What are your MUST HAVE travel accessories?
Jul 30th, 2003 | 12:15 PM
#63
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
My list of extra MUST HAVES matches many of yours of course:
Small flashlight
Compass
Mole Skin (since I never seem to wear comfy shoes)
Ear Planes (to maintain pressure for flights but work as ear plugs too).
BUT, my new must have is my PDA (Palm Pilot). I've taken it on the last three trips overseas (and will again in September) and I can't believe how much I rely on it.
As I'm researching, I copy information (on museums, houses, attractions and restaurants ,etc. ) onto my computer PDA program, in Memo form. I then compile a list of each day or day of the week and sort and copy/paste what's open when-how to get there etc. - I copy it to the datebook and then hot sync the info into my PDA.
For example, on my last trip to London in June, I would wake up and over breakfast look up 'Monday' and see a list of all the place I might like to see that are open on Monday- followed by the detailed info on how to get there etc.
When it was Wednesday at 2pm and we'd just left Regent's Park, I could turn on the PDA and see that I had exactly one hour to get to the Museum of London to see the Samuel Pepys exhibit tour lead by the curate. And I could tell it was free, and that I had to take this tube line to get there etc.' It got to the point where we would say ' oh Palm pilot, what should we do next?' And I didn't have to sort through tons of pieces of paper guide books or maps so I felt a little less conspicuous-despite the fact that no one in London seemed to be using them.
It's great for making your own quick notes on restaurants/pubs etc. and for copying information for future trips or getting addresses of people you meet along the way.
Small flashlight
Compass
Mole Skin (since I never seem to wear comfy shoes)
Ear Planes (to maintain pressure for flights but work as ear plugs too).
BUT, my new must have is my PDA (Palm Pilot). I've taken it on the last three trips overseas (and will again in September) and I can't believe how much I rely on it.
As I'm researching, I copy information (on museums, houses, attractions and restaurants ,etc. ) onto my computer PDA program, in Memo form. I then compile a list of each day or day of the week and sort and copy/paste what's open when-how to get there etc. - I copy it to the datebook and then hot sync the info into my PDA.
For example, on my last trip to London in June, I would wake up and over breakfast look up 'Monday' and see a list of all the place I might like to see that are open on Monday- followed by the detailed info on how to get there etc.
When it was Wednesday at 2pm and we'd just left Regent's Park, I could turn on the PDA and see that I had exactly one hour to get to the Museum of London to see the Samuel Pepys exhibit tour lead by the curate. And I could tell it was free, and that I had to take this tube line to get there etc.' It got to the point where we would say ' oh Palm pilot, what should we do next?' And I didn't have to sort through tons of pieces of paper guide books or maps so I felt a little less conspicuous-despite the fact that no one in London seemed to be using them.
It's great for making your own quick notes on restaurants/pubs etc. and for copying information for future trips or getting addresses of people you meet along the way.
Jul 30th, 2003 | 01:44 PM
#65
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,112
Likes: 0
emjoy, I've been looking for an excuse to get a PDA and now you've given me one. That sounds like a great way to organize trip info -- sometimes I get really tired of thumbing through the guidebooks and my computer print-outs. (And your tip on the Baggalinis was great -- we used one on our recent trip.)
Jul 30th, 2003 | 08:48 PM
#66
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
The person who answered that with each trip to Europe she takes less, sounds like me. I love travel gedgets, but when I think about it, I'm tearing the relevant pages out of the guide books and making myself dictionarys of phrases I need to know on a sheet of notebook paper. I always take a book, my european plug immersion heater with coffee filter bags, a towel that I use as a neck pillow and sometimes an extra blanket in cold hotel rooms. A travel alarm clock and a small flashlight. I also take a cheap extra duffel for overflow (gifts) and everything else is either mandatory, tickets, ID, credit cards, clothes etc. I'm now trying to edit myself on clothing, but I'm not all there yet.
Jul 31st, 2003 | 08:28 AM
#69
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,112
Likes: 0
emjoy, shall I?
babette, Baggalinis are fold-up bags of various sizes that are easy to tuck into your luggage and very handy for carrying home more than you started with. (I also used mine as a weekend bag on a recent trip.) They fold into their own pocket, and expand into tote-size or larger. Well-made, sturdy, hold an astonishing amount of stuff, GREAT colors!! They have a website at http://www.baggallini.com/
and you can find a local retailer.
I also think they will make great gifts for the travelers on my list this winter.
babette, Baggalinis are fold-up bags of various sizes that are easy to tuck into your luggage and very handy for carrying home more than you started with. (I also used mine as a weekend bag on a recent trip.) They fold into their own pocket, and expand into tote-size or larger. Well-made, sturdy, hold an astonishing amount of stuff, GREAT colors!! They have a website at http://www.baggallini.com/
and you can find a local retailer.
I also think they will make great gifts for the travelers on my list this winter.
Jul 31st, 2003 | 08:35 AM
#71
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
On one trip I needed to travel light and my guide book was MUCH too bulky. So I bought a notebook that had cardboard divider-pockets in about 5 places. I photocopied some bits, wrote other bit out, put all my plane/train/hotel details, maps, addresses, places I wanted to see - into the notebook.
I wouldn't do it any other way now: I have a compact "guide book" that fits in my bag. I have all the things I need together, I don't stand out half as much because I'm not waving maps and guidebooks around - and I've got space to write things down if I change plans, think of something else I want to do etc.
It's a MUST have. The other stuff I mentioned before - well, they are "kinda like to haves"
I wouldn't do it any other way now: I have a compact "guide book" that fits in my bag. I have all the things I need together, I don't stand out half as much because I'm not waving maps and guidebooks around - and I've got space to write things down if I change plans, think of something else I want to do etc.
It's a MUST have. The other stuff I mentioned before - well, they are "kinda like to haves"
Jul 31st, 2003 | 12:50 PM
#76
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
violagirl-it sounds like you're ready to be converted to PDA (see my post above). I did exactly what you did, but I entered the info digitally as I looked things up, and then transfered it to the PDA so I had a 6oz never ending guide that fit in my pocket. And you can update or alter info at will and look things up without looking like a tourist. You can even download maps from mapquest although I haven't done it on my newest PDA yet.
Babette, Marilyn explained a Baggalini very well. I do swear by them. I managed to break the handle off my suitcase and the strap off my carry on on my trip to London in June and the Baggalini's I carried saved me. My local travel shop carries them. They're water resistant and rip resisitant and they've survived two transatlantic flights home in cargo (baggage allowance is two for cargo so I go over with one, come back with two).
Babette, Marilyn explained a Baggalini very well. I do swear by them. I managed to break the handle off my suitcase and the strap off my carry on on my trip to London in June and the Baggalini's I carried saved me. My local travel shop carries them. They're water resistant and rip resisitant and they've survived two transatlantic flights home in cargo (baggage allowance is two for cargo so I go over with one, come back with two).
Aug 1st, 2003 | 07:47 PM
#78
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Well....., where are all the Canadians at this site?
I enjoyed the ideas of what to bring, and I would add my sleeping pills for the long transatlantic night flights and the first night of jet lag.
But what is all this intensity about an old maple leaf pin. And,... the mystery deepens,.. if Jor isnt Canadian why is he taking a Maple Leaf on his list of things not to leave behind?
I am Canadian (my name is Joe) (that's an in joke for Canadians, Americans wouldnt know); and I have a pin in my luggage, because I want to be known as Canadian, and not Aussie, and not Brit or Yank or any other english speaking national. But frankly I was shocked and appalled (but not surprised) at the smug and condescending tone of some of the comments about Canada. It wouldnt hurt the nameless correspondent to know something about Canada more than Peter Jenning's resume. If you approach the locals in Europe with the same disinterest, then all the more reason for us to be sporting the maple leaf - I've never seen it tatood, but who knows,eh?
I enjoyed the ideas of what to bring, and I would add my sleeping pills for the long transatlantic night flights and the first night of jet lag.
But what is all this intensity about an old maple leaf pin. And,... the mystery deepens,.. if Jor isnt Canadian why is he taking a Maple Leaf on his list of things not to leave behind?
I am Canadian (my name is Joe) (that's an in joke for Canadians, Americans wouldnt know); and I have a pin in my luggage, because I want to be known as Canadian, and not Aussie, and not Brit or Yank or any other english speaking national. But frankly I was shocked and appalled (but not surprised) at the smug and condescending tone of some of the comments about Canada. It wouldnt hurt the nameless correspondent to know something about Canada more than Peter Jenning's resume. If you approach the locals in Europe with the same disinterest, then all the more reason for us to be sporting the maple leaf - I've never seen it tatood, but who knows,eh?
