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!