"I'm so glad I packed ______"
So I have read all the packing lists that tell you what is helpfull and whats un-necessary, but I am still one of those people who manage to forget something important, or I dont think of something that could be a big help.
Im wondering what some of those things are for others. What did you bring along "just incase" and then couldnt live without on your trip? OR, what do you regret not bringing?
Lillie
Tacoma, WA United States 9/19/08
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I forgot to add that i will be traveling in May and June.
Various sizes of ziploc bags (snack, sandwich, gallon,etc...) because they come in handy and you always need them for something on your trip.
Three summers ago, I decided to throw in a pair of Nike sandals and seriously considered leaving them in the trunk of my car at the airport parking while we were away. Luckily, I didn't because the heat was horrible for the entire month we were gone. I never once wore my tennis shoes and everyday was so glad I had the cool, comfortable, well padded sandals. Therefore, in the heat of summer, I would definitely put in a pair.
In addition, last summer our luggage was lost for sixteen days out of twenty-eight. As silly as it sounds, the thing I missed the most was my nail clippers! With having to buy emergency clothes, I never seemed to think of nail clippers while in a department store but sure thought of them as I needed them.
I just got back from Spain, and I'm very glad I decided to take my MacBook Pro laptop computer along. It was very useful because I stayed in hotels that had free wi fi.
Having a computer lets you do Google searches to find things you need to know, such as maps of places you want to visit, recommended restaurants, train schedules, etc.
My laptop worked find in Spain. Apple's AC adapter works seamlessly on either American (110) or European (220) current. All you need is a small adapter plug so that you can plug it in to Spanish wall plugs, which are different from U.S.
I saw these items at a dollar store last year, picked a pack up for a dollar. They were great!!
They were clothes pins that had a hanger type neck, so you could hang up each item on each pin,, in Venice we had shutters on the window, so I closed the shutters, and was able to hook about 10 items( socks and undies) on the inside of the shutters, close the window( didn't want bugs, plus a/c was on) and the heat of outside dried items in an afternoon, and no one sees them, not even the maid who cleaned the room as I left the curtains drawn.. took zero room or weight ( plastic) .
Ziplock baggies,, love them for many things.
Powered wash stuff, concentrated, "Forever New" I think it was called, rinsed out so easily and only less then a tablespoon per sink meant we came home wiht some left over( after 3.5 weeks)
After many years of refining my perfect packing list (that gets updated after every trip), my trip is more enjoyable when aside from clothing and my passport, I remember to pack: chapstick or lip balm, dental floss (white/waxed), nail clippers, safety pins, sunscreen, ziplock bags (many sizes from snack to gallon), earplugs, inflatable hangers (don't judge!), duct tape, small hardback journal, and my little iPod Nano.
As CL says, the important thing is to create a packing list now. Write it out longhand and keep it in a convenient place, or put it on your computer. Whatever. Refer to it often and add or subtract as necessary. Sometime, as you near travel time, trial back and see if it's too much or it you have more room. I have used the same packing list for 7 years, now.
We loved the Forever New detergent also but it was very hard to find in the Dallas area. My friend finally found it in one of the more expensive dept stores.
Knee length shorts and capris--it was hot in Italy. I didn't feel self conscious at all--lots of people we wearing them.
Wash cloths--only Switzerland had wash cloths.
Flip flops--even though I had sandals, my flip flops still felt good at the end of the day.
Small, plastic child's plate and a spork for picnics. They were used many times.
Coin purse for all those coins. It was easier than digging in a pocket in my purse.
Nuts--they are my main snack and are hard to find in Europe.
On my permanent packing list: A quart size ziplock bag that is a mini desk-drawer- Post-it notes, post-it flags for guidebooks, hi-liter, pen, permanent marker, clamps/paper clips, stamps (if in US), small notebook, mini address book, address labels for postcards, etc.
Moleskin
Bandannas for multiple uses
Extra ziplock bags in various sizes
Blue chambray long sleeve shirt (RL brand) - it goes everywhere with me.
I agree with Lee. I have my packing list on my computer and I'm constantly changing it. I might find something that works better than what I have on it now, or something new is on the market. I'm always looking for ways to lighten my load.
Then, when I'm ready, I print it out, pack my case, and head out.
I'm a big believer in not sweating the packing list because you can find just about everything you might have forgotten over there.
Just about.
It's worth bringing key over-the-counter remedies with you; aspirin, Pepto, cold tablets and the like. In Europe, most are available only in pharmacies, so you can just walk over to the nearby market to get them. Pharmacies have limited hours.
A tiny flashlight and a clothesline. Both indispensable.
I agree with the small but well- stocked first aid kit. I use a zip-lock and stuff it full...only a couple of the items have to go in the airport security ziplock. It takes up a little room but the peace of mind is so worth it! (After a relative depleted my supply of blister materials I discovered that the 7 euro box of Italian bandaids don't stick!)Many of the items are good indefinitely. When I return home from a trip I discard anything close to expiring and just keep the rest in my bag for storage. When I get lucky enough for a trip I don't really have to do anything but replace a few things. Also- flip flops for hotel room and shower and back- up footwear and Dove or another kind of moist makeup remover pads in the sealed envelopes. They smell so good and are excellent for freshening up in a restroom before dinner or even back at the hotel when in a hurry.
ditto on the ziploc bags and blister materials. In particular, I brought a pack of specific Band-Aid brand blister bandages - they are made out of something different and oh man, they sure did help (they also stayed on for days through miles of walking, bathing, etc). I am also very glad I brought my computer for blogging and skyping and picture organization. I forgot to pick up a clothesline before I left and ended up hanging clothes all over my hotel rooms - the maids must've loved me! I brought a battery-operated travel alarm clock, and it died early on in my trip - I wish I would've had it with me as most of my hotels didn't have clocks and I'm the type who needs to know what time it is the moment I wake up.
Also, I was really glad that I had both a moneybelt AND a neck wallet with me. I used the neck wallet as a mini-purse on days I traveled between cities - that let me stash everything important in the money belt but I still had a little secure pouch that was more easily accessible for a little cash or tickets for days when I was dealing with my luggage. I wasn't expecting to use both, but I did, all the time.
I am revising list after noting some great posts. I too love my battery operated alarm clock, I brought extra batteries just in case also. First aid and drugs, if there is an over the counter remedy made for any common complaint or illness, I have it. .this comes from being a mom, ,, you always need something at 2 am or 100 miles from a drugstore,, so I carry major stock.
I always bring a tiny, battery powered alarm clock and a tiny flashlight. A hand-held compass comes in handy too when you come out of a subway and don't know which way to go.
I have a picnic kit--a small nylon stuff sack with plastic cutlery, an oversized handkerchief (for makeshift tablecloth), a yogurt-tub-top "cutting board," and a zip-lock with a moistened washcloth (for clean up).
I have to laugh at myself. I once owned a small, battery powered alarm clock that was radio controlled to keep accurate time. I always took the batteries out when it was in my suitcase as one time the alarm got pushed during travel and then went off. This worked well until the summer we went to Turkey. I could not figure out why my clock didn't work. I had completely forgotten about it being radio controlled and that once I got more than 1500 km away, it no longer got a signal from the radio tower. Boy, did I feel like a dunce. I quite like wind-up clocks too. No batteries to mess with!
all this battery talk reminded me that I bought a small rechargeable battery kit and took 4 AAs and 2 AAAs with me (the camera I had took AAs). This helped immensely and now I use the kit all the time actually and save money on batteries! Never had to worry about having batteries, especially for my camera but for a couple other tings too like my toothbrush etc. Unfortunately the clock I had with me literally died, just wouldn't turn on. It was probably a piece of junk ;)
I always have a mini (and I mean mini) flashlight clipped to my day bag. Very helpful for finding whatever it is you've dropped while asleep on the plane. In addition I have a alarm clock from Brookstone (o/a $30) that can be switched from just an alarm clock to alarm clock/nightlight to alarm clock flashlight. Mighty useful at night when walking in a strange place. I also always bring a nightlight (or buy one in the EU). Plug it in in the bathroom. No more having to sear my eyeballs out by turning on the light at 4 a.m. I too bring a variety of zip lock bags.
So many of the items that people are listing are very useful. But I just want to remind you that unless you forget your passport, airline tickets, or ATM/CC (or whatever means you have to access cash), everything else can be replaced if it has to be. And of course, you won't get far if you leave your passport or tickets at home, so really your ATM/CC are the most important in my book.
I'm a lot like you and I packed and repacked and worried about what I forgot, but when push comes to shove, you can buy things in Europe if you have to - even if you don't want to have to :)
Have a great trip!
I am glad I packed lip-balm/chapstick and a pair of tennis shoes. I thought I was crazy to pack 2 pair of sandals (I was recomended to rotate to prevent blisters... it works) and a pair of tennis shoes. However... London had an unusually cold week and my feet were freezing I was so glad I packed the tennis shoes.
I never once used my make-up.
I bring pre-printed address labels for everyone I want to send a postcard to. Ginger chew candies for motion sickness. Sunblock.
On the train lots?? concider a long handeled window squeege.. Hours looking through a clean window is great and you make friends cleaning others windows . I know this sounds nuts but it really works
Yes, you can buy things over there but I found their pharmacies to be very small and very limited. We had a very hard time finding contact solution. The 3 oz bottle didn't last three weeks.
I'd rather not spend precious vacation time looking.
A ziplock bag for my passport and other things in my money belt. It was very warm and the ziploc saved my things from getting ruined. A windbreaker/raincoat which was great at keeping me warm and dry and was very light to carry.
Regarding contact lens solution: I no longer wear contact lens but when I did I would never travel without my specific brand. You can't find a lot of the same brands in small pharmacies in Europe. One of my friends recently returned from France. She wears contacts and took the larger bottle and checked her suitcase to accomdoate the larger bottle of liquid. I don't think that is necessary. I think you should be able to carry the larger bottle on in a ziplock bag specifically for medical needs. My prescriptions/medical needs are in a separate ziplock bag from my qt size with assorted sundry/cosmetic items.
My friend and I are going to Ireland next year. Has anyone tried carrying on larger containers of contact lens solution?
Usually, the stipulation is that you can take enough on board for your flight--liquids & gels--and the rest be put in your checked baggage.
You can carry more than one three ounce container of contact lens solution. Just as long as it all fits in the 3-1-1 bag.
Over the counter meds larger than 3 oz would be prohibited unless you had a note from your doctor--and even then it would be questionable.
Remember, the carry-on allowance is only supposed to be enough for your flight. The TSA doesn't care that you want to carry it all on because you don't want to check a bag.
If you do take the risk, it might be confiscated and you'll have nothing. Or, they might let you get out of line, put it in 3 oz bottles (which you have brought with you), put it in your 3-1-1 bag and then get back in line. And just think how long that might take. Makes sense to just use the smaller bottles in the beginning and find alternatives for other things in the 3-1-1 bag.
Adding on to the top since the edit button isn't working:
However, there is so much inconsistancy with TSA, you might find someone who will let you take it on. But you will have to declare it like you do any other med over 3 oz.
I used my itsy bitsy flashlight many times, my compass too. It was easy to get turned around after so much walking around in circles, and when it got dark. Loved my alarm clock with a light too. I forgot to bring some Visine, my eyes really needed the relief, and purchased some in Zurich: a teeny, tiny bottle for 10CHF ($10).
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