Please help, unsure what to pack for trip to Italy
 

Hello all, still planning that trip to Italy. We are thinking about the 4 days in Bologna (since dh is working) then the 4 in Rome and the last 2 on the coast somewhere near the airport. I am curious, since I have never been to Italy or Europe, what do I pack? What should I take to wear, both for sight seeing and for eaing nice dinners out. Nothing formal but most likely places we will want to dress up some. I am pregnant, will be 27weeks pregnant at the time and will need some comfortable shoes for sight seeing. I have heard that Geox are great and aren't as taboo as tennis shoes, any opinions? Thanks in advance for any info you can send. Also, should I carry a purse, backpack or what? I know a camera is going to be a dead give away that scream tourist, but I can't give it up, I am a scrapbooker! Can't wait for some feedback and if I get to go shopping in the next couple of weeks that is great too, maybe I will even shop some in Italy!!!

Any reason you posted the same message again? I notice you are new to Fodors. Welcome! A helpful hint: to find all your threads, just click on you blue screen name and they will all load in the left-hand column.

I suspect no one responded to your first thread because there are many, many, many what-to-pack threads here. Just do a search.

General consensus: Wear what you would wear at home for the same activities. If you're that concerned, err on the side of less casual, more like casual Friday at work. Italians look more dressy to an American eye, though keep in mind whatever you wear you will still look like American tourist, so why worry?

Comfortable shoes are a great idea, but you'll have to try them out and see which fit your feet best. Be sure to break in any new shoes well before your trip.

Purse versus backpack has also been discussed many times and, again, is a personal preference. It depends on what you want to carry. Just choose something that you can carry comfortably and securely.

You don't need special clothes to travel.

Take mix and match pieces from your own normal wardrobe, so you can layer depending on the weather. I take pants and tops. A dressier blouse and jacket with dark pants is sufficient for dinner out at anything but the fanciest restaurants.

I like Geox but some styles don't have a lot of support. I always travel also with a pair of sneakers. You want to be comfortable to do hours of walking.

I carry my regular pocketbook, which is a good sized tote and would fit a camera.

A helpful packing strategy is to wear your bulkiest items on the plane ride over (jacket, sweater, shoes or boots, etc.).

What time of year are you going? We spent two months traveling throughout Europe this summer, and I put a LOT of time into figuring out my wardrobe. Here is my general advice:

First, take half the amount of clothing you think you will need. Really! It is no fun to lug suitcases around (especially since you will be moving around). I took a carry-on size suitcase, and I STILL had too many clothes!! Take clothes that can be mixed and matched. I took mostly black, white and khaki colored items that all could be worn together, then threw in some fun scarves for color. Take very comfortable shoes for everyday walking (don't worry too much about fashion - everyone we saw this summer had on Keene's, Crocks, Birkenstocks or sneakers). I took a couple pair of ballet flats to put on for dinners at nicer restaurants. If you are traveling in the winter, I'd take some really comfortable boots (check out Munro's suede boots at Nordstroms - they are sublimely comfortable and can fold up pretty easily to fit in your suitcase.)

I would take one fabulous coat - one that can go from casual during the day to a little more fun at night when paired with a great scarf. (You might also throw in a rain coat that can be folded up really small just in case). Wear the coat and your bulkiest shoes on the plane.

I didn't bring any jeans because we were gone for so long, and they are too hard to wash and get dry while traveling. Since you will only be gone for about 10 days, you could easily bring a pair of fun jeans.

I would also throw in a big, fun necklace (like some chunky pearls). Putting a necklace on and a pair of ballet flats can turn a daytime sight-seeing outfit into a go to a nicer restaurant outfit at night without taking up much suitcase room.

As for purse/backpack, I carried a purse. Bring something that will be big enough to hold your camera (unless you have a separate camera bag), map, wallet, sunglasses, etc. . .but you don't want it soo big that your back is killing you by lunchtime. One tip: we brought the Rick Steve's guide book, and I just ripped out the pages for the city we were visiting. That way, I didn't have to carry around the whole book and the pages weighed next to nothing and could be folded up in my purse.

Good luck!

I agree with everyone else that has posted. The greatest emphasis in my opinion is the wearing of extremely comfortable shoes that you have already been wearing for quite some time. New shoes or even shoes you've never walked in much can absolutely ruin your experience. The only pair I took last year was my pair of Dansko Courtney. They are a thick soled mary jane and were heaven on my feet.

I take my favorite clothes to travel that fit with the weather on the other end. Like you'd wear for casual Friday (as mentioned) or dressed up a bit on the weekend. For a 10 day trip, I'd pack 4 'outfits' that mix and match and alternate them.

If your tennis shoes are your most comfortable walking shoes - bring them. They are not 'taboo' in any sense.