How To Europe
The Complete
Travelers Handbook
by John Bermont
Europe on a Shoestring
Lonely Planet
European Rail Timetable
Winter 2007
Thomas Cook
Main Cities of Europe 2007
Michelin Guide
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Electrical Plug Adapter
USA to Continental Europe
Grounded Adapter
USA to Continental Europe
Grounded Adapter
USA to England & newer buildings in Ireland
Adapter Plug
Great Britain
Grounded Adapter
Europe to Swiss
Grounded Adapter
UK & Australia to Europe
Grounded Transformer
USA to Europe
50 Watts, 220v to 110v
Worldwide Battery Charger
with 4 AA NiMH Batteries
by Sony
Eforcity Universal USB Car Charger Adapter for Palm m500 and many other devices.
Belkin F8E449 Universal AC Travel Adapter.
Basic Calculator
Rip Curl
Samara ABS Digital
Casio G-Shock Watch
G100-1BV
Lensatic Military Marching Compass
FM/AM Radio Walkman
with MDR Headphones
Sony SRF-59
Scorpion
Lithium PoweRed Flashlight
Swiss Army
LED Flashlight
Night Owl Explorer
Binocular Noxb3
Royce Leather Ladies
Travel Kit with Shaver
Gillette Mach3
Turbo Shaving System
Leatherman 830039
New Wave Multitool
with Leather Sheath
The Stormbreaker
by Turfer Sport
Traditional Lambswool Sportcoat
by Lands' End
Women's Petite Macintosh Commuter Coat
by Lands' End
Women's Long Sleeve Cotton Turtleneck
by Lands' End
Woven Corduroy Blazer
by ClassicCloseouts
Women's Wool Walking Coat
by Lands' End
Women's Teva
Ventura Cork 2
Birkenstock
Arizona Two Strap
Sandal
Men's Riva
Comfortech Slip-on
by Florsheim
Olympus Stylus 750
Digital Camera
7.1MP 5x Optical Zoom
Canon Rebel XTi 10.1MP
Digital SLR Camera with
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Olympus Evolt E500 8MP
Digital SLR with
14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/3.5-4.5
Zuiko Lenses
CLAMP-POD
Adorama SMALL 4001
35mm SLR Camera
Deluxe Kit with
28-90mm Lens
Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Silver Date
Energizer
AA Lithium Batteries
4 Pack
OLYMPUS XD
PICTURE CARD 1GB
128 MB Memory Stick
Sony MSH-128
SanDisk ULTRA II 4GB
Kodak Ultra Color 400UC
ISO 400 film, 35mm
36 Exposure, Pack of 5
Sima FSU Film Shield
Maximum Strength
Woolite Laundry Soap
20 packs, ¼ oz. each
2 gal. clear plastic bags
12 per box
ZipLoc by SC Johnson
Quart clear plastic bags
8 per box
One-Zip by Hefty
Strapping Tape
1" x 60 yards
3M Company #8957-1
Trojan Latex Condoms
24 Pack
|
|
Chapter 6
(without photos) of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Internet edition.
A page from
Enjoy-Europe.com
by
John Bermont
Your packing list — the shorter the better.
What you pack for your trip will have a greater influence on
your enjoyment of traveling in Europe than any other factor. Fearless in
repeating and repeating the psalm of packing light I do it again — pack light.
A rundown on your clothing list was given in the prior chapter 5,
What To Wear in Europe:
Travel Clothes for All Occasions. "That is only half
of your pack. Your suitcase must
also be a miniature bathroom closet, laundry room, drugstore,
tool box, photo gear headquarters, office supply,
and library of guide books, maps, and dictionaries. This is all
in addition to your clothes. Good luck!
For details about what kind of luggage to use see chapter 7,
Luggage for Europe.
FORBIDDEN ITEMS
Before discussing what you should pack in your luggage let's have
a look at what you can not pack. Safety and security govern. These subjects
are patrolled by the Transportation Security Administration, TSA.
The TSA is perhaps the most criticized of government agencies, except for the IRS. The TSA is
part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, itself the object of
continuing and severe criticism. The purpose of these agencies is to
protect us, but they have caused a great deal of frustration to travelers
due to the delays and inconveniences their actions generate. For the sake of
your own mental comfort let's assume that they are human beings and they
are doing a difficult job to the best of their ability. Let's also assume
that you are a human being and are doing your best on this planet. But then again,
TSA officers are government employees and that is not a high recommendation.
September 11, 2001
The rules have changed since the
horror of September 11, 2001. Nothing that can be used as a weapon can be
brought on board in your carry-on luggage or on your person. I had carried
a Swiss Army knife in my pocket on
planes all over the world for over 35 years. It was always in my
pocket. No more on planes. Now I must put it in checked baggage, if
any, or budget the price of a new one for every flight.
Weapons include scissors, baseball bats, hammers, mace, and anything else capable of
injuring or incapacitating a person. Even knitting needles are prohibited on board.
August 10, 2006
On August 10, 2006 a couple of dozen terrorists were uncovered in London. This group had
discovered a new way to kill us and disrupt air travel. They had come up with a
method of assembling
liquid bombs on board. These suicidal maniacs intended to put the liquids in ordinary
bottles of shampoo, mouthwash, and such. Once the plane was in the air they would
mix the chemicals and set off an explosive reaction, destroying the plane and murdering
hundreds of people. Of course this would also send the terrorists directly back to hell,
to their great joy.
The immediate reaction of security officials was to prohibit all carry-on luggage
on planes from London. There were severe delays and many flights were canceled.
Over time the new rule was modified to allow small laptop size cases on board but
security officials continued to ban all liquids in carry-on
luggage. The rules have been modified gradually since then and hopefully the present
carry-on rules will stay constant for a while. If not, I'll up-date this page again.
Present Carry-on Rules
The current liquids regulation (January 2008) on flights originating in
the USA is that passengers can bring on board
a limited number of small bottles of liquids, aerosols, and gels. None of the
containers can be more than 3 fluid ounces and all must fit into a single one quart
clear resealable plastic bag, e.g. a quart size Ziploc® bag. This is 8"x7" (20.3 cm x 17.7 cm).
When you get to the belt which runs through the x-ray machine, remove the plastic bag
from your carry-on luggage and put it in a container on the belt.
Exceptions include an allowance for baby milk, prescription drugs, and diabetic glucose
solution. Declare these items to the TSA officer at the belt. Make sure that you have
a baby or a doctor's prescription with you if you are bringing these items on board.
The TSA recommends that you carry on board only those liquids that you will need during
the flight. Hey, this makes sense! Put everything else in your
checked luggage. But before you do that, read through this chapter and give some thought
to your needs. Remember, Europe is not the Gobi desert. Everything you normally use
can be purchased in Europe.
Another important regulation is that you cannot bring cigarette lighters into the cabin.
You can not smoke on board anyway so why would you want a lighter? Funny thing,
you can bring matches on board but you can not put either lighters or matches
in your checked luggage.
It's not a rule but the TSA has a recommendation for packing your bags. They say
"De-clutter."
Make it easy for the gal or guy looking at the x-ray image to quickly determine what you
have in your luggage. This speeds up the process and reduces the frustration of
everyone in line. The TSA people are not causing the problem. The problem is the small
number of people who don't know the rules or who think that they are above the rules. That is
OJ mentality.
Travelers can bring on board beverages and other items which they have
purchased in the secure boarding area after clearing the security check point. So yes,
you can bring duty free booze and perfumes on board.
Traditional Airline Rules
Examples of some long standing prohibitions by airlines are: no flammable liquids like fuel
or solvents on board, no fireworks, and no harsh household or
industrial chemicals. If you have a question about the propriety of
any unusual material you wish to bring on board, ask the airline.
If you need any of these for traveling, buy them after you land in
Europe.
Personal Anecdotes
To be sure, TSA officers are not perfect. On my last flight from Amsterdam in January
2006 I was stopped after the x-ray belt and asked to open the small bag in
which I was carrying my laptop computer and exposed film. The agent reached
in and pulled out a knife. This was a combination knife and fork which looked
just like a Swiss Army knife. It had been in my bag for years and I had
forgotten all about it. In order to save it I had to put it in checked luggage,
but my bags were already checked and on their way to the plane. So I did some quick
re-arranging, put my laptop and film in a shopping bag and checked my laptop case at the gate.
The interesting thing is that this knife had escaped the notice of TSA in Detroit
when I flew to Amsterdam a month earlier.
Incidentally, "mistakes" are not an excuse. If you are caught with a prohibited
item while attempting to pass TSA security you are guilty of a Federal crime
and can be prosecuted whether it was deliberate or an accident. But TSA people
have a heart, and thanks to that I still own my Swiss Army knife. In another episode
my daughter got a permission slip from the American Airlines check-in agent
that allowed me to accompany Stephanie to the boarding gate for a last hug.
I walked through the metal detector and then the TSA fellow ran the wand over me.
Beep, beep, beep! I had my Swiss Army knife in my back pocket. Oh NO! My reaction was loud,
but not obscene. A nearby female TSA agent accepted my knife and told me I could have
it back when I returned from the gate. She slipped it into my hand as I exited. I guess
she broke the law and for that I am grateful. I had bought that knife in Switzerland
years ago and figured that it would last the rest of my life. Close call.
OVER THE SEAS
As you can see above, the TSA rules for USA passengers are pretty clear. So are the European
Union, EU, rules for passengers departing from European airports. The trouble is that
USA and EU rules are different, slightly.
Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam and Heathrow Airport, London
The Schiphol Airport Amsterdam web site reports the following new rules effective
6 November 2006 for hand baggage. Liquids, gels and aerosols are only allowed in
hand luggage in small quantities (no more than 100 ml per item) and if correctly
packaged. These rules will apply to all passengers departing from or changing
planes at EU airports.
The new rules cover liquids such as water and other beverages, gels, pastes,
lotions and the contents of aerosol cans. Toiletries such as toothpaste,
shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss and creams also fall under the rules.
These are the rules for liquids in your hand luggage:
1. You can only take liquids and gels in containers of no more than 100 millilitres on board the aircraft.
2. These containers must be carried in transparent plastic bags.
3. There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
4. The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not be greater than 1 litre.
5. The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.
As you can see, the EU and USA rules are pretty close. One small difference is
that the EU allows
100 ml (3.39 ounces) whereas the USA allows 3 ounces (88 ml). This is probably
not a big deal. Trying to find bottles of anything in either of these sizes
in any store in the USA is an exercise in futility. I would guess that enterprising
shampoo companies will start producing "airline" size bottles of their products
before long. If the Proctor & Gamble company is the marketing genius as their
legend purports they
would start giving away "Airplane Samplers" at airport security gates all over
the world. Wow, talk about a high profile opportunity to introduce new high cost
products to an upscale population. They could even fill a Ziploc® bag with shampoo,
toothpaste, mouthwash, etc.
The EU allows the liquids in a one liter clear plastic bag. One liter is equal to 1.06 quarts.
The size in the USA is one quart. So the
quantity you can bring back is slightly larger than what you can bring over.
If you stay within the USA rules you are within the EU rules. The reverse is not
strictly true. I doubt that any TSA agent is going to pole you for 0.39 ounces of
something, but then again some security people are really bone heads. Interestingly, the
web sites of some airlines report that the limit is 3.4 ounces (100 ml) from the
USA even though the TSA site still says 3 ounces, as of January 2008.
Booze Rules
When coming home many travelers like to bring back some local firewater or a few bottles
of a favorite wine. Prior to August 10, 2006 it was perfectly acceptable to bring wine
in your carry-on
luggage. Many sellers of wine in Europe even provide a handy padded carrying case
that could hold up to six bottles. Alas, no more in cabin baggage.
All is not lost. You can still bring some beverages in carry-on baggage if they are purchased in the
duty free shops located in the secure boarding area. Many duty free shops
have an impressive selection of distilled spirits. But, if you change planes in
Europe you might have a problem. The Schiphol web site says: "If you buy liquids
or gels (duty-free) at a European airport and change planes at a European airport,
travelling on to the United States, you should allow for the possibility
that your purchases will be confiscated at the security checkpoint. This
can happen with purchases you make on board an aircraft operated by an
airline from an EU country." The lesson is that you want to make your duty free
purchases at your last airport in Europe.
You can also place beverages in any quantity in your checked luggage, up to the size and
weight allowances of your airline and the import allowance of the state where you will be
disembarking and passing US Customs. Pack the bottles securely and double wrap them in t-shirts to
prevent breakage. The airline baggage handlers do toss luggage about. I hear that it will become an
Olympic sport. Theft is an on-going problem so use the wire tie locks on your luggage if you
are bringing home any golden or ruby colored liquids.
Before bringing home any wine or spirits make sure that your state allows it.
Alcohol is regulated by each
individual state, a system that goes back to the elimination of Prohibition. Some states
are relatively free and others are strict when it comes to importation of alcoholic
beverages. In some states it is a felony to bring even one bottle over the state line. You could
end up in the slammer with murderers and rapists, depending on how many votes the local
prosecutor needs for the next election. US Customs
does enforce these state laws. Call your state liquor control commission before you
go to find out what you can bring home. The states which have no-wine rules are primarily in
the Bible Belt. Funny isn't it? Jesus made wine. He would have been arrested in those states
where the powers preach the loudest. Oh hypocrisy, how bitter thy kiss.
If you are thirsty on your flight to or from Europe you can get a drink from
the stewardess. While you must pay $5.00 for a drink on domestic flights within the USA
most airlines still give it out for free on trans-Atlantic flights.
The standard airline liquor bottle is 50 ml, 1.7 ounces.
If you want to pack your own for some reason, you can get at least eight of these
in a one quart or one liter Ziploc® bag.
One Bag Rule
Passengers on flights leaving any airport in Britain face the one bag rule of the UK Department for Transport.
This is one cabin bag, no bigger than 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm (approximately 22 inches x 17.5 inches x 9.85 inches).
In addition, customers may carry musical instruments through security search provided they can be x-ray screened.
Customers transferring onto an onward flight within the UK (domestic and international) must also comply
with this rule.
In the UK one bag means one bag period. A purse is a bag. A laptop case is a bag.
Anything separate from your person is a bag. Thus, put all your carry-on stuff, including your
purse, in one bag before you get to check-in or all but one will go in the hold as checked luggage.
After you pass the security x-ray belt you can take
your purse out of your carry-on luggage. Security
allows you to bring a wheelchair and other aids on board but confirm this with your airline to make
sure that there is room on the plane.
There is no specified weight limit for cabin baggage but you must be able to lift your
bag unaided into the aircraft overhead locker.
Most individual airlines have weight limits and your cabin bag will probably be weighed.
There is ongoing talk of the British one bag rule being implemented throughout the European Union, EU.
This was scheduled to go into effect in April 2007 but as of
January 2008 this has not happened. In fact there is anecdotal evidence that the Brits now allow two bags
through security but I wouldn't risk a case of Burgundy wine on hearsay.
Current EU regulations allow cabin bags whose dimensions
may not exceed 56cm/22" long, 45cm/18" wide, and 25cm/10" in height. Airlines have their own rules which
may be more restrictive than the legal requirements. For example, Lufthansa allows one bag in economy class
and two carry-on bags in business and first class. Each piece of hand baggage may not be larger
than 55 x 40 x 20 cm and may not weigh more than 8 kg (17.6 lbs).
I recommend that you have a bag
with one dimension not more than 23cm/9" because that is the dimension for the opening to
overhead storage on many airplanes. In fact, 9" is the maximum dimension for US airports. Note that
the allowable dimensions for US carry-on are 22" x 14" x 9". That is less on two sides than the EU allowance.
Some luggage is sold based on volume. The volume allowed in the EU is 63 liters and in the US it
is 2,770 cubic inches (45 liters).
For flights departing the USA the rules are more convenient. For example, Northwest Airlines allows
one handbag or briefcase, plus a laptop, camera, umbrella, a reasonable amount of reading material, and
various equipment and supplies for infants and invalids, plus two golf clubs. Gotta have those golf clubs!
This is according to the NW Contract of Carriage but I think that the TSA would have something to say about
bringing a couple of golf clubs on a plane these days. Baseball bats are prohibited so I don't know why
golf clubs would be allowed.
Wear your coat, and stuff the pockets if you wish. All coats and jackets must be removed
and screened separately at the security x-ray belt. Shoes are normally x-rayed also so this is another
reason for wearing Birkenstocks.
Computers must be removed from your bag and placed in
one of the baskets for x-ray screening and chemical screening.
Even though there is no law regarding maximum weight of a carry-on bag individual airlines
do have weight limits.
These rules vary from airline to airline, and may be different for first class, business class, and
tourist class. Go to your airline's web site for their details. Links to the web sites for many international
airlines are at Airlines to Europe to make it
easy for you. However, these airline
web sites are not always user friendly so finding the section on luggage rules may be a challenge.
Use the search bar if there is one.
PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
OK, now that you know what you can not bring with you on the plane let's see
what you should bring.
You will need your toothbrush and a few other things while
you travel. Check your medicine cabinet and the top of your bedroom dresser
for those things that you use on a regular basis. Toothbrush, toothpaste, safety razor,
dental floss, and nail clippers come to mind. Most women have additional things. You know
what you use in the bathroom every morning so you are the best
list maker for these little items. If you are traveling with a companion, save some donkey
duty by splitting your list and sharing the use of normal necessities.
If you are checking luggage do not put these daily items in your big bags.
Put them in your carry-on
bag. Also, make sure you have a spare pair of boxers, socks, t-shirt, and an outer shirt
in your carry-on bag. Ladies, you know the equivalent of my list. The reason for carrying
these undies in your carry-on is that your checked luggage might not arrive when you
do. When making connections, especially in Europe, my experience is about
50% on having my checked luggage arrive when I do. It comes in two or three days later.
If you are traveling for
a long period, don't bother bringing along enough of everything for
the whole trip. You can stop in any grocery, drug, or department store for
your consumables. In fact you can leave all of your liquid products
at home, especially if it means the difference between checking or not
checking a bag on the plane. Airplane temperature and pressure,
especially in the baggage hold, are lower than ground conditions.
Liquids can leak and/or freeze and present the potential for
serious consequences in an airplane. If you have any liquids in your checked
luggage double wrap them in Ziploc® bags. You don't want them leaking out
into your shoes. This happened once when I packed a couple cans of
Heinekin beer for a trip to St. Louis where I feared that Bud might be
the only "beer" available. One of the cans sprung a leak.
Electrical Gadgets:
Intelligence on the use of electricity in Europe is detailed in chapter 11,
Electricity in Europe: Travel Voltage Fundamentals.
European voltage and
frequency are not the same as in the USA, and the plugs are different.
Many items used in the home are not suitable for travel, and some
will not work in Europe. If you use an electric razor, hair blower,
battery charger, or other electrical devices check them over before you pack
them for your trip.
Here are notes on the personal
care electrical gadgets that many travelers are inclined to pack.
You'll have to think for yourself on this to decide what you want to
bring. There are as many packing
lists as there are travelers, multiplied by the number of destinations
and seasons.
Electric Razor: An
electric razor with rechargeable batteries and dual voltage charger
(110/220) is quite handy. With this baby you can shave anytime and
anyplace in minutes as long as you keep your batteries charged. It
will present only an occasional nuisance because special outlets
for electric razors in many newer or refurbished hotels will not
supply enough power to operate the charger. In such cases, use a
regular outlet in the room.
A standard electric razor will operate in Europe if the
voltage is transformed to 110 volts. Fortunately, the special razor
outlets in most hotels typically have two outlets. One is at 110
volts (yours) and one is at 220 volts. But the bad news is that
both outlets often require the round-prong European plug, and you
can't use your razor unless you have a plug adapter. The better
hotels use an American receptacle for the 110 volt outlet.
I gave up on electric razors after several of them gave up
on me. I'm back to the safety razor on which great improvements
have been made over the years. Blades last for weeks. The razor and
blades are lighter and smaller than an electric razor, though you'll
also need something to soften up the whiskers. See the section on
vinegar below.
Hair blower:
Hair blowers are more or less a standard American appliance.
If you use a normal 1,600 watt hair blower leave it
home. Your sink-size blower will require a five pound transformer.
You'd rather carry around a watermelon. If you feel you
need a hair blower, purchase a compact dual voltage model designed
for travelers. You can buy this in most department stores in the USA and
Europe or at a duty free shop before boarding your plane.
Maybe you don't need to carry a hair blower with you.
Most upscale hotels, even some standard tourist hotels, now have
a hair blower permanently wired in. If you make advance reservations
ask your hotel(s) if the room has a hair blower.
A hair blower can be used for more than one thing.
Occasionally it will come in handy for drying your clothes, whether
rained on or washed in your room. I used mine one night to furnish
heat in a freezing German hotel room.
If you notice that the lights in your room start to dim or
flicker when you turn on your hair blower, turn off everything but
the one light you really need. Dimming lights means that the hotel
or hostel wiring is old. You may blow a fuse if you keep everything turned
on. Yup, I've done that.
As with electric razors, I gave up on
hair blowers years ago. Now I simply comb my hair straight back
after showering. It dries in about half an hour.
Travel Iron:
This is something that most travelers will not need. If
you are doing your own laundry in your room, hang it up above the tub and let it
drip dry. It won't look perfect when you put it on, but nothing
does after an hour of wear anyway.
For a quick touch up,
ask your hotel if they have an iron to loan or if there is a nearby
pressing shop. Test the hotel's iron on a towel to make sure it is clean
before laying it on your clothes.
If you do carry an iron, buy a compact
travel iron in a department store after you arrive in Europe. It
will be rated for 220 volts and give you little trouble, except for
the possibility of dimming light syndrome.
Other Options for Personal Care
Shampoo:
I've come to the conclusion that shampoo is
one of the most worthless substances known to man. Right next to it
is hair conditioner. Why wash all the natural oils out of your hair
just to put back a mixture of overpriced perfumed chemicals from another
fancy bottle? Try washing your hair in water for a week and see if
you find yourself presentable. If so you can scratch two bottles of
chemicals from your packing list. You'll also be saving some
environmental damage that went into making the stuff and extra
expense at the wastewater treatment plant getting rid of the excess
chemicals before they reach our beautiful fish. I haven't used
shampoo for years.
Mouthwash:
Casual reading of the labels of some of those
green and blue bottles in the drugstores reveals the fact that they
are full of many ingredients, including alcohol at a concentration
of up to 26%. Some of the ingredients are poisons so you won't want
to drink the stuff. There is another form of alcohol which will
kill most of those germs causing bad breath, but won't kill you
unless you really try. It will just make you feel warm and
comfortable. It's called vodka, normally about 40% alcohol. I
sometimes use vodka as mouthwash before bed. It has other uses as
described in the next section of this chapter, "Traveler's
Supplies."
Deodorant:
Body odor is the stink put out by
bacterial action on your perspiration. Vodka also snuffs
these bacteria. High strength isopropyl alcohol (91% or 96%
IPA) is more effective than vodka, and cheaper. One thing to be
aware of is that many deodorants contain aluminum compounds as
antiperspirants. A high level of
aluminum in the brains of deceased Alzheimer's persons is a common
factor of the disease. The cause of Alzheimer's disease is not
known, but it would be prudent to avoid putting more aluminum in or
on your body until the medical investigators find out what is
happening. A google.com search turns up a number of reports from doctors
and researchers indicating a high level of alarm over aluminum. Alzheimer's
disease is an excruciatingly debilitating disease affecting 10% of Americans
over 65 and 50% of those over 86 years old. I have first hand experience in
dealing with my 88 year old Mother who has Alzheimer's and I would not wish
this on anyone.
If your body wants to perspire let it do so and take a shower. If you are
not ticklish you can let a dog lick your arm pit. Dogs love that
salty perspiration. If anybody takes this statement literally I have a 10 acre
plot on the moon for sale. Good value and Pacific Ocean view, Atlantic
Ocean view, etc.
Those deodorants also contain a brew of other
chemicals. The spray versions usually contain butane and other flammable
gases derived from crude oil, with appropriate warnings against using the
product near an open flame. You could blow your house up with a few cans
of this stuff.
TRAVELER'S SUPPLIES
Not everybody will need all the things in the following lists.
Look them over and consider the accompanying explanations.
Two Dozen Little Things
There are a couple dozen items to consider bringing with
you in order to make your travels comfortable and enjoyable. This
may look like a lot of gadgets and stuff, but most of it is small
and light. All of it fits into
one of those 8"x6"x3" mesh travel sacks. This is about the size
of your travel guide book plus a Thomas Cook European Timetable.
I have only two liquids on this list, vinegar and vodka. As mentioned above,
shampoo, deoderant, and mouthwash can be left out of your life
whether you are traveling or not. Assuming that you are traveling light per
chapter 7,
Luggage for Europe: Travel Light, Travel Light,
Travel Light, you will need to make a quick trip to market
for some vinegar after your plane lands in Europe. Finding a 3 ounce bottle
of anything, much less a commodity like vinegar, is nearly impossible.
The optional liquids, tanning lotion and IPA, can be purchased in
Europe if you want them. Vodka is free on the plane.
Alarm chronograph:
A digital "alarm chronograph" is a wristwatch of ultimate utility to the traveler. They
feature at least a half dozen functions, including: time, time in
another time zone, chronograph (a.k.a. stopwatch or elapsed time
meter), date, day of the week, alarm clock, and night light. Some
include miniature calculators. When buying an alarm chronograph, go
through all the motions with the experienced sales clerk so that
you know how to use it. Instruction books with these watches are
notoriously difficult to follow. The battery will last 6 to 12
months. It may not be possible to find equivalent batteries
overseas and it's very difficult to change batteries yourself. If
in doubt about whether the battery will last through your trip,
waste the few dollars and have a jeweler change the battery before
departure. If it's water resistant you can wear one of these
watches while swimming and showering. I have a Casio brand "Illuminator"
purchased at K-Mart. These are tough items, but my last one didn't quite
make it through a snow blower last year. How about your Timex®, Mr. John Cameron
Swayze?
Calculator: If you are traveling through a lot of
countries, a credit card size electronic calculator is very handy
for converting the cost of goods and services into American dollars
so you know how much you are spending. It is easy to get confused
when you are in a different country every other day. Even though a dozen
countries of central Europe have adopted the euro as their
common currency, many others including Britain,
Switzerland, and Denmark have not. None of the eastern European countries
have adopted the euro, though it is widely circulated and accepted by merchants
from Tallinn to Istanbul and beyond.
A calculator is also a powerful tool when you are negotiating for a
lower price in hotels and shops. In Europe, almost everything is
negotiable. Your calculator is a strategic assistant and it shows
the hotel keeper or merchant that you are a formidable shopper. Pull it out
and do the arithmetic, and then meditate for a little bit so you can give the
merchant time to think also. He is thinking whether he wants to make
this sale at a 30% discount or no sale? Keep in mind that some shops and
restaurants have "tourist prices," charging 25% more and more to people who are not regular
customers. Hotels make no bones about it with "in-season" or "high-season"
dual pricing. Hotels are probably the easiest places to negotiate and are also
the places with the highest profit potential for travelers. See chapter 14, "Hotel,
Hostel, B&B, or Private Home: Sleep Options for Travel in Europe", to learn how to
negotiate any hotel down by 30%.
Can opener: Although the Swiss Army Knife mentioned
below has a can opener, you may want to avoid the risk and effort
required to use that feature. Over frustration with that
Swiss Army knife can opener I have started
carrying a regular can opener. These are small and certainly
make it easier to open a can of tuna.
Coffee beans: Chew on a bean for a quick perk up
when it's not convenient to get a cup of coffee. If you don't like
grit in your mouth, swallow the bean whole. Caffeine is a
handy cure for mild headaches. Dark chocolate
is also an alkaloid source if you don't like coffee. My favorite
is chocolate covered coffee beans. Double whammy. Get them from
Dean's Beans.
Coin purse: When traveling around a lot, you
need something to keep the coins of each country separate. A coin
purse with several pockets would do. Or use a disposable latex
glove and slip coins of different countries in different fingers.
Compass: Since you won't often be able to see the
North Star, one of these guys comes in very handy very often. It
saves a lot of steps walking to corners and checking street signs,
which are always missing when you need them the most, just like cops and
cabs. Make sure that a big chunk of metal does not interfere
when making a reading.
Condoms: Besides the intended purpose, use these to hold your
toothbrush, soap, coins, and other odds and ends. They also come in
handy as water balloons during civil disturbances.
Dictionaries/guidebooks: A detailed discussion of
recommended literature for the road is in chapter 10,
"Guidebooks, Maps, Dictionaries: Travel in Europe with a Good Guidebook.
There are many bad guidebooks so chose with care.
Earplugs: Sometimes you don't know you have a
disputatious room until midnight. Carry a few packets of foam
rubber roll-up earplugs for those noisy nights. These might also come
in handy on the plane. There is usually a baby on board within
earshot, and pilots sometimes get diarrhea drawl over the loudspeaker
just as you are falling asleep.
Electrical devices: A list of electrical devices and
intelligence on European electricity is in chapter 11,
Electricity in Europe: Travel Voltage Fundamentals.
Don't singe your stuff or yourself.
Envelopes: To help keep your receipts in order a couple of
business size envelopes would be handy. I put cash and CC receipts in one and train
tickets and reservations in the other in chronological order. A few smaller envelopes
are handy for city bus and metro tickets, hotel cards, and phone cards.
Stay organized and keep a financial record of your travels. Heck, write a travel story
and deduct the entire cost of your trip. Anybody could write a better story
than an "educator" who recently got his stuff published in our local newspaper.
He didn't know the metric system and didn't know that his ship went through
the Dardenelles, historically one of the best known waterways in the world.
Flashlight: Bring a mini light operating on AA
cells. A penlight is slightly
bigger than a felt tip marker and throws a good beam. If traveling by
auto, carry a big heavy duty flashlight. Test it now and then to
make sure the batteries are always good. Replacement batteries are
available throughout Europe. British use the word "torch" for
flashlight.
Mirror: Slip an old CD in your toilet kit. The underside
makes a handy, good-enough, safe, and very lightweight mirror.
Paper bags: Consider nabbing a few bags when you see
them. Paper bags preserve fruit much better than plastic bags, the
common bagging material in Europe. You may want an
orange or a lemon (as in lemonade) in the morning and you will not
want to pay the hotel price.
Paper towels: Take a few extra towels from the restroom on your plane
or train, fold them up, and keep them in your hip pocket or purse.
Washrooms in Europe are not always supplied and these will come in
very handy.
Photo equipment: A discussion of travel photography, digital
and film cameras, and other equipment is presented in chapter 12,
Photography in Europe: Travel with Your Camera.
Plastic bags: Bring a dozen Ziploc® baggies, in the
sandwich, quart, and gallon sizes. They can be
used for dirty clothes, soap, lotions, and miscellaneous small
items. Squeeze out the excess air just before sealing so they don't
waste too much room in your suitcase. You can save money with the similar
plastic bags sold under store brands, e.g. Kroger Snap n' Seal®.
Low budget travelers can use
bread wrappers or grab a few plastic bags from the roll in the produce
section of your home supermarket.
The two gallon size Ziploc® bags are great for packing clothes.
Each will hold a couple pairs of slacks, a few shirts, or a suit.
Fold your clothes neatly — do not roll them unless you want
to look like a frump. After putting your clothes in the bag, zip it
almost closed, lay it on your bed or a soft chair, and sit on it to
squeeze out the air. Then zip up the last inch. Your clothes
become "vacuum packed" and easy to arrange in your luggage. Sometimes you
have to show the contents of your suitcase or backpack to a customs
officer. If everything is in Ziploc® bags, just turn your luggage upside down
and dump everything out in front of him. The look on the guy's face
is a travel moment. I chuckle every time I think about the day I did this.
Write your name and phone number on each bag with a water proof felt tip pen.
Another good use for baggies takes advantage of their ability
to hold air. Simply give them a couple lungs of air, zip them up, and
tuck them in the voids. I used them once to pad a suitcase chuck full of
champagne, which I successfully carried as checked baggage from California
to an eastern state which must remain nameless because it was illegal to
bring alcohol into that state without a license. I didn't have no stinking
license. [phrase borrowed from 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre'
&mdash Bogart's greatest performance.]
Ziplocs are also handy for making ice balls to keep your groceries
and beverages cool. Fill a couple with water and put them in the freezer.
A one quart or one liter Ziploc® type bag is now required if you are bringing
liquids into the cabin. See the first section of this chapter, "Forbidden Items."
Plastic utensils:
A few plastic spoons, forks, and
knives will help you picnic. I haven't found a way to carry plastic
cups without breaking them. Most hotel rooms and overnight train cabines
have a glass or two anyway. At other times I just drink my wine from the bottle.
Portable radio: A miniature AM/FM radio is
nice company. Most of the budget hotels now have TV in the rooms,
but very few have radios. In Britain you can understand everything.
On the Continent, tune in to one of the BBC stations (excellent
humor) or American Armed Forces Network (football, top forty,
etc.). Unfortunately, Radio Luxembourg (rock and roll with English
disk jockeys) has been silent for about ten years. It was the
greatest and could be heard throughout northern Europe. On
local radio in Europe you are likely to hear the
original version of American popular music, mixed in with politics
and classical compositions.
On the trains the AM band is all static but the FM stations come in
clear as a bell. It's so nice to hear the Beatles or the Stones instead
of the clickity clack. My radio is smaller than a deck of
cards and has a stereo head phone jack but no speaker. Perfect.
Instead of a radio you can bring your iPod. Teenagers
are no longer hauling around a CD player and a case of CDs. An iPod or
Zune is a fraction of the size of a CD player and case and can
be loaded with thousands of tunes.
Snack bag: To avoid the atrocious prices and
mediocre food in most American airports pack a sandwich and a drink to tide
you over the couple of hours that you will be waiting for your
plane to depart. Your airline will request that you arrive 2 to 3
hours before departure. Most of this time will be wasted, but it is
necessary for security clearance.
In Europe carry a chocolate or granola bar for emergencies.
A can of tuna or sardines might come in handy now and then. Always carry
something with you in case everything is closed when your train
arrives. If you are arriving late in the day or on a Sunday take advantage
of the market that you may find in the train station because the regular
grocery stores in most cities normally close by 6 PM or 8 PM.
Sun screen a/o tanning lotion:
If you are going to southern Europe during the summer you
might want to pack a bottle of your favorite sun screen. If you are
going to do some beach time maybe you want tanning lotion. Olive
oil works for me. All of these can be purchased in Europe.
Swiss army knife: Don't leave home without it. This
is a superbly engineered and manufactured item. Get one with the
scissors, corkscrew, and screwdriver blades as a minimum. Be
careful and have a lot of patience with the can opener if your knife has one.
There are two brands of "official"
Swiss army knives — Wenger and Victorinox. Each brand has scores
of models. Don't waste your money on a cheap thing made in China.
As you know, regulations prohibit knives in airline carry-on luggage
so you will have to put this knife in your checked luggage (if any) or
buy a knife as soon as you land. If your first stop is Switzerland,
you are in luck. You will have a much greater selection and will save
money. You might also buy your alarm chronograph over there. The Swiss are
known for precision watches.
Tape measure: When shopping for something to fit, a
small tape measure will help. A cloth tape from a sewing shop is
fine, or grab a freebee the next time you are in Ikea.
Telescope/binoculars: A telescope or binoculars can
be very useful in examining gargoyles on cathedrals and bullet
marks on the sides of castles. There are some good quality small
glasses available at camera shops. For a different view of things get a
pair of night vision gogles.
Toilet paper:
Public restrooms in most of Europe are usually supplied but not
often in Spain and Portugal. Even in Holland and Germany you sometimes
discover an empty TP holder, after you paid to get into the stall. That
happened to me in The Hague this year. I paid a euro to get into a toilet
that was built like a bank vault and both TP holders were bare. No
problem — I had a roll of my own.
In the eastern countries toilet paper is rare. Recently I entered a
public WC in Poland to find a woman at the door selling TP by the square piece.
Gosh, how do you estimate how many pieces you are going to need?
Even when supplied in the pottie stall you may fail to recognize
it as TP, though its location will tell you what it is. Sometimes, especially in bars,
there isn't even a pottie — just a hole in a ceramic floor basin
bracketed by two little mesas for your feet.
So, carry a pocket package of Kleenex® tissues or the real thing in a
Ziploc® bag, and have it always with you in your day bag.
Toothpicks: In some countries,
toothpicks are everywhere and in others they are nowhere. Fill a
cigar tube with toothpicks if you use them. Or carry the matchbook
size Johnson & Johnson Stim-u-Dent® to clean your teeth after
dinner. Stim-u-Dent® is readily available in Europe wherever you
find toothpaste.
Vinegar: Have an open mind as you read this section. I don't know
why but I get criticized a lot for my advocacy of vinegar in some
unconventional applications. Heck, just because your moma didn't teach
you about vinegar doesn't mean that other advice shouldn't be considered.
For dry hands, a vinegar rub works better,
quicker, and lasts longer than the fancy expensive
á-la-gooey products. Just don't get vinegar in your eyes. It
stings real good in an open wound also, but is excellent in calming
down minor skin irritations and in relieving itchy scalp.
You can shave without the foamy stuff using vinegar instead of
shaving cream. It softens your whiskers so well that you won't
feel them being cut. Rub the vinegar onto your face and let it soak
in for a few minutes before shaving. Some readers of
this chapter have written that they doubt that
this works and some are afraid of the vinegar sting if they get a
nick. Yes, it does work and I shave this way every day. No, you
won't get a stinging nick if you give your face a quick
rinse just before shaving. And most likely you will
be surprised that there are no whiskers left because there was no
tug on your razor or sandpaper sound as you shaved.
People who are
queasy about putting vinegar on their face should look at the
ingredients list of any popular shaving foam. It's a
brew of unheard-of chemicals. My brother's
overpriced aerosol can has ingredients of stearic acid,
triethanolamine, isobutane, laureth-23, and others. After reading that
list I go with vinegar any day.
Buy a small bottle of vinegar in a grocery store after
you arrive. Transfer it to a plastic bottle if
it isn't already packaged that way. Do not buy the high strength
25% acid variety sold in Germany. Get the normal 5% solution.
Vitamins: If you're in the
habit of popping a few alphabet pills every morning, don't forget
to pack a supply. If you are traveling east of the old Iron
Curtain, you may have difficulty finding vitamins.
I buy a tube
of 1000 mg vitamin C tablets at a pharmacy after arrival in Europe and then
walk into any pharmacy when I'm running low and simply show them
the tube to buy more. That way you only have to translate it once.
Tip: write down "Vitamin C" and show it to the clerk. It's
spelled about the same all over Europe but pronounced much differently.
Some vitamin C tablets look and act like "Alka-Selzer." Drop them in a glass
of water or juice and they fizz up and dissolve. They come in
various flavors. Multi-vitamins are also available in these fizz pills.
Vodka: Vodka is the diminutive
Russian and Polish word for water. Vodka is distilled
grain alcohol, though it is also made from potatoes in Poland. There
are many types of alcohol and most of them are poisons. This one is
ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol and/or grain alcohol. It is
normally 40% alcohol, 80 proof. Some brands are a higher concentration.
As with vinegar, some people have written unfavorably about my advocacy of
alcohol. Alcohol has been around for many millennia and has quite a few worthwhile uses.
- Vodka can disinfect cuts and scratches. This is
painful, but very effective in preventing infection and helping the
healing process. I saw a professional
bottle of anti-septic at a nursing home yesterday that contained one active
ingredient, ethyl alcohol, and it was guaranteed to kill 99.99% of the bacteria
that it contacted. How many soldiers and cowboys would have died of infections
if it wasn't for a bottle of whiskey to disinfect their wounds?
- Use it to knock out a cold better than any cold
medicine on the market. In the evening, down a pint of vodka or
brandy, bundle up with more on than you would wear in an Arctic
howl, and sweat it out. You might still be drunk in the morning,
but voila! — no cold. Use a good quality (triple distilled)
product to avoid a hangover and a headache the next morning. My
preference is Hennessy cognac, with or without fresh squeezed
lemon juice. I call it my Dr. Hennessy.
- If you are beset with
crabs or other body lice, soak a handkerchief in vodka and sponge
around the infested areas. The vodka will dehydrate the little
buggers and get rid of them surer and safer than those other
products. Wash out your clothes in very hot water to get the
strays.
- As
mentioned in a previous section, alcohol can also be used as a
mouthwash, disinfectant, and deodorant. You see it on the
ingredients lists of many of those products, even though it is usually
listed as an "inactive" ingredient. It's also a nice refreshing
aftershave, without the perfumes.
So, if only for medicinal purposes, carry a bottle of firewater. You can
buy it in the duty free shop before you leave, or duty free on the
plane, though these are usually liter bottles and are pretty heavy.
Ask your stewardess for a couple extra 50 ml airline bottles while
the in-flight bar is still open. These are free on most
international flights, though the stewardess is not likely to give
them to you if she knows that you are taking them with you.
Water heater: If you like to have a
cup of tea, instant coffee, or Turkish coffee in your room before
you venture out in the morning, carry a one cup water
heater. Morning java in the room is
very nice. Making unfiltered Turkish coffee is a snap. Add a spoonful of
espresso roast fine grind coffee
to your cup of hot water, stir it up, and let it settle. Therefore
half of the cup is grounds. It is best to buy the heater in a European
department store after you arrive so you won't have to use
electrical voltage and plug adapters. Use
the glass which you find in virtually every hotel room, except that
the newer "motel 6" type sleepers usually have only plastic drinking
cups.
Wire ties: Wire ties are small strips of high
strength plastic which are made to hold electrical wires in place.
They are also called cable ties. Buy them in hardware stores, the
electrical section. Use a wire tie instead of a lock to secure your
luggage, and hold anything securely. To remove them, snip with your
nail clippers.
Medical Bag
Your rudimentary first aid bag should include at a minimum:
Band-Aids
Antiseptic cream
Aspirin
Other products to consider are discussed in chapter 20,
"Health and Safety: Travel in Confidence but with Caution.
Repair Kit
Things made by human beings break sooner or later. The sole
exception might be refrigerators made during the early 1950's. Most
appliances were made for use at home with a life expectancy of
several years. Traveling with them will increase their breakdown
probability by a factor of ten. Even things made for the road don't
stand up as you expect.
The fix-it kit described here can
probably be assembled from the tools and things you have around the
house. Most of it fits into one of those zippered carrying cases
used for pocket size electronic calculators.
There are limits to being a repairman
on the road of course — if you are not handy at home, you
certainly won't be any better at it while traveling.
Glue: Bring Duco cement or something like that, and
carry it inside a plastic or metal cigar tube so that it doesn't
squeeze out early. A tiny tube of Krazy or Super glue could also
find a place in your bag.
Needles and threads: Make
up a little sewing kit with needles and a few yards of thread to
match your clothes. Check your buttons and reinforce those danglers
before leaving home. Keep your pins and needles in a plastic 35mm
film canister.
Latex gloves: Disposable latex or vinyl gloves are
handy when you get into some dirty work, like putting the chain
back on your bicycle or hand washing your clothes. A package weighs
almost nothing and can be stuffed in anywhere.
Oil: A squirt will get some things moving and stop
some things from squeaking. A drop of oil can help obstinate
zippers, but be careful not to get any on your clothes. Miniature
oilers the size of felt tip markers are available at hardware
stores and sportsman shops. Carry this in a cigar tube or Ziploc®
sandwich bag. If you
don't want to carry oil and need a drop or two, ask for a bit of
olive oil in a restaurant or use a dab of hand soap.
Leatherman Tool: This is one of the handiest
multi-tools you'll ever find. It's a rugged stainless steel item made in
the USA (don't buy a cheap Chinese knock-off) and can cut, screw,
saw, file, etc. Since September 11 you won't be able to carry this
on the plane so it will have to go in checked luggage.
Pliers: A small pair of needle nose pliers with wire
cutter is handy. The Leatherman includes a pair of needle nose
pliers.
Scissors: Your Swiss Army
knife probably includes a pair of scissors. Scissors are
not allowed in carry on luggage so you'll have to put these in
checked luggage.
Screwdrivers: Bring a skinny small blade, a stubby
handle wide blade, and a small Phillips. A jeweler's screwdriver
set can be handy, especially if you wear eyeglasses. The Leatherman
includes several styles of screwdriver and your Swiss Army knife
has at least one screwdriver.
String: A small roll
of 140 lb. nylon test line can be purchased at your local hardware
or sporting goods store. This makes a great clothesline if you need
to hang your clothes up to dry.
Tape: Nylon filament tape, also known as package
wrapping tape and strapping tape, sticks great and doesn't break.
Fixes suitcases, wraps parcels, etc. Tape is also a good lint
remover. Brush a piece over your clothes and the sticky side will
grab up all the loose dust.
Duct tape is suggested by other travel writers. This is not a good idea
because it leaves a sticky residue and it is not nearly as strong as nylon filament tape.
Tweezers: They come in
handy once in a while, especially for people with fat fingers, like
me. Many Swiss Army knives include a small pair of tweezers.
Wrench: A good
quality, miniature 4" adjustable wrench can come in handy.
Another that is very helpful is the 8mm x 13mm open
end wrench from an old VW tool kit. This little
piece of steel once saved my bladder from certain eruption by
getting me into a locked toilet on an overnight Swedish train.
Laundry Supplies
If you plan on doing your own cleaning and spiffing up,
some of the following items will be helpful:
- Woolite or dish detergent
- Clothesline
- Clothespins
- Shoe polish
- Shoe brush
The first three items, Woolite, line, and pins, are sold in
convenient traveler's kits available in some luggage and travel
supply stores. The Woolite package contains 10 individually sealed
packets with ¼ fluid ounce in each, just right for a
bidet-sized load. The line and pins kit leaves a lot to be desired with
the clothesline, but the hooks and pins hit the spot. For a good
clothesline, use the 140 pound nylon test line mentioned above. A
length of strapping tape is also a good clothesline. It is strong and you can
attach it in odd places. You might be able to do without the clothes pins
if your wet clothes are not too heavy. Just stick them to the tape.
See the laundry section of chapter 5,
What To Wear in Europe: Travel Clothes for All Occasions if you
are queezy about washing your clothes in a bidet.
Since Woolite is pretty rough on your hands, use your latex
gloves when washing. Dish detergent is also very good for cleaning
clothes. It is easy on the hands, but rough on some colors. Your
shampoo, if you use the stuff, can also be used for washing clothes
but may leave a strong aroma due to the fragrances they put in it.
A mini shoe brush and miniature can of polish should
suffice. Many of the better hotels have electric shoe shine
machines on each floor so you could skip the brush. Or wipe off
the excess with a paper towel and buff your shoes with a sock.
DOCUMENTS AND VALUABLES
To conclude this chapter, below are listed the items to
carry on your person, not in your luggage. Again, you won't need to
bring all of these items. For example, if you have a Eurailpass you
probably won't need train tickets. If you need train tickets it is
probably better to buy them in Europe. These subjects are
discussed in detail in separate chapters as noted in the third column.
By the way, and again to be repetitious, do not put any of these
valuables in your luggage. I repeat this warning because I have just
found a web site authored by a "travel guru" who is apparently well-known,
judging by the reviews he gets in the national press. He is bragging on
a certain brand of luggage and mentions that it has a narrow zippered side
pocket for your plane ticket, passport, check book, etc. This is absolutely
the most foolish advice for travelers that I have ever heard of.
| Item |
Description |
Chapters |
| Money |
cash, traveler's checks, personal checks, credit cards, ATM
card, telephone card |
8, 19 |
| I.D. |
passport, visas, driver's license, international driving
permit |
3, 18, 20 |
| Tickets |
airline ticket, hotel confirmation, Eurailpass, train tickets,
train reservations, car rental reservation |
4, 14, 17 |
| Travel records |
notebook, cameras, video recorder |
8, 9, 12 |
| Misc. |
Customs registration certificates, international certificates
of vaccination, frequent flyer cards |
2, 4, 25
|
|
|
|
