john

first of all, dave's message is a riot. <BR>--pack ONLY what you need; then cut it in half. <BR>--packing to look cool will mean packing to be uncomfortable. <BR>

Martha

Great tips so far... <BR> <BR>Here are three things I don't leave home without: <BR> <BR>small flashlight - great for map reading in car at night, finding your way around a dark hotel room <BR> <BR>compass - helps you find your way on the twisty streets of Europe, as well as when hiking <BR> <BR>swiss army knife w/wine opener ;-)

bitten

After suffering from bug bites and mysterious rashes I went prepared this summer-Benadryl Itch Relief Stick-magical-best $7 I ever spent! Looks like a Magic Marker w/sponge tip.

John

Do your homework. <BR> <BR>Learning something about the history and culture of the places you visit not only is it more respectful of the people you meet, it will make your visit more meaningful and fun. <BR> <BR>

Martha

Two more must carries: <BR>Sample-size bottle of Purel(sp?)Waterless hand cleaner <BR> <BR>Pepcid AC - this is for my husband, always needs it, never packs it himself

PC

Don't bring entire travel books with you. Tear out or photocopy the pages you'll need. Then throw them out as you leave that city.

[email protected]

CARRY YOUR OWN BOTTLE OF KETCHUP!! Their food will taste better with Ketchup. You'd be surprised how many places don't even have it. Plus you won't have to put up with the dirty looks from those French waiters.

andi

This one's for my fellow directionally-impaired. As someone with the world's worst sense of direction (I can't tell you how many times I said "Je suis perdue" my last time in Paris. I'm packing a tiny pad and pen my next trip so I can write where I've been so I can find my way back, e.g. "took a left at the xxx store onto yyyy street." Wish me luck.

chuck

number one rule/tip THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CRISIS AND AN ADVENTURE IS HOW YOU REACT TO THE SITUATION

Russ

<BR>#1.$$$$.Make sure your ATM will work. <BR>A few "just in case" Travelers Checks and some cash. <BR>If wallet lost or stolen reprt it to the police. Had pocket picked in Paris and had it returned -sans cash, three weeks after returning home. <BR>Had BIG ATM problems in China.

wendy

1. bring your own Sweet n low. <BR>2. ALways buy your parents a gift <BR>3. when you leave a hotel in a foreign country, take the matched or a business card to show the taxi driver each time <BR>4. If you like the meal/restaurant where you are eating, ask the owner for a suggestion the next night. <BR>5. always travel with tic tacs <BR> <BR>

Kathy

If two or more travelling together and arrive in town without hotel reservations one of you can stay put at a cafe etc. with all the bags while your partner heads out to find a room.

zz-top

--- <BR> <BR>For Italy: <BR> <BR>Bring several travel packets of kleenex --- enough of a challenge perching on toilet, sans toilet seat--double drag when you suddently realize facilities are sans TP.

Betsy

Some great suggestions! Some more that I have found useful: <BR> <BR>1. Send an e-mail to yourself with the number of your credit card(s) and passport (encoded if you want more security by writing backwards, adding the same digit to each number etc.) Also include the toll-free number of your credit card company. A good back-up to a photocopy of your passport. <BR> <BR>2. Be sure to let your bank and credit card company know that you will be using your cards in a foreign country before you leave so that they won't be blocked while you are trying to use them abroad. <BR> <BR>3. I take a small tape player with me to listen to books on tape when you aren't quite able to go to sleep but your eyes are too tired to read (ie. on the plane or in your hotel room when your biological clock is not yet re-set) <BR> <BR>4. A smile and being able to say "Hello", "Thank you", and "Excuse Me" in the language of your host country go a long way. <BR> <BR>5. Comfortable shoes (2 pair so that you can rotate from day to day) are the most important things you can pack.

Syd

Great tips. More?

Pam

LET CREDIT CARD CO. KNOW YOU WILL BE TRAVELLING! Went to Asia in Feb. and on 2nd day using credit cards, my company stopped my card - thought it had been stolen and was trying to protect me! Took about 2 hours of my precious vacation time to rectify this problem.......Great advice!

elaine

Wow,I am so impressed, and thankful to read these. <BR>Fodor's should store this prominently on the website somewhere so we don't have to watch it eventually sink to the bottom. <BR>Here are mine, I hope they're not repeats, each based on personal experience (read, "challenges"): <BR> <BR>Never pack a bottle of wine (or a glass bottle of anything) in checked luggage. <BR> <BR>If you're arriving late (after 5pm) let your hotel know so they don't give away your room or close down the front desk. <BR> <BR>Bring a corkscrew. <BR> <BR>Bring more film than you need. You'll need it. <BR> <BR>Wear your alledgedly- perfectly comfortable new shoes or sneakers for several days before your trip. <BR> <BR>Check the bus, train, and hours of admission schedules again when you get there; they may have changed. A slight variation of that, is make sure you know the schedule that apply for Sundays and holidays. <BR> <BR>Bring and carry your own tissues <BR>and a few pre-moistened towelettes--they come in handy in under-serviced bathrooms. <BR> <BR>Never assume that your appliances will work well, even with the proper transformer and plug adapters and extension cords. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Skidoo

1. Do not at any time on your trip have all your credit cards in one place/pocket/wallet. That will be the one that gets picked. <BR>2. Hve credit card numbers and phone numbers to report lost cards recorded. <BR>800 numbers cannot be reached from Europe.

jr

those little bottles of liquor can be bought discounted and are mighty handy one need soothing, especially in most countries where liquor is very expensive.

Robin

When traveling with a spouse or SO, pack a few of your things in his bag and vice versa. Very comforting if some of the luggage gets lost or delayed.