We will be living out of a suitcase as we travel through Italy for four weeks...and since there is really no such clothing as "wrinkle free", I need some good advice from experienced travellers. Should I take along my trusty travel iron or just live with the wrinkles. Also, is there any need for a travel umbrella during May and early June or would it just be a nuisance.

<BR>I would never recommend taking an iron. Just pack clothing made of materials which are less wrinkle prone....and hang clothes in the bathroom when you take hot showers to steam them a bit if needed. I do always pack a small collapsible umbrella.

My husband and I will also be in Italy for four weeks. We are carrying one backpack each. We leave on Saturday and my clothes have been in the backpack since Sunday. I'm going to check the clothes tonight and see which ones are really wrinkled. They are mostly black and doesn't really show wrinkles but I do have one outfit that is light green and made of tercel or something like that. I would pretend to live out of your suitcase and see which ones get wrinkled. As for the umbrella, I would bring it. I looked at the weather for Europe and most Italian cities are cloudy and rainy this week.

I travel with a small steamer instead of a travel iron. It is much smaller and only weighs a few ounces. It is also easier to use and does a great job. It was a gift, so I don't know where to get one, but I imagine my mother-in-law bought it at someplace like Woolworths. I'm sure it wasn't expensive, and it's been very useful. <BR> <BR>I would also take a travel umbrella. You can get one from Totes that folds down to about 8 inches and will fit in your jacket pocket. You'll hardly notice that you have it, and if it rains you'll be glad you took it.

Thanks so much for your replies. I will take the umbrella. Cheryl, could you tell me the brand name of your steamer. I have been looking at them, but have not found one that is smaller or lighter than my travel iron.

the fabric Maria mentioned is probably Tencel. It sheds wrinkles easily--even without the hot shower trick or Texas-like humidity. I wouldn't bother with any electrical appliance if I could at all avoid it.

My clothes steamer is by Remington; I took it on two trips and now that hummer lives at home during my trips. It IS lighter than an iron (considerably) but it takes up room that I'd rather save for another pair of socks and a t-shirt. <BR>The Totes umbrella that Cheryl mentioned is called "Lite" and weighs virtually nothing. It's such a glorious thing.... <BR>We have learned to live with wrinkles, but pack things like leggings and broomstick skirts and cotton jersey turtlenecks - rolled rather than packed flat - to limit the worst of the wrinkles. Also, we've found that even in the no-star hotels, small b&bs and inexpensive 'holiday flats', irons are sometimes provided. If you're reserving accommodations, ask if they provide an iron...

<BR>Leave the irons/steamers at home. Steam from your shower will take out wrinkles, if you are really worried. Take Elvira's advice & pack knits(which can be rolled up) in dark colors(won't show dirt or wrinkles). Spend your time sightseeing instead of ironing. Have fun!

oops! I meant dark colors which will not show dirt, etc. <BR>

TAKE THE UMBRELLA! If you don't, it will rain every step of the way. I bought four new collapsible Totes before our recent trip to Paris (one for each of us), and it only rained the day we left -- I said it was because Paris was sad that we were leaving! On a trip to Santa Fe summer before last, I neglected to pack an umbrella, thus insuring the end of their five-month drought! RE Tencel, I found that my pants of that fabric "shake out" quickly and didn't need pressing.

This is the kind of question in which I can't resist turning it back to you Kelley and asking "What do YOU want to do?" If you are the kind of person who likes to be well-turned out at all times, and if you are usually pretty fastidious at home, then by all means take a steamer or iron if you are concerned. If you'll be wearing cottons and other natural fabrics, they will wrinkle no matter how carefully you pack. Although, the advice given that you'll probably be able to borrow one at even the smallest hotel is good advice. <BR>Additionally, if your budget allows many hotels offer pressing and cleaning services, or there are nearby cleaners. I love taking advantage of this when I can--nothing nicer than putting clean,pressed clothes into the suitcase as I move on to the next city, instead of dirty ones. <BR> <BR>I agree with this: don't go without a small folding umbrella for each of you. If you use them you'll be very happy, and if you don't you'll still be happy. <BR>

This is the kind of question in which I can't resist turning it back to you Kelley and asking "What do YOU want to do?" If you are the kind of person who likes to be well-turned out at all times, and if you are usually pretty fastidious at home, then by all means take a steamer or iron if you are concerned. If you'll be wearing cottons and other natural fabrics, they will wrinkle no matter how carefully you pack. Although, the advice given that you'll probably be able to borrow one at even the smallest hotel is good advice. <BR>Additionally, if your budget allows many hotels offer pressing and cleaning services, or there are nearby cleaners. I love taking advantage of this when I can--nothing nicer than putting clean,pressed clothes into the suitcase as I move on to the next city, instead of dirty ones. <BR> <BR>I agree with this: don't go without a small folding umbrella for each of you. If you use them you'll be very happy, and if you don't you'll still be happy. <BR>

This is the kind of question in which I can't resist turning it back to you Kelley and asking "What do YOU want to do?" If you are the kind of person who likes to be well-turned out at all times, and if you are usually pretty fastidious at home, then by all means take a steamer or iron if you are concerned. If you'll be wearing cottons and other natural fabrics, they will wrinkle no matter how carefully you pack. Although, the advice given that you'll probably be able to borrow an iron at even the smallest hotel is good advice. <BR>Additionally, if your budget allows many hotels offer pressing and cleaning services, or there are nearby cleaners. I love taking advantage of this when I can--nothing nicer than putting clean,pressed clothes into the suitcase as I move on to the next city, instead of dirty ones. <BR> <BR>I agree with this: don't go without a small folding umbrella for each of you. If you use them you'll be very happy, and if you don't you'll still be happy. <BR>

This is the kind of question in which I can't resist turning it back to you Kelley and asking "What do YOU want to do?" If you are the kind of person who likes to be well-turned out at all times, and if you are usually pretty fastidious at home, then by all means take a steamer or iron if you are concerned. If you'll be wearing cottons and other natural fabrics, they will wrinkle no matter how carefully you pack. Although, the advice given that you'll probably be able to borrow an iron at even the smallest hotel is good advice. <BR>Additionally, if your budget allows many hotels offer pressing and cleaning services, or there are nearby cleaners. I love taking advantage of this when I can--nothing nicer than putting clean,pressed clothes into the suitcase as I move on to the next city, instead of dirty ones. <BR> <BR>I agree with this: don't go without a small folding umbrella for each of you. If you use them you'll be very happy, and if you don't you'll still be happy. <BR>

This is the kind of question in which I can't resist turning it back to you Kelley and asking "What do YOU want to do?" If you are the kind of person who likes to be well-turned out at all times, and if you are usually pretty fastidious at home, then by all means take a steamer or iron if you are concerned. If you'll be wearing cottons and other natural fabrics, they will wrinkle no matter how carefully you pack. Although, the advice given that you'll probably be able to borrow an iron at even the smallest hotel is good advice. <BR>Additionally, if your budget allows many hotels offer pressing and cleaning services, or there are nearby cleaners. I love taking advantage of this when I can--nothing nicer than putting clean,pressed clothes into the suitcase as I move on to the next city, instead of dirty ones. <BR> <BR>I agree with this: don't go without a small folding umbrella for each of you. If you use them you'll be very happy, and if you don't you'll still be happy. <BR>

Forget the heavy steamer, too -- I've had very good luck with sprinkling the garmet with water (by hand or...), or moistening it with a damp cloth or even wet hands, and then using the hairdryer on it -- if necessary, stretching or patting it smooth as it dries. Obviously, this won't work with linen, but it works well with most other things -- esp. useful for spot-steaming an isolated crease.

You have helped me make up my mind....I'm going to leave the iron at home, and I'll be sure to take the umbrella. Thanks to all of you for your good advice. Now about that pesky hairdryer and curling iron...perhaps I'll just try velcro rollers and live with bumpy hair!

On another site, some suggested taking along a scented linen spray (Bath & Body works) to freshen up stale sheets in a hotel or spritzing on your jeans after wearing them for 3 days or on your hair after visiting a smoky pub. The extra advantage she mentioned was that if you spritz after you get home, the aroma brings back fond memories of your trip. Sounds good to me for this fall.

I take a folding umbrella, but I've also found that those flimsy rain ponchos you can buy for about $1-2 in the drug store or dollar store take up next to no space. They really cover a lot (can be worn over "good coats") if you are caught in a drenching downpour. I always have two in my camera bag for pleasure trips, and two in my laptop case for business. Even if you've left the umbrella at the hotel, you're OK. I learned this trick as a soccer mom, who spent many long tournament weekends watching my son play in the rain. May not be high fashion, but I've never been stuck in a train station with a two block dash to the hotel in a driving rainstorm!

My steamer is a dual voltage Franzus. Very lightweight, small but holds a lot of water. Take it everywhere. No need for a converter, just an adapter plug. Better than a travel iron - you steam the item on a hanger and don't need a board or flat surface. I never take an umbrella, though. Instead, I prefer a raincoat or rain jacket with a hood. The pockets some in very handy and it's the perfect extra layer.