Anonymous

This thread drove me crazy when it first took life. So much desire to recreate the "sterile" life of the US in Europe. <BR> <BR>But just came back and based on my wife's experience, it might be very worthwhile to take Lotrimin, Monistat or any other cure for vaginal yeast infection. Not that it's unavailable in Europe, but especially on a weekend, and if you keep on the go a-plenty, it may be several days before you can find an available source.

skippy

You silly Americans should adopt a new nationality when on tour. Try Canadian.

Tom

I always check the picture postcard stands as soon as possible in a strange town or city. You can be sure they have photographed and display the best sites. This way you can learn a little about them ahead of time.

Nancy

Zack, <BR>I go to an interesting part of the city/village, somewhere with either a good view of the sights or people,have a beer and relax. <BR>I also really like taking boat tours of a city, it's a great way to get the lay of the land and have fun.

Ann

I didn't have to time to read all of the postings, so maybe these have already appeared... <BR> <BR>Pack for your trip. Then, take out 50% of what you've packed, and leave it at home. Leave on your trip. <BR> <BR>If you're renting a car, pay extra for an automatic, ESPECIALLY if you'll be driving on the left for the first time. Much less hassle and stress is worth the extra money. <BR> <BR>

Lesli

I seem to be the only one who is not a fan of hand sanitizer gel. Instead, I carry a small packet of moist wipes which also happen to be antibacterial. (Baby wipes would also work.) These can be used to actually remove dirt/stickiness/etc. from hands and face, rather than just smearing it around.

Jennie

Hey Skippy, you should be so lucky as to be an American.

Betty

Zack: My suggestions: <BR> <BR>#1 Pack light, light, light. You will pick up stuff on the way and you can always buy extra shirts, etc. (Am going 2 weeks to Europe in Sept. with only l backpack and l purse)...only what I can carry on my back, leaving both hands free when needed (a lurching train or at airport ticket counters, for example). <BR> <BR>#2: Always carry a bit of food....hunk of dry cheese, crackers, etc. Never know when you will arrive late & find resturants closed, or no one will exchange your currency. <BR> <BR>#3: Dump the paper. Paper accumulates and is very heavy by the end of the trip. Am speaking of all those brochures of places you visited and think you want to take home. Keep only the special ones. Ditto for buying "tourist books" at places you visit. The heavy load is not worth it! <BR> <BR>#4: Most important: Just be extra nice and friendly to shopkeepers (and all others you meet). When I did this, people GAVE me things! Warm fuzzies all around.

jwagner

Keep a travel journal with you at all times. Use it to jot down experiences that you can't capture on film. More importantly, use it to write down hotel and restaurant names, prices, telephone numbers, etc. I use my journal on return trips to plan my itinerary. <BR> <BR>Also, if your time is short, think about night trains. It saves you money on hotels and means you can hit the ground running each day instead of having to drive 3 or 4 hours to your next destination. We meet interesting people, sometimes enjoy a bottle of wine and a little food and never hesitate to get off if we see a place that looks interesting. <BR> <BR>Also, always plan on one big splurge for each trip: a grand hotel, a Michelin rated restaurant, etc.

lorrie

hey , thanks all you guys for the info. <BR>yes its good to take wet wipes,you are a hero on a hot day if you offer someone a wet wipe!! <BR>take panty liners, they are lite, a pk of 30 take up little room, saves on undy washing if weather and drying conditions are bad. <BR>yes, take your sense of humour. <BR>dont expect anything,and enjoy what is!! <BR>we travel to see different places, well that includes differences too!! otherwise you might as well stay home. <BR>i swear by the "lonely planet guide books" . <BR>i also type up my itinary, hotels,airport info, ideas of what i want to see and do , and i glue it into a small note book for easy reference. throw all that extra stuff the travel agent sends with your tickets. <BR>lastly == if you find yourself with too much luggage (i did ) leave it in the rail lockers over night PHEW !! it made it real easy walking to the nights accommodation. happy travels everyone,lorrie

Art

Best travel tip: GO AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN TO AS MANY PLACES AS YOU CAN. Expect the unexpected, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM HOME. Enjoy the sights, food, different cultures and the unique beauty of each place. <BR>

MaureenGP

1. Pack light. Pack light. Pack light. (I'm still trying to learn this one.) <BR>2. When washing clothing to dry overnight, take a pack of balloons. Inflate a balloon and stick it inside a shirt or whatever and it will dry faster as the fabric is not clinging together. I thought it was a silly hint, but I tried it and it worked. <BR>3. When we were planning our recent trip to Spain, a post on the forum advised visitors not to fight the system. That is, in Spain they eat their big meal midday and their supper at 10 or 11 p.m. at night. Many places close down in the afternoon, which is a good time to have lunch and a siesta. We started this on our first day and made a smooth adjustment. There is no point in traveling to Europe and trying to get them to conform to our ways! <BR>4. Europe has pretty much everything we have, so I wasted a lot of space taking along a lot of "just in case" items like Absorbine or aloe. People say they don't want to waste time visiting a store if they need something, but it was a pain carting extra stuff all over Spain for 28 days. And, besides, visiting a pharmacy or market is an interesting experience. <BR>5. Read more than guidebooks before your trip and it enhances your experience. I read Hemingway, and when we drove through the Guadarrama mountains, I was looking out for Pilar, Maria and Roberto! (Just kidding.) I also read some books on Spanish artists, which made my trips to the Prado and Toledo much more interesting, and also books on history, so that it was a thrill to see the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella in Granada; El Cid in Burgos, and the Velasquez paintings of Philip IV.

M.E.

So many great tips -- some I knew, some were new! I particularly agree with "act as if you'll be back." This leaves time for naps! We Americans get so little vacation, we exhaust ourselves with "must-sees." I take a small (six-pack-size) collapsible cooler. In transit it can hold fragile items (eyeglasses, etc.), if you like, and is stocked with Swiss-army knife, corkscrew, other essentials. Perfect for stocking up at morning markets for midday-picnics.

Stan

DO NOT overlook Eastern Europe, especially Poland, Czech Rep., and Hungary!!!!!!!!!