My wife and I and friends will be traveling to Paris to connect to Vienna leaving on December 26 then via Insight Ground Package to Vienna, Prague and Budapest. We will be on the ground for six days leaving January 1 from Vienna to return to US via Paris.

What should we pack? Is there a website that provides such suggestions? Is there clothing or colors that should not be worn? How are Americans viewed in this part of the world?

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

A joke? If not, I recommend a cyanide capsule.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

hmmm.... this URL doesn't work!

http://www.fodors.com/forums/postrep...=packing+light

Thanks for the helpful reply.

To m_kingdom2, your response was rude and boorish. I suggest you take a prozac or perhaps the cyanide you suggested to me. People with your attitude make the world a less pleasant place. Perhaps you should consider leaving us.

I always give the same advice regarding packing (1) 22" rolling suitcase per person plus one small shoulder bag carry-on. Wear your coat and bulkiest clothes and footwear on the plane.

My folks did a similar trip to yours in October and had a fine time. Also some tour group companies have a specific luggage limit, you might want to check with Insight.

Hello John,

Here's another thread that contains packing and other tips:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34544217

In addition to the suggestions I made in that thread, I've thought of a couple of others:

* It drives me nuts if I don't have an effective way of separating the currencies that I accumulate along the way. I usually travel with several wallets, one for each currency. Cheap nylon wallets are perfectly effective for this. But even small ziplock bags would do.

* Before we set out on our last trip, my husband made a great suggestion. He pointed out how easy it was for him to navigate his way through all of the check points that airports have, because men's shirts have pockets, and that makes it easy to carry one's passport and boarding pass in a readily accessible place. Chest pockets are more rare on women's blouses, but I deliberately wore a blouse that had a pocket during the plane trip. It made a world of difference. Funnily enough I had bought a special pouch that one wears around one's neck through an airport, to overcome this very difficulty, but I didn't end up using it at all, just because I chose a blouse with a pocket.

* I quickly read through the "packing light" thread to which FainaAgain provided a link, as I had not been on the Fodors Europe forum when it originally had been started. It has some good tips, and I think it has this one in it as well, but it bears repeating. It's very helpful to build a travel wardrobe around a very limited colour scheme. I'm addressing this point to your wife more than to you, but it's somewhat applicable to men and women. It will be very helpful if every top your wife packs matches every bottom she packs. Since you'll be travelling in winter, black probably would serve as a convenient "anchor" colour for her travel wardrobe.

* I don't think there are any colours or clothes that you particularly need to avoid. Its being winter in and of itself will prevent some of the mistakes that tourists sometimes make (like entering an Italian church with shorts or sleeveless tops). Not that you're going to Italy, but that's just an example.

* When I travel, I wear plain, simple clothing that does not have jokes, flags, logos, etc. on it. Actually, my regular clothes don't have those kinds of things on them anyway, but I would go to an extra effort to avoid them when I was travelling. Again, the fact that it's winter makes it less likely that your clothing would be like that.

* I'm not American, but I am English-speaking, and I have always found people in Europe to be friendly towards me. That includes Paris, Vienna, Prague and Budapest. I had heard stories about Parisians being snotty towards people who didn't know French or who struggled with poor French, but I personally have never had an experience of that kind. In fact, people have volunteered to assist my husband and me, even when we didn't ask for help. For example, my husband was taking a photo of me with the Seine in the background, and a man stopped and offered to take a photo of us together. Another time we were standing near the ticket machine for the Metro counting out the amount of change we would need, and a woman came up to us and picked out from my husband's palm the right combination of coins. I can't guarantee you'll have the same experiences. I can only report that that is what happened to us.

* You can go on the Internet and find a few "polite phrases" in each language. Even if you only make the effort to say Hello, Goodbye, Please and Thank You in the local language, the other person's face lights up, and they smile. Beyond those obvious expressions, I think it's important to learn how to say, "Do you speak English?" in each language. It's considered polite to ask if the person speaks English before launching into the use of English oneself. Even if the person responds that he/she does not speak English, it's okay to try a combination of sign language and Pigeon English with him/her, as long as one has asked that question first.

* Most of the people who interact with tourists in all the places you'll be visiting speak some English. A very useful language in Vienna, Prague and Budapest is German. In Vienna, of course, its the native language. But a great many Czech and Hungarian people know German too. I found that, if they didn't know English, my next best bet was to try using my Pigeon German, and that invariably produced good results.

Hope that has helped.

John Harden: Simmer down please; "A cyanide pill for a cyanide pill" is not my notion of Christian charity.

I too found your questions a little odd, though I would not have dreamt of commenting had not this eruption occurred. After all, what clothes and colours "should not be worn" -- other than white after Labour Day?

to: tegdale: Only you and m_kingdom found the questions odd. The questions, though unusual to you, seemed quite natural to me and, obviously to the others who responded, in detail,with quite logical, thought-out, courteous responses.

Just curious, why the reference to "Christian charity?"

The anonymous nature of the internet encourages the ill-mannered and crude to exhibit their true personalities. But the idea of things coming full circle; getting back what you put into play, is a new testament concept. The master himself said that man reaps what he sews. Your defense of such a response is interest in light of your allusion to "Christian attitude."

Isn't it remarkable that we live in a society where we can ask questions that some think un-necessary, silly or just plain dumb. My father always told me that the only dumb or stupid question, what one that was not asked? Now, please don't criticize my father. He's not here to defend himself.

Hi John,

I did this same trip a few years ago at the same time of the year. The best advise is to pack light. I took a few pairs of slacks (3) and a few sweaters. Cashmere is great, because it is to warm and light. I did put in a dress, but I did not need it. Where ever we went nice slacks were fine to wear. We ate at great restaurants, but not necessarily the top of the line. My DH wore nice slacks and sweaters. I wore very comfortable ecco short boots. I do have a fur coat, which was the only coat I took. Of coarse it is warm and it does dress one up. Also, fur coats are every where. My DH wore a nice 3/4 wool coat. Vienna is more fancy than the other cities. It was a wonderful trip and you will have a terrific time. enjoy

JohnHarden, if you look at the two threads regarding Trieste you will find that M_kindgom2 bought a "cheap" round trip airline ticket from the UK to Trieste. MK2 posted one thread asking for advise such as where to stay, etc. etc. MK2 received answers including from me suggesting going onto Google.

MK2 evidently does not know how to do this because MK2 posted another "less flowery" to quote MK2, questions about "where to stay, what to do".

John, MK2 is always so busy and quick to put anybody and everybody down that has a question regarding travel. Always snippy and rude. Believe me, nothing personal to you, just the nature of the beast.

But dear MK2 can't figure out where to stay and what to do in Trieste for 4 days. It is too funny, or would be if it wasn't so sad. MK2 has a "problem" so please do not take the post personal.

I have not been to Vienna but imagine it is very similar to Italy. Dark conservative colors and cold weather clothes would be the thing to pack. It seems to me that Yipper gave you good advice.

Do have a wonderful and fun trip. And do post a trip report when you return.
Best wishes.

As for my not knowing what to do with Trieste, the tickets were very cheap, and if I don't go I've lost nothing - I see it as aking to buying an option.

Back to you John, dear. " Is there clothing or colors that should not be worn?" I'm curious as to what you're even thinking - you're not going on Arctic patrol and can only wear white so that you won't stand out. It's a city, do you think that you won't see anyone in fluoro pink cycling shorts? Americans are viewed as Americans, they don't have little KKK gangs rounding up American tourists. You just sound incredibly green and ignorant. Wear whatever you want, you won't get arrested for looking like the naff American tourist that you sound like.

When I travel to America (I won't use Europe as an example) I wear what I wear back home, I don't have a separate holiday wardrobe. You're in Vienna, perhaps you should only wear Helmut Lang to avoid offence! Sounds ridiculous because it is. You've booked the holiday so even if they hate all Americans what can you do about it? The only reason for not wearing certain garments/colours i because they're not flattering, but that applies when you're at home. Hopefully you will return rather less green than you went.

<Is there clothing or colors that should not be worn?>

Actually I was wondering about the point of this question also, but didn't bother to post it. Truly not meaning to be critical, I am simply curious why someone would think that a certain color or type of clothing should be avoided when traveling.

I'd avoid clothes that need drycleaning, unless I had a corresponding budget to get them done at a 4* hotel, and I'd avoid clothes which easily pick up lint and dirt.

Hello John,

Next time you have occasion to attend a costume party, you can go as a dorky, no-nothing, American tourist. Be sure not to omit the piece of straw sticking out from between your teeth. You'll recognise me by my Cinderella's Ugly Step Sister costume.

Dark colors would obviously show less dirt and as to picking up lint..I'd advise taking along one of those small lint rollers that work so well.

I read this is a question about what to take for winter travel, so my answers are:

3/4 or long wool coat- although in Paris for the past few winters the hip length "car coat" has been popular for men.

scarf/ gloves/ nice-looking hat

cashmere or merino turtlenecks (for men and women)

My husband always brings 3 pairs of wide-wale corduroy trousers in dark colors. I like nicely tailored stretch-wool pants in black.

This is all basic stuff, but as a proponent of winter travel, I can't say enough about packing good socks. I look for a wool blend, thick but not too thick, etc. Cotton socks in winter get clammy and bunch up in your shoe, leading to blisters. Ultra thick wool hiking socks can make your shoes pinch (unless you bring hiking boots).

I know my fellow shoppers must think I am insane as a I go along feeling each sock in the store carefully to see if it is the right thickness.

You may also want to bring along ear muffs or something similar if your hat doesn't keep your ears covered. I spent two days last January in Paris with my scarf tied around my head babushka-style since the wind was so cold and piercing that it was giving me an earache.

Winter is a magical time in Europe. Be sure to check out the store windows of the department stores, decorated for the holidays with fanciful tableaux.

Have a wonderful trip!!

Like suze (and m-k), I found the question "Is there clothing or colours that should not be worn?" to be odd.

It's not like they'll bar you at the border for wearing a certain article of clothing, or a certain colour. Unless hot pink is forbidden in Hungary.

I suggest a bikini shouldn't be worn in such a chilly climate in the winter.

I think the question about colours and clothing that should not be worn was a reasonable one.

Some countries have dress codes, some of which are officially enforced and some of which are merely social norms.

Until not so long ago, it was compulsory for women to wear ankle-length skirts and men to wear short hair in Malawi, Africa. This wasn't merely a social norm. It was a strictly enforced law.

When one enters a mosque, one must take off one's shoes, and a woman's head must be covered.

Okay, so it's rare that one is going to run into some weird and wonderful rule about dress in Europe but, if one has never been there, and if one has not researched the topic previously, how can one be sure of that?

Is there some minimum level of knowledge one is supposed to have before one is permitted to ask questions at Fodors?

I think it shows sensitivity if a person who is going to travel to a place checks first to find out if there might be something about his/her dress that might offend the local people at his/her destination.

By the way, this sensitivity extends also to behaviour other than dress. When I was looking through Karlskirke in Vienna, there were signs all over the place asking visitors to keep quiet and behave respectfully in deference to the people who were praying. I couldn't believe it when I saw a woman walking around the church munching on a sandwich.

A colleague of my husband learned a lesson when he went to Australia on a business trip. When the immigration official asked him if he had a criminal record, he said he wasn't aware that a criminal record was a prerequisite for entering Australia these days. He got out of the side room where they searched him and turned his suitcase inside out -- eventually.