Top 3 things I wish I knew...
Nov 9th, 2007, 07:54 PM
#21
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Definitely earplugs! A good night's sleep can mean the difference in enjoying your dayand feeling refreshed.
Consider bringing a laundry detergent tablet like "Persil" or a small bottle of laundry soap in case you succeed in packing light and visit a laundromat. Even hair shampoo works in a pinch; wash jeans or a top in the bathtub and let them dry over the shower rod.(Even washing panties and sox in the sink can lighten your luggage.)Pack one lightweight plastic coat hanger for this purpose.
Stuff underwear and socks inside shoes to save space in the suitcase.
Do not fill your rental car with diesel if it needs unleaded fuel and wonder why people are pointing and laughing.
Don't drag a blow dryer to Europe. Most lodgings provide one and you can always buy a cheap one if not.
If you pinch off tiny pieces of pizza crust for the sparrows at canalside tables in Venice, people will get very aggravated with you, even if you thought nobody was looking. Especially if your husband hisses at you to cut it out and everyone turns around to see.
Bring an adapter kit for curling irons, shavers, etc and one of them will fit.
Consider bringing a laundry detergent tablet like "Persil" or a small bottle of laundry soap in case you succeed in packing light and visit a laundromat. Even hair shampoo works in a pinch; wash jeans or a top in the bathtub and let them dry over the shower rod.(Even washing panties and sox in the sink can lighten your luggage.)Pack one lightweight plastic coat hanger for this purpose.
Stuff underwear and socks inside shoes to save space in the suitcase.
Do not fill your rental car with diesel if it needs unleaded fuel and wonder why people are pointing and laughing.
Don't drag a blow dryer to Europe. Most lodgings provide one and you can always buy a cheap one if not.
If you pinch off tiny pieces of pizza crust for the sparrows at canalside tables in Venice, people will get very aggravated with you, even if you thought nobody was looking. Especially if your husband hisses at you to cut it out and everyone turns around to see.
Bring an adapter kit for curling irons, shavers, etc and one of them will fit.
Nov 9th, 2007, 08:09 PM
#22
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Canyonjane is so right about the shoes. Never leave home with one pair of shoes as some advocate. ALWAYS have at least two pair. I think you should always alternate shoes and even if you aren't like-minded, you're really stuck if one pair gets wet and you don't have another.
She and I also think alike about the baggies. I always travel with one big baggie filled with baggies of various sizes and when I get home, I find I've used most of them for one thing or another. They are priceless!!
She and I also think alike about the baggies. I always travel with one big baggie filled with baggies of various sizes and when I get home, I find I've used most of them for one thing or another. They are priceless!!
Nov 10th, 2007, 05:31 PM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the additonal items...few things:
Overplanner: When you said you had a hard time with the adapter for your flat iron, did you mean it didn't work or did not work as well? I use a flat iron and was planning on bringing mine...
FainaAgain: Great advice about buying items--all too often I make the mistake of saying "I'll get it later" just to not be able to find it anywhere else! I for sure don't want to make that mistake in Italy!
Great ideas with the plastic bags, tablets for washing clothes and even packing tips! I really appreciate all the advice and have found the Fodor's forum to be a lifesafer!
Overplanner: When you said you had a hard time with the adapter for your flat iron, did you mean it didn't work or did not work as well? I use a flat iron and was planning on bringing mine...
FainaAgain: Great advice about buying items--all too often I make the mistake of saying "I'll get it later" just to not be able to find it anywhere else! I for sure don't want to make that mistake in Italy!
Great ideas with the plastic bags, tablets for washing clothes and even packing tips! I really appreciate all the advice and have found the Fodor's forum to be a lifesafer!
Nov 11th, 2007, 06:33 AM
#24
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Top 3 things I wish I knew...
1. I wish I knew about lardo before travelling to Tuscany. I regret not tasting it.
2. ditto on knowing that some gear shifts require you to push the gear shift down to shift into reverse.
3. I wish I had printed out directions (e.g. from Mapquest or something similar) from our rental car pick up location to our first destination. Navigating Italian road signs can take a bit getting used to.
1. I wish I knew about lardo before travelling to Tuscany. I regret not tasting it.
2. ditto on knowing that some gear shifts require you to push the gear shift down to shift into reverse.
3. I wish I had printed out directions (e.g. from Mapquest or something similar) from our rental car pick up location to our first destination. Navigating Italian road signs can take a bit getting used to.
Nov 11th, 2007, 08:00 AM
#26
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Three Things I wish I knew:
1) The only thing you can control is your own attitude. People might be rude, trains might be late, theft might happen--but I can fully control my outlook.
2) Money can equal happiness. Sad, but true. (goes along with buy it when you see it, there might not be another)
3) Alitalia eats luggage. Including the bags full of new clothes I had to buy to replace the lost luggage on the TO: leg of the trip.
___________
I'll do thank-you notes and ziploks and mapquest from now on!
1) The only thing you can control is your own attitude. People might be rude, trains might be late, theft might happen--but I can fully control my outlook.
2) Money can equal happiness. Sad, but true. (goes along with buy it when you see it, there might not be another)
3) Alitalia eats luggage. Including the bags full of new clothes I had to buy to replace the lost luggage on the TO: leg of the trip.
___________
I'll do thank-you notes and ziploks and mapquest from now on!
Nov 11th, 2007, 10:59 AM
#27
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. That the "just 5 minutes walk" to the tube station assumes you run a 4 minute mile.
2. That London is HUGE and all distances are 5 times greater than they look on the map. You can not "stroll across Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace" from Paddington without lots of time and shoe leather.
3. That, sometimes, it's ok to do a "touristy" thing; in fact, it can be considerably more relaxing than always trying to be a "local".
2. That London is HUGE and all distances are 5 times greater than they look on the map. You can not "stroll across Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace" from Paddington without lots of time and shoe leather.
3. That, sometimes, it's ok to do a "touristy" thing; in fact, it can be considerably more relaxing than always trying to be a "local".
Nov 11th, 2007, 04:56 PM
#30
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. Take my nose out of the guidebook and look around! I can reread the guidebook the other 51 weeks a year when I'm home.
2. People in Europe eat, sleep, dress and shower like we do. Most things forgotten can be replaced. Don't worry about it.
3. Even if it isn't on your route/itinerary/printed out postings from this forum, if it looks interesting go down that side street, into that church, eat at the delicious smelling restaurant. Guidebooks and other people's advice are certainly helpful and a good start but trust your own instincts and you'll have a great adventure.
2. People in Europe eat, sleep, dress and shower like we do. Most things forgotten can be replaced. Don't worry about it.
3. Even if it isn't on your route/itinerary/printed out postings from this forum, if it looks interesting go down that side street, into that church, eat at the delicious smelling restaurant. Guidebooks and other people's advice are certainly helpful and a good start but trust your own instincts and you'll have a great adventure.
Nov 11th, 2007, 05:38 PM
#32
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,748
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RebeccaYouSee:
"2) Money can equal happiness. "
Oh, I was thinking that the top thing I wish I knew before I traveled to Europe was that I should have thought a lot more about money when I was young. I never thought it was important to me to be a big earner until I got the Europe habit, and by then, I was way on the wrong earning track.
"2) Money can equal happiness. "
Oh, I was thinking that the top thing I wish I knew before I traveled to Europe was that I should have thought a lot more about money when I was young. I never thought it was important to me to be a big earner until I got the Europe habit, and by then, I was way on the wrong earning track.
Nov 18th, 2007, 06:46 PM
#34
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
goferfan512: My flat iron didn't work at all with the adapter we brought and so we requested one from the hotel. It worked but would overheat the iron so that it would turn itself off after a couple of minutes. I just did without for most of the trip.
Nov 19th, 2007, 04:50 AM
#36
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You all gave me some good chuckles! Especially LoveItaly's comment about lines in Italy. Here is my top 3:
1- Give up trying to look/dress/live like a local. They all know you're not.
2- White sneakers are worn by locals all over the world.
3- Don't touch the produce! You touch it, you buy it!
4- The cute little wooden shoes you buy from the cute little wooden shoe place in the Dutch country side may give you splinters despite what the nice (but now insulted) shoe maker tells you about how smooth the inside of the shoe is, and how no one has ever gotten a splinter from wearing his master crafted shoes.
And I have to second Ira's suggestion...learn to say those important phrases in the local language. Especially "where is the toilet."
1- Give up trying to look/dress/live like a local. They all know you're not.
2- White sneakers are worn by locals all over the world.
3- Don't touch the produce! You touch it, you buy it!
4- The cute little wooden shoes you buy from the cute little wooden shoe place in the Dutch country side may give you splinters despite what the nice (but now insulted) shoe maker tells you about how smooth the inside of the shoe is, and how no one has ever gotten a splinter from wearing his master crafted shoes.
And I have to second Ira's suggestion...learn to say those important phrases in the local language. Especially "where is the toilet."
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ann_nyc
Africa & the Middle East
9
Aug 20th, 2009 04:54 AM
lilipad
United States
11
Jun 18th, 2003 02:25 PM
