Oh geez, socks and sandals. I'll never take advice from s.fowler AGAIN. What's next, an undershirt and ball gown? Or how about chopping off the legs of a pair of chinos to form mid-knee length shorts? No, wait, roll down your nylons to the ankles and wear with orthopedic shoes.<BR><BR>Sorry, Sally, I just could not resist....<BR>

Nema problem elvira!<BR><BR>I just want a good reason why an appropriately-hued pair of socks cannot be worn with fairly covering pair of ecco sandals and long pants? Just looks like another shoe design to me! As for the "slippery slope" you describe -- by that point I will no longer be traveling!<BR><BR>And elvira -- I think I'm the one that gets advice from YOU!

Why are you all packing tips with you. It's not like you can't get tips in Europe.

Has anyone tried Downy Wrinkle Releaser? <BR><BR>I'm not bringing an iron and I'm sure no matter how well I pack and which method I use there will be wrinkles.<BR><BR>I'm hoping this will take care of those suitcase wrinkles.<BR><BR>Donna

I tried Downey and to my surprise it works!

Whoever will listen:<BR>I am what you would call a compulsive overpacker. Compound this with the fact that I'm packing for myself, a husband and four children ranging in age from six to eleven years. My fear is that I will forget, or overlook some possible scenerio. I would love to carry everything on.We do have six tickets, however I cannot imagine my children undertaking the burden of their own luggage, maybe I am underestimating them. We have never been to Europe before, and really don't know what kind of weather to expect in Amsterdam and Duesseldorf the first half of July, so, what to pack?<BR>I would like at least one nice outfit, and am now scarred by that whole "jean" problem. I had planned sneakers for everyone for day walking, this, too, seems shot out of the water. The children are mature, and we are planning on doing muesuems and the likes. Are there any parents out there that could help me out? We don't understand these dress codes. We have considered ourselves somewhat formal, are staying in 5 star hotels. Laundry??? I am desperate, and time is running out, as we leave in two weeks. <BR>An experienced voice would be most appreciated.<BR>Neurotic Mom in Arizona

Dear Neurotic Mom,<BR>Please don't worry too much about things like sneakers! Wear what you feel most comfortable in! Lots of people wear sneakers, and honestly, it's no big deal. You've got enough to look after with 4 kids! The jeans are not a wise idea because they are hot (and the weather will most likely be warm) and never dry. You're better off with a lightweight material that will breathe better. I personally wear skirts and light tops; I don't like wearing long pants during the summer, and shorts just are too casual. So for the summer, lightweight materials in generally light colors. I don't try to pretend I'm local and comfort is primary.

Packing light is the way to go unless you are taking your footman with you to lift the valises. I just got back from 3 weeks in Italy with one Kelty Pangaea wheeled duffle that fit into the overhead rack. In order to have room for things I would buy while traveling, I underpacked. 4 t-shirts (2 coolmax, 2 silk,) 2 pair black pants, a black vest and a black long sleeve tunic top were all I needed besides a long sleeve shirt that worked as a sleepshirt/robe, and my underwear. I took Ecco walking shoes and Acquaitalia sandals. Most of the time I wore the sandals because it was hot. When the skin starting peeling off my toes, I put on lacy black socks. A scarf dressed up the tunic top and pants for dinner (we did not eat anywhere super-fancy, though). The most important thing I found was that the fabrics must dry quickly. Take little packets of Woolite and wash things out at night. Quick-dry fabrics will be dry the next morning. Cotton knits and khakis can take 4 days to dry. My husband took ex-officio microfiber clothes and got by with 3 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. We had room to bring back lots of goodies!

Where does one buy those little packets of Woolite?

We found the Woolite at the Rand-Mcnally map store in San Francisco-they have a travel accessory department with practically everything you need for packing light.

Thank you for the info on the Woolite packets!

Where are you finding the Downey Wrinkle Releaser? I have looked in my local grocery store, Pubix and Target. Is it in a spray can?

Nancy, <BR>The Downey wrinkle releaser is in a plastic bottle. It has a "trigger spray" that you can switch into the "off" position. I'm not sure where we picked up ours (may have been a grocery here), but I believe I saw it the last time (probably 3 weeks ago) I was in K-Mart. <BR>BC

Both the wrinkle releaser and the woolite packets can be bought from Magellan's (they have a website) <BR>

Me too! I love sandles & socks. We'll be in Itlay in October. No cluncky shoes, comfortable sandels & socks. I think that should work. (It must be a midwest thing).

My son gave me this "how not to have to iropn" tip: mist your clothes with plain water, let them hang to dry, and voilą! No wrinkles. So now I travel with an empty 2 oz. spray bottle that I simply fill with water when I'm ready to use it. (A 1 oz. one would be even better but I haven't come across one yet.) I also use it to mist (then spot-blow dry) my hair when I don't need to shampoo it but have awakened with a few cowlicks. <BR> <BR>Liz

I noticed this year that women are more dressed up for dinner in France, maybe because we stayed at nicer places. A light weight dress, or jacket for pants will make you feel better, less like a tourist. I love my Merrill Jungle mocs for city and off road walking, and sandals for dinner, and more dressy days. A shawl really dresses up any outfit too, better than a jacket on a hot summer night, (it was REALLY hot last week). We do the zip-lock technique, you can get twice as much stuff in your suitcase and things don't get messed up when living out of a suitcase. One last word on carryon- don't forget if you have a long layover somewhere, you are burdened by that heavy carryon for hours, which speaks well for roll aboards, but they have less space than a backpack the same size.

OK ladies obviously you need a mediator...hehehe <BR> <BR>This is a true story. The other day at the grocery I saw a woman wearing TEVA sandals and nylon knee highs and she actually had the toes cut out of the nylons AND she was wearing shorts!!!! <BR> <BR>How's that for compromise? Will that work for you MsFowler?

Corrie: Women don't have the market cornered on dorky dress. On Monday morning (6AM) at SMF I saw a 45ish year old man, nice looking, good hair cut - BUT wearing a tourquoise teeshirt, mustard (actually baby sh*t yellow) walking shorts, black calf high dress socks, and brown sandals, carrying a louis vuiton shoulder bag. He really turned heads!

Dear Neurotic Mom: <BR> <BR>Don't know if you will have time to read emails at this stage, but here goes! <BR>Don't worry! Have fun! That's rule #1! <BR>Rule #2 is to pack ONLY enough clothing for four or five days (assuming you are on a two week trip)- since you are living in a five star hotel, I'm assuming that you can afford to have the hotel do some of the laundry for you. Usually takes a day. It's a great luxury, but well worth it. <BR>Pack for hot summer, the more cotton things the better. Take along a lightweight plastic jacket with a hood for the occasional rainshower and also to double as a kind of sweater. <BR>Wear the most comfortable shoes you have - no matter if they are sneakers, hiking boots, whatever. And wear them onto the airplane - saves a lot of packing space! You are going to have a lot of sore feet if you are going to see the number of museums you plan to see! <BR>Use a lot of ziploc baggies. Get some of those sandwich baggies with the foldover tops, they take up less space for the smaller bottles. Put anything that will leak into a baggie - lotion, toothpaste, etc. And as others have suggested, use the bigger baggies for underclothes, socks, t-shirts, etc. <BR> <BR>Pack a few individual packages of alka seltzer (doubles as aspirin and works much faster)and imodium. Get some good sunblock, good sun glasses, and not only deet-laden bug preventative, but also something for after the bug has already bitten. <BR>Skip the pajamas. The shirt the kid wore during the day doubles as his/her nightshirt. (After 24 hours of wear, you can give that shirt to the hotel laundry to wash!) <BR>Go back to rule #1 - have fun! <BR>Hope this helps a bit!