"Shoulder Season" is typically when the kids are still in school but the weather is still nice. I would never-ever-ever travel overseas between mid June and the end of August. I hate crowds.<BR><BR>Also, at least one person mentioned disposing of clothing along the way - I also do this. Particularly with old shoes...too beat-up to be worn to work anymore, but they're so worn-in and comfy - perfect for the trip!<BR><BR>

TOM - Great website!

I agree with all the tips above. One more is, if you can afford it, stay in a great location. Even it means a smaller room, less amenities, etc. For me waking up and walking outside to a great location is the best part of the trip. It also makes you feel like you are really living at your destination and exploring your "neighborhood". Nice also to run back to your hotel if you realize you are cold, tired, need the bathroom.<BR>The other travel tip is to pack in advance. Eliminates lots of stress and all your clothes will be wrinkled anyway.

This is for all you good travelers whose suggestions really made our first Europe trip more enjoyable. For "museum back" and all around good feeling, eating and sleeping: take one of those rubber band exercisers-like a surgical tube with a handle on each end. Five minutes in the morning and five minutes a half hour before bed. It fits anywhere in your luggage and you can have a refreshing workout in any 4'x4' area. Unbelievable! Better than a double scotch(?!)-an instant pick-me-up for relief of that tired feeling(altho the idea of a little exercise at the end of the day is repulsive, you'll sleep better and wake more refreshed) It's amazing how much your feeling of confidence and enjoyment of the trip comes from overall circulation and muscle stimulation. For your neck and head area take an old belt and loop a piece of surgical tubing, bunggee cord, or schock cord thru it and knot the ends. Close the knot in any door, put you head in the loose belt and exercise all the neck muscles--better eyesight, memory, less tension and a younger looking neck.(try it after a long session at the computer). I know all this sounds odd, but I have been doing this for ten years and I wouldn't think of going on a trip without my portable gym. Cleared up my "museum back" too.<BR>

Hi, travelingal.<BR>These are probably pretty obvious, but, worthy of the thread, I think.<BR><BR>I keep a bag ready all the time. It has the little things, shampoo, bandaids, etc, that you may need if your luggage doesn't arrive with you. I also pack a copy of my tickets, passport, itinerary, etc. in the event I need them. <BR>This little bag will also hold a spare pair of underclothing, and a fresh <BR>t-shirt. I have my neck pillow and a small bag of goodies (granola bars and a little chocolate) in there as well.<BR>If I use something from the bag I make a note of it and replace it as soon as I get home. <BR>I go to the good will store and find a few softcover books for the journey. It's easy to leave them if they only cost a buck.<BR>My bag is waiting for it's next adventure and ready to go in a minute. <BR><BR>The other tip I swear by is to cross pack with a companion. In the event a bag is lost, both will have clothes. <BR><BR>I also take twice the amount of prescription drugs I need, packed separately, of course. A spare pair of contacts or glasses is a good idea. A friend of mine lost a lens from their glasses in the Grand Canal and another had her contacts in a glass by the sink...yep, they were dumped the first day. To replace these required an eye exams. <BR><BR>And, allow some time for spontaneity. Allow yourself to get lost, spend an extra hour at the museum if you want.<BR>

Do not check baggage. There's no worse way to start a great vacation than filling out forms in an airport and having to spend time calling airline to ascertain whereabouts of luggage, shopping for stupid stuff like umbrellas, etc.

andi:<BR>The admonition to "not check baggage" just isn't always possible, no matter how diligently one may pack or plan. See the other thread that's running right now about the differences encountered when transferring btwn US and non-US carriers in Europe.

I love this thread!<BR>Travelingal - you were right, there are a TON of things that even seasoned travelers would not have thought of....<BR><BR><BR>KEEP THE SUGGESTIONS COMING!!! I EAGERLY AWAIT!

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when you go to london definately DON'T forget an umbrealla!!!

Every day at 3:00pm stop for a beer and people watch.<BR><BR>Go into churches for amazing art and architecture.<BR><BR>Learn everything you can before you go, leave your books at home, get a good map so you don't get lost, and then just explore.

Richard, the one thing I miss while on vacation is my barbell, but I don't understand how sticking your head through a loop will exercise your neck muscles. Explain, please!

If you're planning on bringing back a lot of loot, er, souvenirs, pack a lightweight duffel bag for the return trip. Stuff your clothes in the duffel and the loot in your carry-on. Check the duffel. If it gets lost or delayed, no big whoop - you've got a houseful of clothes waiting for you.

ALEX - that is a WONDERFUL tip!!! I never would have thought of it, oh how many headaches that little piece of information would have saved me...*sigh*<BR><BR>I'll have to remember that for next time!

Dallas: I forgot to mention an alternative-pass a length of rubber tubing from ear to ear, knot each end and close any door on one knot. Nod your head against the tension to exercise neck muscles. Also clears ear wax and cob webs. Really!

Richard, I think maybe you've tried that trick one too many times. Either that, or someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today!

Rx for vomiting due to food poisoning: Phenergan suppositories. Absolutely, positively saved my life in Copenhagen. I would have missed my plane to the U.S. I was very lucky a cruise-mate had this in her bag!<BR><BR>I would not ever think of getting on a plane, even domestically, without at least my toiletries, medicine and one change of clothing.

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1. Cut out pages from Fodors/Frommers etc guide books for the cities/areas you will visit--leave the rest of the book home-eliminates unnecessary weight.<BR><BR>2. Research train schedules in advance using queries on Deutchbahn or SBB websites, paste into word files and print them for reference the day before training to your next destination--saves stress.<BR><BR>3. Get a phrase book and Barrons tape, practice phrases when driving, or practice with flash cards (english one side, other language opposite) to develop confidence in using the host language. It's fun self-improvement, shows you're making the effort and will help you connect with people in Europe.<BR><BR>4. Bring woolite packets for washing clothes in the hotel sink if you don't wish to do the laundromat thing. Light weight and works great.<BR><BR>5. Roll with as much as comes your way as possible. It makes for a much more enjoyable trip for you and the people sharing your travels with you (learned the hard way, though I did learn).<BR><BR>6. Try as many local foods as possible. You can always eat McD's at home, but you don't always get the chance to return to that little place in Luzern that offers Geschneltes...or that restaurant near Naples that serves eel.<BR><BR>7. Show interest in the wait staff, hotel people, merchants and as many others as you can. They share things about their country and lives that make your travels so much more memorable.<BR><BR>8. Get a room with a view. It's usually worth the extra money.<BR><BR>9. Pack light....so you can give the manageable suitcase to your spouse and take the 70 pound bag she insists is the lightest she can pack (this will earn me eternal damnation and loss of my "new millenium kind of guy" card. <BR><BR>10 Stay 2-3 nights per location to reduce the stress of always packing/unpacking and rushing to the train station to catch the next train.

up you go