suze

nini- a small bottle of liquid soap is a lot less messy than trying to carry around a semi-used full size bar of soap.

suze

nikki- if you need a wash cloth and can't find them in stores, a terry dishtowel is a good stand-in and maybe easier to find.

Indygirl2

Just a couple of things that haven't yet made (I think) the list: When I'm going out of town, especially out of the country, I make sure that my credit card and alarm companies know where I'm going to be and for how long. I also make sure that I have all the international or 1-800 numbers for my credit cards written down so that I know whom to call if my purse gets lost stolen. I leave that list with a friend back home too, along with a copy of my passport. I hate being this paranoid, but I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. Finally, I make sure that I have my hotel's address written down and within easy reach. This is especially helpful if you plan on taking a taxi from the airport. You may remember your hotel's name but that doesn't mean that the driver will know where it is.

Good luck packing!

fredman

all prescription info - Written, from the Dr.'s office.

A few empty plastic bags from the store, to store dirty or wet clothes in, and maybe some large zip-loc bags, maybe a few plastic heavy-duty kitchen utensils like a spoon and fork.

Go with room to spare, so you have room to bring back all the junk you buy.

fredman

If you are renting a car, get it and head to the nearest store (?) that has coolers, the cheap styrofoam kind, buy one, and buy a case of water. You will save a TON by buying it in a 12-pack or 24-pack, and toss the cooler when the trip is over.

Poohgirl

Oh yes, don't forget the credit card. In 1999, it was my first trip to UK, and I FORGOT MY CREDIT CARD!! Luckily I did have a plenty of money in traveler's checks and I was OK. Now, don't tell me traveler's checks are useless. I know that (at least in most cases I think they are). At that time I did not think I was responsible enough for an ATM card because in the past I had gotten in a jam by not posting my withdrawals in a timely manner. Today, I am fare more responsible and have an ATM card and have never forgotten to bring it along. I also have never since forgotten my credit card, either. I do have recurring nightmares about forgetting my passport, especially when a trip is looming (like right now), but that passport is always the first to be packed.

Roundtrip

Earplugs! I don't think anybody mentioned these handly little items. They're great for keeping street noise from bothering you in your hotel room (or a snoring travel companion!) and protect your ears from the wind if you're traveling in a car without air conditioning and need to roll the windows down. I got into the habit of wearing earplugs while away at college. My offsite apartment was adjacent to a busy street and the earplugs were a lifesaver during the summer when the windows had to be open. On my forthcoming cruise, I'm packing 3 pairs, one for each in my party.

nwtraveler

1. My palm pilot on which I have stored notes for restaurants, airline phone numbers, hotel address and phone number and any other information I consider essential.

2. A small sewing kit.

3. Before I leave home I print the names and addresses of people to whom I plan to send postcards to onto mailing labels. Just stick the label on - very easy and convenient.

Ozarksbill

Good suggestions posted so far. But make your own list, maybe one for each traveler. There are clothing items and personal items and also travel document type items.

See my own list on July posting "what to take overseas."

Ozarksbill

queenjane

newtraveller01: I have travelled with kids (have 3) over several continents for years. I learned the hard way that it is smart to bring with us prescriptions and over-the-counter meds that they might need. Example: It would have been much easier to consult with our hometown pediatrician before going, and having on hand the antibiotic that he prescribes for our 7-year-olds frequent ear infections, than taking her to the Honduran clinic. Yes, there is great western medicine in Paris-Rome-London, but it sure is nice to have on hand the familiar cold remedies, anti-fungals, antihistimines, etc. We now pack it all in a "tupperware" type container, and the kit has saved the day seveal times since.

Momof3boys

Pin #s for credit cards! I had to use all our cash once to pay for lodging that didn't accept credit cards and I didn't bring my ck bk. I had forgotten to ck on my pin # since I rarely go to an ATM plus I had a new credit card. Had to call home and get a friend to go through my files to call and create a pin # for me. Whoops! Now I always ck which cards I'm carrying and their pins.

RSTravelers

A small notepad - never know what you may want to jot down, a travel guide book, good map, and we always put a couple of flat pkgs. of tissue paper in the bottom of a suitcase - can come in handy for extra protection of certain momentos you have purchased.

newtraveller01

thanks for the tip on medication - my son tends to get sick quick - I will organise today

NGail

WRITTEN confirmation(directly from the hotel, car rental, etc.)for any reservations you've made. We've had hotels lose our reservations in the Netherlands and in Rome. Both came through when we showed them our copies.(one had to upgrade us to a very fancy suite - that was all that was left!)
Also, my husband and I use 2 different credit cards. The duplicates are stashed away. If one of us has a card stolen, we can cancel it and use the other.(hasn't happened yet)

Quizno

If you take a toy or two for your children, do not take their most favorite toy. Better leave it safe at home..my daughter lost her favorite stuffed animal while we were on vacation, even though we searched endlessly for it. She was heartbroken for weeks and it really spoiled the trip for her. She was seven at the time, and now she is 26 and she still remembers that irreplacable stuffed animal she loved so much.

suze

impressive!!! you parent-types are GOOD!

happytourist

HIGHLY recommended: Turn off the water into your house. Every time we leave on a trip we turn it off--the one time we didn't a toilet sprang a leak. Fortunately, a neighbor caught it before too much damage was done.

SUNSHINE1223

This last trip to the Mediterranean, I remembered in the limo to the airport that I didn't pack my walking sandals. As soon as we got to Barcelona that was the agenda to find a pair of shoes. I found not one but 2 to wear.

Travels_with_Food

Everyone's got such great advice. Here's mine...
forget the alarm clock if you are bringing your cell phone and know how to use that.
Photocopies of your credit cards..bring 1 with you, leave 1 at home with someone in case stolen and need #s to call and take action.
Call your credit card company and tell them that you are traveling here, here, and here. Sometimes they think the card is stolen and shut it down.
Check with your bank if you can use your ATM across the pond. I've been told that 5-digit pins do not work, nor do pins that start with zero. Your bank will tell you specifically. Also ask how much they charge to use in Europe. That may limit how many times you withdraw.
Photocopies of your passports with you and at home in case of theft or loss.
Electrical adapter for cell phone charger, IPOD charger, rechargeable batteries, etc.
Check with your different credit cards as some charge a conversion fee and some don't. No need to get ripped off more than necessary!
I like the money belt for my passport while traveling. I've heard too many stories of getting mugged (and hurt) to let this one slip by.
Definitely shut off the water in your house while gone..that was a great idea.
Personally, I like disposable clothes on vacation. Maybe socks that are close to being made into rags, shirts that are really not going to be worn anymore. I find vacation a great way to rid my closet of these items as the thrift store does not want these items. It lightens the load on the way back and makes more room for souvenirs.
Put your name/phone #/hotel in town INSIDE your luggage, as well as outside. If tags get removed from outside, they may still have a way of getting your lost luggage to you.
On the outside of your cell phone, a contact phone # to call in case you misplace your phone...best way they can get it back to you.
I bring eyedrops on the plane as the air dries out my eyes and I even take my contacts out for the ride over.
Go to the Dollar Store and purchase cheap, throw away umbrellas. Last year in Paris during August, it rained just about every day. We tossed them at the end of the trip.
Have a great time.

Paytons_Grandma

We travel a lot, but only overseas once, but our best friends are world travelers. We've learned a lot from them. Get a cloth carrier that goes around your neck (Walmart) and keep it around your neck under your clothes at ALL TIMES (except sleeping). Use it for your passport, money, credit cards, driver's license & health insurance cards, all those things you don't want to lose or have to replace. Get one for you and your husband, he can carry some of the money & cards so yours won't be so heavy. You'll hardly notice you have it on. Things that should go in carry-on bags: photo copy passports, lodging, car rental & airline reservation info & phone numbers, film, all prescription medicines, one pair of extra underwear & makeup, just in case luggage is lost. Nothing more scarey than having meds lost when it's something that is a MUST to take daily (or seeing me without makeup)! Lots of other good suggestions, note pad & pen, snacks, new toys or games, cups with spill-proof lids, cell phone charger, overseas electric adapters for curling iron, etc. (some are different for different countries) and don't forget to ICE your "In Case of Emergency" phone numbers in your cell phone. Don't bother taking a purse, a fanny pack is best, can hold film or extra digital memory cards, cell phone, note pad, pen, chap stick, small sun lotion or anything else you need to carry and it's right with you all the time, just as the thing around your neck. Plus, if you rent a car, the keys are zipped in a bag and no chance of losing them from a pocket. Have a great trip!