Nina, I agree, its all about being happy even if it sounds nuts to others

It used to be candals with me but since I came close to burning down the hotel in London...a small paper bag flopped over and fell on the candal and let me tell you, for about 5 minutes it was a mad, mad, mad, mad, world...I'm leaving the tea light home.

Newbies seem to always benefit from the reminder that they would do well to bring a washcloth or two. In Europe this is widely held to be just as much a personal item as underwear, and thus, not provided by a hotel.

That said, I think I keep getting more &quot;high maintenance&quot; as I get older - - because I <i>have</i> to carry may of the items lited above. And - - just very once in a while - - I am glad that I bring alone a favorite item not mentioned above... my back scratcher.

Best wishes,

Rex

LOL
Being a european myself I know where you are coming from....we like to use our hands over here....

i don't take anything along those lines... i pack ruthlessly for funtion. although like LoveItaly mentions, i set up my hotel room nicely after i arrive with flowers, a bottle of wine, fruit or snacks.

never use a wash cloth myself &amp; usually buy a corkscrew and wine glasses on the first day.

Ah suze, here we are again, in agreement. I too buy wine, borrow a corkscrew from friends if possible (or buy one) couple of inexpensive wine glasses and cocktail napkins, cashews or whatever, reading material and it is like a home away from home. And I don't use washclothes either...so no problem there. Don't know about the rest of you but I love hotel rooms!!

Yes, a pillow. I'm not a clean freak or anything, but a nice scrunchy pillow of my own makes me happy.

Hmmm... now I feel myself being a freak for not bringing anything &quot;essential&quot;. I prefer to bring &quot;essentials&quot; FROM the trip, not TO it!

Corkscrew, babywipes (much more hygenic than a flannel/washcloth, and they have so many other uses too...), and a spare pair of contact lenses.

Pants. I found early on in my traveling life that pants are a necessity in many social situations. Especially when dining in high class eating joints.

Change your name to Rufus T MacFirefly and you'd be suprised how far you can get without pants.

Thank goodness for that!

Dam-my note was supposed to follow Rufus' note, NOT yours!!aaaaccckk!

Another non-washcloth user, especially public ones in hotels. I can't get over the picture in my mind of what the persone before me used it for....and I am going to wash my face with it? BLECH!

I do bring a little down pillow though, the hotel pillows are always so hard that I wake up with sore ears!

I buy my other supplies such as chocolate and wine when I arrive!

Gotta bring the iPod; it's my new essential. And a pair of powered mini-speakers.

Hi Clarice: thats amazing. I wont go ANYWHERE with at least 2 or 3 extra pairs of shoelaces in my pockets! Not even to the local store!

I HAVE to have something to read on the plane, while waiting for trains, before going to bed each night, and on the plane going home. (It is how I clear my mind.) I prefer a mystery novel by one of my favorite authors. I usually take at least two paperbacks on every trip. If I finish the books, I leave them in the hotel, B &amp; B or apartment for the next visitor. We even stayed in an apartment in London one time where this was the requested practice.

Earplugs.

My book.

My allergy medicine.

I used to have to bring my 'little pillow' to sleep with but I am proud to state that I have 'broken' myself of that habit and it has remained home during our last two jaunts. It appears you can teach an old dog new tricks.

I-) Tiff

Another vote for earplugs. I carry them on the plane, too.

One thing we have recently started to carry: some kind of bath foam, such as those little packets of Ombra. After an overnight flight and a train journey to wherever, there is nothing quite as refreshing as a warm bath.

Anselm

I'm with crefloors -Bring &quot;joysticks&quot; or better yet just buy a can of room freshner but unless you're burning the candlestick in a bathtub of water - foreget it please!