my packing list - is this ok?

[sheisaeval]

I'll be in Europe (London, Paris, and all over Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria) mid June to mid August

Here what I'm thinking about bringing. Anything I should take off, anything I should add?


essentials:

* passport
* atm card
* moneybelt
* copies of passport, plane tickets, pass
* small calculator
* eurailpass
* hostel reservation papers?
* plane tickets
* medical insurance card (or copy?)
* travel information/maps/guidebooks
* journal and pens
* ids (license, student)
* language phrasebooks


Other stuff I need:

* backpack
* daypack (haven't bought it yet, what kind should I get?)
* umbrella
* watch
* travel alarm clock (will buy)
* camera and usb
* extra memory cards
* batteries and charger
* adapters
* small flashlight
* sunglasses
* pocket knife
* earplugs
* mp3 player, earphones
* insect repellent
* locks (what kind?)
* night clothes (prob pj pants and a shirt)
* fabreeze/dryer sheets to keep pack/shoes/etc from being too stinky
* neck pillow (is it worth it?)


Clothing

* bikini
* packtowel
* jeans - 1
* lighter type pants - 1
* tshirts - a few? how many?
* light jacket or sweatshirt?
* skirt - maybe 1?
* panties/bra/socks - 7?
* shoes - hiking boots, flipflops, maybe also sandals?


Tolietries

* washcloth
* razor
* deodorant
* painkillers
* motion sickness pills (for the plane and trains)
* wetwipes type thing
* bandaids
* chapstick
* comb
* toothbrush/paste
* shampoo/bodywash/conditioner
* small bottle hair spray
* face wash/wipes (buy)
* moleskin for blisters
* women period stuff
* small bottle soap (baby shampoo? it's probably gentle enough for washing underwear in the sink)
* sunscreen
* ziplock bags (diff sizes)
* hand sanitizer

[crystal]

Just a little point
A lot of the things listed under tolietries are readily available around europe especially the places you have listed. Just a thought if you were getting tight for space or weight.

[herrbert]

if you have a copy of your pasport as a scan, you can put them on a emailaccount, you can access easily (like hotmail.com). The same can be done for the emails you got from the hostels, and airlines, this way you don't need to drag them along.

I took along phrasebooks once, but normaly you won't be able to say more than (Hello, thank you, Good morning), maybe it's better to write those down on the first page of your journal. The books are nice, if you want to say something, but under normal circumstances, you won't understand it, if people would actualy say something back.

The umbrella I think will be an item you want to leave home as well. A 1 euro plastic poncho for 1 time use, might be a better alternative. (sorry for being cryptic).

Do you really need a calculator? and a razor. (if you really feel you need one, buy one, for 1 time use). neck pillow, never used one, so I guess I never missed it. (if it's a small inflatable one, you can consider taking it along, but my guess is that you won't use it a lot.)

A pocketknife can be handy in some cases, but always be sure, that it is not in you handlugage, if you make a flight.

Like Crystal said, a lot of things can be bought just as well in Europe. For some of the toiletries, see if you can get some mini-sized bottles. Most chemists here will have those, they are relatively expensive, but very easy to take along.

[Eagle]

sheisaeval, your packing list looks fairly complete and well thought-out. However, there were a few items that I wondered about:

> ATM card - it's usually a good idea to pack at least two ATM cards, in case one is lost, stolen or "eaten" by the machine. Your travel funds should be in a Chequing account, with a four number PIN. A Credit Card for "emergencies" is also advisable.

> Medical insurance card (or copy?) - as you're taking copies of some of your other documents, my preference would be to take both the original of your Medical card as well as a copy, stored with those of your other papers.

> Daypack - which type to buy is somewhat a matter of personal preference. It would help to know what type of Backpack you're using? A few possibilities for you to consider:

- check the Rick Steves website, as he sells several models of small "foldable" Daypacks. The Civita bag (sometimes called "Ricardo's secret") is the one he uses during his travels. It's best considered a "light duty" Pack though, as it's made of microfibre and isn't capable of handling a lot of heavy kit. I use one around home and it's great for a Coat, small lunch and some Camera gear (I don't use it for travels too much, as my EC Pack already has a detachable Daypack included). With a rolled up coat inside, the Civita doubles quite nicely as a pillow!!! if you want something robust enough to pack six bottles of wine, have a look at his Appenzell Pack.

- check the Eagle Creek website, as they have several models of Daypacks, including a "packable" model.

You'll need to assess each model of Daypack, in terms of how well it "integrates" with your existing pack. It might be possible to arrange some sort of a "front carry" configuration with your Pack (perhaps using Carabiners?). I find that a good quality Daypack works well for carry-on during air travel.

> Umbrella - I found that to be a very useful travel accessory, as long as it's a "compact", travel model. I had to buy one in Venice when I was there, as there was a "torrential downpour" one day. I used it again several times on the same trip (just about got soaked one afternoon, even with the Umbrella!!!). A poncho is good too, however I find those a bit more "cumbersome" (on my next trip, I'll have both!). Your choice?

> Travel Alarm clock - I normally use my Cellphone as an "alarm clock" (the "vibrate" function works great to avoid waking others in the Hostel room).

> Camera & USB - I'm not sure it's worthwhile to pack along the USB cable, as many Net Cafes won't allow "other devices" to be connected to their machines. You might find that a small Card Reader would be more practical (one that doesn't require software drivers). Many Net Cafes have Card Readers, and there's also photo shops that have them. I suppose since the USB cable doesn't take much room or add much weight, it might be OK "just in case"?

> Locks (what kind?) - what are the Locks required for??? Is your Backpack "lockable"? Whether key-operated or combination is somewhat a matter of personal prefence (I use both - combination for Backpacks and high security key-operated for Hostel Lockers). TSA-approved Locks are best for securing Backpacks during air travel. For Hostel Lockers it's important to choose a Padlock that's not too large, but still good quality. Check the Boards here for other posts on the subject.

> Neck Pillow - if you have neck or back problems and don't mind hauling it around Europe, I suppose that might be useful? Not something I would carry.

> Clothing items - I'll have to defer to the ladies on the Boards for that point! One comment though - Jeans are often not the most favourable for travel, as they're somewhat uncomfortable in warm weather, and take a long time to dry. Also, if you're planning to visit any Cathedrals or whatever (especially in Italy), you'll have to be well covered (shoulders and legs) or the guards will tear a strip off you!!! I've seen that happen, and it's not nice!!! Shoes - if you're planning on going out in the evenings, you might need something a bit more "dressy"? Again, I'll defer to the ladies to provide suggestions on how to deal with those items.

Other than that, your list looks good. Happy travels!!!