What did you buy for your trip that turned out to be a total waste of money?
Jul 9th, 2006, 09:14 AM
#101
I just don't get the clothesline thing. If I didn't pack hangers and do a bit of hand-wash I simply lay it on the towels on the racks in the bathroom. But do love the idea of the hooks w/clothespins attached - that's brilliant.
Jul 9th, 2006, 09:43 AM
#102
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We've found that in many hotels in Austria and Germany, there is a clothesline in the bathroom, usually on the wall above the bathtub. Just pull it out and attach it to the hook/notch on the opposite wall. I wouldn't put a soaking wet bath towel on one, but it's usually more than strong enough to hang some handwashed underwear, socks, etc.
Jul 9th, 2006, 09:58 AM
#103
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LoveItaly - Italian Stallions and French Hotties ... I am sooooo tempted to make some very naughty comments about your zipper vs. a quickly removed pullover, BUT, we are both ladies and would never ever discuss such things - at least not online.
Nina
Nina
Jul 9th, 2006, 10:12 AM
#105
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Re zippers: One of the curses of living alone is zippers (in the back.) One of the blessings of living alone is zippers (see above) I've met several lovely neighbors when I've solicited (no nasty cracks please) aid in zipping. I can usually manage to UN...
Most useless thing I've bought? Hang-up cosmetics/gadgets case. It just takes up room withou being efficient in any way.
Favorite thing? A "pillow duvet" This is a down-filled pillowcase which, when folded and placed in its own little case, can double as a travel pillow. Or open it up and put it over almost anything soft and you have a full-sized down pillow for airplane use. Or hotel use if you stay in one of those places that gives you a pillow the size and consistency of a large slice of bread!
Most useless thing I've bought? Hang-up cosmetics/gadgets case. It just takes up room withou being efficient in any way.
Favorite thing? A "pillow duvet" This is a down-filled pillowcase which, when folded and placed in its own little case, can double as a travel pillow. Or open it up and put it over almost anything soft and you have a full-sized down pillow for airplane use. Or hotel use if you stay in one of those places that gives you a pillow the size and consistency of a large slice of bread!
Jul 9th, 2006, 03:02 PM
#109
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I would be happy to take any packing cubes that anyone doesn't want off your hands. Ditto your inflatable neck pillows. 
I bought a set of packing cubes last year and they turned out to be a hit with both me and DH, so I had to buy more.
Biggest waste of money...I bought a black tote bag to take to London last year so I would have a more "fashionable" way to carry my camera gear in case we wanted to go to a nice restaurant one evening. Problem is, I'm not a tote bag person, and even though this one is nice, I can't see myself ever using it. Don't think I brought it to London after all because it was so bulky to pack. I'll probably end up giving it to my mother.
I bought a set of packing cubes last year and they turned out to be a hit with both me and DH, so I had to buy more.Biggest waste of money...I bought a black tote bag to take to London last year so I would have a more "fashionable" way to carry my camera gear in case we wanted to go to a nice restaurant one evening. Problem is, I'm not a tote bag person, and even though this one is nice, I can't see myself ever using it. Don't think I brought it to London after all because it was so bulky to pack. I'll probably end up giving it to my mother.
Jul 10th, 2006, 10:22 AM
#110
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Dayslezer - where did you buy the down duvet pillow cover? Sounds ideal for traveling. Even if the pillows are decent at our destination, which is rarly the case it seems, the cover would make their pillows, cleaner and more personal.
Thanks,
Nina
Thanks,
Nina
Jul 10th, 2006, 11:40 AM
#111
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Nina - you can get the travel pillow/case at www.landsend.com or www.restorationhardware.com I think I read on a post (maybe here?) that Restoration Hardware is out of stock right now. I have one that I got from Travelsmith several years ago and I love it.
Jul 11th, 2006, 01:31 AM
#112
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Thanks cls2paris. Yesterday I telephoned Travel Smith, Landsend, Orvis and a few others, as I can't find it on their sites. The operators didn't said they didn't have them. I'll call Restoration Hardware later today.
Nina
Nina
Jul 11th, 2006, 04:43 AM
#113
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Here's the link for the Land's End pillow:
http://tinyurl.com/l5tx2
It looks like it's basically a synthetic version of the Restoration Hardware one.
http://tinyurl.com/l5tx2
It looks like it's basically a synthetic version of the Restoration Hardware one.
Jul 11th, 2006, 06:50 AM
#114
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Thanks Marcy. Microfill Travel pillow - who'd a thought. Not knowing what each company actually calls it, makes it almost impossible to find it.
Aside from price and microfill vs. down, is there any difference in comfort, quality, wash- ability?
Nina
Aside from price and microfill vs. down, is there any difference in comfort, quality, wash- ability?
Nina
Jul 11th, 2006, 08:12 AM
#115
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My search for the elusive pillow cover is over.
Travel Smith - I was told that they no longer sell them as no one, including the 'travel specialist' could find any info, past or present.
Restoration Hardware - Item #14070005, catalog only, not sold in their stores has been discontinued indefinetely.
Lands' End - per Marcy's link, Bingo. Microfill Travel Pillow, $18.00. Two are on the way as we speak
The telephone operator was adorable and I thought that she would jump through the phone with glee when I called asking about it. She had _just_ tried it herself and thought that it was the greatest thing ever invented ;-) She discussed it with me in great detail, stitching, weight etc.. After a personal recommendation like that, and because I couldn't find the down cover, I went for the microfill. She was so sweet and made my morning - along with you Marcy.
Nina
Travel Smith - I was told that they no longer sell them as no one, including the 'travel specialist' could find any info, past or present.
Restoration Hardware - Item #14070005, catalog only, not sold in their stores has been discontinued indefinetely.
Lands' End - per Marcy's link, Bingo. Microfill Travel Pillow, $18.00. Two are on the way as we speak
The telephone operator was adorable and I thought that she would jump through the phone with glee when I called asking about it. She had _just_ tried it herself and thought that it was the greatest thing ever invented ;-) She discussed it with me in great detail, stitching, weight etc.. After a personal recommendation like that, and because I couldn't find the down cover, I went for the microfill. She was so sweet and made my morning - along with you Marcy.
Nina
Jul 12th, 2006, 06:24 AM
#116
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I guess I need to reluctantly add the three sets of "How to Speak Spanish" CDs, the three sets of "How to Speak Italian" CDs, the "How to Speak French" CD, the "How to Speak German" tape, etc. I really really want to speak the language everywhere I go, but I am horribly impaired in that regard.
Jul 12th, 2006, 08:19 PM
#117
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Actually, I have Pimsleur Russian (all 3 sets of CD's) and Pimsleur Italian (first 2 sets of CD's) and I just bought the Spanish level 1 tonight. I have found Pimsleur very useful. The key thing is that you have to use the CD's. Looking at them and thinking "Maybe tomorrow" doesn't do it.
I have Rosetta Stone Spanish as well, but I am not far into it yet. I am going to do RS at home and Pimsleur in the car. Pimsleur is expensive, but it does work. Someone in Italy even asked me if I were Italian. Given my level of Italian, that was very funny! Pimsleur gives you enough to get around. RS has a lot more in the course--and it is, therefore, much more work.
So some of us do love the language programs, but they are all a lot of work.
I have Rosetta Stone Spanish as well, but I am not far into it yet. I am going to do RS at home and Pimsleur in the car. Pimsleur is expensive, but it does work. Someone in Italy even asked me if I were Italian. Given my level of Italian, that was very funny! Pimsleur gives you enough to get around. RS has a lot more in the course--and it is, therefore, much more work.
So some of us do love the language programs, but they are all a lot of work.
Jul 13th, 2006, 05:56 AM
#118
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Yeah, I have Pimsleur French and Italian - the 6 CD/12 lesson set, or whatever. They don't teach me useful vocabulary- I can listen to 12 CDs and not know how to ask for a table for 5 - but I am able to ask a man back to my hotel for a drink! As one fellow Fodorite said, don't use Pimsleur unless you're planing to have an affair.
Seriously, listening to those CD sets for countless hours in the car have taught me something about my learning style. I cannot learn by only hearing. I need to SEE the words to remember them. I'd find myself making up spellings for the Italian words to try to remember them.
Seriously, listening to those CD sets for countless hours in the car have taught me something about my learning style. I cannot learn by only hearing. I need to SEE the words to remember them. I'd find myself making up spellings for the Italian words to try to remember them.
Jul 13th, 2006, 06:01 AM
#119
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Please note that, when I did the Pimsleur lessons I did a lot more than 12 lessons--I did either 60 (Italian) or 90 (Russian) [meaning either 120 or 180 lessons. From that amount of work, you can communicate in simple fashion. You will not, of course, get fluent.
The best purchase I ever made for a foreign trip was my $20 rain poncho. It goes on every trip, is ugly as sin, but is every much more convenient than an umbrella because it leaves my hands free. Also, I put it on over everything, so it will, say, protect a backpack or a purse both from the rain and from pickpockets.
When not in use for rain, my poncho can also be thrown on the ground to sit upon. It folds up in a flash and simply gets thrown in my day pack when not in use and goes with me on all my trips.
The best purchase I ever made for a foreign trip was my $20 rain poncho. It goes on every trip, is ugly as sin, but is every much more convenient than an umbrella because it leaves my hands free. Also, I put it on over everything, so it will, say, protect a backpack or a purse both from the rain and from pickpockets.
When not in use for rain, my poncho can also be thrown on the ground to sit upon. It folds up in a flash and simply gets thrown in my day pack when not in use and goes with me on all my trips.
