Nothing changes on New Year's Day.
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My husband and I are planning a three week trip to ___. I read on the forum that we shouldn't check any luggage in case it gets lost. We are planning to bring one pair of pants each, one shirt each, one pair of underwear (shared), one jacket each, a pair of shoes (shared), a wash cloth and lots of zip lock bags. Will that be enough and will I look like a local?

My life is a horrible mess but is it ok to wear white shoes?

Can I use my camera/flash/tripod in the Tate/Louvre/Uffizi/Prado?

Should I keep my passport in my luggage/room safe/hotel safe/moneybelt/neck pouch?

I want to go to London, Paris, Munich, Zurich, Ljubljana, Budapest, Bucharest and Warsaw. I have 12 days. Please help me plan my itinerary.

How can I use my FF miles for an upgrade to ______________ on a very specific date?

And Thin made me laugh out loud. Happy New Year.

I arrive at Heathrow at 2pm. Can I see most of the sites before my evening flight out?

Can I wear jeans? As if jeans are not sold or worn anywear other than in the US. Similarly, sneakers/trainers.

What should I pack? Wouldn't your normal wardrobe and toiletry necessities be the obvious?

Anything that revolves around the needs of one's DH, DS, DD, or D-that acronym is dumb.

What bag should I buy to carry during the day? Don't people already own handbags that they like?

What shoes should I bring? Alternately, what is the best brand of shoes to buy? As if we all have the same feet/comfort level. Ask me and I will tell you 4 inch heels--flats, especially ballet flats have no arch support and are worse for your back than heels.

What is the best way to get from the airport to my hotel? I am willing to spend 3 hours going out of my way to drag my luggage on the bus and train (metro) because suddenly I don't seem to have enough budgeted to take a cab which will take 30 minutes.

I have x itinerary in France, please critique. Answer: you are not spending enough time in Paris. You should only go to Paris on this trip. It is the only place that exists, you must change all of your plans so that you stay in Paris the whole time--but only stay in the 5th or 6th, that is the only place to be. You cannot spend enough time in Paris, go to Normandy/Burgundy/Southern France/Loire Valley another time. You can take a side trip to London, however.

Alternately, why are Parisiannes rude? Doesn't my money mean anything to them? At the Olive Garden, my waiter tells me his/her name and wears flair. I have to *shutter* ask to pay when I am done! And then wait for my bill and they don't take Amex! And I can't tip on my credit card!

What leg safe/secret pocket should I buy? I keep hearing that Europe is filled with people who want to mug me and all hotel staff will steal my stuff and I must carry all my credit cards, money and passport on me at all times, even though I don't need it.

Why do Europeans have to smoke around me? Don't they know that I am not used to it because I am from California (insert other city/state here) and am not used to it? It makes me sick and they can't taste their food if they are smoking. And I will die of second hand smoke from being around it once or twice a decade when I travel for a week or so.

I am snarky tonight! Though am enjoying my Paris flat as the husband sleeps off last night's stupor--granted I slept all day while he got up and worked. Also am PUI.

Can anyone recommend a luxury rental in Paris? I have a $7000.00 budget for one week but nothing I am finding is good enough.

Is there valet parking at hotels in Venice?

I'm going to Whereveritis for two weeks. What is there to do there?

CherryBomb, you have got it spot on, esp. for the France itinerary one--loved it! I, too, sat in my Paris apt most of the day b/c of the férié and I keep trying to figure out ways to get OUT of Paris. :P Did you find yourself in angst over the size of the bathroom/toilet/towels/bed?

Why can't they have separate planes for people who travel with small kids?

I have 9 days to visit london/cottswalds/normandy/brittany/paris

Am I trying to do too much?

Oh my gosh Sheepie--the bed is a full size, even though I have that at home, on vacation, oh, jeez, I just cannot handle it! Heathens! Where is the king sized bed? The was cloths are like mittens! And I can hear noise--people actually live in the building! I cannot imagine with my prefab mcmansion, actually-living-near-people! And the bathroom--there is no jacuzzi! it is like at home---I DO NOT TRAVEL FOR THIS!!!

Ha! my flat is fab--same as in NYC, though actually quieter, but smaller. I am used to noise and like it--it is a quiet block though so all I hear is footsteps. Oddly, I am extending the Paris trip and skipping our plan for Brussels as we forgot to pack our train tix and it is cheaper to stay. I never spent much time in Paris other than a feww days here and there using it as a launching point to other areas while traveling in France and this is more relaxing than in the past.

Day-um...I just got soft. I stand by my initial statements though. And, yes, you can still smoke at places in Paris despite the "ban."

StCirq: I ask myself that every day.

people who post pages of detailed "trip report" but cannot be bothered to ever answer to specific questions members may have.

"Should I get a driver"?

What will the weather be like in (insert city here) in (insert month here)? Will I need to bring an umbrella?

LOL - Although this would be funnier if I had not asked some of these questions.

I want to traipse around Bavaria in an authenic dirndl with my DH wearing lederhosen. Where can I buy one? How much is the beer?

How can I get:-

- a free upgrade.

- someone else's aisle seat (even though I couldn't be arsed to book one in advance).

- twice as much baggage allowance as the rest of the plane.

- someone to dump my kids for the entire trip.

PS Oyster Cards and TrenItalia!

PPS - Ziplock bags!

People who don't mind spending 55+ euro getting from the airport to the hotel, but thown a fit if their bank charges them a $2 fee to use their ATM card.

Im looking to travel through Europe in 2009 and i wanted to know the best places to go

We are "carry on only" travelers and proud of it. It is the only way to travel.

Am I allowed a backpack, carry-on, computer, purse, garment bag, tripod, camera case and duty-free bag on my flight from Topeka, through Kennedy, transfer at Heathrow to Venice via CDG?

[You should really try it. The freedom it gives you not having to wait at the baggage claim]

Is the water safe to drink?

Should I have paid to have my passport processing expedited...I still have two weeks until my trip?

"Are we crazy for planning a trip to Italy?"

Uh, dunno. What was the diagnosis before you left home?

Yeah, you're mad as a loon. A daredevil. Weeee. Don't know what you could possibly be thinking.

Hilarious!

"Do I have to wear black in Paris?"

"I'm claustrophobic should I go to the catacombs?"

"I want to take a tour of the sewers in Paris, does it smell that bad?"

"I just wanted to wander around the lobby of the Ritz and take pictures, and they were soo rude to me!"

"I'm looking for a nice, clean, central hotel in Paris. Money is not a concern." Then later, "Oh my gosh, no I don't want to spend more than $200 per night."

"That waiter was so rude he wouldn't bring me the check! He must hate Americans."

I don't want to look like a tourist.

Yes I want to blend in, even though I don't speak the language, don't look like the locals, will be at tourist sites, will take pictures of said sites and will be following a tour guide carrying a flag.

At least I'm not wearing one of those horrible, tacky, ugly fanny packs (aka waist packs) that eat your soul. No one will ever know I'm an American tourist.

How will the weather be in (insert any place in Europe) (insert any date more than 2 weeks in advance)?
Answer: How on Earth are we supposed to know? Ask St Peter, he is said to be in charge of the weather.

Is a single room large enough to accommodate four people?

I want the Whole White Christmas Magic - will it snow in (insert name of big city)?

I'm going to (insert name of city or even country) - what is there to do? Or even better: is there anything to do?
Answer: Why are you wasting money and effort to go to a place if you have no idea what to do there?

How do yjey learn that accent in France?

We are going to Europe with our infant (6 mos), toddler (18 mos) and I will be 3 mos pregnant at the time.

What is there to do that will interest the kids?
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My 7-yr old is a picky eater. Restaurant suggestions, please.
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We will be flying with our 1-yr old to VCE via JFK and LHR.

Will they let us bring her car seat, travel bed, stroller, playpen and toy box with us on the plane? We hate to have checked luggage.

((I))

I paid €3 for my Ryanair flight, but they want me to pay excess baggage on my 75lbs of luggage.

Will I fall foul of English soccer hooligans?

Can I do Pompeii as a daytrip from __?

My favourite "not made up". I went to Italy and everything was shut in the afternoon. Why can't these Europeans "get with the program"? Don't they realise they are losing business.

Gypsies, Muslims, The French.

I am visiting ______ out of season/on Sunday/at midnight - will it be open?

Over 100 posts and nobody has yet mentioned the recurring "what brand of luggage should I buy?" question.

One topic that has fallen out of the hit parade is "can I wear shorts and a bikini top in Italian churches?" (It's a separate concern from GSteed's opener: "travel attire".)

But the real hot topic, if one is to judge it on post-count, is "bookmarking".

In "Rick's book", Rick says "_____________!

I found the best breakfast in Paris!

Oops. Somebody already did that one.