Does anyone know where I could purchase either a bathmat for travelling ( hopefully smaller than the usual kind) or some sandals with grips on them? Had a near death experience this year in Spain and would like NOT to repeat it. and, No, I do not travel with Mother. ( I have thought of just packing a regualr bathmat in a plastic bag, but would like to know if there is something less cumbersome.)

If all else fails, why not buy a regular bathmat and cut it up? It's got to be cheaper than treating a concussion.

There is a rubber-like material (made for kitchen cabinet shelf linings) and sold in Wal-Mart that should work very well for this. Various widths & colors in 15-20 foot rolls for about $5.00 and easily cut to lenght. Quit compact but durable. We use it in certain places on our hardwood floors to help keep our old hound dog (redbone coon hound) from slipping. Now that I've thought of it, I may pack a little on our next trip myself.

Could you use a small towel that the hotel provides? If not, <BR>Check travel specialist catalogs like Magellan and Travelsmith. In one of them I recall seeing bathing sandals <BR>which are actually made for rocky beaches but I'm sure would work for you. <BR>

Thanks for the input. <BR> <BR>I did think of cutting up a bathmat, but would rather find something designed for travel ( lighter ?). <BR> <BR>

Visit a fabric shop --maybe one that carries upholstery fabrics -- and you may just find a half yard of vinyl something that will be less cumbersome than a mat.

I grew up in the floor covering industry (my dad owns a carpet store), and I would recommend some blue non-skid (looks like a very thin blue rubber screen). It is lightweight, compact, and you can cut it to any size you like. It's also cheap. e-mail me for more details if needed.

I gather when you say bathmat, you want something to put inside the tub rather than on the floor outside? I have a degree in textiles, and you really shouldn't get vinyl cut at a fabric store as this is extremely slippery; putting a regular towel down on porcelain would also be very slippery and dangerous. Here's a tip: go to Kmart or such and get a placemat or two; a common pattern now is sort of an open waffle weave nonskid rubber type--I've seen them in many discount stores like this within the past month. I put my sewing machine on one on a wooden table and it's almost TOO nonskid, hard to move (similar to the open waffle weave rubber stuff you can put under area rugs). They are only a couple dollars or less per placement and very lightweight/small and will dry in a jiffy. Alternatively, Kmart and similar stores do sell rubber/vinyl shower clogs/slippers or whatever you want to call them, also. Actually, the placemats would probably take up less room.

Excellent idea! I've got those waffle placemats on my kitchen table and they dry pretty fast. You may have hit on a super solution.

Just buy some cheap flip-flops. I wear those (since I stay in hostels) and they work fine.

Dear Michele, <BR>I agree with Michelle -- buy a pair of cheap-o flipflops from Walmart or such. I never travel without them. I use them for bedroom shoes, beach shoes and "shower shoes" if needed. We have stayed in places where I would not want to put my feet on the shower floor and learned quickly that this is the easist way to handle many problems. <BR>Happy travels, Bushmama

Dear Michele, Sorry. I just posted a reply and realize that I used the wrong name in the text. What I meant to say was "I agree with Wendy." Bushmama is getting old!!. <BR>

Good idea, Michele. I had a bad experience slipping on a slick tile floor in a Rome hotel -- fortunately I didn't need medical attention, but parts of me were swollen, bruised and in pain for a large part of the trip. <BR> <BR>Clutzes everywhere, take note!!!

Love the waffle placemat idea...I WAS wearing plastic flip-flops...they get really slippery on the bathtub floor ( either that or I am especially clumsy despite all that ballet.) <BR> <BR>Many thanks to all...

How about those water booties divers and river runners wear. They're neoprene, dry instantly, have rubber grips on the bottom and weigh nothing. Try a dive shop or somewhere like REI.

How about those water booties divers and river runners wear. They're neoprene, dry instantly, have rubber grips on the bottom and weigh nothing. Try a dive shop or somewhere like REI.

tp

I carry along those little non-skid appliques, usually in the shape of a flower. Just peel off the back and stick them all over the bottom of the tub in your hotel bathroom. The hotel managers really appreciate it when guests "spruce up" the rooms like this. One in fact even said "Vai. Non tornare" as I was leaving. So sweet.