Danna

1. funnel and Coffee Filters. If only we had read this before our trip! <BR>2. Anything Ben Haines says or writes. He is a saint and helped with those few postings that no one responded to and he helped via email. He is a saint. Thank you!

Mike

Also take careful note of BOB THE NAVIGATOR. <BR> <BR>Shouldn't Fodor's be publishing these two's collected postings?

Bette

Well, I just want to say I think Ben Haines should be knighted by Her Majesty for being a goodwill ambassador for the UK.

***

I must strongly disagree with the no-hairdryer advice. If you use one at home, take one with you so you don't have bad hair and get cold. On top of that, hair dryers make great sock-and-undies dryers.

Helpful

It's been moved and seconded that in the future, they shall be referred to as: <BR> <BR>Sir Ben Haines <BR>and <BR>Sir Bob (The Navigator) <BR> <BR>

Danna

the motion passes! To Sir Ben and Sir Bob!

Nancy

One of the things I've started doing is keeping a scrapbook of our special trips. I buy a nice album, preferably with the black pages and the corners to attach pictures. I also try to include brochures of the nicer places we stay and place that made an impression on us. It really is a nice treat to sit back and look at it - it really brings back the memories. <BR> I've also kept journals in the past - it's well worth the extra effort. I made a food journal once of all the wonderful meals I ate in Paris. It was a lot of fun. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Mike

Speaking of photography, consider visiting my URL at www.footloosetravel.com/photoarchive.html. Enjoy the photos and tips. Sincerely, Mike

Lynn

Lynne: I second your zip-lok bag advice. We packed everything in plastic bags and it was so easy to fit even bulky stuff in the suitcase that way.

ann

For digital camaera users - what method of storage do you use while traveling? My last trip to Europe I took about 30 rolls of film (over 3 weeks) - which I found to be about right - I wasn't constantly looking thrugh the lens but had plenty of shots to discard the poor ones and still have a great selection to keep. Now I have just bought a digital camera but havn't yet figured out the best way to store those shots (the ones you don't delete at the end of each day) till I get home. Any one have any suggestions?

Bill

Ann: <BR>Unless you are taking a laptop and downloading at the end of the day, the only option is to buy more memory cards. You can rationalize the cost by figuring out how much it would cost to develop conventional pictures over a long stretch, but if you take a lot of shots it's going to be a pretty hefty investment... depending of course on whether you set the camera on high, medium, or low resolution. You can get a TON of low-res pictures on an 8 or 16 meg card.

Linda

Ann, There is something called a Digital Wallet that holds 6 Gigabytes of data. <BR>Here is the addy: <BR>http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/DW/DWA.HTM <BR>I have no affiliation with this company, just have been in the same boat as you wondering how to store all the pictures I expect to take during a 6 week trip to <BR>Europe. <BR> <BR>This looks like just the thing we are looking for. Now all I have to do is figure out which camera to get! <BR> <BR>Linda

Annette

One tip I learned from Wes Fowler: Write to tourist boards, major and totally obscure: you're be amazed at the stuff they will send you!!

DJ

Diane, <BR> <BR>A $20 rolling backpack? What luggage store? The one's I've been looking at (Swiss Army) are running more like $200 and up. When trying on the various rolling backpacks, assuming I'll actually use it as a backpack also, I'm looking for comfort in the spine and padded hip and back supports. The Swiss Army back pack has a curved bar to ergonomically fit the spine, but for $20 I'll look at something else.

carolyn

Learned from Fodors: <BR> <BR>1. Do not wear white shoes. <BR>2. Do not wear black socks with sandals. <BR>3. Do not try to walk on cobblestones in thin-soled or high-heeled shoes. <BR>4. Do not wear crispy pink running suits. <BR>5. Do not wear t-shirts with messages. <BR>6. Do not wear a (or even use the word) f---y pack. <BR>7. Do not wear shorts. <BR>8. Do not wear jeans. <BR>9. Do not talk loudly. <BR>10. Do have a good trip. <BR> <BR>Since I am soon to join the Medicare club, I'm taking this stuff seriously. <BR> <BR>

Katherine

Diane - Rick Steves now has great quality backpacks for exactly $100. It's not exactly $20 but it sure beats $200 stuff of comparable quality. <BR> <BR>Carolyn - I'll look for you in my travels. During August you'll be the woman wearing a long-sleeved white blouse, black trousers, thick soled penny loafers, carrying a day pack in front (lest it get stolen), and whispering to all you meet. Have fun!

Topper

Any more tips?

carolyn

Katherine, don't forget to look for my Fodor's pin. It will give that certain flair to my otherwise plain outfit. That's if it doesn't fall out of the envelope at the Post Office.

joy

Thanks for the list. Why was going first class on Eurostar worth it?? <BR> <BR>Also, did you get your ticket in advance and where did you find the best price?

Parag

I fully agree with Lynn.The best advice about a place or a hotel ,I have got it on Forum.A few of my tips are : <BR>1)I got this on the last page of my Lonely planet guide.It has been always a moral booster whenever I have felt sceptical about my plans. <BR>'DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHETHER YOUR TRIP WILL WORK OUT.JUST GO!' <BR>2)Carry a whistle in case you are separated from your companion in crowd.Work out a contingency plan in advance in case such a thing happens.Decide what you will do.I had a hard time before boarding a train from Paris to Lucern,in a similar situation & I was running to & fro on the platform yelling out my wife's name.We could just manage to board the train 2 min. before departure, when I cited her. <BR>2)Carry a thin waist pouch inside your clothes,with notes of larger denominations/t.c.s which you don't need frequently. <BR>3)If you are on a shoe string budget,carry tea bags or coffee bags,sugar tablets & dairy whitner.The tap water is quite hot.You can save some time & money.Tea at a remote hotel in Switzerland may cost you equal to 20% of your room tarrif. <BR>4)Take a painkiller or Paracitamol tablet in the middle of a hectic siteseeing day,a bit earlier than your tiring limit.It saves a lot of trouble .You are much fresher in the later part of the day & can really enjoy whatever you do. <BR>5)Don't plan an outdoor stay for more than 12 to 13 hours a day;in case you are shuttling from one base.You will ruin your next day.