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-   -   How big backpack do I need? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/how-big-backpack-do-i-need-1120675/)

suze Jul 23rd, 2016 01:42 PM

Hey not a problem (well unless you can't get a campsite or a room since you chose "party central" with no reservation in place).

That said, I still don't see how you are going to get everything you listed into a backpack of the size limit that you mention.

jimbeam Jul 23rd, 2016 04:05 PM

"That said, I still don't see how you are going to get everything you listed into a backpack of the size limit that you mention."

I'll buy Santa bag.

thursdaysd Jul 23rd, 2016 05:23 PM

"And about the posh shirt contradiction, come on - less bucks spent on accommodation, more bucks left for booze."

You don't need a posh shirt for a booze-up, you'll just mess it up.

And how are you going to secure the laptop in a tent?

clausar Jul 23rd, 2016 11:06 PM

Having seen the advice about not wearing jeans in Greece....
i can only say that we wear jeans in Greece all year round, and of course in the summer too..... :)

StCirq Jul 23rd, 2016 11:43 PM

Yes, of course, but you LIVE there. You don't have to carry them around and wash them and dry them. Travelers can pack more sensibly, and lightly, than locals. I wear jeans here in France, too, but I wouldn't pack them for a vacation here.

Bokhara2 Jul 23rd, 2016 11:50 PM

If you need a big beach towel, buy one when you get there, leave it at a charity shop, hostel when you go.

I'd say 1 pair of jeans too, take a lighter pair of trousers as well & use the laundromat.

And yes, book your stuff through - I can't imagine a tent qualifying as cabin baggage, especially on a LCC.

Heimdall Jul 23rd, 2016 11:51 PM

Jimbeam, I repeat what I wrote in the other thread: <b>Don't assume you can find a last minute vacancy on a campsite in August!</b> You plan on going to Ios, Paros, or Naxos, which are all jammed with people that time of year, and most campsite pitches are booked up well in advance. In fact I would guess that campsites are the first to fill up. Strongly recommend you make a reservation just as you would with a room. Booking(dot)com has a campsite section.

You may end up wild camping which is illegal on the Greek Islands. If you do, pick somewhere well out of the way, not on a beach or someone's private property. If you are spotted by the police or landowner you will be made to move on.

Regarding clothing, pack as little as possible, and bring things that can be hand-washed. Everything you wear will get sweaty in August, but you can wash them in a handbasin and hung out to dry. On the islands in the summer I live in t-shirts and shorts or swimsuit, with maybe one set of long trousers and long-sleeved shirt to keep off the mosquitos in the evenings. When washed, jeans take too long to dry, even in the hot Greek sun, so I bring light travel wear instead.

@clausar, yes, I know Greeks wear jeans, but I have a friend in Athens who wears a sleeveless fleece in summer too! He says he gets cold when the temperature drops below 30C. ;-)

As others have said, forget the laptop! That means carrying a charger brick too, which all adds to the weight. I wouldn't feel safe leaving my laptop in an insecure place, either. It would be fine locked in a hotel room, but not in a tent in a busy campsite.

Heimdall Jul 24th, 2016 12:49 AM

Jimbeam, I may be sounding negative, but that's not what I mean to do. I'm just trying to give you a "heads up" of what to expect when you arrive in the Cyclades. August is the month when Greeks, Italians, French, and many other nationalities take their summer holidays, and many head for the Mediterranean beaches. Just imagine the busiest resort you can think of in the US, and it still won't be as busy as Ios, Paros, and maybe Naxos in August.

Most campsites are divided up into pitches and marked off. They are not just an open field where you can put your tent anywhere you like, so there are a fixed number of places available. Camping is very popular in Europe, and more organised than you may be accustomed to if you camp in the US.

Most people who go to popular seaside places in mid-summer book their rooms or campsites the winter before or in early spring. Obviously some campsites are better than others, so the ones that are clean and have good toilets/showers and other facilities get booked first. The sort of trip you plan would be great for early June.

Good luck! I sincerely hope you have a wonderful holiday in Greece.

thursdaysd Jul 24th, 2016 06:05 AM

It would make much more sense to either pick bigger and/or less popular islands, or head for the mainland. The Peloponnese has some gorgeous places, and should be less crowded. I liked the north too, but I was inland there.

Or go to Albania. Cheap, less crowded, good beaches.

suze Jul 24th, 2016 07:29 AM

I just think you need to better sort out your trip strategy before packing.

If you're going to be camping rough, you won't want to deal with a laptop.

If you're going to be looking for rooms, you might want your laptop, but don't need your tent or sleeping bag.

And so on...


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