The advice on copies of your passport is good - make copies ofg your drivers license as well...you won't be driving, but it is a photo ID.

One lesson I learned several years ago is about ATMs....remember your account is on US time ev en though you are not....the daily limit applies, but it is the US day....the late night withrawl will be on the next day and you can't take more out until the next day....think about it, it's easy once you ar aware

The Universal Packing List is one of the most comprehensive that I've seen. Thanks Judy. There are many more on line if you google for "europe packing list" on the web.

Some additional ideas for Katelynn:

Dress in layers. Wear a turtle neck sweater and a windbreaker, leather if you have one. Wear your sweater on the plane because it gets cold up there. Pack cap and gloves also. Wear rubber sole shoes, but not tennies.

Bring a couple of sandwiches and a beverage with you to the airport. You'll be there hours before the plane departs and airport food is ugly and expensive.

Bring your guidebooks for last minute cramming. Borrow some from your library.

Do not nap during the day. You'll be on jet lag for a few days but don't surrender. Get some sleep on the plane. Hopefully you'll be flying during your normal sleeping time but if the plane departs during the afternoon this will be a problem. In that case get up very early, about 3am, on your day of departure.

In Paris on your free evening stroll the left bank, the Latin Quarter, from Blvd. St. Michel to St. Germain.

Keep a diary and take photos. They will be valuable souvenirs for years to come.

Avoid contact with people on the street. If someone distracts you or bumps into you check to see that you still have your wallet and watch. Pickpockets are amazingly gifted.

Bring a day bag or oversized purse for incidentals like extra film, your diary, a roll of toilet paper, guidebook, map, etc. Do not put any valuables in your daybag, e.g. cash, passport, camera. Keep your camera in your hand so you can use it. Check around your seat whenever you leave a restaurant or rail car for whatever you may have left behind. You will be totally distracted by the surroundings and your classmates, making it easy to forget things.

As has been mentioned, this is a whirlwind of a trip. It will be like seeing Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York in the same time frame.

Have fun. Bon voyage!

"Bring a day bag or oversized purse for incidentals like extra film, your diary, a roll of toilet paper, guidebook, map, etc "

a roll of toilet paper ????? Are you out of your mind ?

Yeah, I always carry around a roll when I am sightseeing in NYC.

well, maybe not a roll of TP, but a mini-pack of tissue (kleenex) serves multiple purposes. Yes, Europe is civilized but I have been in toilets were the danged tourists in front of me had used up all the t.p. It does happen (even in the US).

Hello Katelynn. Here are my tips:
Please alert your credit card company that you will be "in the following countries on these dates" so that they don't shut your credit card down while on vacation.
Also, please alert your ATM company so they can activate your card for Europe. I just did this with my bank. I've also heard that pins that start with zero are not recognized by European ATMs. Some people say "malarky" and others say "depends on what country"....just something to be aware of.
I do not check bags, unless it's coming home & I bought too much stuff. I have had bags lost and it's the worst thing to be spending a limited time on vacation buying stuff you might not necessarily want because you NEED something to wear. But if you do check, please make sure you have some necessary items in your carry-on to get you through a few hours before the shops open.
I bring disposable clothing on vacation...things like old socks, old underwear, tshirts that I have too many of and just need to "clean out the drawers a bit". It makes more room in your bag on the way home for goodies you've purchased! I always pack a fold up duffle bag in my carry on bag. If I purchase too much stuff for the ride home, it unzips and is a good size bag. I then will check all my dirty clothes and keep all my souvenirs with me...just in case they lose the bag. This way I'm insured that everything new makes it home.
More places in Europe than USA do not take credit cards...they only want cash. It's just not like the USA. Make sure you have at least some Euros & Swiss Francs when arriving. I found in Switzerland that they will take Euro but their conversion rate is ridiculous (this happened when I went to use the toilet).
Come home with no change. Banks or other companies won't take loose change to convert back to dollars.
Bring a passport belt or something that hangs around your neck under your clothes. I thought this was dumb but a woman in a camping store told me she had been mugged twice, in Italy and England, and the only thing that saved her was having her passport and most of her money around her waist, under her pants. She said they used a knife in England and cut her arm open in addition to losing her purse. After hearing her story, I bought the belt.
Hit the dollar store before going for an umbrella and other things you can dispose of once the trip is over. It rained for the 5 days I was in Paris this summer and the umbrella came in very handy. It just never came home with me. But some Parisian croissants did in its place!
Bring an electric converter with you if you need more than a hairdryer. Most places have a hairdryer in the room. I needed it for my rechargeable batteries for my digital camera. I felt that lugging it around was better than paying for new batteries everyday. I brought 8 batteries and 4 were in my camera and the other 4 were charging in the room while I was out or while I was sleeping.
Keep loose change on you in each country (and then use it up before leaving the country) in case you need to use the toilet. I haven't been to London but most European countries charge you to use their toilet.
Have a great time!

One more question: we're going to be in London for New Year's Eve. Any suggestions?

Most people on this site are older - not 16-17 years old like your tour group. You might try the thorn tree forum on the lonely planet website for some ideas from younger people.

Your ACIS tour director will know which clubs etc. will be available for students.

Hey Snuffy,
You say:
"a roll of toilet paper ????? Are you out of your mind ?
"Yeah, I always carry around a roll when I am sightseeing in NYC"

I ask:
In which European country is NYC?

As the Boy Scouts say:
Be prepared.

I would advise not to take a suitcase on rollers. Take some kind of backpack or dufflebag. As a chaperone who helped load and unload bags for 2 1/2 weeks I tell you that wheels add weight to the bag. You will be walking up and down stairs as there are not many elevators in old European hotels. The wheels will not help you get up stairs.

I've done the Paris/London-in-a-few-days thing and it's fine... don't listen to the naysayers. This is your chance to get a taste of the cities and then see what you want to visit on your next trip. A few things:

PARIS
If you don't speak French, learn a few key French phrases (e.g. Where is the bathroom; I'm sorry - I don't speak French; Do you speak English?). My favorite phrase is actually "Desole... je suis un Américain stupide" (Sorry - I'm a stupid American). Say it with a humble, self-depricating expression and the French will be lovely to you. Your hotel staff will speak English, but cabbies, cafe workers, museum staffers and postal employees often don't, so please give America a good name by at least asking if they speak English first before saying anything.

Also, two things you should see in Paris: Sainte Chapelle (near Notre Dame... it's literally breathtaking) and the Eiffle Tower (I hear you can ice skate there right now!).

LONDON
The London Eye is fun and a good way to see the city as a whole. I personally love shopping in Covent Garden, especially as it has a few fun shops that aren't too expensive. As for museums, those near Covent Garden (National Gallery) are fantastic. The Royal Academy is also great.

A few things about London: Try the pre-packaged "triangle" sandwiches you see in Marks & Spencer or local shops. They look boring, but they're GREAT (also, Marks & Spencer makes really great underwear and socks). Also, try some of their crazy flavored crisps (potato chips). My sister and I are obsessed with the Branson Pickle flavor. And definitely opt for tea with milk and sugar... it's the national drink.

Also, Street signs there don't look like ours... the street signs are mainly on the buildings, while the things that look like street signs (on posts) are actually tourist markers. To really find your way around, buy a cheap "A to Z" (A to Zed).

PACKING
The last two times I went, I brought a rolling bag with attached zip-off backpack that also converted to a backpack, itself. It was a LIFESAVER, as sometimes it's easier to roll your bag and other times you need to hoist it on your shoulders to walk up stairs.

Don't bring too many pairs of shoes... you'll find you really only need one or two good pairs of walking shoes. My sister didn't listen we wound up using my pidgeon French to mail two of the pairs back to the US in Paris.

Finally, wear a travel wallet. You may not need it, but they're easy to use & they free your shoulders from purse ache.

Have a GREAT time! My sister went to Europe for the first time last year and she's hooked. We're going to London in 2 weeks.