WORRIED! Okay to walk in Italy's cities with kids from train stations to hotels????
May 29th, 2007, 09:32 AM
#61
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Just back from Rome and my friend and I walked that area from Termini when we arrived. Felt (and were) perfectly safe each wheeling our one suitcase.
For your peace of mind--take the advice of scouting out the location of the hotel while the rest of your family sit and watch the world go by. It is really close. And, trust me, not scary.
Also, follow the advice of taking only one 22" rolling suitcase each adult and a smaller one for each child and packing for only one week. A change of shoes, a change of slacks/pants, and a few tops, at least one of which is long-sleeved, is all you need, plus underwear and sleepwear. Unless an item gets dirty/something spilled on it, only underwear and socks need to be washed after each wearing.
Each of you should have a lightweight fold-up raincoat with attached hood to take with you each day.
I was glad I had bought, on sale, one of the new lightweight rolling suitcases that only weighed half of what my previous suitcase did.
After all these years of traveling, I've just discovered rolling my clothing. It works so much better than trying to find items while keeping everything neatly folded. I also tried the packing cubes, with my clothing rolled up inside. What a revelation! So simple, so quick to unpack and pack--either kept them in the suitcase or popped them in the dresser drawers, just taking out and hanging up what I was going to wear the next day. From now on, I'll never use anything else.
Do leave room for souvenirs; packing bubble wrap will take up the space you will need for them, and you can discard it as you travel, using some of the bubble wrap to protect fragile items.
Have you checked whether you need an adapater/converter for any appliances such as a camera battery recharger that you might be taking? Here is the Magellans website that is helpful: http://dyna.magellans.com/cgi-bin/mi...yna/dynaaS3P2p
For your peace of mind--take the advice of scouting out the location of the hotel while the rest of your family sit and watch the world go by. It is really close. And, trust me, not scary.
Also, follow the advice of taking only one 22" rolling suitcase each adult and a smaller one for each child and packing for only one week. A change of shoes, a change of slacks/pants, and a few tops, at least one of which is long-sleeved, is all you need, plus underwear and sleepwear. Unless an item gets dirty/something spilled on it, only underwear and socks need to be washed after each wearing.
Each of you should have a lightweight fold-up raincoat with attached hood to take with you each day.
I was glad I had bought, on sale, one of the new lightweight rolling suitcases that only weighed half of what my previous suitcase did.
After all these years of traveling, I've just discovered rolling my clothing. It works so much better than trying to find items while keeping everything neatly folded. I also tried the packing cubes, with my clothing rolled up inside. What a revelation! So simple, so quick to unpack and pack--either kept them in the suitcase or popped them in the dresser drawers, just taking out and hanging up what I was going to wear the next day. From now on, I'll never use anything else.
Do leave room for souvenirs; packing bubble wrap will take up the space you will need for them, and you can discard it as you travel, using some of the bubble wrap to protect fragile items.
Have you checked whether you need an adapater/converter for any appliances such as a camera battery recharger that you might be taking? Here is the Magellans website that is helpful: http://dyna.magellans.com/cgi-bin/mi...yna/dynaaS3P2p
May 30th, 2007, 04:48 AM
#62
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Thanks again for MORE great advice! Will go to the "fly over website- I had forgotten about that! Great idea! Also, wish I had known about the Magellan's travel goodies before, as we are leaving now and no time- but found all the atuff I needed, this would have just been easier- all in one place! I'm having a catalog sent to me for future needs.
Thanks to all!!!!
Arizonagal
Thanks to all!!!!
Arizonagal
May 30th, 2007, 08:35 AM
#63
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Another vote for taking fewer things and doing laundry a couple times along the way. Much easier that way.
When we went to Germany last summer, it was just the 2 of us, and we couldn't quite get all our things into a 22" in roller and daypack each, so we took 1 extra duffle. I was amazed at how much of a pain that extra duffle was, even piggybacked onto a roller, and wished we had been able to get everything in our 2 rollers and our daypacks. We vowed to pack lighter next time (starting with less bulky shoes for my husband!! - LOL).
With more luggage, you can always check bags for the airline flight, but it would be so much easier with less for trains and walking from trains to the hotel.
When we went to Germany last summer, it was just the 2 of us, and we couldn't quite get all our things into a 22" in roller and daypack each, so we took 1 extra duffle. I was amazed at how much of a pain that extra duffle was, even piggybacked onto a roller, and wished we had been able to get everything in our 2 rollers and our daypacks. We vowed to pack lighter next time (starting with less bulky shoes for my husband!! - LOL).
With more luggage, you can always check bags for the airline flight, but it would be so much easier with less for trains and walking from trains to the hotel.
May 30th, 2007, 09:28 AM
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Had to chuckle at the "you only need to wash clothes that have been spilled on" comment. Don't you know with children something ALWAYS gets spilled on their clothes! Usually within 30 minutes of putting them on. But still, a laundry service will take care of that problem.
May 31st, 2007, 11:37 AM
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Just back from our second trip to Europe with our 12yo son (we've been to Europe a number of times without him). Yes, kids will ALWAYS manage to spill food on their clothes. We carried one of those spot sticks and wet wipes with us, with a stronger cleaner back in the hotel room. I did plenty of spot cleaning, but IMHO, better than spending my time or money washing clothes on vacation (or having a hotel do it).
We were in Barcelona and France, and I do have a great sense of vigilance with him with us, but being aware of your surroundings, and looking confident (even if you aren't) is the best way to keep safe and sound. And when pulling our bags, he was always between us in a single-file line (those narrow sidewalks). We were never accosted, approached or had a problem.
We were in Barcelona and France, and I do have a great sense of vigilance with him with us, but being aware of your surroundings, and looking confident (even if you aren't) is the best way to keep safe and sound. And when pulling our bags, he was always between us in a single-file line (those narrow sidewalks). We were never accosted, approached or had a problem.
May 31st, 2007, 06:29 PM
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At high noon we were attacked twice by gypsies walking from Termini Station to a hotel 2 blocks away. They didn't get anything since we changed to neck pouches and money belts. We just swug our bags at them.
