I'll need first at the top of the bag: glasses, headphones, my medication pouch (if I'm bringing one) and an empty water bottle.

I just don't want to be digging for socks before sunrise. And if the forecast says rain, I'd rather swap jackets now than start repacking everything else.

7. Set two alarms and call it a night

The last thing I do, usually around 10:15 p.m., is set two alarms five minutes apart. I also check what time I actually have to leave the house, not just when the train or flight departs.

This routine isn't a great fit if you pack everything the morning you leave, or if going over every detail several times is what calms you down.

What I don't do the night before

I don't repack the whole bag. If it's already packed, it stays closed unless something important is missing. If I reopen it, I end up moving chargers around, putting my passport in a new "smart" pocket and forgetting where I put it. I also don't change my bookings just because of normal pre-trip nerves.

For me, this is about the right level: organized enough that the morning goes smoothly, but not so organized that the trip starts to feel like a project. The very last thing I usually do is put a glass of water on the kitchen counter. The next morning, that's often the detail I'm most grateful for.