On your last trip to Europe, what was the one thing that you normally need at home that you just couldn't find anywhere?
 

Recently went to Europe, and I was looking forward to my usual morning routine of a steaming, frothy latte. But I don't drink milk, so at home, I use soy milk. In Europe, I didn't find any local coffee shop with soy milk for a latte. Starbucks was the exception, and only a few of their outlets had it, but who wants to go to Europe and hang out at a Starbucks just like the one near my house? I survived with regular coffee. Ack! <BR> <BR>How about you?

Can't find Vaseline Instensive Care lotion, jalepenos in escabeche or corn tortillas.

Sucrets or Nice or Vicks cough drops. For a severe sore throat and cough, one "chemist" offered me something with codeine in it and when I declined (it upsets my stomach), all she had otherwise was a nasty-tasting horehound-sort of herbal gummy "troche."

Jo-They have Vicks in the U.K. Also, the best lozenges I've ever had I got in the U.K. Can't remember the name, though...

Keith Are the lozengers called Dequadin? or Dequadin plus, they are very good for sore throats. <BR>Santa - We do have Vaseline intensive care cream. When I was a child I used to buy it for my mother every birthday and christmas - she didn't have the heart to tell me she didn't like it. Fifteen years later she still has a cupboard full of it - so if you still have a need for it I could send you some with a discount for a bulk order! <BR>Angela

Excedrin. I could not find them anywhere in Germany and couldn't even find them in Calgary, AB earlier this year, except the funky non-aspirin type. Now that was a surprise.

Culled from my own personal experience and that of my friend who has been living and working in Belgium - <BR>Equal and/or Sweet and Low - can find pure saccharine tho <BR>Oreo Cookies <BR>Lays potato chips <BR>Diet Coke - not Coke Light <BR>Diet Sprite <BR>Lipton Diet Decaffeinated Lemon Flavored Ice Tea Mix - (huh?) <BR>A certain brand of a certain female item <BR>Washclothes :) <BR> <BR>Now when I return home, there are plenty of things I can't find here that I do find there. Another time........... <BR> <BR>

I've never been anywhere in Europe (or any other place) that I missed something so much that I couldn't live very well without it. Part of the fun of traveling is getting to try all the stuff they have that we don't. One thing I missed in both England and Ireland while staying in people's hosues was PLENTY of hot water - but it didn't stop me from having a great time anyway!

Containers of Vaseline-- all I found were little tubes sold behind the counter at pharmacies in France and England. On the few occasions I found a container the quality was so bad it was unusable-- I use vaseline in place of regular moisturizer-- gross but it really works. I now take a full trip supply with me--heavier but worth it.

Adina <BR>Think you must have been given the wrong stuff. Vaseline never comes in tubes here. The clear containers of vaseline can be bought all over the UK. Try "Boots"

Esse, I can think a few things that would find me in a bind if I couldn't get them abroad. I must have the correct brand of contact lens solution or risk an allergic reaction, for instance. There's nothing wrong with needing something not sold in Europe. Sometimes it is just a fact.

<BR> <BR>Re the throat lozenges... <BR> <BR>We have several very effective makes, different to those found in the states... <BR> <BR>The most effective for me are Olbas Oil throat pastilles, which are so disgusting I can keep them in my mouth long enough to suck them down to only half size before spitting them out, but just this half pastille keeps the pain at bay for hours... <BR> <BR>Other strong makes include fishermens friends which also taste foul. <BR> <BR>These can both only be taken once every few hours as opposed to the myriad makes of lozenges which can be eaten by the truck load but have no real effect on my throat... <BR> <BR>PS You can buy pretty much most products available in US in UK if you drop a hang up about brand names. Sometimes different brand names are actually made by the same company but just marketed differently. <BR> <BR>But the reason you cant get everything is that we have different tastes here. So there are also many things which you can find in UK but not US. <BR> <BR>

Surely the saddest/lamest posting I've had the displeaure to view in quite a while. <BR> <BR>Two questions to any of the Americans posting here: <BR>1) Why didnt you take it with you if you knew you needed it (soy milk comes in cartons before you say anything) <BR>2) Why come to Europe just to poke about looking for something that you dont really need. I mean do you REALLY need soy milk/a particular brand of lozenge/vaseline in a tube TM/ Diet coke...what a pathetic bunch of whining saps you are.

Hi! I wish I could get Coke Lite here in the States. Much better taste than Diet coke, I've brought some home with me at times. alan

Inky, <BR> <BR>Sorry you are so frustrated, but I can address the soy milk point. Some people can't drink milk as it makes them physically ill. This is more common in non-whites. Yes, I could bring boxes of soy milk to Europe, saunter into a French coffee shop and ask that they take my soy milk and fix up my latte just the way I like it, assuming I could find that in my phrase book. And wouldn't that make me the ugliest American you ever met? No one is saying the world came crashing down because they couldn't get something they normally can get. I just thought it might make an interesting discussion.

Speaking of Vicks lozenges....a few years ago I got a really bad cold when I was in Germany. I wanted Vicks Vaporub. Never could find it. Had to settle for Metholatum, which just isn't the same. The Vicks cough drops/lozenges were everywhere but no Vaporub. I thought that was a bit strange to have one but not the other.

I second the comment about Coke Light. I drank it all the time in France, but the formula is clearly different (and much better tasting) than the Diet Coke that is sold in the U.S.

Inky, <BR>No, we CANNOT live without Monistat. For pete's sake, don't women in Europe get the yeasty beasty? Five countries, no one had any idea what I was talking about. Learned that lesson - always carry my own.

Try Canestan

When I lived in Portugal, I missed Ranch (or blue cheese dressing) and grits. I rarely even eat those in the States, but for some reason when I couldn't find them, I missed them! <BR> <BR>(they did have Monistat there...) <BR> <BR>Otherwise, I never miss much at all!

Once I left England, I never could find a single drinking fountain where I could get a drink of cold water. In restaurants they still try to give diners that ancient con job of bottled water at about $2 for a pint bottle. Nowhere was a glass of cold water placed before me when I sat down to eat. Now I can understand why water in Europe was a luxury during and after the war when municipal water systems had been damaged or destroyed. Bottled water then was a must. But today? Hardly.

Pepto Bismol.

Al: <BR> <BR>The bottled water schtick is a cultural thing, not particularly founded on 'logic' at this time in history. And it goes back much, much further than WW II. (Probably to early unsafe water supplies ... but who knows and who cares?) <BR> <BR>It's no different from Americans' obsession with ice, LOTS of ice, in all that we drink. Europeans are greatly amused by our willingness to shell out a couple of dollars for a giant-sized glass of cola that is 90% ice. And many, rightfully one would argue, feel they've been ripped off for such a high price for ice they don't want. <BR> <BR>There's not necessarily any rhyme or reason to either; they just are, <BR> <BR>Ed

I had planned on buying my hair curling iron in Spain rather than take one from home - wouldn't have to worry about voltage and adaptor etc. Well...Spain has never heard of curling iron...not one in tha whole country I don't think.

Inky please don't think I am an ugly american but I really miss my skim milk. I just got back from spain and only 1 of the 4 hotels had skim milk, I was so excited (i love milk!)But alas, the story isn't over, I pour it into my glass, it was in a pitcher, drink it and it was at room temperature, I need my milk COLD! And please don't tell me to pop into a grocery store to buy milk,I know I could but I think the hotels should have it.

hi x-- some of you might find this post ridiculous but if anyone cares the vaseline in the tube was in France/the jar (looks similar to the ones in the US) was in England.

Hello to KK, <BR> <BR>Vic Vaporup is one of the most shown products in commercials here in Germany since years. You must have looked at the wrong places. <BR> <BR>Miriam

Pepto Bismal. Love to know if you have a European substitute (liquid is preferable) <BR>

Adina (and x), <BR>I bought vaseline in a tube when I lived in Portugal. It DOES exist!

In UK, soya milk is available in health food stores only.Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion is sold in most chemists' (eg Boots)

Lori <BR>For your upset tummy...we do have Pepto Bismol in the UK. Otherwise try "Gaviscon Advance" this comes as a thick liquid. Or "Asilone" also comes in liquid form. Many others but these two normally work well for people. Anything stronger is prescription only. <BR>Angela

ICE ICE ICE ICE and more ICE <BR> <BR>I can't help it. I like my beverages cold! <BR> <BR>I didn't complain about it while I was there, or try to buck the system, and I knew to expect it. But man, oh, man did that (American)Diet Coke on ice taste great on the flight back to Atlanta!