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The suggestions I am going to offer about packing for a trip abroad are based on my own experiences, and on a lot of research. Since all of my travel, so far, has been in Europe, my advice applies to that part of the world. Apply these tips to your own circumstances. The cardinal rule is - don't take everything you own! Some people pack everything they feel they MIGHT need away from home. Don't. The tour operator will tell you the maximum size and weight of bags they will store on the tour bus. And don't forget to check the airlines you will be using. They too impose limits on luggage, and the limits are becoming more stringent all the time. Some airlines now only allow ONE piece of checked luggage, and that piece can't weigh over 50 pounds. They can charge high excess baggage fees if you go over the weight limits. For carry ons, check the latest security releases from the TSA. And remember that when it is time to return home, foreign airports may have different rules for carry ons. Find out these things before you leave on your trip. Many tour operators limit you to two pieces of luggage per person - a suitcase not exceeding 30"x18"x10", and a tote bag not larger than 17"x14"x8". They will charge an extra daily fee for handling an additional suitcase, or one that appreciably exceeds the above limit. I say you CAN do a 2-week tour and still keep your luggage within the above limits. Keep in mind the climate of the area you will be visiting, and take "mix and match" clothing, rather than too many separate outfits. Remember, that "layering' lighter articles you already have in your suitcase is more effective than adding heavy clothing just for chilly evenings. Likewise, use the "layering" method of packing clothes. It keeps them from wrinkling excessively, and this method also stores the maximum quantity in a given suitcase. If you don't know what I am talking about, ask people who have traveled a lot. There are certain essentials you need to have with you, as well as some not so obvious items. If you take prescribed medication, take that medicine in the original vials the druggist furnished! Foreign customs agents can, and do question unidentified pills. Also, take your prescriptions with you, in case you lose medicine while traveling. Always carry common pain medication (not narcotic!), and over-the-counter preparations for diarrhea and constipation. In certain climates, sun-block products and insect repellants are necessities. Not so obvious are things like face cloths (European hotels often don't furnish these in bathrooms), and the necessary items to wash clothing in your hotel room. I carry a kit that includes a nylon line for hanging clothes to dry, Woolite® detergent, and even a stopper for the bathtub. Carry some clothes pins and spare wire hangers, too. Many hotel closets are short on hangers. I have found plastic storage bags with secure fasteners (such as Ziploc ® or similar) to be very handy for storing small articles, so I always carry a half-dozen of those. Most of the better European hotels have blow-dryers in the bathrooms, and some even provide irons. But you may want to carry these items along, remembering that they can add considerable weight. You can buy compact dryers and irons that operate on the European standard - 220V, as well as on our 115 V circuits. But ALWAYS carry a kit of electric socket converters! The power sockets in most countries outside the U.S. are shaped differently than ours - our appliances won't plug into them, even if they can be switched to use 220 volts. If you must take along devices that are strictly 115 volt, you also will need a voltage converter. The converter changes the European hotel's 220 V current to 115 V for your appliance. You are not likely to find converters and socket adapters at Wal-Mart, but many travel sites on the Web sell them. Also worth mentioning are a compact flashlight and a small sewing kit. And don't forget to take a small first-aid kit along! If you use a film camera, buy all of the film you are likely to need before you leave. Film can be expensive overseas. On that subject, I suggest you take some 400 Speed film with you. (It's the only kind I use.) You will likely be taking pictures in dimly-lit cathedrals on some tours. Warning! Do not let unexposed film of any speed go through airport X-Ray machines, either in hand or in checked luggage! Ask for a hand inspection. I switched to a digital camera a few years back, and I wouldn't go back to film when I am traveling. What you leave behind can be as important as what you carry with you. Always leave your itinerary with relatives or neighbors. Include the phone numbers of the hotels where you will be staying. (These are furnished in advance by the better tour operators.) If you take Travelers Checks, leave a listing of the check numbers with someone you trust. Also, leave a copy of the first two pages of your passport with someone, and carry a spare copy with you, together with spare passport photos. This will expedite obtaining a replacement passport if yours is lost or stolen. MONEY. Most of Europe has switched to the Euro as a common currency. Great Britain is a notable exception. The Pound Sterling is still the official currency there. You may want to purchase a small amount of Euros (or British Pounds, if that's where you are going) at an airport currency exchange office before departing the U.S., in case you need local currency for a taxi or bus when you arrive in Europe. $50 worth should tide you over until you can use a local ATM machine or find a currency exchange office. The ATM has become the medium of choice for obtaining local currency in most parts of Europe, but USE A DEBIT OR CASH CARD!! If you use a credit card to get a cash advance, the issuer will impose a considerable fee. Foreign banks, currency exchanges and ESPECIALLY hotels DO NOT give as good an exchange rate as ATMs. Cashing Travelers Checks at designated places may be preferable, if those are available. Travelers Checks are not as popular as they once were and it is becoming harder to find places that cash them.. There are many Web sites that offer good advice for travelers, as well as having the travel essentials for sale. Here are a few I have used. Holloway Travel Outfitters - tips on packing light
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