Dear Travelingal,<BR><BR>Here's my list;<BR><BR>1. Pack your suitcase, Take 1/2 of the stuff out, put it in another suitcase; now you have two suitcases that are only half full to use!<BR>2. Take only footprints and leave only photographs.<BR>3. In Europe, some people speak three or four languages, so no matter what country you're visiting, learn Esperanto: It'll confuse the hell out of absolutely everyone.<BR>4. If you've never been to where you're going before, then close your eyes and picture--in your mind--exactly as you hope everything will be, right down to the most minute detail. Done? Now you're ready to visit the country of your dreams!<BR>5. When you're in a foreign country, you're surrounded by foreign people AND foreign objects. Remember what your mother taught you about foreign objects: don't get them in your eyes!<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR><BR>PAL

Zip lock bags.....take all sizes...they are great for soooo many things.<BR><BR

Take a roll of bubble wrap and tape. Also those zip lock baggies are a lifesaver!

write down the name, address of your hotel (or get a business card or brochure) so you can use it if necessary to get directions or a taxi ride back to the hotel. This is especially important in countries with different writing systems (like Greece)

Always pack Imodium.

Take Ambien (a sleeping pill)for long transatlantic flights. You will wake up refreshed and won't have to suffer through a long flight.

ttt

DON'T PACK MORE THAN YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO USE!!!<BR><BR>It took me three trips before I got this one through my own thick skull...

Just got back a few weeks ago from our latest trip. We were driving part of the time, so I printed out directions between the different towns and cities we planned to visit or contemplated visiting (we were in Italy). It was a lifesaver! Even though I had a couple of decent maps, the route numbers listed on the driving directions were so much more reliable.<BR><BR>Baggies, all sizes, ditto.<BR><BR>Meds. All kinds. Band-aids, antibiotic ointment, antihistamines, ibuprofen, etc. My son woke up with a nasty rash the second morning there, all over his body. I had the anitihistamine to give him (it was an allergic reaction), but had left the cortisone cream on the counter at home, failing to make it to the med bag. It was very interesting to go to a farmacia and try to buy it!

There's no place like home.

WRITE A JOURNAL! You'll never remember everything you think you will. It's fun to read years later and it will bring back lots of great memories. I also make a list of things I miss about home so I appreciate them more when I get back.

The first thing I do, which may seem obvious, is make a list of everything I want to take - not necessarily individual clothes. Then cross off as I pack. That way I don't forget the really important stuff, i.e, passport, tickets, money, umbrella, etc. Also, color-coordinating clothes - you don't need so much stuff. And baggies are great for undies.

Prepare as if you were leaving the day before your actual scheduled departure. I think we're finally going to manage this this year, and the reduction in last-minute stress is marvellous.

Keep a generic list of items needed to be adjusted as needed for specific trip, for example, Immodiom, plastic bags, toothbrush, camera battery, travel alarm.

Comfortable shoes. Reservations at one amazing restaurant to be sure you'll have a great meal (at least once!). Learn how to say please and thank you in the local language. Hotel reservations or at least a list of hotels you would like to stay at (learned this one the hard way Easter week "winging it" in Rome - NOT!!) Most of all, bring someone you love with you if possible...someone that later you can say to "hey remember that sunset...funny waiter...really great ice cream that we had?"

www.twenj.net<BR>

Came across our little travel journal the other day for our very first trip to Europe 25 years ago. It was just a small 3 x 5" spiral notebook but it was crammed with memories. So many of the little details that I had forgotten. It was like being there all over again!

Please, suzanne, may I ask, what is "shoulder season"? I've seen it a couple of times lately on this forum, but I've never heard of it before. Thanks.

ttt

"Shoulder season" is just that time between high season and low season. Usually it's the very beginning and end of low season, when prices can be a little higher than during low season itself. This can be a good time to travel -- you get good weather, though not the best, and save on $$.