My List

[Jordan]

Hi!
This my first kinda packing list for my trip & I wanted to run it by you guys to see if there was things I could leave out. I'm going for 9 weeks from the end of May to the start of Aug. So here goes!
runners
sandals
3 tank tops
1 t-shirt
1 tube top
sweatshirt
thin long sleve zip up thing
Jeans
Athleticish pants (lululemon)
2 pairs of capri
3 pairs of shorts
denim skirt
dress
sarong
3 bathing suits
pj's
bandana's
hat
underthing

*that's it for clothes*
the a whole wack of toilettries.
Should I bring my travel size blow dryer & just get plug adapters? or would it be better just to buy one when I'm there? I know it makes me vain & really girly but I can't do without one or a look like a crazy lady with insane hair! lol

guide book
journal
watch
alarm
purse
wallet
locks
camera
film
batteries
pillow case
ziplock bags
gum

& I think that might be it. Anything you think I forgot or can do without?
Thanks

[Numbers]

I'm male and as you know, we identify what's irrelevant pretty fast...

... so don't mind me.

Do you really need to take 3 tank tops along with you?

What about 1, as you already have 4 other shirts on your list?

Three bathing suits? One, or two at most.

Does your watch have an alarm function?

I'd buy the following products over there:

A disposable camera.
Hair dryer.

------

I'll be spending 2-3 months in Poland at the end of the year (hopefully) and I have a fairly basic idea of what clothes I'll be taking:

3 shirts
3 pants
2 shoes
1 Jumper
1 pair of shorts

Basically, I'll buy clothes and whatnot over there rather than drag 3 suit cases with me.

Simple packing is the key. ;D

No doubt I'll see clothes and items that I adore while overseas and what was once 1 suit case, will turn into 4, 5 and so on (as two months + is a very long time).

Not only that but do I want to be burdened by my luggage on a trip of my lifetime? No way!

You should pack and walk around the block three times to get a feel of how heavy your luggage will be.

Let us know how everything goes!

[Leon]

Here's my list. Maybe it'll be some help to you.
Oh, and if you haven't yet bought airline tickets, try here... www.statravel.com I know we're leaving at about the same time, and they quoted me a really cheap price on American airlines. Here's their phone number too. 1-800-781-4040 . I'd been shopping forever, and came across these guys. Oh they're so much help!

EUROPE TRIP CHECKLIST
In my backpack
Sunscreen
sunglasses
Music player
underwear
1pr. jeans
1long sleeve shirt
2 pr shorts, wear 1
3 t-shirts
1 nice outfit
liquid soap for laundry
LOCKS.
calculator (for money conversions)
vitamins
water bottle/canteen
motion sickness pills for the train
stomach medicine
sleepsheet
stamps
deodorant
toothbrush and toothpaste
shampoo &conditioner
hairbrush
toilet paper (off the roll)in a ziploc bag _put everything possible in a ziploc bag. Bring a plastic bag for dirty clothes.
soap, and skin cleanser
razor
(combat) boots
bandana
camera & film
video camera &ACCESSORIES!

Important things
Rail Passes
Plane tickets
Student IDs
Passport
birth certificate
ID card
Drivers License
Hostelling International Card
Travel guide
Visa Debit Card and some Euros

[LHR02]

Jordon, are you using a backpack? If so, have you loaded all these clothes into it yet and tried to get it on your back? If you haven't, do so today......then come back and let us know how much of this you decide to leave at home. ;D You've got way too many clothes planned, and your back will prove it to you. As for the hair dryer, I always just buy a cheap one when I get there....easily found for 10 euros or so. The problem with dual voltage ones is that if you are using them in the 220 mode they only run on 'low' speed. Something I did not realize the first time I took one and ended up ditching my dual voltage after a couple of days and buying a 220 model.

[LHR02]

Just curious....why are you taking stamps? Ones you bring from home won't work over there, you'll need to buy stamps from the country you are mailing from. Why are you taking your birth certificate? Your passport 'proves' your country and date of birth. If you really feel you want it then take a raised seal copy. Combat boots?! Those are awfully heavy.

[jennifer]

Whatever you do, do not bring many shoes, they take up so much space and weight, it's horrible!
For the summer, a pair of walking shoes and a pair of sandals that can double up as going out shoes is great. Sandals are light on top of it!
I brought 4 pairs of pants (it's harder to pack for the fall and winter without taking up space) but I brought really thing kind of dressy nylon-ee pants! They are really lights and roll up in a jiffy without any foldmarks!
I brought 5 shirts, just regular and all!
Of course all the other necessary stuff, but I found I had 2 or at least 1 shirt too many. It's easy to wash light cotton shirts so take as little as you need for survive in a city where you couldn't wash!
I think if you have a dress, a skirt and a pair shorts, you already have at least 4 days covered, so I would take a dress, a skirt and 2 pairs of shorts cause they are more comfortable for walking!

xoxo
Jen

[Jordan]

I guess I can get leave a pair of shorts, a shirt & maybe a pair of capris or pants....
I hate having limited clothes & not really having much choice of what to wear...but I know getting rid of stuff will make me much happier once i'm there & dragging my pack around.

[eyespy]

Plus you need room to bring back all the pretty European clothes

[jennifer]

yup, good point!
I brought back so much stuff, I had a hard time putting my pack on my back the last 3-4 days!
Keep space, and although it is expensive, send stuff home it's worth it, you won't have to cry and regret once you are home that you didn't buy some thing!
Of course if it was up to me, I would have sent a whole boat of stuff back home, but money and space were an issue....hehehe! You find such great stuff in Europe that you don't have at home!

[Leon]

Good point. I honestly cut and pasted my OLD OLD list to the message board without re-reading it. So that birth certificate thing was a mistake on my part. As far as the combat boots go, I wear them daily, and have found that when broken in they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn! The weight isn't a problem though. I walk a lot as it is and couln't imagine walking for a week across Italy in anything else. Unless anyone can suggest something I might try... I need killer ankle support

[LHR02]

I agree....my big old boots are my most comfortable walking shoes! This most recent trip I went with a more 'stylish' walking shoe and regretted it every day. Would have killed to have my boots! If you are indeed wearing them everyday then the weight isn't an issue. Without rereading your original post right now, it seems like I thought you were taking several pairs of shoes plus the boots. That's why I asked about them. ;D

[kena]

I brought two pairs of pants (one pair of capris and one pair of jeans) on my one-month trip to Italy last summer, and it was WAY too much.

In fact, I wore my favorite skirt most of the trip: it was more comfortable in the heat, easier to deal with in dirty bathrooms, and more elegant than shorts in most situations.

On the other hand, it's a good idea to have several tops in all kinds of colors to avoid boredom. Plus, they need to get washed every day. I ended up borrowing several of my sister's microfiber tank tops, which took no place, weighted next to nothing, and were washed easily by hand.

Next time, I'll be bringing:

- two unwrinkable and easily washable skirts, just below the knee. One beige, one black

- one pair of sport shorts for sleeping in, and hiking

- one pair of black pants

- an unwrinkable little black dress (I was really jealous of my sister's dress... It's nice to put on something nice when you go out for dinner, especially when your day's clothes are all sweaty and dusty)

- 5 or 6 fun tops/tanks/t-shirts.

- 3 or 4 pairs of underwear + 3 bras

- 2 pairs of socks for the rare times I wear my hiking boots (I wear sandals 90% of the time. I love my Mephistos!)

[LHR02]

Kena...that sounds like my kind of list! Few pants/shorts, skirt or two, loads more tops and a dress. I too like to slip a dress on every now and then for dinner.....just sort of feels more memorable doesn't it?

ging

[Kim]

I found my favorite things while travelling where light sundresses. I could wash them out in the sink and they'd dry quickly and they were nice and cool for the hot summer days.

Same thing goes for the skirts, comfy and light. The most important thing is that you want ones that you can roll up and they don't wrinkle.

For some reason, it makes you feel less dirty and more presentable as well! ;D

[WillTravel]

This might sound a bit funny, but I always seem to end up wearing pantyhose and nice shoes with dresses, since nothing else seems to work. That is not going to work very well for budget travel. So what did you wear with the dresses that was comfortable for long walks?