Debbie,<BR><BR>I do the EXACT same thing! I also never travel w/o my hand sanitizer and a pack of tissues.<BR><BR>Great thread! I've been adding to my packing list today with all the helpful tips.

A small sewing kit, a yellow highlighter, small roll of scotch tape and a calendar (or at least a xerox of the month you are in). Why a calendar ?? To mark things such as days you have theater tickets for, or something you &quot;must&quot; be there for. It is easy to get mixed up on dates when traveling a lot and I've known people who have actually missed something they had tickets for by being a &quot;day off&quot; due to jet lag.

Thought of another one.<BR><BR>A laminated copy of my passport. (that way it doesn't get ruined if something leaks on it during the flight)

Can't believe I started such an interesting thread; and I thought I was the only one who packed &quot;quirky&quot; things in my suitcase!!! <BR>Message to Muddy Paws (Melissa) I live in Canada and I take the same exension cord I use here when I travel to the Caribbean and to France. I just put the round -pin plug on the end and away I go.

thank you all for some really good tips...

I always buy a roll of bubble-wrap before embarking on a trip--esp. to Italy where I bring home ceramic plates and/or wine. I also pack a second foldable suitcase in which I can put my belongings if I buy enough souveniers to warrant another bag.

always have a rubber door stop. I feel better knowing that even with a key, you won't get in my room without a whole bunch of noise. An 89 cent piece of security.

For dryer sheets... use ones that have already been through the dryer once! That avoids the greasy stains, and they still make everything smell fresh...<BR><BR>Also necessities: ear plugs... both for teh overnight plane trips and the hotel room next to the elevator shaft (or off a busy street!)

Handiwipes! I can't believe no one mentioned it yet as there are never any washclothes in small hotels. <BR><BR>Bandaid blister bandaids (both sizes - heel and toe). Have gel in them, I believe. Sometimes even my favorite shoes give me a blister when I wear them more than I usually do.

For the plane...any class:<BR>1. allergy-dust masks(available at drug and home improvement stores) Slip that baby on the first sign of a sneeze in the cabin and all the time you sleep.<BR>It keeps germs out of your nose &amp; throat and moisture in your sinuses.<BR>Great for pollution in city and dusty country.<BR>The trip:<BR>2. Medication for constipation and the runs..2 medicines 2 problems,but might save your trip.<BR>3. Your favorite pillow, dirty cases make great laundry bags<BR>4. a Carbon copy of your passport and your credit cards with phone numbers to call if lost. NEVER carry your passport around a city. Lock it in the vault at the hotel and carry the copy.Unless you want to spend a couple days vacation at the US embassy begging for a new one!!!<BR>5.Duct tape..seriously.. for pesky airco<BR>vents and in case of fire to cover the former.....another issue.Also general repairs.<BR>6. Those handy plastic &quot;squeeze out the air and reduce your packing volume bags&quot;<BR>7. Those little cable ties to secure your luggage. If security trashes your locks, you will need them. Downside..the hotel will have to provide scissors as yours have to be packed in the bag due to security regs.<BR>Got all nite??? Not me! That's an experienced start!<BR>Bon Voyage!!!!!!<BR>

My dreams, hopes and aspirations of course.<BR><BR>I would never leave home without them.

Never leaves the suitcase? hairbrusg, travel alarm, shoe polish (one of those little foam rubber jobbies) and laundry bag.<BR><BR>Briefcase? passport and corkscrew.<BR><BR>And I now have a two section wallet it's taken me months to find, so I can have UK money permanently in one section and Euros in the other, and not have to keep changing wallets.

Duct tape, great for holding on bandages, ziplock baggies, handiwipes, and camping silverware. The metal kind that locks together in a set. Great for hotel room meals and especially useful on the road. Those collapsible rubber cups are handy too.<BR><BR>A great clothes washing soap is inexpensive and can be used for many things ... Dr. Bronner's liquid soap. Can be purchased in health food and camping stores. Much cheaper than those little tubes, and really cleans your clothes. I buy a large bottle and pour some into smaller bottles for travel.<BR><BR>Sounds as if all I do is eat and wash clothes when I travel :-)