Hi first trip

Regarding packing - I've come across people in my travels who buy their travelling clothes from op. shops, wear them and then discard them along the way when they've finished with them. That way, they don't have to worry about washing, overpacking etc. and have plenty of room in their luggage for souvenirs etc. that they accumulate during their travels.

Wow, I guess that's an option. Not for me though. I might consider losing an old pair of shoes somewhere along the tour, but not an entire wardrobe ! Thanks for the input.

Washing them is not so big a deal.Also. there are so many lightweight shirts for ladies these days. You can take heaps of them and they take up no room or weight.
Also... I want to look halfway decent in my photos.
I do always take along old jeans etc that I'm ready to get rid of as back ups. If I'm going to get rid of them, I may as well wear them there first.

Be sure and take medications you might need. I caught a cold in Egypt and had a hard time finding some throat lozenges. Finally found some in Amsterdam, but they were not very good and tasted awful. Also, pharmacies may not be open when you are in their area. I don't think there is any need to take a hair dryer. We have been on two tours and all hotels had dryers. One thing surprised me. Women dressed nicer than I had expected. Some had lots of different shoes and clothes. We packed spareingly and felt underdressed at times, but we were pleased with what we brought.


Loretta

Travel Checklist:

Note: This listing is provided only to present items for you to consider taking, rather than as a suggestion that all items must be taken. Even though this list has been made as comprehensive as practicable, no single packing list can accommodate all. For EXAMPLE, nearly all first class (three star and above) hotels provide hair dryers, but many less than first class hotels might not. To bring a hair dryer or not depends on the place you will be staying in, and your personal preference. I have not updated this list for some time, so take that as advisement.


Home Items:

Heat/cooling adjusted
Timer lights set (for home security while away)
Alarm system set
Coffee pot/irons, etc., turned off
Credit card/ATM card companies called to advise them of travel (this is essential)
Stop newspaper and mail delivery, or arrange for it to be picked up
Shut off water (or reduce water pressure)
Double check ALL windows and doors to ensure they are closed and locked
Arrange for somebody to check your home periodically while away


Documents:

Passports (some countries will not allow entry if passport is too close to expiration, such as 6 months)
Photocopies of passports in luggage (much easier to get replacement if passport is lost)
Extra passport photos
Airline tickets, with photocopies in luggage
Tour/Cruise documents, if any
Itinerary copies in each piece of luggage AND in waist pack or hidden wallet or in purse on each person
Itinerary & flight information distributed to family members not going
Travel maps and tour books (with a small COMPASS for help in navigating when walking city streets)
Reading material (on overnight flights, set watch on destination, and sleep as soon as you can)
Translation guides (Rick Steve’s Phrase books are very good, with good menu translations)


Money:

A credit card for each person (different cards for each person!)
Back-up credit card in hidden wallet
Foreign currency (keep all not needed for the day in hidden wallets) Note: even though the traveler may intend on using ATM cards to obtain local currency (usually good exchange rates this way), I do recommend at least some be obtained before leaving home to avoid any rushes and hassles at the arrival airport
“Emergency” cash (home currency) in hidden money wallet with back-up credit card
Currency converter chart (only if necessary. Cheat Sheets available from http://www.oanda.com/)



Pharmacy:

Prescription meds for each person (in original containers only)
Copies of prescriptions (they will not be valid overseas of course, but can be used for reference)
Supply of aspirin, Tylenol, Pepsid, Immodium AD, Anti-acid tablets, etc.
Medical kit (small) with Band-aids, ointments, antiseptic cream, etc.


Toiletries and Personal Care Items:

Washcloths (which are considered as “personal” items, and often not furnished by hotels)
Anti-bacterial waterless hand-wash dispenser (small size, to fit in pocket or purse) Shampoo and conditioner (usually furnished by hotel, but many people prefer their own)
Chapstick
Mouthwash (small size)
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Sunglasses
Extra prescription glasses
Travel hair dryer, good for 110v and 220v (most 1st class hotels furnish hairdryers)
Make-up case
Shaver (don’t forget the cord for recharging!)
Hair brushes
Fingernail clipper and a small scissors (do not pack in carry-on for flights)
Wet-ones or handy-wipes, etc. (individually wrapped for carrying in pocket/purse, etc), or in zip-lock bag
Sunscreen if traveling in warmer months or in snow
Travel iron (unless clothing is wrinkle-free or resistant or do not show wrinkles…some hotels/apartments may furnish irons, as well)
Earplugs, eye masks (often furnished by the airlines, but very good for noisy hotel rooms)

Clothing Items:

Swimsuits (if hotels have pools)
Socks/underwear
Light Jacket (or sweater, at least, even for warm weather trips)
Belts
Layered coordinated clothing
Walking shoes, VERY comfortable ones, well broken in before departure, or other type of comfortable athletic shoe.


Camera Items:

Digital camera, with lots of storage capability (memory cards, etc) , recharger, and extra battery (
Video Camera with re-charger, and extra battery and storage media


Communications:

Cell phone (for use at home country airports. MOST USA cell phones are not compatible in Europe. Check with your cell phone service provider)
Updated phone list to include: family, airline contacts (foreign too), travel agent, work
numbers, International phone calling card access #, credit card phone numbers (from overseas)
Address labels for postcards/letters home
Internet cafe listing from http://www.netcafes.com/ and family/friends email addresses
Email to yourself at a web email account (such as Yahoo) all the email addresses you may wish to use while on your trip
Pre-paid calling card, or other type of calling card for use in Europe, if needed


Luggage:

Luggage tag on each bag
Luggage locks for all luggage (make sure locks are TSA approve). Keep luggage locked in hotel room.
Colored ribbon on each checked-in bag (will make it easier to find at the arrival airport)
“Empty” box packed with Bubble-wrap (for delicate souvenirs) & scotch/duct tape
Extra “carry-on” type of bags packed inside checked luggage (for souvenirs) (colored ribbons attached)


Misc.:

Voltage converter (for converting from your home voltage AND plug adaptor kit – plug-ins ARE different)
Travel alarm with fresh battery (essential, as hotel wake-up calls in Europe are unreliable)
Note paper/journal and pen
Watch in very good working order
Waist pack (no longer very popular) and hidden pouch/wallets, such as the type that suspend inside pants or on cord around neck (an absolute MUST due to pickpockets)
Inflatable pillows for use on airplanes AND motor-coach if on a tour
Inflatable seat-cushion
Flashlight, small (a 220v nightlight may also be useful for dark hotel rooms)
Swiss army knife (in checked luggage only)
iPod or MP3 player WITH good quality headphone
Umbrellas (small collapsible)
Sewing kit, small
Binder rings (for misc. use for securing items)
Fan, small, for when hotel rooms are hot and no air conditioning
Extra shoe laces (don’t forget the EXCELLENT quality broken in walking shoes)
Hat, appropriate for travel, for blocking sun or keeping head dry when raining
And do not forget the pocket COMPASS and good maps
Binoculars (small, folding)

Hi Marv,

good to see you visiting the BB again. It's been a while.

The original of your "packing list" is still on the BB at Travel Checklist and I have a link to it in my A Collection of Links to Archived BB Travel Advice, Tips, Tour Weblinks & Checklists, along with a number of your other valuable posts.

This current post of your checklist fixes a number of minor problems in the original as well as adding some new stuff and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to post the new one over the old one?

All the best,

phil

Okay, there you go, Phil, got it accomplished. Hope you are doing well.

--Marv

thanks all,
this is great information, very helpful.

Hi - I'm going on Road to Rome on 15th of Sep - how did yours go in August? Does anyone know what type of clothing to take on this tour?? what should the weather be like?? Any other tips???

Hi Erika
our trip doesn't start until Aug.28 ONLY 7 MORE SLEEPS , and it's our first trip also, so you'll be leaving right after we get back to Canada. I doubt that I'll have ttime to get you any tour info before you leave.
I'm sure that our tours will be awesome - can't wait to go. Maybe we can each contribute to the Tour Tales when we get back. I'll try to do that and I'd love to read yours.
Happy Travels
Deb