CarolA

Colette,
I saw on another post you are doing an EF tour. YOU will haul your luggage. On our tour there was none of this picking up at the door etc. We put our luggage on the bus and took it off and sometimes the bus had to park a block or so away. (Tight European roads, BIG bus!)

I took a 22" rollerboard and it was great. I tried to convince everyone else to pack light, but they all had steamer trunks (LOL) By the end of the tour they all wanted to pack like me. (I would not help any of them with their massive amounts of stuff!) Most of the girls actually admitted they only wore about 1/2 of what the bought.

EF Tours is budget, you won't need to dress for dinner or anything!

Colette

Thanks CarolA!! Those are the kinds of things I need to know-------never thought about the bus parking several blocks away from the hotel! What exactly is a 22" "rollerboard" ?? Is that simply a 22" rolling suitcase? Also, did you carry ANYTHING else at all other than that one suitcase??? Merci! Grazie!

CarolA

Yes, it is a 22" rolling suit case.

I also had a day pack that I kept my camera and stuff in.

You could probably go a little bigger, but try not to get too big.

Luggage in some of the hotels was a challange. For example our hotel in Paris had an elevator. It went to the 4th floor. So what room did the two people (Mom and daughter) with the three rolling coffins and two HUGE carry ons get? One on the fifth floor. (This woman has a shopping disorder, she spent more money then anyone I have ever seen! Several hundred pounds at a roadside souviner shop for example)

CarolA

Just a thought. Does this tour have a train ride (Ours did) If so, packing light is even more important. We had people have to sleep with thier luggage on the train.

Colette

Thanks again, CarolA-----when you mentioned your daypak, are you talking backpack? 'Cus I'm trying to decide if that's the way to go, or if I should just carry a small purse across the front of my body. We do have a train ride between Monaco and Paris--don't think it's overnight. So the "sleeping on the train with the luggage"??? I'm guessing the problem is, the more luggage to sleep with, the less secure? (I am both dense and naive at times). Thanks for your patience on all this----you've been MORE than helpful!!

historytraveler

Regarding hairdryers: If there isn't one in the room, they almost always have one at the front desk. Just ask.

CarolA

The problem with "sleeping with luggage" is the cars have VERY little luggage space and most of it is up high. So... if you have the traveling coffin there is no way to get it up there and it winds up in your lower bunk with you!

My daypack is a SMALL backpack. EF tours sends you one. Our girls chose not to use thier EF tour backpacks and bought the one's they use to carry thier books in during the school day. The feeling was the one they owned was nicer then the EF tours one and the EF tours one looked like a walking advertisement. I was actually glad they chose not to use the EFTours pack. There is no way I was passing these girls off as natives, but the EF Tour logo really seems to stand out on the street.

kopp

Hi Colette! Such energy and enthusiasm. It's invigorating!!

Last summer I purchased a microfiber backpack from ricksteves.com. It's extremely lightweight yet very durable. Think it was about $20. Goes with me everywhere now.

Happy travels!

mdocherty

If you don't mind clothing advice from a male then read on. The best advice I have ever come across for travelers, especially those asking the same question is: lay out the clothes you would like to take and then put half of them back. You won't use them. Even as a veteran traveler and a proponent of the travel light axiom, I still go theoughthe excercise of laying everything out first. I can then see what I can consolidate down and also what I really don't need.

I also would point out that five cities in seven days means more travelling than sightseeing - you'll be too tired and not have much time to actualy do or see anything to it's fullest. Just be casual and comfortable. Take in what you like and make plans to go back and spend more time where you found the most enjoyment.

Have fun and enjoy Europe.

ira

Hi Colette,

>I'll be in Venice, Florence, Pisa, Monaco and Paris...<

And you will have 7-8 days?

Once, when I was young, healthy and thin, I did a trip like this.

I remember a couple of cops wondering whether to arrest me for being drunk or stoned or just leave me alone (don't know where I was).

Actually, I was just exhausted.

At least fly from Venice to Paris and skip Monaco.

See www.volareweb.com.

wnab1q

I prefer wearing skirts instead of shorts/pants and found an interesting item yesterday. A reversible skirt. (also had a dress) Two separate lightweight fabrics so no slip was needed and two different looks. Add 2 tops and there are 4 outfits.

wnab1q

SalB-
On the Birkenstock sandals, I find where the strap buckles across the front of the foot, the bottom tab is very thick and started causing a blister. I know they eventually form to your foot, but is there an easy way to soften and thin this piece?

ira

Hi wn,

I suggest putting a bandaid on your foot until the sandals are broken in.

SalB

Hi. I've never had a blister problem. You might just need a different model.

Someone once told me to wet the shoe with your foot in it and then wear the shoe until it is dry. Supposedly it then conforms to your foot. I think he did this with army boots (in the army under orders). It sounds logical but very uncomfortable.

The bandaid is probably the best suggestion. You could also loosen the buckle until the blister is gone.

jv827

wnab1q - Suggest trying a bit of moleskin. It works well when breaking in shoes.

suze

A 22" suitcase with wheels (24" if you really must) or a medium size sturdy duffle as your main bag. And 1 large tote of some sort (day pack - i.e, baby-backpack, nice large leather pocketbook from home, canvas book bag, whatever works best). I also take an extra small/tiny leather purse, with a strap across the body to carry cash, etc. for an option in the evenings when you really don't need to haul extra stuff with you. Some people swear by a moneybelt under the clothing, that's a matter of comfort-zone and travel style.

Colette

Thanks for all the packing advice. I'm pretty much stuck on the 5-city/7-day tour of Europe (but I'm still excited). I went on a Caribbean cruise for a week once and swore I'd never do another one of those 'cus I felt like I didn't really get to experience any of the islands-----just got to enjoy the U.S. equivalents of outlet malls on each island. This whirlwind tour of France and Italy may be similar.....but.....I've never had a bad vacation!! Anyway, (it's late, I'm starting to ramble) I've loved all of your travel tips-----still trying to figure out "fashionable, comfortable shoes". Perhaps that's an oxymoron??? Thanks again, everyone-----I'm sure I'll be coming up with more questions before June!