What did you buy for your trip that turned out to be a total waste of money?
Jul 8th, 2006, 11:53 AM
#61
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I ordered a touring club Italiano Atlas for central Italy online. It ended up costing me almost $60 with the exchange, duty and shipping. We only used it once during our trip. Hopefully we'll It will get some use on future trips.
Jul 8th, 2006, 01:36 PM
#64
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This is a very funny thread and oh so true. I'm glad to see that all of us travel freaks do the same things.
StLSusan and Jane B; (by the way I am Jane B, too) I admire that around the neck wallet. It looks so organized and efficient and I want one. My fear is this: There's all my most important documents: ticket,passport, etc. all in one place. I know I'm paranoid but I'm afraid I will misplace it during the chaos of boarding the plane or make it too easy for a pickpocket. I know I need to relax a little...
The neck pouch that goes under the clothing is, yes, safe, but have you ever been shopping in Paris when you have to un-botton your coat, your sweater, and then reach into your blouse for a nylon pouch for your credit card or cash. Then it's hanging there looking gross. It give me a hot flash every time. Or you can see it through your clothes in the summer-ugh. I use the room safe and only carry what is needed. And the beige pouch sleeps in my travel gadget drawer, probably forever.
I have bought the pillow twice and both times it was left behind on the plane by me or dh. It's a nice idea if I actually slept on the plane.
I liked the idea of the plastic credit card size magnifier that you can place over maps or guide books so you are not always schlepping the glasses out. However, I can never find it fast enough in my purse and it's just another gadget that has gone into the recycling bin.
StLSusan and Jane B; (by the way I am Jane B, too) I admire that around the neck wallet. It looks so organized and efficient and I want one. My fear is this: There's all my most important documents: ticket,passport, etc. all in one place. I know I'm paranoid but I'm afraid I will misplace it during the chaos of boarding the plane or make it too easy for a pickpocket. I know I need to relax a little...
The neck pouch that goes under the clothing is, yes, safe, but have you ever been shopping in Paris when you have to un-botton your coat, your sweater, and then reach into your blouse for a nylon pouch for your credit card or cash. Then it's hanging there looking gross. It give me a hot flash every time. Or you can see it through your clothes in the summer-ugh. I use the room safe and only carry what is needed. And the beige pouch sleeps in my travel gadget drawer, probably forever.
I have bought the pillow twice and both times it was left behind on the plane by me or dh. It's a nice idea if I actually slept on the plane.
I liked the idea of the plastic credit card size magnifier that you can place over maps or guide books so you are not always schlepping the glasses out. However, I can never find it fast enough in my purse and it's just another gadget that has gone into the recycling bin.
Jul 8th, 2006, 01:44 PM
#65
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JoyceL - I checked out the pocket pillow site but was wondering about the material. It says it is vinyl but does it have some kind of soft covering so that you won't stick to it?I couldn't tell from the picture. And how about the weight since every ounce counts these days. Thanks
Jul 8th, 2006, 02:46 PM
#66
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Pilates..we got rid of the one with suction cups (we never had tile showers I guess, lol). When you put cloths on it to dry they weighed it down (the one time we got it to stick on something)
Now we have one from Rick Steves site..it's sort of braided..that doesn't work either.
Now I have my eyes on something else that will be a waste of money...an absorb tile to absorb moisture when I wash out my clothes..
Now we have one from Rick Steves site..it's sort of braided..that doesn't work either.
Now I have my eyes on something else that will be a waste of money...an absorb tile to absorb moisture when I wash out my clothes..
Jul 8th, 2006, 03:01 PM
#68
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Out of the goodness of my heart, I hereby offer to take any and all inflatable hangers that you want to get ride of. Please sterilize the blow up thingy first.
DH and I love those things. I bought my first ones in 1982, and was told by a traveler in my family that they were a waste of money and I would never use them... WRONG.
Our trips are for anywhere from 3 weeks to 7 weeks, and I do a lot of handwashing - not just underwear. Great for tee shirts.
I have added to my treasured hanger collection over the years, but I still have two of the original green hangers, along with the newer ones, which are about 18 years old. We take and use them on every trip and sometimes I use one at home if I am in a hurry to air dry something.
Since mine are now older than most of your kids or grandkids, maybe the 'new' ones aren't so good - that applies to people too!
You have to blow them up until they are completely full of air. If not, they droop and your things will fall off.
Jespere - Do you remember which trash can you dumped them into at CDG?
I'll trade you, two under the blouse, travel neck pouches, hardly used, one black, one beige. I can't stand anything other than a light necklace hanging around my neck.
Maybe we can also make a deal for the square travel packing things. DH will snatch them up in a minute.
I also use the long zippered passport/money/ticket, etc.. holder. It fits in my large bag that slides over my wheelie handles. I only use it for flying, as it's easy to get tickets and passports out and then putting them back where I can easily find them when needed. Once at my destination, I use it for storage for receipts, schedules etc.. as the valueable things are in DH's belt money pouch. It really helps to keep me organized - as I am usually roto rooting through my purse, pockets, looking for what I need.
I'll throw in a travel iron, two almost new plastic rain ponchos, a few blow up and bean bag pillows, several little nylon bags, and lots of leaky plastic bottles and a lot of new clothes that I bought and outgrew by the time I got home.
Seriously, those Eagle Creek packing things are really really useful when using a duffle bag. We first bought them when we were told that we had to take duffle bags on the tour to Tanzania. Without them, the packed duffle bag looked more like a laundry bag ;-) I can only imagine hard it would have been to have had to live that way during the trip.
Nina
DH and I love those things. I bought my first ones in 1982, and was told by a traveler in my family that they were a waste of money and I would never use them... WRONG.
Our trips are for anywhere from 3 weeks to 7 weeks, and I do a lot of handwashing - not just underwear. Great for tee shirts.
I have added to my treasured hanger collection over the years, but I still have two of the original green hangers, along with the newer ones, which are about 18 years old. We take and use them on every trip and sometimes I use one at home if I am in a hurry to air dry something.
Since mine are now older than most of your kids or grandkids, maybe the 'new' ones aren't so good - that applies to people too!
You have to blow them up until they are completely full of air. If not, they droop and your things will fall off.
Jespere - Do you remember which trash can you dumped them into at CDG?
I'll trade you, two under the blouse, travel neck pouches, hardly used, one black, one beige. I can't stand anything other than a light necklace hanging around my neck.
Maybe we can also make a deal for the square travel packing things. DH will snatch them up in a minute.
I also use the long zippered passport/money/ticket, etc.. holder. It fits in my large bag that slides over my wheelie handles. I only use it for flying, as it's easy to get tickets and passports out and then putting them back where I can easily find them when needed. Once at my destination, I use it for storage for receipts, schedules etc.. as the valueable things are in DH's belt money pouch. It really helps to keep me organized - as I am usually roto rooting through my purse, pockets, looking for what I need.
I'll throw in a travel iron, two almost new plastic rain ponchos, a few blow up and bean bag pillows, several little nylon bags, and lots of leaky plastic bottles and a lot of new clothes that I bought and outgrew by the time I got home.
Seriously, those Eagle Creek packing things are really really useful when using a duffle bag. We first bought them when we were told that we had to take duffle bags on the tour to Tanzania. Without them, the packed duffle bag looked more like a laundry bag ;-) I can only imagine hard it would have been to have had to live that way during the trip.
Nina
Jul 8th, 2006, 03:10 PM
#69
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OK, I'll sweeten the deal. How about a couple of tube like containers of that chaulky spot remover junk. It removes the spot, but it leave a spot of it's own. Or .. several tubes of handwashing soap, we've switched to Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap. Reasonably priced and a little goes a long way.
Still not willing to part with the hangers and packing pouches, OK, but this justm ight be my final offer - three or four different type of travel jewelry bags and pouches. I'll include I don't know how many travel mirrors.
OK, but this is really it, an expensive black linen dress that a 'dear friend' had made in Venice. I'll even come over and zip it for you. Please allow 6-8 weeks delivery time on this item. Yarn included at no additional cost.
Nina
Still not willing to part with the hangers and packing pouches, OK, but this justm ight be my final offer - three or four different type of travel jewelry bags and pouches. I'll include I don't know how many travel mirrors.
OK, but this is really it, an expensive black linen dress that a 'dear friend' had made in Venice. I'll even come over and zip it for you. Please allow 6-8 weeks delivery time on this item. Yarn included at no additional cost.
Nina
Jul 8th, 2006, 03:20 PM
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I can't take credit for this . . . I read about it here . . . take balloons . . . they are cheap, light, blow them up, put them inside your wet shirt, pants, undies . . . your clothes dry in half the time . . . don't need those blow up hangers. And, if you have any balloons left over, kids love them.
Count me in as another who loves the Eagle Creek pack-it folders . . . and the hidden wallet that hangs inside your pants from a loop on a belt.
I also never leave home without my L.L.Bean down travel pillow . . . I may travel light, but that always goes with me.
This is a terrific thread, thanks for posting.
Sandy (in Denton)
Count me in as another who loves the Eagle Creek pack-it folders . . . and the hidden wallet that hangs inside your pants from a loop on a belt.
I also never leave home without my L.L.Bean down travel pillow . . . I may travel light, but that always goes with me.
This is a terrific thread, thanks for posting.
Sandy (in Denton)
Jul 8th, 2006, 04:20 PM
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Loisco: Mine is kind of braided too. What I discovered is that when I ran out of clothes pins, you can slip, for instance, a pair of underware between the braid and it would stay without needing a clothes pin.
I know what you mean about the clothes line slipping. I don't think heavy articles like a pair of jeans would work easily using the clothes line.
I know what you mean about the clothes line slipping. I don't think heavy articles like a pair of jeans would work easily using the clothes line.
Jul 8th, 2006, 04:36 PM
#74
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Ah Nina66, we now have two beautiful black Italian linen dresses that never get worn, lol.
I do have other dresses I have purchased in Italy that I do wear and truly love.
About laundry. I have owned 8 plastic clothes pins that on the top have a loop like hangers have. I have never washed clothes by hand but do wash lingerie. They can be used for mens underwear or also for socks. These plastic clothes pin things are fantastic as you can just hang them over the shower head, a towel rack or a shower rod etc. I have had them for about 30 years. I have never seen any since I purchased mine and have no idea where I found them. My favorite travel item. I wonder if anyone else owns any or have seen them for sale.
I do have other dresses I have purchased in Italy that I do wear and truly love.
About laundry. I have owned 8 plastic clothes pins that on the top have a loop like hangers have. I have never washed clothes by hand but do wash lingerie. They can be used for mens underwear or also for socks. These plastic clothes pin things are fantastic as you can just hang them over the shower head, a towel rack or a shower rod etc. I have had them for about 30 years. I have never seen any since I purchased mine and have no idea where I found them. My favorite travel item. I wonder if anyone else owns any or have seen them for sale.
Jul 8th, 2006, 05:14 PM
#75
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I'm another one with a travel iron AND I have a portable steamer in my closet. It worked great before I learned to buy clothes that don't wrinkle.
And we never did figure out how to fasten on the underarm money pouch.
By the way, does anybody besides me have a big bag in the closet with all their travel accessories just waiting for the next trip--packing cubes, passport holder, pillows, quick-dry towel (Can't live without it), water bottle carriers, assorted laundry stuff, cheap, light rain gear, etc. All stay in one place so I have no trouble finding them when I'm ready to go.
Vera
And we never did figure out how to fasten on the underarm money pouch.
By the way, does anybody besides me have a big bag in the closet with all their travel accessories just waiting for the next trip--packing cubes, passport holder, pillows, quick-dry towel (Can't live without it), water bottle carriers, assorted laundry stuff, cheap, light rain gear, etc. All stay in one place so I have no trouble finding them when I'm ready to go.
Vera
Jul 8th, 2006, 05:19 PM
#76
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Yes LoveItaly. Large blue ones. I got mine from RiteAid. Though I can't remember from which section of the store. They were packaged in a way where they were affixed to a piece of cardboard which slid onto one of those pegs that juts out from the wall. Handy little buggers.
Jul 8th, 2006, 05:45 PM
#79
LoveItaly and Pilate, I have the same kind of hangers (with hooks) and pack them for every trip. I bought them ages ago and haven't seen them in stores in recent years. Thanks for the tip about RiteAid, now I have to find one!
