Maire

flygirl--
I have a Sprint phone....was that price because you made a lot of calls, or just for the privilege of having service turned on? Thanks.

flygirl

calls were a 1.50 a minute. it doesn't take long at all to rack things up. I don't know it they are that much in Italy. I had some issues at home I had to take care of otherwise I would't have used it so much!

Maire

Thanks, flygirl.

venezzia

flygirl, I have a Sprint cell phone, and although it will work in SOME countries, it will not work in Italy! On the Sprint website, there is only 1 GSM phone available and I really doubt that's what you use everyday. You better double-check!

barbmc

I would like to know what actual size (dimensions) of a suitcase you take along. Even some of the ones that are sold as "carryon" size really aren't allowed. Just curious.

Therese

The size of the suitcases I use is discussed somewhere upthread, but they are, rest assured, well within the carry on size permitted by U.S. carriers. One of them (not my preferred) is Samsonite, and it has an expandable section which, when used, renders it unsuitable for carry on.

I'll repeat here that I don't necessarily carry on when traveling by air, particularly if I'm pretty sure that my bag will make it to my final destination. But it's still worth it to travel light, as I'm not encumbered with needless gear while I'm on the ground (using trains, public transit, etc.).

barbmc

I was just re-reading this post to get ready for packing for our trip. We are going on AerLingus and their carryon says only an 18"x9" bag with a limit of 13 lbs. Mine will be in that limit but I can't wait to see if they actually stick to this limit for everyone.

CarolA

Just a note... I am packed for a short trip to Paris (five days) My carry on is half empty! Guess that means I get to shop and fill it up for the return. (I also have a small tote for those things I need during the flight)

I have thought and thought, but I can't think of anything I have forgotten. (I leave Thursday, but had to pack ti with me on my business trip this week....I drive directly from my out of town location to the Atlanta airport and off to Paris...)

Therese

I've joked for years that someday I'll just not pack any clothes at all for a trip, and finally did it. I packed my usual toiletries, underwear, and shoes (high heeled black boots), but not clothes other than those on my back. And since the clothes on my back were a pair of black jeans. flat black boots, and a black and white print blouse, and the purpose of this trip was business, I had my work cut out for me.

Unfortunately I was visiting Toronto, not Paris, and so didn't have as much choice as I'd have liked, but did end up with a nice summer travel wardrobe (all from the same shop, so easily coordinated):

pink and orange print cotton skirt
pink and orange print cotton blouse

aqua and green print cotton skirt
aqua and green print cotton blouse

black cotton (but dressy) trousers

aqua fitted cotton jacket

pink and cream toile fitted cotton jacket

white sweater embroidered in aqua and periwinkle

white cardigan embroidered in pastels

black sling-back pumps with white top-stitching (couldn't find shoes to go with the pastel items, but have some at home that go nicely)

So, lots of flexibility, easy to dress up or down, very summer-y.

And I still carried on. I was flying small jets (Atlanta to Toronto), so our bags were actually checked at the gate as we boarded and retrieved as we de-planed. Very easy.

Ackislander

Therese, I am curious as to what kind of business you are in where you can wear such casual clothing on a business trip.

CarolA

I am not the OP, but as I read her posts I note that a lot of the business is at conferences. In lots of indutries, conferences are business casual

For a business trip to Switzerland a few years ago I took several knit "suits" They pack well, take little to no space and looked fine for the work environment. It all fit in a 22" suitcase.

(I am a healthcare consultant)

Therese

Exactly what I do for a living is rather more information than I care to share here at Fodors, Ackislander, but in general terms it's to do with science and medicine. I'm generally an invited speaker, addressing an audience of my peers, and I could get away with dressing much more casually than I do, as I'm not involved in sales or anything like that, and nobody's in a position to critique what I'm wearing. I'm generally more formally dressed than the audience I'm addressing, and frequently the most formally dressed of all the speakers.

I do modify my dress for the time and place, considering local climate, formality of the meeting, and season when choosing what I'll take. An autumn meeting in a city in northern Europe would call for a dark tailored suit with a scarf, for instance, whereas a summer meeting at a resort in the Rockies might call for a skirt with a sweater twin set.

The items I purchased Toronto were more tailored than most people would consider for casual summer dress: skirts lined, shirts long-sleeved, etc.

Therese

Sounds like CarolA and I attend similar meetings. ;-)

Mollie

Therese, what did you take to Berlin? Hubby and I are planning a month long trip to Europe in October, but I'll pack the same thing for a month as I would for a week. Just not sure about the weather.

Therese

Alas, Mollie, I ended up having to cancel the trip to Berlin at the last minute, but not before I'd packed and detailed exactly what I was taking in this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34795253

I actually had to unpack that suitcase, very irritating.

I didn't unpack my toiletries, however, and so had them ready to go for the trip to Toronto.

As for Berlin in October, it will be fine fall weather. Possibly some warmer days, possibly cooler, possibly rainy.

I'd be sure to take a waterproof coat (probably a trench or car coat length, not sporty) that I'd take on the plane (so as not to take up room in the suitcase and also be available when I first arrive) as well as an umbrella.

I find that taking an umbrella ensures dry weather.

Mollie

Thanks Therese. Haven't been to Berlin since 1965 when I lived in Europe for three years. At that time, after crossing Checkpoint Charlie, we had to turn in our passports to the East Germans (or Russians?)and it was rumored they were copied before being returned to us. As I walked into the East, my friend, whom I thought was right behind me, had lagged behind to use the toilet and I had to communicate with an East German or Russian soldier, with a machine gun thrown over his shoulder, as to her whereabouts. Her Army doctor husband was waiting in the East calling to me about his wife, and as a military person could just walk across as the USA didn't recognize the East German government. Great story over the years but frightening at the time.

Therese

You're going to find that Berlin's changed enormously, Mollie: very exciting in lots of respects, and the weird mixture of history just makes it that much more interesting (but no longer so scary).

Great shopping, so if the weather's not quite what you'd planned for you can always supplement your wardrobe a bit locally.

AliceSprings

Save space and effort on make up by having your eyelashes permed and dyed.

You won't need to pack mascara, an eyelash curler, makeup remover, and you will not suffer black smears under your eyes when emerging from the pool or ocean. The curl and dye will last about six weeks, and is well worth the trouble (one hour and a little stinging) and expense (about AUS $60).