Duffle bag trick is ok, but I suggest you take a look at baggalinis, very light but strong totes in various sizes that fold up into themselves. They take up almost no space, weigh nothing, and are useful for lots of other things on the trip (carrying groceries or laundry, using for a weekend trip from your main base, etc). I think the shape is better for these other uses.

I always throw one in my suitcase and often use it on the return just as Debbie described.

I also take an old pair of shoes to toss near the end of the trip.

Home Depot had some very large zip lock type bags when I was there last week. I picked up a bag to use on future trips

LoveItaly: your post was so serene and sweet. If your aren't already, maybe you would consider a post as a mediator. Good advice and a calming influence. "Gentlereader...."
Marilyn: I started counting my pieces as well after losing a museum poster one trip. I've mourned that print for years.

Oh, pdx, I am amazed at your comment to me as I have to tell you that the last thing I am feeling right now is serene and sweet...honest! LOL. I have had a real stressful summer to the point that I saw my doctor a few days ago and I was instructed to put my life "on hold" for about a month....cancel everything and just baby myself.

So I have done that the few last days. If I sound serene maybe the doctors instructions are working, you think? LOL.

I too loved Marilyn's advice about counting the number of items you have with you as you move from one part of the airport (or wherever you are) to the next point. I never thought of doing that. A very good and sensible idea, why haven't more of us thought of that? One time I flew home from Florida minus one suitcase. I was with family and couldn't figure out why I had such a terrible time repacking to fly home as I haven't done that much shopping. Well since I forgot we had an additional suitcase of course we had a terrible time packing.

pdx, thank you for your loving comment. It is appreciated. Take good care.

Here is my ever-so-important travel tip: When you choose a raincoat to take to Europe, make sure it is no longer than your knees. There is so much stair climbing - in and out of metros or to the top of monuments - if your coat is longer than your knees you need to use one hand to hold it up.

LoveItaly - I’ve been there. It’s time for some mint tea, old treasured movies, or some relaxing music.

Any problems will either go away or can be tackled when you are stronger. I hope you feel better.

Oh Simone, thank you for your comment. I really did not mean to post what I did, but I was so shocked that pdx posted what she did (about my being serene) I responded and then wished I hadn't as I fully now so many people have more stress then I have had. Which is what had made me mad at myself.

Simone!, I have had beautiful Italian music on all day. And puttered around cleaning out drawers. For some reason that relaxed me. Have a large garbage bag of "stuff" to toss. That is a good feeling.

And all will be alright. Think I just got so overtired I have not been sleeping properly etc. Hugs to you and thank you again for your kinds thoughts.

Ha! Puttering around, cleaning and organizing is a sure sign of being overwhelmed by life. Control the things you can control! I can't fix this life mess but I sure as heck can clean out this drawer! We laugh at each other at work when we spot someone muttering to herself and organizing the supply room.

Be on the lookout for small handouts and handwritten posters around town when you arrive, including at the tourist center. You will discover local concerts, festivals -- even a caelidh (a Scottish dance/variety show), and this is where you meet the local people.

I guess my tips are the result of having had so much almost unbearable stress in my *real* life this past year that I've realigned some of my priorities, now knowing that life is too short.

1. Plan, but don't overplan. Just get up in the morning, look at the sky, and decide what's right for today.

2. Maps, always have maps. Maps are essential before, during, and after any trip. If you're on a driving trip, make sure you have a good navigator who's looked at the maps before the trip.

3. You really don't need more than about 10 lbs. of luggage for a 4-week trip or shorter. You can be very presentable, clean, and polished, whether you are male or female, with 10 lbs. of stuff with you. I say this having been guilty of having 15 lbs. of stuff with me, 5 lbs. of which I didn't need.

4. If you're a foodie, indulge yourself. Eating wonderful things in a foreign venue is one of the most satisfying things in the world.

5. Unless you're paranoid, conduct yourself the way you would at home - no slipping your "valuables" into pouches concealed in your netherlands or holing things up in hotel safes. Just exercise common sense and keep track of your belongings! At the same time, don't stow your euros in cargo pants pockets for heaven's sake!

6. Bone up on the local customs before your trip so you know how to be polite even if you don't speak the language. And speak softly - Europeans don't yell.

7. Bring the most comfortable, presentable shoes you have, with Odor Eaters if you're traveling in summer. Not sneakers, not trainers, just good leather walking shoes you can hike over cobblestones with.

8. Love and savor every minute of your trip, even if it's not what you expected. You're on vacation and you're learning something new.

9. Thank your lucky stars that you're where you are enjoying a new environment and able to travel to places that many people will never be able to see. Suck the life out of every new venue and consider yourself blessed.

10. Bring plastic bags to bring home your dirty underwear.

I'm not one who likes to keep a travel diary but years ago someone gave me a good idea. Every day I buy a postcard of someplace we've been that day and write the day's events on it before I go to bed that night. It has limited space so I can't go on and on and it's about the size of our photos (I'm a non-digital camera person)so I can store the postcards together with the pics.

LoveItaly, we don't know each other but I can relate. I had a terrible year a few years ago and finally just spent six weeks (after surgery) 'shut down' -- reading, sleeping, watching daytime TV, ignoring the phone and just generally not talking to anyone too much. Give in to all your personal needs. Try to eat well, though, and get some good sleep. I hope you'll feel better soon.

Hello pdx, it is soooo true, if you can't control the things happening in your life you can control what is in your drawers and closets. You gave me a good giggle.

And St.Cirq, I sure agree with all your comments...they are good ones. Wishing you a serene autumn and winter with my best wishes.

Hello hdm, thank you for your comments and thoughts also. We don't know each other but we understand each other I think. I will be alright, as obviously you are now at this time in your life. Just having 3 or 4 days "for me" has made a big difference. And I have to tell you that having loving people on Fodors has certainly helped.

I certainly know that all of us have stress in our life. And normally I can handle stress without any problems, but this summer has been overwhelming. Problems have erupted every day or so, not only here where I live but in Italy. It has been one disaster after another. A mental "up and down", I have cringed everytime the phone has rang.

But taking hold of my life, as my doctor suggested, and as many dear friends suggested, and doing as you said you did....what a difference a few days make. Many hugs to all the good people here on Fodors. You are truly in my heart.

Extra pair of glasses
BandAids in purse or wallet
Emergency stash of money
Data watch, Essential numbers
Duplicate medicines

We have a few.
Go with the attitude that you will be back and don't try to fit too much in. See the top things on each persons list for sure and go from there. You need time to people watch, relax & soak in the local atmosphere. You meet more people that way and you will no doubt remember that and not which of those 10 castles and 20 churches you saw.
On a long trip pick a home base so your not lugging luggage around and trying to find accomodations daily. In a big city its more time consuming and stressful than you know.
Also a great tip I read about in a magazine is to take a picture of your hotel and/or a local street signs or land mark with your digital camera or cell phone so if you are lost you can have a TI, taxi driver or even a map help get you back. Our grown kids were lost in Amsterdam and couldn't remember the name of the hotel or the street it was on. They walked in circles all day.
My mother in law always grabbed a match book from their hotel.
Also invest in a good guide book and good city maps.

My best travel tip is a "Before you travel" tip.
Plan your health first.
Plan to get your nerves in the best shape they've ever been, because travelling however much we love it, is stressful at times.
To do this (I've reccommended it to the shingles poster) have a month long course of high voltage Vit. B injections. (Down south here in Africa we ask for a Neurobin shot). 1 a week, or more, gets you energetic and ready to cope. Now get lots of sleep even if your doctor puts you on medication for just 10 days to develope a sleep pattern.
Well, thats my little contribution to travel tips.
PS. I launder my own underwear daily and let it dry overnight.

I forgot one!

Never judge a European town by its train station.

LoveItaly, hope life settles down. We should meet for coffee in Elmira one of these days.

Hello teacherlady, Elmira?? That is just east of me by a couple of miles. Haven't been there since they closed the school my friends granddaughter went to. Where is the coffee shop? I would love to meet with you. I love coffee also! Do you live in Elmira?

Even though you'll think you'll never forget where you took that perfect photo, take a shot of the sign, too, if there is one.

LoveItaly, I hope you're relaxing and just taking very good care of yourself. I'm currently stressed out as well, but at least it's something I can control. A new job will do part of the trick for me. :)

As for my travel tip, don't stress over a cell phone unless you absolutely need one (expectant family members at home, a multimillion dollar deal that needs your input, constant travels to that country, etc.). Get a phone card w/an '800' number. That way, when you're in your hotel room, you can just call out w/o extra charges. Those with an IC card may require a jaunt down to the phone booth at the seediest corner (as happened to me in Amsterdam). The caveat here is that you'll need to be able to have a choice in your cards, of course.

Cheers!

Hi mcnyc, feeling much better, thank you for asking. It is funny what 4 days of peace and quite can do isn't it? Best wishes to you for a job that you will enjoy going to. A stressful job is terrible IMO.

mcnys, your comment on a cell phone interested me as the last time I went to Italy I did not have a cell phone. The one I had (my SIL's) would no longer work. I was going to get a new one and never did. What a blessing that was!!! I am sure I will get one next trip but honestly I so enjoyed not having one as strange as that sounds. Take good care and best wishes to you.

This works for us. Each traveler take a backpack in addition to regular luggage. Very handy for day trips, etc. And works well for an overnight at a B & B when you can lock your luggage in the vehicle--just take in what you need in the backpack.

An example: Before flying home from London, checked our bags (and golf clubs) at the Heathrow hotel we were to stay at the night before flying out. Packed our backpacks with what we needed for an overnight in London. Caught the tube in and were spared the headache of lugging all the extra around with us. Have done that several times.

Cheers,

Jinx Hoover

Hi LoveItaly, glad to hear you're feeling much better. :D I hope things are better in your family's life.

I am constantly seeing cell phone posts here, and although I have a cell phone w/SIM card for Italy, my experience is while it was very useful in my particular situation, I found that I could have also done without it. You, of course, have family there, so it's a more different situation. It's nice to have, but then how would you run away from family? ;)

DH won't leave home without duc tape. We've used it on every trip, one way or another. It saved my life and my feet, when it held the bandaides on my poor blistered foot in Tanzania.

It got so that everyone in our group was asking him for some almost daily, to repair or hold something together - after initally teasing him about it. Now none of them travel without it.

Nina

Hi mcnyc, exactly!!! LOL. You got it dear one. But I will get a cell phone next time..but it was great last time without it although I always had a lot of phone calls to return when I got back to my hotel etc. Take good care.

>>>>>
3. Zip-lock bags---I use all sizes. Big ones for clothing (much cheaper than buying the ones made expressly for packing clothing in a suitcase)
>>>>>

i never heard of this...have the plastic bag manufacturers really convinced people that they need to put their clothes in plastic bags within their suitcases? ...so much so that they make bags for this purpose? crazy.

Hi

Split your luggage so that you get half your travel partner's clothes and they get half yours. That way if one of your pieces of luggage goes missing that person has clothes for a few days. I then pray that my wife's bag doesn't go missing in case a Customs search of mine leaves me having to explain that the ladies underwear belong to my wife!!

Back to the underwear thing...




Does Your Underwear have HOLES in it?
.
.
.
.
.
.
No?!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.Then how do you get your legs into them?

Thanks for the great travel tips everyone! One comment and one Question:
Re: walking circles in Amsterdam like Grownmom's kids... Avoid eating the Spacecakes. That will help.
Q: Has anyone tried those new plastic-bag type garment condensing things?

Kate

These may be elemental but they have been helpful to me:

-Use a standard packing list. It can be edited each year for additions or deletions.It should contain a check list that you hang on your exit door at home:

-Passport
-Photo-ID
-Tickets
-Medication

A second is a reminder not to over-plan a trip. Do not try to plan every minute.
A plan should be a broad outline filled in by experiences as you go.

If you are driving and plan to stay in small towns/villages allow for some accommodations to remain open. We have done this many times and some of these overnight stays have been our most memorable and enjoyable experiences. We always consult our travel books for descriptions of B&B's or inns or get advice from the place you are leaving. My husband loves to run and a good place for running is always a consideration. He is still talking about his perfect run along a river in Aberfoyle Scotland. We would never plan to arrive in a large city WO a reservation.

What an odd thread. I look in whenever I can to escape the stress in my life for an hour or so. It seems that the exchanges at this forum recall so many pleasant memories and raise the possibility of future travels that I'm distracted temporarily from that which sometimes threatens to overwhelm me. So I click here to read some tips and lo, I find that I'm not the only one here dealing with acid and knots in the stomach. Who knew? Love and prayers all around. J.

SweetKate: Are you talking about those TravelSpace Bags? The kind you squeeze the air out of?

Yes - I have used them for almost 10 years and would not leave home without them, for a number of reasons.
- Yes they really do give you extra space in your bag.
- It makes security checks go MUCH faster, because they are clear, they can see what is inside, and you don't have undies & socks flying all over the security station. I have actually heard a couple of security guys say that they love it when people use those bags - makes their life much easier.
- You have a builtin place for the dirty laundry , that is airtight , so the rest of your clothes stay fresh & clean.
- If by some chance a bottle opens up , or your shoes are dirty , the plastic bags protect your clothes.

TIP: Take a permanent marker and label the edge with the air vents (the only part of the bag that is not smooshed & compressed) with your name - that way if one gets left somewhere , they may be able to find you.

1. Always carry a lightweight pair of binoculars--always. I go NOWHERE without them, and have never regretted it. 2. You can spend a week in Paris wearing two mini skirts, black tights, two vests, two cotton turtlenecks, two l/s wrinkle free shirts. Two pairs of comfortable shoes--not sneakers. One raincoat, one hat, and a few scarves. You won't be seeing the same people everyday, and even across a dining table, you only see 'waist up'! 3. I may be one of the few people in the world left who use a non-digital camera, but I swear by my Canon Sure Shot point and shoot camera. I take one or two shots and don't agonize over 'does it look good? should i take it over? is my memory getting low?' Plus, just take your film to the store and come back an hour later for finished prints. 4. Ask locals or fellow travelers to take your photo WITH the landmarks--it's much more interesting and will remind you about your wonderful trip. 5. And finally WALK and take public (bus, metro) transportation. You will see more, and you can EAT MORE croissants, tarts, and other delicacies!

walkinaround, I am a convert to packing most of my clothes in plastic bags (I don't bother doing this with pants or jeans). Sometimes I use ziplocks or spacesavers, sometimes I just use cheap see-thru plastic sweater bags that have the zipper up the long side.

The biggest advantage is that it keeps your stuff organized in your suitcase if you are moving every few days. Underwear in 1 bag, T-shirts in another, etc. Easy to keep dirty clothes separate. I also use one to keep odds and ends together: electric adapters, travel clock, book light, belt, etc.

And when you want something at the bottom of your suitcase, it's a lot easier to move a few bags than to dig through a pile of clothes.

With current security measures, it's easier for the screeners to handle your belongings and see what's in the bag. Hopefully a bag of clothes is less likely to get left behind than a stray garment.

Anyway, the only danger of the space bags is that you might be able to get so much in that you couldn't lift your bag. :-D

I can get by with 2 black miniskirts in Paris? All these years I've been lugging heavy black slacks that take up so much room in my suitcase. Who knew? :-)

David

Okay Debbie! I'm all over this Spacesaver Bag thing ~running to AAA to buy some tomorrow!

I cannot believe I never even knew they exsited until a few weeks ago, and now to learn they actually WORK!

Kate

Beware of the *weight* of your suitcase using ziplocks or a system that makes your clothing smaller (remember it does not make those clothes any lighter). The first time I enthusiastically packed with the gallon ziplock method was also the first time I had to check my 22" rolling suitcase, because it was over the carry-on weight limit.

SweetKate - Glad to help. I have my Mom & best friend hooked on them too ;)

fyi - I just saw a version of them in 3 packs in the travel section at TARGET.
( you can also get them at a TOTES/SAMSONITE store if you have one near you)

I got my first ones at Walgreens, and since then have ordered them off TV - from QVC & HSN , because you get a large quantity for a really good price.

Be sure to shop around ( if you have time before your trip that is :) )

A lesson learned the hard way:

Even though you may be able to buy almost anything you really need in Europe, it's a very good idea to have a clean set of clothing in which to go shopping for them. I went to Florence, my luggage went to Pisa. I went shopping for clothing to wear until my luggage arrived (two days later). I did however, have a toothbrush and hairbrush in my carry-on. If only I had thought to put a change of clothing in there also.

David,

If by chance you'll be in Paris the week of September 18-25, will you please parade along Rue Cler in your mini-skirt(s)? I'd love to point it out to my Mom and Aunt about the latest in "haute coutoure" of Paris! Now THAT's a picture I'd like to see my dear Auntie take back to Sacramento after her first trip to Europe!

:)

Jules