Here are some ideas that might help with what
to pack and luggage control.
PACK SMARTLY!
- There are 2 types of travelers: those who have learned to pack light, and those who wish they had packed light. It is very important that you keep aware of the luggage restrictions on the tour as well as, those imposed by your airline. Be considerate to others in your group, or as we say at Southwest Airlines; "Do not be a bin hog". Well "do not be a van space hog either". Whether you are a shopper or not, guess what? YOU WILL BE SHOPPING! Chances are you will be returning back home with a lot more than you left with. You will be glad to have some extra room in your bag for those new items. Also, remember you will be carrying your own luggage throughout the trip. You will be happy you packed light the first time you have to haul that bag up some steep steps. Another option is to buy an inexpensive bag while in Italy to use for purchases. You can even bring a collapsible bag along as well. If all else fails, you can even ship your purchases back to the US, but it can be expensive.
- Make a list of everything that you might consider bringing along. Divide the list into groups such as: pants, capri pants, skirts, shirts, T-shirts, shoes, etc. Then see what might work with each other. You can wear most things at least 2 times, maybe 3. If it is hot, you might need a few more tops. Dark or khaki colors work the best. White or really light colors for pants are harder to keep clean. I wear a lot of black like so many Europeans do. Jeans work well also. **Also remember that many large churches require that your knees and shoulders be covered to enter. So bring along a light coverup or scarf, just in case.**
- Another thing I have found that works is what I call "the left behind clothes". We all (men and women) have clothes in our closet that we have not worn in a while or that might have just a few worn spots or stains. They still look fine, but we really never will wear them again. These will work great for vacation travel. You can wear them a few times and then "leave them behind". You make more room in your suitcase as the trip goes by. You probably help clothe someone in Italy as well.
- I will provide a complete Itinerary before you leave. If you know before hand exactly what you are wearing for each day, you will not over-pack. I usually make a list of what I will wear each day. This just helps keep it all straight. It doesn't hurt to bring a few extra tops, but no extra pants. I know you can wear pants more often than you thought. When my bags were late getting to me, I wore the same black pants for 4 days.
- Only bring comfortable and well broke-in shoes. Usually you need at least two pairs of shoes. Weather you wear sandals, sneakers, or other types, be sure they will be good walking shoes. You will do lots of walking and a lot of the surfaces will be very hard. Nothing is worse than sore feet! I am not exaggerating when it comes to this. It has taken many trips for me to finally find what works best for me. (Might be a good idea to bring along some band-aids just in case you do get a blister.) Another thing about shoes is that they can add a lot of weight to your bags. Try to wear the heaviest pair on the plane. And of course, if all else fails, Italy does offer some of the best shoe selections in the world!
- It is helpful to bring along some empty plastic zip-lock bags. These come in handy for leftovers, packing items that might leak, etc. You can even get really large ones that work great for dirty clothes or keeping types of clothes separated. Also a little bubble wrap can come in handy.
- There are usually laundromats around, but who really wants to spend time at one. You can always wash out things in your room since we will be in most hotels at least 2 days each. You may want to bring along some small packets of laundry detergent. There are also laundry services in Rome, Venice, San Gimignano and Florence that you can arrange through the hotels. These are pretty expensive, but are sometimes worth it.
- Do not forget to bring some kind of rain gear. You can buy inexpensive umbrellas and rain pouches everywhere.
- Italy in early spring or fall can be cool, especially in the evenings and if it rains. Just remember that a jacket takes up room, so try and bring something that will not be too bulky. Sweaters work well and a black sweater for women always dresses up at night in case you want to go out somewhere nice for dinner. Italians wear scarfs all year round. They have some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. A scarf can help keep you warm. It can also dress up any outfit. You can buy all types of scarfs at very reasonable prices all over Italy. You can also get beautiful leather gloves in Florence that make great gifts.
- Be sure whatever purse or bag you carry that you can get to your money easily without having to always take it off your shoulder. This saves time and does not allow for you dropping it or forgetting it. Many people, especially men, use a money belt or pouch. Carrying your purse or money belt in front of you is recommended when in crowded areas. Traveling with safety and security in mind can make a vacation. Pickpockets take advantage of "tourists", especially on public transportation and in crowds at popular attractions.
- Do bring a camera! Of course, that means your phone in this day and age. Don't forget to bring along extra batteries or chargers. You may want to bring your instruction booklet as well. If you have a small memory card for your digital camera, you may want to see about upgrading to one that holds more pictures. Believe me, you will want to take a lot of pictures.
- Do not forget to bring along your necessary toiletries. Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner (most hotels do provide these, but may not replenish daily), sunscreen, skincare lotion, facial wipes, make-up remover cloths, deodorant, etc. You can also purchase most of these items in Italy, so if you forget something you will not be out of luck. Also do not forget the airline liquid restrictions when packing these items. **Also Italian hotels do not usually have washcloths, so you may want to bring some along if you need them.
- Some other useful items that you might want to bring are: travel guide book, Italian phrase book, journal, pocket calculator, binoculars, travel alarm clock, pair of flip flops or socks to wear in your hotel room, floors are often made of tile or wood. Also do not forget about the converter/adaptors for your electrical appliance. See FAQ page for more on those.
- If all else fails, remember that you can buy most anything in Italy. There is some kind of grocery store/market near most of the hotels. There are even stores equivalent to our Dollar Store. There are pharmacies everywhere. I love going to grocery stores and markets. They are much smaller than ours, but have so many neat items. You can learn a great deal about a culture by shopping in their local markets.
