Rick Steves Europe: Archives: Packing Creative Extras: 2000

Packing Creative Extras: 2000

While we're fanatic about packing light, we all slip a goofy little extra in. Which soothing, handy, or fun packing extravagances can you justify? Here's what you thought:

I found so many hotels in Europe do not furnish washcloths, and my own would not dry quickly enough to leave the next day. I now take a package of Handi-wipes. They are great for bathing, removing makeup, or wiping off muddy shoes.
Carol <email>
Ft. Worth, Tx. USA 12/31/00

Are you one who enjoys a little extra but doesn't like the extra weight? I love candles but too heavy. A light substitute is incense. Try it!
Lori
Seattle, USA 12/28/00

I have found the PERFECT travel item: a packable backpack. You can get one from Campmor or Magellan's cheap. This folds into itself and has numerous pockets, zippers, velcro, etc. Came in VERY handy for me when carrying camera, train schedules, little kleenex packets, extra film and heaven forbid you find they offer no grocery bags in that European grocery (very likely scenario)! You'll be glad for the beauty of hands-free carrying! These are such lightweight nylon — no extra weight of a 'daybag' and all the advantages. Also, I can tell you from experience that they are worthy of considerable weight, weather and even more abuse! I will never travel without one again!
Lori
Seattle, WA USA 12/28/00

SnacPac Picnic ware is available at Magellan's. Has knife/fork/spoon and a handy salt/pepper reservoir at the end. I used this CONSTANTLY while on 3-week trip in Ireland. Lovely picnics in the park, etc. Well worth the $7.85 as I pack for all trips local and abroad, camping or otherwise!
Lori
Seattle, wa USA 12/28/00

[Editor's note: Or, take the ETBD picnic ware for $4, and nab the salt and pepper from your airline meal.]

I always travel with a coffee mug, a small 11-ounce French press coffermaker and an immersion heater coil. They sort of nest together so don't take up much room. The immersion heaters come in 120, 240 and some have the ability to use both voltages. A nice relaxed way to start the day with coffee, a croissant and some fruit. Economical too.

It's not necessary to buy one of those expensive sets of plug adapters for the immersion heater. You won't use most of them. Before leaving home make up a pigtail by attaching a female plug receptacle to a six-inch wire. Then buy a male plug at your destination, usually about fifty cents, to attach to the pigtail. Cheaper and less bulky than buying the whole set.
Tom <email>
USA 12/26/00

[Editor's note: If you're not as handy as Tom, the European plug adapters we sell cost only $3-4.]

I love the I-Zone camera with sticky film. It's EXCELLENT for people who like to journal. It's a great supplement to your words.

Also, I can't believe no one's mentioned this: while studying in Europe in college I visited numerous hostels. The best companion in these places is a "sleep sack," a queen-sized bed sheet sewn together to create a cozy, soft, clean, lightweight sleeping bag. Also, for group rooms in hostels, it's great to throw your valuables in the bottom for safety. Every bed you sleep in is cozy 'cuz you have your own sheets. The best part? Made by Mom!
K. White <email>
Boston, MA USA 12/26/00

Instead of buying a travel blow-dryer in the States, I waited until we were in Paris and bought one for about $10 that I knew would work in their outlets.
Karen Falkner <email>
Los Angeles, CA USA 12/19/00

Instead of packing Rick's entire guidebook, I photocopy the pages I need and leave the book at home. My friends actually tear out and take their pages, but I just can't desecrate a book that way. With photocopies, you can write all over them, pass them on or throw them out.
Nancy Farestveit <email>
Silicon Valley, CA USA 12/18/00

Be sure to take toilet paper. It can be used for more than one purpose. Also, most foreign toilet paper is more like sandpaper. Toilet paper is great for nose blowing, wiping eating utensils, packing breakables, etc.
Bob Page <email>
College Station, TX USA 12/18/00

Regarding the immersion water heater for coffee/etc.: I bought one from Magellans before I left, but it broke the second time I used it. However, in Rothenberg I finally got a new one (for about $8) from a department store. It was made of much sturdier stuff and had a little carrying case.

The writer below is right — it's great to have a beverage in your room. Coffee in Europe is expensive, so getting it yourself is a real money-saver. Also, I saw no coffee singles there, so take them with you. I also took some powdered Lipton soup along with the other stuff mentioned. It was wonderful and hardly weighed a thing. It was a godsend one day when I was sick. You can pour hot coffee right into your Platypus and have hot coffee on that early-morning train without a thermos or spending a fortune. Happy travels!
Dodie <email>
USA 12/18/00

I always pack a sarong. It's lightweight and dries quickly. You can use it as a picnic cloth, a skirt, a seat cover for those nasty trains or hot cars, a beach towel when space is tight, an improvised bag for tying up laundry or seashells, a light cover and best of all for me (because I have a 2-year-old who, at the worst moments, wants to be held while we're walking long distances), you can knot it over your shoulder and use it like a baby sling. I never leave home without it. If you get one of those Indian ones with the pretty patterns, you'll look hip on the beach. They dry overnight so you can wash them every day.
Kate Paradiso <email>
Galveston, TX USA 12/16/00

Although my parents and I enjoy the local cafe scene when we travel, we each bring along one of those electric water heaters for boiling water in a cup. We enjoy having limitless coffee or cocoa first thing in the morning while getting ready, and we can plug in this probe and have lots of instant hot water — just add a coffee single, instant coffee, cocoa, instant soup or cider. We can't imagine a trip without this.
Angela <email>
Santa Clarita, CA USA 12/14/00

I took a small folding umbrella to London and Edinburgh, but wished instead I'd brought my hooded rain jacket. Less to fuss with, and I wouldn't have had to worry about poking people's eyes out in the crowded streets, nor would I have had to fumble with shutting the umbrella when entering buildings and opening it again when I went back outside.
Bev
Shelby Twp, MI USA 12/12/00

One of my favorite experiences while in Europe was visiting the local grocery stores. Whether shopping for a picnic lunch, picking up a few necessities, or doing some tasty impulse buying, a foreign grocery can be loads of fun. One realization I came to while experiencing this slice of local culture, is that most locals bring their own shopping bags or carts to transport their purchases from store to home. Many stores I went into did have plastic bags available, but you had to ask for them while being checked out, and often there was a small fee involved. Next time I travel, I will be taking a cloth grocery bag along for the ride. It's lightweight, will easily fit into any small nook in your day pack, and will surely come in handy for those quick trips to the store when the chocolate urge hits.
Amanda Marcum <email>
Gibsonton, FL USA 12/07/00

I took a pair of binoculars with me this summer but dumped them and many other things in despair in Bonn, Germany after trudging them up most of the hilly town. I never got to use them. However, I recently saw at KMart 3-inch by 2-inch binoculars made by Coleman. They were very compact, lightweight, accurate, and only cost 12 bucks. They do have a mild camouflage print on them. But since they are so small, I doubt few would notice. I sure missed my binoculars when I got to Paris. But I don't regret dumping the weight.

By the way, the weight of my original pack was 32 pounds. After "editing" it weighed 24 pounds. And that was more than enough!

Things I'll never travel without — spare $100 cash in my shoe, Ensure bars, Platypus bottle, ziploc bags, duct tape, medicine, toilet seat covers/wipes, and a spare pair. Everything else is negotiable!
DVP <email>
USA 12/06/00

Someone mentioned a mini-tape recorder — great idea. But for a more compact, reliable — though definitely more expensive — solution, use a portable MiniDisc Recorder.

A normal MD (they also sell 80-min. MDs) holds a CD's length of music (~74 minutes, ~148 if you set it to MONO instead of STEREO, since recording in STEREO is pointless through a microphone), has extremely high quality playback, and you can skip to different recording sessions with the push a button, you can electronically title the tracks, and even edit in personal comments with a little digital juggling (frustrating for people who can't set their VCR, but possible), etc.

Another plus is you can take some music from home with you to keep homesickness at bay (or lure it closer, depending on your personality), or share it with the locals (though with the global community being as close as it is in the music business, they've probably heard it before). They are a lot less bulky than taking CDs or tapes. And MDs can take a beating and still remain high-quality.

On the down side, you'll have something else to worry about providing with batteries, power conversion, etc. Not to mention theft.

P.S. Forget the microphone. To record, unplug your earphones from their jack, plug them into the MIC jack, and they should make acceptable microphones. (Try this at home, first, to make sure the volume level is acceptable) P.P.S. If you're interviewing the natives, recording in STEREO and having each of you speak in a different earphone might turn out sounding interesting. Your voice in one ear, theirs in another, might give a spatial sense of standing between the two of you during the conversation.
Simón <email>
Bloomington, IN USA 12/03/00

Pack light, but be sure to pack a carry-on suitcase full of non-perishable food/snack items (dried fruit, nuts, chips, crackers, etc.). As you travel, you can eat from your case whenever you get the munchies and don't feel like spending any money. And as you eat your way through your bag, room opens up for all those great purchases you've made while abroad. If you've planned it right, by the end of the trip, you should have had plenty of "free" snacks to eat, and an extra case to bring home all the items you've accumulated while on your trip.
Chris Lanter <email>
Gilbert, AZ USA 11/15/00

Family of 4 just returned from Italy with one carry-on backpack each. Things to bring:

1) Binoculars — $19.95 at Target. Great for seeing the detail in churches.

2) Ziplock bags — they held the compression for us and kept marathon clothes from polluting the rest of the pack.

3) Compass — just in case.

4) Keychain carabiners — great for securing backpack zippers from prying hands. Not burglar-proof, but an extra inconvenience for thieves.

5) Swiss army knife for that bottle of wine you must enjoy.

6) Lexan wine glasses. If you're going to drink in the middle of the afternoon, at least do it in style.

7) Duct tape. Make a handle for your mailing tube that has all your rollable prints. Also secures cardboard pieces cut oversized to protect non-rollable artwork.

8) Extra backpack. If you leave with one pack, you will come home with enough to fill another. Improvised packs or shopping bags are neither comfortable nor durable.

9) Liter of water — for the plane trip. Drink another when you arrive. Helps lessen jet lag.

10) Most important — bring plenty of courtesy.
Mike <email>
Kansas City, MO USA 11/07/00

I sometimes travel with a laptop to several countries during a single trip. To avoid carrying various power adapters, I instead carry a two-prong adapter with a lightbulb base. These are available at most hardware stores to allow you to plug something into a light socket. The plug is very small and since light bulb sockets have been standardized worldwide, it works everywhere. Of course, it won't adjust for voltage or frequency differences, but almost all laptop power supplies do this for you.
Doug Alberg <email>
Long Beach, CA USA 11/02/00

1. Ziplocs for organizing everything! Take-out, laundry detergent, snacks, keeping wet things from dry things.

2. Fabric refresher, when you can't wash that shirt/pants/whatever right now but they could smell you coming.

3. Electrical wire ties when you need to secure anything, and for quick repairs.

4. Sarong — nightgown, after-shower cover, swimsuit cover, towel — to cover just about everything.

5. Hand wipes, when you can't get to a rest room or the restroom has no soap or towels to use. When the gelati you had ran down your hand.

We were in Europe 3 weeks and found all these items to be necessities.
Hasschen
USA 10/29/00

The best thing I ever took on my recent trip to Italy was a small blank book and a glue stick. Every ticket stub, museum pass, metro stub, postcard, and the like I pasted into the book right away, along with my thoughts and recap of the day. I came home with a day-by-day journal of everything I did, and I didn't have to lose all my pretty museum tickets!
Kerri DeVault <email>
Seattle, WA USA 10/25/00

On long-haul flights, we take a black Old Navy zippered tote ($9.99) that's light, but huge, slipped into a pocket of one of our bags, ready to grab. When we board the plane each of our 2 bags goes in an overhead compartment to leave foot room, the tote bag comes out and I put whatever items we'll need during the flight — paperbacks, bottled water, eyeshades, snacks, aspirin, glasses & contact solutions, toothbrush and paste, etc. It's all within easy reach.

While in Singapore & Malaysia, we took it jungle trekking, into town shopping, on domestic flights, and I used it as my only travel bag on a 5-day side trip (left the other one at the hotel we reserved for our last night).

Coming home, it held souvenirs as well as all the stuff we wanted close by during the 32-hour "commute" back (we checked our other 2 bags). And a nice black tote bag looks a lot nicer and more "low-profile" than a backpack, too.

We used to take cloth shopping bags but, while lightweight, they didn't have a zipper and weren't as large, sturdy or multi-purpose as this black one.
Planet Traveller
Tallytown, FL USA 10/18/00

While in Europe, buy a perfume or cologne that you have never used before. Wear it daily while you tour Monet's home in Giverny or circle Stonehenge in England or explore that castle in Scotland. When you return home, don't use the fragrance for several weeks. Then, on a day when you need to relax and remember...spray it on, take a whiff...the smell will transport you back to "the continent" and all of those wonderful memories faster than you can say CONCORDE. Try it! You'll be relaxed and in a great mood all day long. WARNING: Don't choose a fragrance that is too expensive...this "escape" can become habit-forming.
C. A. L. Gafford <email>
DeSoto, TX USA 10/13/00

I just discovered a wonderful product that I use at home and think it might travel well. It's called Downy Wrinkle-Releaser. It works great on t-shirts that I've left in the dryer too long. If you put it into a smaller spray bottle, it could do double duty to freshen wrinkled and smelly clothes.
Susan <email>
Odessa, FL USA 10/07/00

A few items saved my life throughout Europe: flip flops (for those not-so-pleasant shared bathroom experiences); packets of tissues; a pack of disposable toilet seat covers (super cheap at Walgreen's — I am personally not gifted in the art of the squat — so these were great); and individually-packaged antibacterial wipes. With the exception of the flip flops I carried all these items on my person at all times, and they truly made life bearable.

As for Febreeze, we found that going out to bars made clothes stink beyond its refreshing power...clothes sprayed with it smelled like smoke plus Febreeze. One thing we did with stinky or wet stuff, though, was to hang it within the compartment of our train (usually overnight); we were fortunate to have privacy on almost every train — so did not feel weird about airing our laundry...would decide on the appropriateness of this per situation.
grnlagrl <email>
dallas, tx USA 10/07/00

A compass! We rented a car in Provence and the compass was great since the highways are not labeled north, south, east, west. And it was also great when you got lost walking around a city.

Also, take hand wipes — the little individually-wrapped ones for washing hands. Panty liners make doing wash much easier. Take prewritten addresses on self-stick labels for postcards.
C.A.
Denver, CO USA 10/03/00

A comment about ziploc bags vs the plastic bags that appear in travel magazines, e.g. "Pack-Mate": ziploc bags DO NOT hold the compression as do the ones sold in the travel magazines. The ziplocs are good enough to protect and organize packing, but they do not create extra space. Something like "Pack-Mates" really compresses clothes and hold the compression. For bulky and/or infrequently used clothing, they are worth the expense.
Lynn H
Beaverton, OR USA 09/30/00

The new bottled fabric refreshers are great! Tuck a small spray bottle in your bag. You might get another day's use out of your clothes, and not be nearly so worried about how you smell to the guy next to you.

Panty liners are one of the best inventions for us traveling ladies. Enough said!

Take everything in black, navy or other dark colors. You'll be able to mix and match. The dark colors don't show as much street dirt, so you'll be able to wear them longer without washing them as often.
Vickie Lytle <email>
Woodstock, GA USA 09/28/00

I've been noticing in the travel magazines a "new" invention: the packing bags that expel the air inside them and make the package smaller to take up less space. Great idea but a bit expensive. I've been using this tactic for a few years but at a much lower price. I use the large ziplock bags and sit on them before closing. Works just the same. If you close the bag halfway before sitting on it it is easier to then sit on it and finish closing the bag. If you really stuff it watch out because the articles will push out of the bag!
Betty <email>
Oak Park, IL USA 09/28/00

Pack a second ATM card with a different PIN. Hide the spare ATM in your luggage and put your primary in your fanny pack. I have been to Germany 6 times with my Reserve unit and a couple years ago one of my soldiers ATM card was eaten by the ATM 3 times in 2 weeks. Luckily that was in the town where we were staying; imagine using the ATM in Italy on a Saturday and leaving on Monday for France. It would really mess up your trip. If you have a backup card you can call your bank and cancel the eaten card and use your backup card for the rest of the trip. When my wife and I vacationed this summer in Europe she brought her ATM card and hid it in her suitcase and we used my card.
Rick Evans <email>
Raytown, MO USA 09/26/00

On my last big trip, my Mom surprised me with a bag of Mini-Snickers. They were a great treat at the end of each day. (We also dove into them on the long train from Edinburgh to Bath!)

Also, a travel cribbage board and a deck of cards make an entertaining way to spend an evening in areas with less-than-desirable TV selections.
Debbie
Milwaukee, wi USA 09/25/00

I don't know what the proper name is but we took a loofah "poof" to Europe. You know, the net balls that make a droplet of soap last a whole shower. We found that we needed to haul around a lot less liquid soap and we never needed to pack it wet. It had a loop, so I just hooked it on my pack. I bought the kind that looked like an animal for fun. Much better than a washcloth!
S. Smith <email>
Kansas City , KS USA 09/23/00

Ladies, I have just 2 words: baby wipes! The flat travel pack goes anywhere. They are great to use as a gentle makeup removal. Use as a baby-safe, all-over body cleanser when a shower is not available. They also feel nice for just cooling off if you are hot and smelly from a full day of train travel. Ask any baby!
Lisa <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 09/14/00

I found Eagle Creek bags great. But, although generally water-resistant, the zipper areas, since they're sewn (on all bags for that matter), make them not totally waterproof. I got soaked one day in France and so did all my stuff in the backpack. SOLUTION: I place a large garbage bag inside my pack and just load everything inside it. Essentially I use the plastic bag as a liner. I learned my lesson — all is now dry.
Dave <email>
Dallas, TX USA 09/07/00

I recommend packing xerox copies (in a ziplock bag) of your airline tickets, train pass, current driver's license, your passport, travelers' check numbers, and major credit card(s). If you are traveling with a companion, swap copies with them so that you are each carrying the other person's information, and leave a set back home with an emergency contact. When my purse was stolen here in the US, my experience with credit card companies over a weekend showed me that it is VERY difficult to get funds and/or a replacement card during that time if you carry a Visa or Mastercard. Hotels and rental car agencies will NOT rent to you without a valid credit card imprint; they will accept a FAXED imprint in lieu of a credit card in hand. Neither credit card issuer will help you on these issues if your wallet is gone, even if, like me, only one of two cards was stolen.

If the unthinkable happens and everything gets stolen, call immediately to notify the issuers of the theft so that you aren't liable for any charges made when the cards are out of your possession. And if you are traveling with a partner, make sure that you have cards from different issuers so that if one person's credit card is lifted, you can use the other one.
Irene Potter <email>
Maple Valley, WA USA 09/03/00

I just returned from Paris. We planned to picnic occasionally, so I brought some plastic silverware and a few ziplock bags. They came in handy, reusable, and didn't take up much space in the suitcase. (Go to the the Rue Cler for picnic goods. Great place and beautiful produce.) I also brought along a totebag that zips up into a 4" by 4" package. Opens into a large bag. Great for picnics and for shopping.
Lynn
San Diego, CA USA 09/02/00

Make address labels either by hand or on your computer before you leave. You will probably only need one sheet of them and you can make as many duplicates for the different cities you will visit. I kept the label sheet in my daypack with stamps, and I would simply buy my postcards, write them, stick a stamp and an address label on them and drop it into the next postal box we came across. Everyone loved hearing about our trip city by city and it was not a big deal for us to do it!
Paul & Kerrie Nelson <email>
Grapevine, TX USA 09/01/00

Get a roll of the rubbery grid shelf liner. Take a length of it to use as a non-slip shower mat and either toss it at the end of your trip or use it to cushion some fragile purchase on the way home. A roll is about $2.50.
Pam
TX USA 08/29/00

It can be hard to keep track of the cards you carry during your trip (credit cards, phone cards, ID cards, hostel cards, etc.). I kept them all organized by placing them in the plastic credit card inserts that are made for handheld organizers. I trimmed off the plastic three-ring binder attachment, and they fit perfectly in my money belt. With three pockets, each insert holds six cards.
Matt <email>
Tulsa, OK USA 08/28/00

I'm into packing light but also believe in comfort. These items fill the bill for me. Bring a small bottle of saline nasal spray for the flight. A quick spray every hour or so combats the dry, pressurized air. Maintaining nasal moisture also prevents small cracks in the membranes that could allow in any pesky cold/flu germs that may be circulating in the cabin.

Also, bring a few fabric softener dryer sheets in a Ziploc bag. They weigh nothing. I put one in each of my shoes each evening to keep my shoes smelling fresh. Another one or two kept in your suitcase or backpack keeps any stale odors at bay. I also keep a small spritz bottle of Febreze in my toiletry kit. (Fill your own bottle from the retail size.) This product eliminates odors from shoes and clothing....no perfume-y coverup.
Marie Guzman <email>
Milwaukee, WI USA 08/21/00

I pack a pocket-size tape recorder to record music or conversation with locals. I "interview" those who can speak English, and it saves me trying to write it all down. I would not be without one on my trips now.
Jim <email>
Lakeland, Fl USA 08/19/00

One nice extra to pack is a big open plastic, or plastic-covered metal, clip — like the kind you use for hanging laundry. It's come in handy as a bag clip for chips and such, for clipping small maps and directions on the visor in the rental car, for clipping and hanging a wet washcloth (I use a multi-purpose bandanna), for hanging a small toilet kit or your neckpouch in the shower stall with you in dubious hotels, campgrounds — I'm sure you all can come up with other uses. I've even used it in a pinch as a hair clip in the shower. Necessity really is the mother of invention!
Amelia
Tallahassee, FL USA 08/19/00

I recently got back from Europe and would like to thank this site for helpful hints.

I took safety pins (big diaper ones), and I indeed used them. My backpack zipper busted halfway through the vacation and I linked the pins together and it held my backpack great! another great tip was a day pack and water bottle!

I followed other people's opinions on this and got burned, so ladies, DO take your hair dryers. I was so lost without mine! My hair was horrible in every picture! Also bring plenty of hairbands!
Hillary Brady <email>
Nashville, tn USA 08/18/00

We traveled with a group of 12 in 3 cars for 2 weeks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Bring along walkie talkies. They were so helpful with driving. We could tell each other what was going on. Everyone could watch for signs, exits and each others' backsides on the Autobahn. They also came in handy when groups broke up to go shopping or sightseeing. With a 2-mile range it was easy to drive into town and radio "Where are you?" and find each other quickly. Also great to give kids for that extra security of knowing they are just a call away.
Steve <email>
Bartlett, IL USA 08/17/00

For clothesline, get polypropylene line, which can't hold water. It used to be in hardware stores but I only finally found some among fishing tackle and such. 6-8 feet roll up small, weigh nothing, & can be tied to pipes and curtainrods and doorknobs. Better than string.
Keith Brinton <email>
Davis, CA USA 08/11/00

One item I never saw anyone mention is: a 12-inch length of Romex wire core, costs a few cents. Buy the Romex at a hardware store, take out the core wires. They are plastic-coated (won't scratch), strong, very flexible. We used them to hang toilet kits when there were no hooks, to hold up a broken shower-head, to prop a mirror. Infinitely reusable and take up NO space. Good in combo with suction cups.
Keith Brinton <email>
Davis, CA USA 08/11/00

"99.9% Germ-Free"My background in Biology has taught me that bacteria and viruses love bathrooms. On my recent trip to Scandinavia I took along some Lysol All-Purpose cleaner which I had poured into a travel-size hairspray pump bottle.It worked great on toilet seats,sinks and shower stalls which can host the plantar wart virus if not properly disinfected.
Nancy Ingalls <email>
Parker, CO USA 08/05/00

Things I would recommend to anyone trekking in Europe in Summer. Bring sandals, Tevas are great. I was able to use them in the shower, as slippers, with skirts and pants. If it was too cold, a pair of socks did the trick. Another item I'd bring is a compass! I can't tell you how many times I wondered what directions I was walking using maps. A body sponge or quick dring wash cloth, since most places do not provide them. Travel Alarm clock with indiglo lighting for those dark rooms. SWISS ARMY knife for those yummy picnics on the train or at the park. And definitely, bring your manners. Both my husband and I had a great time and were treated very well every where we went.
janie ng <email>
seattle, wa USA 08/02/00

The one thing I wish I would have brought that I didn't? A small pair of (quality) binoculars. So many times I wished I had a better view of stained glass in churches, wildlife, artwork, or been able to read small street signs without having to cross wide, busy intersections!
Jeff H. <email>
South Bend, IN USA 07/28/00

My recommendations for packing extras include ziplock bags. These came in very handy for storing liquids and important documents and also for storing a loaf of bread or cookies for a couple of days. The next item would be a jar of peanut butter. This came in handy when food was scarce or too expensive. A normal jar lasted six weeks and even shared it with people along the way. Of course then you need some utensils. I bought Rick's picnic ware. The most important thing is a journal. Without my journal I would be unable to relate back to people what my trip was like. It was also a way to relax after a long day of sight seeing.
Tim <email>
Milwaukee, WI USA 07/26/00

This trip I took along several manila envelopes (the 9" x 12" size) for mailing books and pamphlets home. They took up almost no space, and while such envelopes are readily available in many stores, I mailed things home from some small villages where I would have found it hard to find them. On past trips I have been astonished at the added weight of the many museum guidebooks and other printed matter I've purchased along the way.
Carol Dinges <email>
Lebanon, OR USA 07/26/00

I inadvertantly found a great way to help get rid of the stale stank of the train cars. We always packed a picnic to take with us, and made sure a fresh orange was included with our food. Just by peeling the orange, the air was breathable again. (Of course, be sure to dispose of the peel when you get off the train) We were ever so glad to have our oranges on a few occasions!
Amy Gonzalez
Danville, CA USA 07/25/00

If you think you might pick up posters or art museum prints, a cardboard tube to carry them in would be a good idea. After buying two sets of beautiful horse posters at the Andalusian Riding School in Jerez, Spain, and wondering how in the world we would get them home unsquashed, I did a little research in my Spanish dictionary and then went into a photo store and asked if they had a "tubo de carton." The senora rummaged in a back closet and came up with one that was just the right size, and it was free! The "tubo" spent 10 days successfully in my backpack.
Mary from Oregon
USA 07/24/00

When I was in Paris, I bought some face lotion in a drug store, and as a free gift, they gave me a little spritzer bottle of water to go with it. I used to be an opera singer, and I remembered how they used to spritz the air above the stage before performances so it wouldn't be too dry. On the plane ride home, about once an hour, I would spritz water on my face and in the air above my head and in front of me. It really made the flight less uncomfortable. The spritzer is very fine, so I didn't cause a commotion. Here in America, I've seen that they sell those small bottles of Evian in the drug store. Next time I go on a trip, I will definitely bring one of these on my flight.
Abby Nardo <email>
Bloomington, IN USA 07/02/00

Padded moleskin saved my feet (created an arch insert) until I was able to take the time to buy a pair of tennis shoes. Duct tape was awesome to avoid blistering and adhered longer (and in the right spot) than moleskin. Febreeze worked well to get the stale smoke aroma off of my clothes. Relevant pages of the Thomas Cook European Timetable were an invaluable item to pack. You can plan your train excursions while in the hotel or on the beach instead of having to stare at a timetable at the train stations!
eileen paulo-chrisco <email>
vallejo, CA USA 06/28/00

One of my most important extras is a notebook to use as a journal. Since I have notoriously bad handwriting (especially when I am in a hurry) I just use a little steno book and then type up my journal when I get home. Others recommend taking a spiral-bound blank book and just to write directly in it. Whatever works for you! My journals from my two trips to Europe are my most dear souvenirs. Reading through them brings back the trip much more clearly than looking at photos or postcards, as only a journal can record what you thought of each activity or experience. Don't leave home without one and really work on the discipline of writing in it every day or two.
DonnaS <email>
Sunnyvale, CA USA 06/23/00

Just back from Europe. Some things that proved invaluable: small travel pillow, swiss army knife, clothesline (heavy string) & a few pins, packing tape and a permanent marker (for shipping stuff home), thongs for the shower and a small towel.
Barbara <email>
St. Louis, MO USA 06/21/00

Mosquito alert! Look for a nifty little device that plugs into a wall outlet and actually repels mosquitoes. In nine weeks of summer travel, we never saw a house or hotel with window screens, but the weather was hot so we kept the windows open. On our first morning on the Greek island of Paros, our kids awoke covered with over 70(!) bites each and they were miserable for two days from the itching. Friends have told us that mosquitoes were also bad in Florence.

The proprietor of our hotel on Paros introduced us to the mosquito repellent device which heats a small replaceable wafer. The repellent is odorless and a wafer lasts all night. They are sold in Greek grocery stores and I assume they are available in other countries as well. We packed ours along for the remainder of our trip and we never had a problem with mosquitoes again.
Mike Maxwell <email>
Mancos, CO USA 06/18/00

I cannot stress enough how useful Ziploc bags are! When I travelled last year, they came in so handy, to keep extra food in from the grocery store, to put your wet towel or sandals in after a shower, or even to keep important documents (insurance, travellers cheques) from getting wrecked! Take a couple of each size (small, medium and large) and re-use them. They work great!
Lisa <email>
Canada 06/18/00

I packed a small piece of Tupperware. I used the top as a plate on picnics, and always had a place to keep my leftover strawberries.
Abby <email>
Bloomington, IN USA 06/16/00

One item that my travelling companions seem to think was goofy, but I found EXTREMELY useful, was a small cheap compass (and a fundamental idea of how to use one in conjunction with a map). The streets of most European cities are narrow and the buildings high so you can't see landmarks, and the streets don't run on cardinal directions, and aren't straight, and the corners aren't square, and blocks aren't rectangles. It is very easy to get disoriented. I also found it useful in the metro and train stations. While standing on the platform waiting for, say, a northbound train, I would glance at the compass to see if the train I was about to get on was indeed going at least sort of north. A few times it made me realize that I was on the wrong platform.
<email>
Canada 06/10/00

AT&T offers a free pocket-sized laminated picture guide with more than 500 pictograms of foods, lodging, personal needs, etc. — very helpful in communicating. Call 800-435-0812 or www.att.com/traveler
Ed Tomlinson <email>
Monument, Co USA 06/06/00

We Americans sometimes view polite, "have a nice day" phrases cynically, as meaningless statements. But in other countries, manners are still alive and well. Pack in a few of these phrases, in the language of the people you'll be visiting, and your passport will be stamped "good-looking American": Please. Thank you. Good day. Good evening. Hello. How are you? How do you say _____? Where is _____? Do you speak English? Memorize these words in the language of the country you will be going to.

I just returned from two weeks in France. After my last year's travels to Italy, and the warm Italian people, I was looking forward to France, but with some hesitation, based on their "cool" reputation and one bad experience 4 years ago. I was surprised at how much of my high school and college French began to come back to me on this trip. Why? I was determined to speak French as much as possible. Even when the reply came in English, I continued to attempt to speak in French.

One my of first evenings in Paris I eavesdropped on a local man and his son who both spoke fluent French and English. Each time the server brought something to the table, he clearly said "Merci Madame!" While teaching his son manners, he taught me some too. The French are very polite — and they would like a response to their "Bon Jour" or "Bon Soir." The highest compliment paid me — and it happened a couple of times — was when a waiter spoke French to me, and English to my (obviously hard-of-hearing, hearing-aid wearing) husband. Once or twice someone told me my accent was good(!). This made for a "plus bon" trip, and an extra added delight. So pack some phrases, and some manners. Please? Thank you!
Diana Churchill <email>
Spokane, WA USA 06/04/00

I'd like to recommend the Cannon Elph camera. I liked my first one so much that after I lost it, I bought another. It is only the size of a deck of cards and takes great pictures in three sizes; regular, wide angle, and panoramic. Friends have been amazed at the quality of pictures from a camera so tiny. It's the only camera I'll take on trips from now on!
Janis N,
CT USA 05/30/00

We traveled to Europe last summer and brought some of the new state quarters. Everytime we went to a bank to exchange money we gave one to the teller. We had to explain what they were but they loved them. We also took some of the Tweety, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck stamps, the kids loved them.
Connie <email>
Auburn, CA USA 05/29/00

Tevas are good shoes (see below), but...the velcro strap will eventually undo itself when wet, so hopefully you don't take long showers or have to cross any rivers/streams or get caught in a heavy downpour. also, the joints, of sans neoprene, are almost sure to give you a blister at somepoint. i would recommend a two pronged approach — take really lightweight dollar-store type flip flops as shower shoes, and tevas or something even cushier for the break from boots. like comfy low heel dress shoes, evening is a good time to change shoes and i've had the experience of having to go to nice restaurants i was invited to in ratty tevas/hiking boots; i didn't realize that just because i couldn't afford a restaurant like that, that relatives/companions/new friends could! way embarrasing!

Houston, TX USA 05/29/00

Tevas! Lightweight sandal, perfect for avoiding nasty shower floors, and also useful when you want a day off from your hiking boots. I recommend them wholeheartedly!
Lisa Dreishmire <email>
Dallas, TX USA 05/28/00

I tried the iZone camera (see below) but it is a lot of bulk for some really tiny pics! Plus I was disappointed that they are still using that caustic developing gel.
First-time Europe
USA 05/27/00

I have to agree with Elizabeth about the camera (below). Another great point, is that the film that goes in it is very, very small. (Less weight, more rolls). Also, you can do so many things with the pictures. You can even choose not to peel the sticky stuff off the back, mark on the back of the picture where/when, save your pictures in an envelope, and then stick them onto magnets for your fridge when you get home, or whatever. They make great memory keepers and even help in keeping all those other rolls of film straight if you are taking along another camera (e.g. When did we see the Eiffel Tower?)
Dodie <email>
USA 05/23/00

A great way to personalize and add a lot of warmth to those address books/pages that fill up while on a trip is take one of those new, cheap ($20) polaroid i-zone cameras with the tiny self-adhesive film. take a little pic of the person/people you're getting the address from, pull, peel, and stick! it looks great, and really helps after you get home, no more looking at that address and thinking "who is that?" and is wonderful for showing your friends, sort of like an "address album." if you give other people a pic of them/you/y'all it's a really fun exchange, too.
Elizabeth <email>
Houston, TX USA 05/23/00

For a couple of years this has worked really well: For small items like jewelry, keys, or even petroleum jelly — put them in a plastic Easter egg! It's easy to pick out of your other stuff, it's cheap, crush-resistent, and doesn't exactly scream "valuables." For extra security, a small piece of tape and that puppy's really not coming open. I have a big one for jewelry (especially earrings!) and a small one for my presciption skin stuff. If you've got kids, you can fill one with candy and put it in their luggage to find when they get there (usually tired and cranky). They get a few giggles, and if it works....
Elizabeth Bell <email>
Houston, TX USA 05/23/00

Eagle Creek packs are outstanding (for me), but like any other backpack, it's best to try them out before buying. Stores like REI, A16, etc. will load them up and let you walk around the store to see how they work for your particular body shape. The best, most-expensive pack in the world is worthless if it doesn't work for your body. I've been traveling and guiding trips for over a decade, and believe me, taking your time to find the "perfect pack" will serve you well for years to come. And contrary to popular belief, the most expensive pack isn't always the best. Your back knows better than your wallet. See you in Italia this summer!
Brett <email>
San Diego, CA USA 05/20/00

1) Laundry mesh bags are great for packing socks, nylon, underwear, etc. because you don't need to deal with the air inside a ziplog bag and it is see-thru so you can sort out what you need easily. They can also be used when you get a chance to do a load of laundry during your trip. I usually make time in the last day I am still abroad to unwind, rest and to do laundry. That way, I feel clean and restful when I fly back. After I come back, I just unpack and hang those clean clothes up and then use my time to read mail and return phone messages instead of doing laundry. I feel more ready to go back to work, too.

2) I usually bring one wallet for each currency I'll use. That way, I can keep the change as a souvenir. During the trip, I don't need to sort out which coin is which. Most of us probably already have more than one wallet at home.

3) I pre-print computer labels with friends' and families' names and addresses for mailing postcards quickly.

4) I take a used appointment book/planner (with sections for addresses appointments and credit card slots) to keep my airticket and passport together. It is handy to also include airline, airport lounge, hotel or car rental membership cards, and upgrade coupons. Before a trip, whenever you receive those upgrade or free extra day coupons in the mail, just put them in the travel wallet and you don't need to look for them next time you travel.

5) I prepare extra room in my lugguage for souvenirs: I either bring enough gifts to give away at family gatherings, or bring a foldable tote so that I do not need to buy another bag or pay for mailing.
Gigi Yau <gigi8384@hotmail.com>
St Paul, MN USA 05/19/00

Have used Eagle Creek carry-on which looks similar to the bag sold by Steves. Believe mine is the Solo model. My wife uses a Rick Steves' convertible rucksack and I think it is a great bag for the money. Marcia will stay under 20 lbs. but I general carry a few extra "family items" and like the additional padding and padded waist belt with the EC bag. Unfortunately bags are not a good mail order item because you need to try the fit...although we bought Steves' bag sight unseen and have been very pleased.
Frank <fmpden@AOL.com>
Denver, CO USA 05/09/00

We just returned from two weeks in France. I had studied the posted suggestions on the graffiti wall prior to the trip, and here are the items I took that we couldn't have lived without: (1) Febreze — we sprayed our clothes every night after dining in the smoky restaurants and by morning, all odors were gone and the clothing could be worn again. (2) Purell — waterless hand sanitizer that proved invaluable after touching the handrail all the way up and down the towers at Notre Dame, and other high germ experiences. (3) Flashlight — for finding out what time it is in the middle of the night and to read a book when you've got jet lag and wake up in the middle of the night. (4) Zip-Lock Bags — wonderful packing tool that lets you organize your stuff in "kits" so that you can find things without messing up your entire suitcase. We used several different sizes.
Heidi Pool <heidipool@aol.com>
Morgan Hill, CA USA 05/09/00

I am taking a fold-up carry-on to the UK this year and plan on using the carry-on only for the plane and then folding it up flat in my suitcase. The carry-on will have my first-night necessities in case of loss of luggage.
Juliet
St. Paul, MN USA 05/09/00

Bring a washcloth. None of our hotels in London, Brugge, or Paris provided them. Also, I bought an adapter to plug my curling iron into. What I should have also brought was a voltage converter — my curling iron melted before my eyes! Europe's voltage is higher than ours. Buy a combination plug adapter/voltage converter...or buy a curling iron there.
Jennifer <marjen@fuse.net>
Fairfield, OH USA 05/07/00

I always pack a soft pillowcase from home for my trips...not only do I us it on my pillow during my hotel stay, but at the end of the trip I can pack all my dirty laundry in it so that they don't mix with any souvenirs or other items in my suitcase.
Katya M <enamores@aol.com>
Chicago, IL USA 05/07/00

This is a MUST for light packers and I cannot believe no one has mentioned it thus far: Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap. It's absolutely fantastic! The bottle is so travel friendly, even thrown around in a packed-to-the-busting-seams rucksack. The truly beautiful part: you can use it for everything. The label itself tells you of about 100 uses...e.g. toothpaste, washing laundry, body soap, dish soap, shaving, shampoo, etc.! A little goes a long way and it's so much better for the environment. I bought mine at REI, but the company's been around for awhile so you can find it almost anywhere. One small container instead of ten? You'd be crazy not to!
Jen <diosorion@yahoo.com>
Seattle, WA USA 05/04/00

An item I have carried for years is the bottom of a plastic half-gallon milk container. It is about 3" tall. It is perfect for washing socks and underwear, and has many other uses. I have used it to make friends with a thirsty dog in the middle east. I have regularly used it going through the airport as I can put all my metal in it and walk away without taking their container. In the hotel or tent, I put in my watch, glasses, etc. while I sleep. You can pack "stuff" in it in the pack, so it takes up no room. There are so many uses I could not list them all.
A. Traveler
San Diego, CA USA 04/29/00

Those of us older gals who have to have just a LITTLE makeup love the little, light, clean, very packable multi-purpose sticks of color and cover that BodyWorks stores sell. And very chic!

I have always used ginger for nausea; also pack herbal teas such as chamomile and Lipton's ginger twist is very good. Also, I have not read anyone mention charcoal caps. Purchase in supers, drugstores, healthfood stores etc. Way back I found how effective they can be for gas, absorbing toxins, etc., can be nearly life saving, only be sure you understand that charcoal will also absorb Rxs you are taking if taken too close together, so do your homework.
Joanne <maxmale@rcn.com>
Me USA 04/28/00

I take a clear plastic 8"x11" envelope to stash travel brochures, maps, extra postcards, and other items that I don't want smashed or wrinkled in. It weighs almost nothing and protects small items that might otherwise be crushed in a backpack or suitcase.

I always take a small flashlight for finding the bathroom in the middle of the night rather than waking my traveling companion with a room light.

I always carry one small package of kleenex for each week I'll be traveling for bathroom use (and noses), and a trial pack of baby wipes for cleaning up after bathroom breaks or lunch.

I'll never take khaki pants on a trip again! Dark colors take much more wear than light. One pair of walking shoes and a pair of walking sandals is enough, too. A second pair of shoes is just too much weight!
Lauri Hart <lhart@zott.com>
Menlo Park , CA USA 04/24/00

While traveling with my family in 1997, we met several people along the way that we enjoyed spending time with...mostly other Americans, but some Europeans as well. Trying to find paper and pen to copy names and addresses was often too much of a hassle, or seemed too presumptuous. For our last trip, I had business cards printed with our names, address, phone number, and e-mail addresses. I used them when we traveled, but I also find they're great to use here at home too.
Susan <stsmith222@aol.com>
Odessa, FL USA 04/23/00

a great suggestion i got off this site: zippered pencil cases, the kind for 3-ring notebooks, to organize travel paperwork. different colored backs, clear fronts, can keep countries' info separate. always take: watch, ear plugs, sleep medication, swiss army knife, small flashlight.
sue
seattle, wa USA 04/21/00

Protein shakes — like Spirutein — the kind that come in envelopes, are easily packable. I get hypoglycemic when I go too long without eating — and jet lag makes it worse, especially in the mornings. So this way I can feed my brain some protein and vitamins when needed and stay focused — and not overspend on food or coffee.

USA 04/19/00

I went to Italy last spring. In Venice the climate was warm, but chilly at night. In Florence it was sunny, but very windy and cold. And in Assisi, there was rain and snow. What I wore as a coat was an Adidas lined windbreaker with a hood. It kept me warm and folded nicely into my backpack and dried quickly.
Nangirl
TX USA 04/18/00

Can't believe that one of the most important items to pack (other than lots of $) hasn't been mentioned. That is a small package of toilet paper! First time I used it was in the rest room at Heathrow! Next time was in one of those educational rest stops in France! Toilet seat covers are useful too.
Betty Ecklund <emecklund@aol.com>
Tacoma, WA USA 04/16/00

Take those photo envelopes and mail your film directly to the developer every time you use a roll. Solves the problem of Xrays and you don't have to lug the used rolls around.

USA 04/12/00

I never used that tacky rain poncho — just used my umbrella, windbreaker, and a trashbag for my pack. A poncho is a waste of weight and space!

USA 04/12/00

I had no need for a bathrobe, as I took showers late, but I did take those shower slippers...great!

USA 04/10/00

I learned this in the Air Force, when I could not wash for days: For you men out there, cut your hair! Wear a flat top. You stay cool and it takes nothing to wash.

I also have the smallest Sony shortwave I take everywhere.
Bill Cox
Wenatchee , WA USA 04/08/00

I tucked a shoe horn in my bag and used it to put on shoes at the end of a long flight — from now on I will always travel with this item.
kbm
anacortes, wa USA 04/07/00

Whenever I visit a new country, city, or major attraction, I pick up a small embroidered patch. I sew these patches onto my rucksack to make great souvenirs. Even when visiting a country for the second or third time, I still buy a new, different patch. This way I can look at my Back Door Bag and remember, "I bought that patch on Piazza Navona at 4:00 a.m. on my first trip to Italy..." A brush of rubber cement on the inside of the bag over the stiches keeps all moisture out.
Adam Johnson-Howe <swimWY@aol.com>
Chicago, IL USA 04/03/00

If you can't take the strong European coffee, pack along a couple dozen Hershey's chocolate kisses and drop one in each cup of coffee...it tastes just like a mocha cappucino.
Jim T <jsnack@prodigy.net>
San Pedro, CA USA 03/31/00

[Editor's note: Or, use the opportunity to sample the vast array of incredible European chocolates — see Graffiti board on that topic!]

Pack a travel iron — best investment I ever made. Lately I've visited Egypt, France and Italy, and always feel rumpled compared to the natty locals. Felt much better when able to iron up my shirts and pants. Also, if you wash your own clothes, this is a godsend as far as drying the clothes is concerned. They usually have collapsible handles, and they don't add TOO much weight to your bags. Cheers!
A. Horn <ahorn@corp.home.net>
Redwood City, CA USA 03/30/00

Re: shampoo bars (see below): I've used them before and I've found that if you stick the bar in one of those tubular mesh bags (the kind that some produce gets bagged in — -the same plastic material that those shower poufs are made of), you can not only scrub the bar right onto your head through the mesh, but you can also hang it to dry. Just stick it in and tie it in a knot — you can them loop it over your hand. Easy.
Kelly <kel_true@hotmail.com>
Seattle, WA USA 03/27/00

Shampoo bars are a great way to avoid leaking bottles. I found a shop called Lush (they are on the Web) that makes solid shampoo in many varieties for all hair types. The bars can also be used in a pinch as body or laundry soap. The bars are thin and about the diameter of my palm. I first tried them at home, where I got about two or three months' use out of one bar. For travel I just wrapped the bar in the paper it came in (or get a small piece of butcher or freezer paper from your grocer) and slid it into a baggie. I am a bit of a hedonist when it comes to my hair, so these compact bars are a great way to pack 2 types of shampoo that not only take up little space, but also NEVER LEAK!
Deborah <athenedk@aol.com>
Portland, OR USA 03/24/00

[Editor's note: Neutrogena makes a great bar shampoo, too — sold in most drugstores.]

Travelers, it's time to baby your skin! Whether at home or on the road I always use a "baby" washcloth. They are soft, lightweight, dry quickly and take up less room in your bag.
Kirsten Valleskey <stamperkay@hotmail.com>
East Wenatchee, WA USA 03/23/00

Here are some things I took to Scandinavia on my 1999 trip — and now won't leave home without:

1. A disposable panoramic camera: The pictures came out better than I expected. It's not just for stunning vistas — you can give "normal" shots of people and buildings an expanded perspective that you'll appreciate when you look at your album later on — and when you show it off to other people.

2. A Swiss Army card: It's from the makers of the knife, and it packs just about everything on the knife into something that's about the thickness of two or three credit cards. Mine has a knife, a pen, a toothpick, tweezers, scissors, a nail file, and a ruler. It's so small, and now I don't have to worry about airport security getting upset over a Swiss Army knife.

And here's another tip: When I'm overseas, I love collecting maps, brochures, postcards, free city guides, etc. After a while that gets really heavy to lug around. So I go to the post office and ship a big chunk of it home (you can even bring a padded envelope and tape from home so that you're prepared). I choose the slowest (and cheapest) method of shipping so I can be sure I will be back home when it arrives.
Charles Buchanan <cpb@hiwaay.net>
Birmingham , AL USA 03/13/00

Bring a disposible camera. If you want someone to take a picture of you in front of the Eiffel Tower, you won't worry so much about having your camera stolen. It's worth the extra space in your bag!

USA 03/12/00

There are all sorts of great posts about things to pack. But I've found that for me, some of the most important things are the ones that I do before I even start packing. Things to do before you leave:

— take a self-defense course. Regardless of whether you're male or female, this will teach you to be more aware and confident...and that will make your trip a much better (and safer) one.
— take a few sketching courses. It doesn't matter if you don't have any artistic talent...most people can learn to draw simple things. Wonderful for people/place-watching in a quiet park, or for those places where cameras aren't allowed!
— learn some simple origami. You can usually find instruction books in the children's section of your public library. You'd be amazed at how far a paper swan or frog can go, especially when there's a whimpering toddler in the train with you (you'll be loved by everyone on board!) — it's already been said, but it bears repeating: exercise before you go. Walk or take your bike to work. The strength and endurance that you gain will be GREATLY appreciated when your hostel is still 7 kms away. — plan on AT LEAST 24 hours of relaxing before you leave. Last-night parties complete with drinking binges are NOT a good idea before a long plane ride followed by weeks/months of intense and different experiences. — don't promise things that you won't be able to deliver (such as gifts for everyone, phone calls twice a week, daily e-mails).
— for those days that you CAN access e-mail, set up a mailing list. They are free, and will allow you to e-mail everyone at once...it keeps you from being overwhelmed by the 30 messages you just read, all demanding news and stories. Check out www.onelist.com for free mailing lists.

Keep an open mind, and you will have an amazing trip! Happy trails!
imbri <imbrii@hotmail.com>
canada 03/12/00

For the journal keepers wanting to keep momentoes such as tickets and stuff, try photo stickers...a box of 500 is lighter than a roll of two-sided tape.
Jim <jfdemoo@aol.com>
Colorado Springs, CO USA 03/11/00

Let's face it, not everyone's a photographer. I personally have never had the gift — not that my pictures are awful, but they're just sort of colorless and lifeless, and the taking of them has always been an obligatory part of going anywhere exotic.

A few years ago I decided on an alternate method of "preserving memories," and I've never gone back. I left my camera at home and packed a better journal instead. Rather than photographing the sights with a camera, I tried to "photograph" them with my memory, taking a few notes as I went to remind me of sights and smells, sounds and feelings and impressions that made a particular place or encounter special. In the evening or on long train rides — or even on the flight home — I wrote it all out, like a long letter to myself, setting down the things I especially wanted to remember.

This had an unexpected side result — when I got home, just for fun I typed it all out for my parents to read, since they were disappointed that I didn't have the requisite photo album to show them. Their version was somewhat censored of course, since my parents didn't need to read about the lovely Italian tour guide I met, nor would they have enjoyed my deep philosophical ramblings...even in its shortened form it wound up being 21 pages describing a 10-day tour. Six months later when I flew to Maine to visit them, I discovered that half their neighborhood and most of the local church congregation had passed my little travelogue around (making me VERY glad I had censored it!) and it became the source of many very wonderful conversations and even new friends, much more so than any assortment of photos I've ever seen.
JKB <JKBJenn@aol.com>
Chicago, IL USA 03/10/00

I found many things at my local Long's Drug store that are sold in Magellan's catalog, AND for a cheaper price! INFLATABLE coat hangers (for Helen, below), luggage straps, nail polish remover pads, packets of Woolite, etc. Don't let the excitement of your trip get to you and 'overplan' with 'travel stuff'. Every dollar saved here is one you can spend there!

Palm Springs, CA USA 03/08/00

Many of the small, European hotels (the type we enjoy!) provide towels, but not washcloths! I remembered this ahead of time on our last trip and brought a natural sponge (synthetic would work fine, too) in a ziplock bag. It was perfect! Works great and air-dries faster than a cloth!
marianne
madison, wi USA 03/06/00

Magellan's catalog has everything you want to know about every country's voltage, plug sizes, adapters, etc. plus filled with anything needed for travel. Magellan's is on the net — just ask for a catalog. Another absolutely great catalog for travel clothes is Travel Smith, also on the net. Although I don't recommend their Coolmax product — they pill in one wearing — I have been pleased with everthing else I have ordered there. L.L. Bean also has a great travel catalog. They all make for pleasant and informative reading.
Janis
CT USA 03/01/00

Get connected! Go to www.franzus.com for a guide to voltages in foreign countries and the type of adapter plug needed by country. This can be helpful if you have a bag of unmarked adapters like I do.
Colleen Leslie <colleen.leslie@srcorp.com>
Oakhurst, nj USA 02/29/00

Dual-purpose slippers: Take a pair of those swim shoes! They are comfy enough to wear as slippers, pack light and small, and serve as beach shoes or to wear on the airplane (elastic so allow room for swelling). Seriously folks, these are comfy critters and can be worn w/a couple pairs of socks if need be (I use this idea for backpacking/camping). Since mine are in black, they just look like casual flats. Your feet will thank you!
Lori <lorino@johnlscott.com>
Seattle, WA USA 02/28/00

I have very thick hair and found it way to hard to wash out all the shampoo, with the low water pressure of many European hotels. So my sister and I occasionally went to the local beauty salon instead, and got our hair washed and dryed for 7 bucks — not bad, and it was fun. It only took an hour and we did it in the early morning. And a professional wash and dry can last for days. This solved our problem and it ended up being a wonderful experience. This is not for everyone...but for those of us who like a little pampering on vacation, it's worth it!
Laura <elropoknight@earthlink.net>
San Francisco, CA USA 02/28/00

One of the luxuries of going on an extended trip with a shoestring budget is clean hair. I complained to my stylist once that I couldn't seem to get my hair clean on my latest trip. She thought it might be the soft water that made shampoo difficult to rinse out. She then suggested that the next time I go on a trip I should pack a travel-size shampoo that works well with soft water (e.g. Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Shampoo). I'm going to Great Britain in a couple of months and I'll be carrying along two travel-size shampoos — one for hard water and one for soft water. You don't have to be a chemist to figure it out — if the soap lathers readily and there seems to be a slick film on your hands when washing, then the water is soft. If you have to really work to get a lather or it seems you need more shampoo to achieve a lather, then the water is hard. This should help with styling your hair away from home.
Julie
USA 02/28/00

We always travel with a small, folding pair of binoculars. They are 10-power but small, and they are wonderful for viewing from church towers and mountains, but they also have an unexpected use that save some walking: You can use them to read a street sign from several blocks away.

We also carry a metal mirror which is great for viewing decorated ceilings.
Charles Luther <charlesluther@msn.com>
Katy, TX USA 02/26/00

You don't have to send away to a catalogue for soap leaves; we found nice little travel packages of soap leaves at our local Bath and Body Works.
TMWeddle <TMWeddle@aol.com>
Columbus, OH USA 02/25/00

Safety pins: the unknown anti-theft device! Whenever I am traveling with my small daypack I secure the zippers together with large safety pins. This makes a pickpocketer's job much more difficult.
Colleen Leslie <colleen.leslie@srcorp.com>
Oakhurst, NJ USA 02/24/00

My cheap, lightweight instant picnic kit: fill a medium-size plastic container (the airtight kind for two sandwiches) with spoon (handle can double as a butter knife) and a polyester napkin. I've found this very handy for on hikes and train trips.
Amy McLarty <mclarty@texas.net>
Dallas, TX USA 02/24/00

I don't leave for Europe without a supply of mini-packs of Kleenex. Not only can you carry a pack with you each day for any TP emergencies, but these little bundles of softness work well in your suitcase or pack to cushion breakable items.
Sheramy <sbundri@emory.edu>
Atlanta, GA USA 02/19/00

The "extra" that I always try to take with me to Europe is a friend who has never been before. Remember the excitement of your very first visit abroad? Well, recapture that feeling by going with a first-timer. I went to Germany last fall and only one person in our group of 20 had never been to Europe. But her presence made all the difference! Her enthusiam was contagious, and I had a blast rediscovering places I thought I knew.
Sharon <tab49@primeline.com>
NC USA 02/19/00

This is a thank-you for a tip I got off this board which works fabulously. Pencil holders (the kind meant to go into 3-ring binders, clear front, colored back with a zipper) to store your paperwork. You can color-code by country and have your fax reservation, map, etc. on the way in and store ticket stubs, unwritten postcards, restaurant business cards, etc. on the way out. Beautiful system.
suse
seattle, USA 02/18/00

On a recent trip sharing a room with other travelers, I used my mother's old trick for instant freshening of the bathroom (or of any room that has an unpleasant odor): light a wood match or two. It zaps any odors pretty quickly and replaces with a nice woodsy smell, couldn't be more space efficient and best of all, you can pick them up for free from most hotels and restaurants.
Alisa <akstarke@hotmail.com>
Chicago, IL USA 02/16/00

I love those little eye masks that British Airways hands out, and keep them to use in hotels with inadequate curtains.

I take a little tin of solid hand salve (made by Burt's Bees) instead of lotion; it smells like lemons and keeps my hands from cracking in dry weather.

And for whoever complained about remembering three little numbers for a combination luggage lock — two words, folks: area code. You already know it, right?
A. <alesi@iname.com>
Cambridge, MA USA 02/11/00

For a safe, healthy way to repel mosquitoes & other biting insects on your trip...take one Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) tablet daily starting about a month before the bug season. There isn't any danger of toxicity because this is a water-soluble vitamin. B1 doesn't taste nasty to you but makes you smell nasty to the insect, therefore it won't attempt to taste you. (But it doesn't make you smell nasty to other people!) Be sure to continue taking it daily throughout the season. My dr. recommended this method to me several years ago & it really works.

USA 02/11/00

I find my electronic organizer is invaluable. It has my addresses, can store other useful information such as airline phone numbers or ticket/passport/padlock numbers, etc., has a calculator for currency conversions, and can even be used as a trip diary. As you meet people on your travels, you can add them to the database. No losing those addresses in the bottom of your pack. It's light and takes up almost no room. Word of warning though: Make sure you change your backup battery before a long trip. It would be horrible to lose all that data, though they do give reminders of low batteries.
Kylie <ktreen@hotmail.com>
Mt Vernon, IL USA 02/11/00

I have made trips to Europe a couple of times lately and I have found that a denim jumper is a great item for any age woman to take. Not light but very durable and can be worn with short or long sleeves underneath. Also it doesn't show the dirt! This has really been an important item for me on several trips!
Pat Cawthorne <CNADIAN>
VA USA 02/04/00

This works especially well when dealing with multiple currencies: I buy a small, cheap calculator, and tape a table of exchange rates to the back. For quick exchanges, I also break out the currency in $1, $50, and $100 equivalents. For more complex transactions, just use the calculator.
EllenB <terrier@earthlink.net>
Milwaukee, USA 01/24/00

Before leaving on a trip, I make up 3x5 cards with precalculated money exchange values on it. For example, in Germany, I will calculate the value of 50 pfennings, DM 1, DM 2, through to DM 10, then 5DM intervals. As I enter each country, I can pull out the appropriate card and quickly estimate the prices of goods and services. It's not exact, but provides a quick frame of reference, so I don't feel hopelessly stupid when confronted with price lists. The exchange rates are easily found in the business section of most newspapers.
Amy
CA USA 01/23/00

Don't forget jewelry. Sounds silly but on my last three-month trip to England my mother said not to bring any jewelry. I regreted it and will never again go without at least a few basic items to make me feel beautiful.

I have learned to e-mail myself, to a hotmail or free account, such things as my passport number and other such items so not to carry it with me but I can have access at any time. It works well.
KR Carter <krcarter@ix.netcom.com>
Concord, CA USA 01/23/00

When we spent 18 days in France and Italy in the fall, I used clear, plastic, zippered pouches that bedroom linens are packaged in to organize my clothing and toiletries in my packpack. They were great for keeping clean and dirty clothing and anything damp or potentially leaky separate.

We also packed compact, sturdy picnic silverware from Magellan — worked great!! It was worth the space to take along soothing footcream and good, fragrant body moisturizer.

Also, we followed Rick's advice to carry one backpack each, BUT, we put them on sturdy, collapsible carts, which worked well everywhere, even Venice, and we were very glad we did.

Finally, we purchased a large duffel bag in Rome to pack our various valuable purchases and belongings in, carried that bag on the flight and checked our backpacks through, so that if the backpacks were lost (which they were in Atlanta) for a few days, we wouldn't mind!
Susan Rebillot <rebillot@gte.net>
St. Petersburg, Fl USA 01/18/00

I just got back from Paris. My friend brought the coffeepot, I brought the adapter and converter. She had packed coffee and a can of evaporated milk; poke a hole with your Swiss army knife, and it's cafe latte. We just put the can on the windowsill to keep it fresh.

I take my slippers on the plane (get ones with rubber soles). They're kind of bulky, but your feet don't get gross in the bathroom.
Betheny Winkler <scubawinks@msn.com>
kingwood, tx USA 01/16/00

I know this sounds weird, but I pack a small tube of Ben-gay. It makes my tired feet feel great and comes in an unscented version.
Dodie <dvaughnprice@hotmail.com>
Alma, GA USA 01/14/00