Marilyn

I agree about packing light, but not quite as light as Edward suggests. I check one 23" rolling case, and carry on a daypack and a tote that fits over the handle of my suitcase. With these 3 pieces I am mobile and can walk as far as I need to, negotiate stairs if necessary, etc.

It is all very well to suggest going shopping when you get there, but that is not always convenient or practical. (For example, I always have to shorten pants.)

And I should state for the record that I don't actually do a packing dry run, although I think it's a good idea for anyone who is anxious about it. I have used the same bag for so many years now, whether it is a 1-week or 1-month trip, that I know what will fit into it. I rarely buy clothing without thinking of whether it will travel well, so for me it is mostly a lengthy process of putting things together, trying them on, and eventually eliminating about half of the initial selection. I do make a list of what I'm taking, mostly so I can look at it next time and see what I didn't wear.

nbbrown, you sound like you've got it together and are enjoying the anticipation. Good for you!

LoveItaly

A 23 inch suitcase I think is perfect. I got rid of all my other luggage and have what I think is a 29 inch. Too big, and if it is filled up it then is too heavy. And if it is not filled up they everything slids around in it.

Reminder to me, go buy a smaller piece of luggage.

LoveItaly

nbbrown, I have stated this before on other threads but will say it again.

Enjoy your excitement and obsession regarding your first trip to Italy!
I am serious.

All my trips to Italy have been so wonderful but the crazy "I can't sleep feeling because I am going to Italy finally" is something that I look back on and wish I could experience again.

All your questions and wondering about the details should be looked at as a little child does when Christmas is arriving. Remember the anticipation and excitement of Christmas eve?

No hospital trip, LOL. Go rent those DVD's that involve Italy! That was a good idea.

Ozarksbill

Yes!! One third of a trip is in the excitment of planning. This may well include following a list of "to do" and dry run packing. But even so why did I once leave those travelers checks on the desk?

Good idea also reading up on places being visited, including fiction by area authors or about the locations.

Bill in the Ozarks

Poppa

I, too, am an obsessive "planner." On the other hand, many if not most wonderful travel experiences have come by chance. In fact, sometimes my planning has stood in the way of enjoyment.

I counsel moderation.

Unexpected travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God. ... Kurt Vonnegut

tuckerdc

You didn't mention shortness of breath! I literally do get breathless in anticipation as I plan our upcoming trip - something that hasn't happened since our very first overseas journey 20 years ago.

We are getting ready for the 'trip of a lifetime' - (cost-wise, anyway!)that will include a 12 day crossing from Southhampton to Boston - and the planning (and internet browsing)time are occupying a hefty portion of my waking hours. The London tube map isn't quite memorized, but I'm getting a fair-to-middling sense of direction there, something i've never really had before. And when I can't fall asleep, I start fantasizing about our ship cabin...and drift right off.

So yes - this anticipation will be one of the most memorable parts of your trip, so just sink in and revel in it all!

drummer0002

Oh yes, my husband says I have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and the only way to apeace it is planning our next trip!!
I have one coming up in June for three weeks and I am already thinking of our next trip.

cat

I've been obsessing about our upcoming trip to Amsterdam and Switzerland this September for about a month now. I think it's great! I read everything I can about the places, research everything to death and, invariably, we end up having the most awesome trips. The build up is half the fun. Like a few others have already said, it really helps me get through the tough, dismal days of winter and the stresses of work by having something to daydream about and look forward to. In my experience, this type of travel obsession is one of the few things in life that never seems to disappoint (even if the trip doesn't go perfectly). That's the beauty of travel. Welcome to the club!

travelphile

After reading this last night and identifying with it - I dreampt of trip foibles!

As luck would have it, I had gotten a last minute flight deal and didn't have hotels booked! We had all sorts of problems with gates in the airport, then on take-off we left from a hangar - and it didn't seem like the plane would fit out the doors!

Finally, I was on the plane to Venice, met up with our best friends on the plane, and convinced them to stay in Venice with us instead of their original plans to head to Germany. I had forgotten my guidebooks and all my info gathered from Fodors, and was all in a tizzy. Then, I realized that I had the names of the top three budget accommodations for Venice memorized. (La Calcina, Pensione Accademia and I can't remember what the third was in the dream!)

I knew then the trip would be fine. We fould a hotel, then headed off to the stairway that Elaine recently wrote about in a post. (a post I wasn't smart enough to save!)

How's that for obsessed??? I don't leave for Italy until the last week of September!

sandypaws3

drummer,
I'm glad I'm not the only one I obsess about the current trip, and when we get back from that one, I'll start planning the next one and obsessing about it. I enjoy the planning... it's half the fun!

Sandy

kamahinaohoku

Wow - I'm amazed that so many of you get this involved with your planning. I decide what I'm taking on vacation when I pack my suitcase the night before I go. Of course, having taken so many trips, I know to pack light and when I buy travel clothes, everything goes with everything. And I also know that if I do forget something, I can either do without it, or buy one wherever I'm going.

I'm a big believer in serendipity. I also know that the likelihood of me seeing everything (even if I did plan in advance) is nil. So I just go with the flow, have wonderful experiences and enjoy myself. Granted, it's not for everyone...especially not the people responding to this forum, but I like it. To each his own.

flup

It's great to pre-plan and look forward to a trip, but sometimes when it is over you feel disappointed that you have nothing to look forward to and thats when you start to plan your next trip.I personally take lots of shoes, just in case one pair hurt me on holiday.My husband says it's like being married to a centipede!Enjoy Italy.

ucsun

advice that was given to me (king of overplanners) on this board, relax and enjoy it. no matter how hard you try to prepare you simply won't succeed at figuring out the unknown. remember back to when you didn't know how to drive...seemed daunting at best, but in reality it's a piece of cake. you'll get there and it will work itself out.

i agree with willtravel, read up on history and the sites of where you're going to divert the nervous energy.

suze

I only ever plan my plane ticket and hotel reservations, besides that I wing it after arrival in each city. I take my mind of my overwhelming excitement by being truly obesessive about clothes, shoes and packing!!

dsm22

Okay so suddenly I am not feeling so bad. I am feeling sort of normal. My family friends and colleuges seem to say "obsession" I just think I am a really good planner. Don't drive yourself crazy, but you definitely want to be prepared. I went to London last May and had brilliant trip. I know everyone is always picking on the food there, but everything that I ate was very good. We were extremely lucky that out of our 14 day trip it only rained breifly for a short time one afternoon. It was lovely weather. Somedays I was suprised at the wind I ended up buying a pashmina in London and that ended up being my best purchase. I had it with me on every tour and all through Scotland as well. I tend to get chilly and definitely loved it on the tour bus when they had the AC cranked up. I am the queen of packing lightly. So I brought clothes where every piece could work with every other piece. Stick to neutrals and it works. Pack lightly because when you have to lug your luggage around cobble stone streets or using public transport you will be sorry if you don't. I Brought a carryon bag only and my small leather back pack. That was all. I had plenty of clothing. One "dressy" outfit in basic black pants and cute
shirt was enough. You won't likely be seeing the same crowd of people from event to event. Proper shoes that you know are comfortable are key. I did a lot of walking. I mean that you absolutely KNOW are comfy. Some people buy new shoes and they regret that after the blisters pop up. Layering for clothing is also key. I only brought one pair of jeans, the rest neutral casual trousers, nice casual shirts and cute pullover vests. Also a
nice stylish light weight weather proof coat. This way i could pull off a layer if I got warm. Of course this was May maybe June will be a fair bit warmer. A friend of mine was there two weeks before i joined her and she is more of a person who is warm all the time. She actaully had on shorts for two days. I find that you cannot go wrong when you layer. I also found the tinyest little umbrella for my back pack. Only a few inches in length it was perfect. I brought an APS camera and tons of flim. Expensive!!! Now that i have a computer I am goig to purchase a digital camera. But I will still bring my APS with not quite as much film for a back up. I have seen too many people loose their irreplacable vacation pics. Stay organized, write down your lists of everything you want to bring so nothing stays behind. Do a test packing run and see if you can lug your stuff around and out side of your house for 15 to 20 minutes. If you can't start purging. I wish that i had written down all the little places in London that I ate to help you but I did not. I seem to remeber a place called La Taverna that had very good food, and the most interesting pub we were in was
probably The Prospect of Whitby I think. One of the oldest it's along the Themes. That is where I had fish and chips. I figured I had to do some hokey tourist things!! A lot of history there. I did not stay at the greatest hotels or anything. It was a Holiday in right next to Victoria Station and it was fine. It was easy to travel around from there. I used Evan Evans to book a lot of tours and was happy with them. You will have a wonderful time!! I wish I was going back to England and I am terribly jealous of your trip to Italy. But i am determind to get there some day. Have fun!!

emd

I think the worst part about the obsession is AFTER the trip. When you've spent 18 months planning everything, researching, posting, reading, learning some language, getting the passports and railpasses and reservations. Then you go. But then you have to come home, and after the intial excitement of looking at the pictures and getting over jet lag and telling the stories to those who will listen, then the post-trip let-down depression sets in. And the only thing that relieves it is planning the next trip!

Marilyn

Actually, emd, I am working on a solution to that problem. For the past 6 weeks I have been working on an "online scrapbook" of our last trip. I've been learning a professional web design program (have never done anything like this before) and am almost finished with a photo/narrative record of our trip. It's been a blast, completely absorbing, and has kept me immersed in the trip for several months after our return.

I will post the link when it's done, sometime in the next few weeks I hope. I hope you all will enjoy it, and be KIND to my first efforts!

Scarlett

Marilyn, you should send it to me first!! LOL

Marilyn

You know I will, Scarlett! You'll be my beta tester. (Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?)

LoveItaly

All good thoughts, from all of you. It seems as we are all the same.

I hope the posts on your thread rbbrown has helped you. You must know by now that you are not alone.

And Marilyn, I too would love to see your "online scrapbook".

Happy journeys everyone.

And rbbrown, again, just enjoy being excited and dreaming about your trip to Italy. No reason to stop thinking about it, either before or after your trip. Take good care.