Well, I can NOT believe that our vacation is right around the corner, but hopefully we have things pretty well lined up! It's doubtful I'll do any postings over there....so will be over 2 weeks probably before I have an update and awesome pics!I've read and re-read and re-read again Rick Steves and Fodor's for our destinations. We pretty much know what we want to accomplish in each city-- must-do items vs. will do if we have time cause you never know what else you will stumble on! I've shared my lists below of what my to-do items are, so maybe these will help someone else out...
Things to do ahead of time (besides all the usual planning and research):
- Call credit card and banks to let them know you'll be overseas (otherwise they can shut off your card usage)
- Buy European map for our Garmin and input our hotels/destinations
- Download rick steves tours
- Photocopy passports and important docs
- Get any prescriptions
- Charge up all batteries
- Withdraw cash
- Check-in for airlines online 24 hrs before
- Determine if any of your hotels take cash only-- what large sums of money will you need?
- Print all email confirmations for your bookings
- Look into cell/data plans and determine if you want to pay to use your phone overseas
- Contact post office to hold your mail
Items to pack other than the obvious clothes and toiletries:
- Umbrella
- Jacket
- Water Bottle (to bring with us each day and refill)
- Headphones and mp3 player (for our audio tours)
- Cork Screw/Bottle Opener (or could try the shoe method!)
- Pack photocopies of important docs, but also leave at home
- Band-aids (hopefully won't need cause won't get blisters!)
- Medications- prescriptions, advil, chasers, etc.
- Ear plugs and sleep mask
- Inflatable pillow
- Day packback for touring
- Small container of woolite in case need to do some laundry in the sink
- Electrical outlet converter
- Garmin- w/ car plug and wall plug
- Padlock
- Small pack of tissues or wet wipes (supposedly in case toilets don't have it)
- Pocket hand sanitizer
- Shout wipes or tide-to-go
Some good rules of thumbs (per my buddy rick)-- pack dark colors cause they will not show the dirt. Do not pack something if it only can be worn with 1 other item-- you want to bring lots of interchangable options. Plan to wear each article 3 times (this I'm not really sure about-- pants or skirts are the only things I think I could wear 3 times!). If you run out of clothes, you can always buy something over there or wash a few things in the sink and hang to dry.
