Rasputin1

Such a lot of good information. I have certainly used this site and thank all the people who had provided information which I used in my 5.5 week trip to northern Italy (still getting over the long flight home). Zip lock bags and stuff sacks are essential. We also use the vacuum bags for our clothes - reduces the size of the pile and keeps them waterproof in case of rain or an accident. We do check our luggage and take small torches, swiss army knife with corkscrew, a couple of paper clips and a couple of small fold back binder clips. DH has a beard and must have his sharp scissors so checked luggage it is.

I did miss not having a pair of sandles when the weather was warm and we were not hiking a Roman road somewhere. Having your feet tied up in runners for 5+ weeks is tiring. Took our thongs (flipflops, jandels) but hardly used them. Did take travel towels but did not use them. Face cloth essential as few apartments provide them.

Took photocopies of essential maps and my own typed notes of what we wanted to do and threw them out as we went along. Took an EPC but failed to take a modem as we expected easy access to Wifi - but not so. Took my notes on a thumb-drive and updated them where necessary on the way.

What I missed was hand cream. I could not find it in supermarkets and what I did find was overpriced. Here in Australia you can purchase a large 1L jar for just a few $. Took sanitizing water free hand cleanser but did not use it at all. We had packed warm clothes, but the weather was unseasonably warm across the north with Milan having temp of 25 - 28C and Venice 24 - 26C. As we left each place the temp changed and it is now 13C in Milan! We used to travel with a stay sharp knife in its scabard but with restrictions we now leave it at home. The Swiss Army knife does most jobs.
Usually pack 2 plastic bowls and a set of cutlery. Did not take them this time and picked up a plastic mug in McDonalds -came in handy. Always take a few bandaids, ear buds, cotton balls, throat lozengers, dettol cream and deep heat cream for aching muscles and backs. I also pack a washing bag in a zip lock - rubber gloves, pegless clothes line, a couple of pegs, chux wipe. I purchase washing powder/liquid when I get there and leave what I do not use. Used to take a couple of wire hangers to dry shirts but no longer do so but may take the inflatable hanger next time.
We take 2 pairs of trousers bought from Snowgum or Kathmandu with lots of secure pockets and 3 changes of underwear including what we wear. 2 - 3 changes of shirts/tops depending on the weather and one fleece jacket, which doubles as a blanket in the plane since the blankets are not sufficiently large or warm. Sometimes a pair of warm socks both for the plane and as bedsocks. Took a warm hat and ear warmers but only used them briefly on the glacier walk. The sun hats however were well used.
The binoculars and tripod only got used occasionally and were only extra and unwanted weight. Dont carry jewellery but usually buy some costume jewellery while I am away. I don't like the travel cosmetics so save my cleansers and toothpaste so that only 50ml or less is taken. If there is still a bit left over, it can be disposed of at the end of the trip if space is warranted. Travel insurance essential.
Took an extra bag which folded into the checked luggage and then used to carry the extra thing collected along the way.

Things I will carry next time are bubble wrap (forgot it this time) and a couple of strong envelopes to post cards or other things.

Lynnaustin

I realize that the OP has completed trip but I find this all very helpful.
I agree with Rasputin1, bubble wrap.
You can't always find a pharmacy so I take a "kit" of OTC medications. Pharmacies are expensive there and sometimes the formula is different.Two things that I add that haven't been mentioned is a tube of cortisone and a travel size dental kit (sold at big chain stores).It has a tiny tube of temporary filling, saves a lot of pain until you can get to a dentist.

Pegontheroad

We took a spring trip to Mittel Europa, and the weather was pretty good except in Budapest. I wish I'd brought silk long johns.

I just purchased a small compass, since I enjoy walking but got terribly lost on my last trip. I made a list on which I reminded myself to bring a paring knife and a spoon. (I always check luggage, so this isn't a problem.) I sometimes have fruit and cheese or yogurt in my room instead of eating at a restaurant. This is because of those times I've become lost and have walked for miles.

ddena

Something useful, depending on where you are staying, is a tote bag that folds up- use for grocery shopping or a beach bag, or just a large bag instead of a small handbag. And I usually have some tissues packs.
I also posted a previous thread regarding the fixed-price boxes from La Poste to send home anything not needed or too large to pack.

nancicita

>>1: What do you wish you HAD brought (other than more money)?

antibiotics (I caught the flu and got really sick)

purelle / antibacterial wipes (didn't bring enough and I was living with a flatmate who constantly had staph infections)

coffee maker (too expensive to buy there, too heavy to bring)

packing material - bubble wrap (mailed my stuff home, bought wine bottles which needed to be wrapped, expensive to buy there)


>>2 - What did you lug that you wish you hadn't wasted suitcase space and weight on???

skirts
socks
other clothes (didn't really need that many)
jewelry (waste of space)
packets of ramen and canned tuna which I didn't eat
magazines (didn't read)

cferrb

Wish I had brought: My preferred feminine hygiene products. Most stores were closed on Sunday so I had to take what I could get, and it wasn't what I liked to use. Nuf said.

cathies

I like to take a small fold up umbrella - good for rain and also for very hot weather.

A filled prescription for a broad spectrum antibiotic.

Ibuprofen - we found out the hard way that in Italy it is very expensive to buy and we were both having trouble with sore knees, hips etc. Not so in France, where is was quite cheap.

I also take Yoga pants - they take up next to no room in the luggage and are so lovely to change into at the end of a long day.

I do pack my hairdryer - I have quite unmanageable, fine hair and hotel hairdryers just don't do the job.

What I don't take - no more than 3 pairs of shoes including a pair of sandals if it's summer.

flygirl

The first thing that comes to mind are at least two pairs of walking shoes. If one gets wet, you have the other. I've also found that sometimes just switching off shoes from day to day can help with leg/knee/feet soreness, oddly enough. This last 3-night trip to London - I had 4 pairs of shoes.

aussiesue2001

A couple of things that I was really glad we had packed on our last trip to Europe were

1. a power board- sounds weird but we only needed 1 adaptor for 1 power point & then we could charge our cameras, netbook, phones, kids' ipods etc together.

2. In addition to some instant coffee tea etc I also packed some packets of 2 minute noodles, individual packs of cup of soup, single serve packs of cereal & a carton of long-life milk.

After some long flights & arriving late at night when we weren't sure what would be available if we were hungry these were really handy especially for starving teenage kids.

3. some way of keeping a duplicate of digital photos. We put all our photos on our netbook most nights but I also copied everything to a USB just in case

4. a few of the pegs with a hook on them- (the ones that look a bit like a question mark). They're very handy to hang washing even if there isn't a spot for your washing. They'll hook over door handles, wardrobe rods or just about anywhere

RedBalloon

I always pack a change of underwear/socks in my carry-on, just in case we get stranded somewhere on the trip over. This has happened to me twice where we've been stuck for two days without our luggage, and I've never regretted it!

Jeni

Gina817

I'm a very light packer, but so glad to have brought:
ear plugs
ginger - worked wonders for motion sickness/nausea
umbrella
mints
copies of passport, drivers license, credit cards

Wished I had packed:
great hand and body lotion - like the poster above said it is tough to find. my skin was SO dry!!

I also bought some light makeup with SPF in it. I tried to bring as many dual use products as possible to save space.

rampchic

I keep a quart sized ziploc in my linen closet with some moleskin, a few bandaids (with antiseptic), a few envelopes of TheraFlu, a few Pepcids, a few GasX strips, a couple of Imodium tablets and a handful of cough drops. It goes into my bag each time I leave the US and every time someone in my party needs something out of it. Either there are blisters from walking...too much wonderful food...or the beginnings of a cold. I always have just enough to get through a crisis until a pharmacy can be located. It works for carry on as well as checked baggage.

Ann1

The only two things I make sure I have is Imodium and Cold EZE. Cold Eze is a miracle. It stops colds and sore throats so you don't have to use other cold remedies. Europe has everything. They have cremes, toothpaste, asperin, Panadol (Tylenol, shampoo, moleskin, bandaids, etc, etc, etc.

One way I lighten the load is when I'm finished with a book, I give it to the hotel so they can put it in their book trading shelf and someone else can enjoy it.

LJ

I once neglected to take an indigestion remedy with me. That was a mistake. Hard to mime...

Ann1

They have indigestion remedies in Europe. People in Europe are no different than us. Thay have the same problems and needs. You can even get prescription medication there as long as you know what the chemical name and dosage is. I know someone who lost all of their prescription medicine. They had the names written down and the dosage. They walked into a drug store in Italy and were able to get what they needed.