Okay, so I leave for Europe in a little over a week. What am I forgetting? I know I need to:

-call all my credit cards and let them know that I am going overseas. I am also going to try and get them to raise my daily withdrawals.

Also, what are your thoughts on the weather for Paris, Cannes, Venice, Lake Como, and Lucerne Switzerland? I am planning on packing capris, skirts, classy shorts, and dresses. I will throw in a few cardigans in case it gets chilly. Am I okay with this?

I am taking trains everywhere. (except for one plane ride from Nice to Venice)

Thanks everyone! I can't believe my trip is almost here!

How big/heavy is your luggag?. You need to be able to carry it up several steep, narrow steps and lift in onto an overhead rack. (Pack you bag and practice lifting it over your head.) If it's bigger than a carry-on it won't fit overhead and you will have to find a place to park it and a way to watch it.

Hi nytraveler! My luggage is just a standard piece that is on wheels. I guess I don't have a choice, but will have to park it and watch it. That's annoying! I wish all I could bring was a carry-on, but I am going for three weeks.

I'm packing for a European trip next week, too. I've got a few additional suggestions.

- Pack (or wear on the plane) at least one pair of long pants. It could be unexpectedly cold. I'm taking one pair of long pants and packing 2 pairs of capris.
- Shorts don't take up much space so take them if you feel like it but you might get less wear out of them than you expect. Locals just don't wear shorts much in public, even stylish ones.
- Pack a rain jacket and a small umbrella.
- Pack at least two pairs of comfortable shoes (e.g., one pair of walking shoes and one pair of sturdy sandals). Something could temporarily "disable" your walking shoes (e.g. a rainstorm).
- I always travel with at least one lightweight pashmina, which adds a layer of warmth over dresses and Ts, can be wrapped around my neck if it's cold and serves as a lightweight blanket for naps at the hotel.
- What about a bathing suit? I always travel with one.
- I always travel with a pair of lightweight pajamas. I lounge around in them in my hotel room, which saves my regular clothes so I don't have to launder them as often.
- You forgot to mention tops, but I expect that was oversight - not a plan to go topless I usually just travel with black and white tshirts and maybe one wrinkle resistant button front shirt.
- It sounds like you're packing light, which is good given all the train travel you have planned. Try to limit yourself to a suitcase no bigger than 22".

jill,

Don't just call your banks. Ask your banks to give you the dirct 800 number to call THEIR third party fraud/security monitoring company so you can tell them directly. The banks rarely call their security services to document your plans, so you end up getting cut off and inconvenienced anyway!

If you have never gone to Europe before - take moleskin and some tiny scissors to cut it with. It will save your trip! Take some ziplock baggies, large and small. Good for all kinds of things.

Have a wonderful time!

Earplugs. I never travel without them. Have a marvelous trip!

If you're taking your cell phone and plan to simply use the sim card you have, make sure you've contacted your phone company and got on the international plan, and learn how to use the + sign before dialing.

If you have concerns about leaving luggage in the storage at the end of a train car where you can't see it (especially if you are on the upper level of a train), consider getting one of those cheap locks with the pull out chain to lock your luggage to the rack.

Bring one full day's change of clothing with you in a day pack on the plane so IF your luggage doesn't arrive, you're not stuck with what you have on.

800 numbers often do not work. Find out what the overseas number is for each credit card and keep those numbers separate from your credit cards!

Wow! Such good advice! Especially about the luggage tage lock and credit card advice.

Also, I am not bringing any Euros with me. I figured I could get them on my 2.5 hour layover in Amsterdam before heading to Paris.

Anything else?

If you have any electronics, charger converter!

Make sure you have a copy of your passport where you can get to it if needed. As mentioned, have a list of your credit card numbers and the USA collect phone numbers to call in case they are stolen. (I encrypt my cc numbers so it would be hard for somebody else to figure out the numbers.)

Have a great trip.

Jill, I pack yoga pants. They take up absolutely no room in my luggage and are so lovely to change into at the end of those really exhausting days!! If you have room, I agree with frogoutofwater - have you packed a little fold up umbrella? Good for keeping the sun off sometimes too.

Hi,

I would add more warm clothes and certainly a raincoat. It's been raining daily, with highs in the 50s in Germany. I'd expect that kind of weather for Luzern and for Paris.

s

If you plan to take public transportation, read up voraciously on all the details of how to negotiate them. have all the transition points laid out with addresses from point 1 to point 2.

arrange for your cell phone use overseas if you want to do that. I ended up doing it at the last minute. I also bought a walkie talkie with 15 mile range.

Jill,

You won't have to watch your luggage or lock it up. Just put it in the luggage storage rack at the end of the train car like every other human being does in the places you are going.

Walkie talkies with US frequencies are illegal to use in Europe.

Your packing sounds fine. If you need a raincoat, buy it in Europe. Likewise an umbrella.

My thoughts on the weather are it is unpredictable. It is getting warmer every day and the days are getting longer. I don't think you need more than one cardigan or jacket.

My wife forgets a lot of things so she can spend more time shopping when she gets there.

All good advice but strongly recommend as did one other poster a pair of long trousers--I think you'll want them for the plane and for some travel days. All will hopefully change within the week but we have had cold, wet, gray weather now for about two weeks (SW France).

Have a great trip.

Bring flexibility; zealous over-planning and rigid time allotments
can spoil any trip. Relax and let it happen - it won't be your
last trip and it may not be your best trip but you're on your way.

jill,

Another thing that will help with all the train travel you have planned. Go on the train web site, trenitalia. I forget what it is for France. Print out the train schedules for the days and destinations you plan. Put in your parameter for a few hours on either side of your planned departure. That way, if you want to stay flexible, or if things change, you know your options!

You are doing good by packing capris and warm items too. I just returned from Germany and Austria. It was unusually HOT. I got badly sunburned while waiting for tickets to the Jenner Bahn. And I only took one pair of capris to lounge around in the room. Well, I ended up wearing them every where. By the time I got to Munich on the 12th of June, it was cool there-highs in the sixties. I have never needed capris in June for Berchtesgaden or St. Gilgen, so you never know what the weather can do.

Some ATMs just spit out only 50€ bills if you ask for amount in multiples of 50€. Asking something like 180€, etc, if the machine lets you, ensures you get smaller bills. If you need to engage in cash based transaction with a person involving a small sum, they often give you a hard time for trying to use a 50€ bill. It would be a poor way to start your trip.