things that i shud take

[cableguy]

i think it was eagle or david who said i should take some ear plugs and i thought it was a great idea. I'm just wondering are their any other ideas like that? should i take toilet paper, towels or other items in which i might forget or are hostels stocked up with these. I'm going amsterdam and paris for about 5 days each then going to spain for about a month. I'm thinking not packing alot of clothes and when i get into to spain maybe buy some cheap thin clothes, do u think this is a good idea or would you not bother.

[WillTravel]

Toilet paper is a good idea to carry around with you, because many public bathrooms in Europe don't have it. A small bar of soap for the same reason.

Your hostel may or may not have towels available, so it's a good idea to take one.

For North Americans, clothes bought in Europe tend to be expensive, but since you are in the UK anyway, it probably is reasonably cheap for you to buy clothes in Spain. But I'd prefer to have the basics along anyway.

[Eagle]

Ear Plugs are an essential travel item, especially for those staying in Hostels! Another method that works is an I-Pod with soundproof Earphones (have used that method on more than one occasion - it was extremely useful when I was in Hospital for a few days in a Ward!).

A Towel is a really good idea also, as most Hostels don't provide Towels. Some people prefer the "chamois" style travel towels, as they pack into very small places and are very light (compared to a standard "terry cloth" Towel). They also dry somewhat quicker.

You'll need some kind of Shower Soap (gel Soap works well - I've used Radox in the past - using soap that also works as shampoo saves a bit of space). Whether or not to take Toilet Paper is a bit debatable. If you're going to be travelling in somewhat "out of the way" places, then it would probably be a good idea to take a small roll (ie: half a roll, compressed flat or use travel T.P. available at Magellan's).

Hope this helps. Happy travels!!!

[pointofnoreturn]

Definitely bring a small towel for your travels. Like Eagle said, most don't really provide adequate towels and some only give you 1. You'll feel better with an extra towel just in case!

I would bring your own pillow sack that way you'll have something recognizable and comfy rather than the dingy gross fabric at certain hotels!

[madamtrashheap]

To quote dumbdeity (and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) "A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an (interstellar hitch) hiker can have." ;D

[me]

another item i found useful: a compass.

oftentimes, walking up the stairs from the subway one can be disoriented. the map doesn't help much if you don't know which way is North. i have a small key chain compass that travels with me.

[Eagle]

David, that's one item I'd forgotten. I have a small Rick Steves key ring Compass that I always pack along on travels, although so far haven't used it too much. It's getting a bit "worn" now so I should probably replace it?

I generally rely on Maps, although sometimes it's a bit tricky to figure out which direction to walk if I'm not facing the right way to begin with.

[me]

before i started packing a compass, i would sometimes walk, with map in hand, a block before encountering a sign for the next street - only then discovering that i'd walked the wrong way.

mostly i could figure it out because, in Europe, at least one of the two intersecting streets would change names. it'd have different names depending on which way it went. but, not always.

eagle said:

[I generally rely on Maps, although sometimes it's a bit tricky to figure out which direction to walk if I'm not facing the right way to begin with.

[cableguy]

ok thanks guys, i think i have most things covered i just wanted to make sure

[herrbert]

me said:

before i started packing a compass, i would sometimes walk, with map in hand, a block before encountering a sign for the next street - only then discovering that i'd walked the wrong way.

mostly i could figure it out because, in Europe, at least one of the two intersecting streets would change names. it'd have different names depending on which way it went. but, not always.

eagle said:

[I generally rely on Maps, although sometimes it's a bit tricky to figure out which direction to walk if I'm not facing the right way to begin with.

Another good thing to remember (and I know that is at least acurate for Holland, is that the numbers (of the houses), start to count, the nearest to the center of town, so if the numbers are getting smaller (79-77-75-73 etc), you are getting closer to the center of town.

(And you can always keep an eye on the position of the sun)