Pauline has asked me to pull together the tips and ideas people have to make travel easier--you know, those little discoveries we have each made along the way. I guess she will add a section to the FAQÂs section. Just e-mail them to me at jlparke@aol.com and I will make the compilation. An example would be: Since I like to scrub clean and in Europe washcloths are rarity , I always bring one of the little net shower balls. It is much more satisfactory than a washcloth as it dries quickly and doesnÂt get dirty and smelly. I just hang it in the shower stall and then put it in a baggy between stops. This beats using the bidet towel!
Posts: 3976 | Location: San Diego, CA | Registered: 26 June 2001
Or post your suggestions here and Jane can cut and paste them.
Always have a small flashlight in your purse (or pocket for you guys!) for those days when you get back to your vacation rental late at night and realize how dark everything is in the country.
Posts: 26602 | Location: Santa Fe, NM | Registered: 15 June 2001
OK, here's my list, remember I travel with kids and tend to haul a bit more over. Many I have already mentioned in my trip reports and traveling with kids tips but here goes. 1. Travel journal with all contact numbers etc.
2. corkscrew! Always have one in your purse for those impromto picnic stops.
3. small tealights. Candles and matches are mandatory for romantic dinners on the terrace!
4. Shout stain packets. These are great for cleaning up wine or spaghetti sauce stains.
5. Purell dry hand sanitizer, great for cleaning up when there isn't a sink around.
6. Bubble wrap for transporting home that ceramica you find in the market
7. Cassette tapes for your rental car with your fav. music
8. Small spray can of Evian facial spray, great for instant cooling off while waiting in lines, hiking in intense heat etc.
9. Sleepytime tea (chamomille) for the plane ride to help us all sleep.
10. Copies of passport pages and addresses of the nearest consulate offices
11. International phone numbers to contact in the event that you loose or have your credit cards stolen.
12. Print out copies of currency converter charts for everyones wallets
13. Extra cammera battery and lots of film. Saves hunting it down.
14. Small package of detergent for hand washing items
15. Grounding strip for your car if you happen to get car sick.
16. Pick up Travelgum in first pharmacy you see in Italy if you are prone to being carsick.
17. Small folding cooler, great for packing picnics or for shopping at markets and getting those goods back to the vacation rental without turning to mush after a long day out touring.
18. Picnic tablecloth
19. For the kids:
Sparklers- huge hit with adults too actually! Small container of bubbles Nerf frisbee Travel journals their own cameras small travel games, chess etc. gameboy ( huge hit with mom )
Thanks Pauline, that is something that I wish I would have brought packs of back with us! It will come in handy for a 5 hour road trip in the summer to the interior of B.C. for a long week-end dude ranch holiday at The Flying U Ranch. Yeepee taay yaah! My bum hurts already!
Liz, what a fantastic list! I will organize ideas that people contribute into some sort of categorical system--but this may not happen for a while since Christmas is coming and then a huge retirement celebration for my husband on January 4 and then Africa on January 13. We just got calls today that some of Ken's family is flying in from PA for the celebration which now means that I will be entertaining them from January 1 until they leave January 13 (the same morning we leave!) So, this may not be done until February sometime. Is this OK, Pauline?
Posts: 3976 | Location: San Diego, CA | Registered: 26 June 2001
Liz, If for some reason you didn't have a chance to pack the first 19 items on your list, you'd still be OK if all you brought was - 20. Great attitude and sense of adventure! That's by far the best thing to bring.
Jane, have a wonderful time! We'll all be dying to know all the details upon your return!
Amy, yes I do bring new meaning to the term Obsessive Compulsive don't I? Sometimes I even scare myself! Everyone thought I was particularily well prepared ( they said with a strange look in their eye) at Montegufoni this past summer but they all appreciated me immensly for the extra candles, sparklers/bubbles that I was able to hand out to their kids to keep them happy.
Bill and Patty, actually #20 is the most important to us all as well, all the other stuff sometimes makes it easier for us all to keep that attitude throughout a long vacation!
I have to agree 100% with all of Liz's suggestions!! As for the washcloth issue, I just buy a package of 10 cheap ones at KMart and just leave them if they are still wet! Maybe if enough Americans laeve behind our washcloths, someone will eventually realize just how handy they are!! The bubble wrap may be a little too bulky to pack, but I would STRONGLY recommend taking a small piece for a sample, as we have had some wonderful adventures just trying to track down bubble wrap!!!! Also, instead of a flashlight, has anyone sen those credit card sized flashlights? They do a great job and are so convenient!!! Also a small roll of surgical/duct tape...just enough for emergencies. I guess this list will just grow and grow.......thanks to everyone here for ALL their help throughout the year! Barbara
Posts: 4675 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 29 June 2001
Topic Closed
My bum hurts already!
