Appendix A
of
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
Internet edition. By John Bermont.
A page from
enjoy-europe.com
with photographer and author
John Bermont
and help from daughter Stephanie.
Hey!
Your flight takes off in three hours. The taxi is waiting! What did you forget?
Here is a last-minute set of checklists to help ease you into your tiny seat on that big silver bird.
I can hear the engines revving up already. Oh, what a thrilling sound. Then we bounce down the runway,
the power of those engines throwing us back in our seats. Then it's up and up and up. The earth drops away. The loud
clank of the wheel assemblies being retracted into the belly of the bird gives us a short shudder. She smoothes
out as we rise into the Luft above the clouds, to arrive tomorrow at a distant place on
our third sphere. Ah, the genius of the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur.
Oops, I got carried away there. Let's get back to Earth and look at what you need to do and pack to enjoy
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness while you are in Europe.
Not all of this is last minute stuff.
You will want to do some of these things at least a day,
or maybe months, in advance. Remove the N/A stuff as you see fit. E.g., if you don't have a dog scratch
out the kennel line item.
Comments are welcome. Please see the last section, NOTE TO READERS, for how to contact me. I get
plenty of email and I answer every one.
For your records:
Trip Dates:
______________________________________________
Itinerary:
______________________________________________
Flights, times, confirmation number:
______________________________________________
Hotel reservations, confirmation number:
______________________________________________
Auto rental or rail pass:
______________________________________________
THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GO
If it wasn't for the last minute a lot of things wouldn't get done. anon.
[ ] Your ride to the airport —> did you call the taxi, shuttle, or
best friend you are leaving behind?
Company ____________________
Phone number _________________.
Pick-up confirmed by______________________
Date/Time _______________.
[ ] Verify that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond your
intended trip.
[ ] Make three copies of the mug page of your passport.
[ ] Make sure you have your address book, in your travel journal or
in your electronic device.
[ ] Mail. Stop delivery. Give vacation hold or forwarding instructions
to the Post Office, or
have a friend or neighbor save it for you.
[ ] Stop newspaper delivery.
[ ] Ask a friend or neighbor to pick up advert flyers which get
thrown on your doorstep.
[ ] Unplug unnecessary electrical appliances, e.g. toaster,
microwave, computer, iron, washer, dryer, etc.
[ ] Turn on your bathroom and bedroom light .
[ ] Put several other lamps on automatic on-off timers.
[ ] Shut off main water valve. Open a low faucet to drain pipes.
[ ] Set thermostat to 40oF heat (winter) or 100oF cool summer.
[ ] Secure house plants.
[ ] Kennel or loan pets.
[ ] Arrange for snow shoveling, leaf raking, or lawn mowing,
depending on the season.
[ ] Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home and to call police if
men start
moving furniture. I know two people who have had
their houses totally cleaned out.
[ ] Lock up windows and doors, including second floor. Put jammer
bars in sliding glass
doors and windows. Remove hidden door
keys. Use door stops/alarms on side and rear doors.
[ ] Haircut, hairdo, manicure, beard trim.
[ ] Travel food and beverages. Pack a snack.
[ ] Wash your car. Change oil, change coolant, and disconnect
battery. Put it up on blocks if
you will be gone for more than a
month.
[ ] Make arrangements to keep current on your rent or mortgage,
phone bills, utility bills,
insurances, ISP, etc.
[ ] Make a copy of the front and back of your credit cards, ATM
cards,
insurance cards, drivers license, and airline frequent flyer
cards. Write the non-800 contact number and user ID next to
each. Keep passwords and PINs separate.
[ ] Call your credit card companies and banks to let them know
that you will be using their rip-off
services while you are
gallivanting around Europe.
[ ] Clean out your wallet or purse. Leave unnecessary cards home.
[ ] Lock the front door on your way out.
[ ] Review the next batch of lists. These lists are designed for the
long term independent
traveler. Most people will not need
everything listed. The lists look to be very long, but it is all small
stuff. Once you get it all assembled you can leave much of it in
your suitcase for a quick departure the next time.
Give my regards to Boulevard Saint Germain!
Have a good trip, and a good trip in life!
BUDGETED EXPENSES
You'll need plenty of cash or credit to cover all of this.
Chapter 2
Basic Biggies
[ ] lodging
[ ] food
[ ] air transportation
[ ] inter-city ground transportation
Thirty Miscellaneous Cost Items
[ ] passport
[ ] luggage
[ ] guidebooks
[ ] maps
[ ] souvenirs
[ ] gifts
[ ] toilet charges
[ ] luggage locker fees
[ ] guitar case donations
[ ] laundry
[ ] money changing
[ ] camera memory chips or film
[ ] city open-top bus tours
[ ] museum and castle admissions
[ ] cinema and theater
[ ] bus, tram, and metro tickets
[ ] taxis
[ ] bike rental
[ ] telephone calls
[ ] internet time
[ ] café beverages
[ ] smokes
[ ] postage
[ ] postcards
[ ] toothpaste
[ ] soap
[ ] medicine
[ ] taxes
[ ] new shoes
[ ] new clothes
[ ] casino losses
[ ] pickpocket losses
[ ] ____________________
[ ] ____________________
PACKING LISTS
What to pack and what to pack it in.
Luggage
Don't be a burro. Let it roll.
Chapter 7
[ ] soft-side bag, max 22" with wheels
[ ] shoulder tote
[ ] two gallon ZipLoc® bags
[ ] wire ties
Optional
[ ] packing cubes
[ ] backpack (for burro wannabees)
[ ] ___________________
[ ] ___________________
Clothes
Key word —> layers.
Chapter 5
Season and locale dependent, and including what you are wearing.
[ ] umbrella
[ ] raincoat/windbreaker/overcoat
[ ] jacket or suit
[ ] two shirts or blouses
[ ] two slacks or skirts
[ ] four sets underwear
[ ] extra pair of shoes
[ ] belt
[ ] turtle neck shirt/sweater
[ ] scarf
[ ] gloves
[ ] swimsuit
[ ] sun glasses
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Personal Care Items
Look your best.
Chapter 6
[ ] safety razor
[ ] wash cloth
[ ] nail clippers
[ ] emery boards
[ ] toothbrush
[ ] toothpaste
[ ] dental floss
[ ] comb or brush
[ ] toilet paper or pack of tissues
[ ] isopropyl alcohol (IPA)
[ ] vinegar
[ ] vodka
Optional
[ ] dual voltage electric razor
[ ] dual voltage hair blower
[ ] dual voltage hair straightener
[ ] dual voltage curler
[ ] dual voltage iron
[ ] cosmetics
[ ] shave cream
[ ] after shave
[ ] shampoo
[ ] conditioner
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Laundry Supplies
Scrub-a-dub, or stink.
Chapter 6
[ ] Woolite®
[ ] clothes line
[ ] clothes pins
[ ] latex gloves
[ ] shoe polish
[ ] shoe brush
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Traveler's Supplies
Hardware for the road.
Chapter 6
[ ] alarm chronograph
[ ] calculator
[ ] can opener
[ ] coin purse
[ ] compass
[ ] condoms
[ ] earplugs
[ ] envelopes
[ ] flashlight
[ ] GPS device
[ ] mirror
[ ] money belt
[ ] pen & spare refill
[ ] plastic bags
[ ] plastic utensils
[ ] portable radio
[ ] Swiss Army Knife
[ ] tape measure
[ ] telescope or binoculars
[ ] toothpicks
[ ] water cup immersion heater
[ ] wire ties
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Repair Kit
For when your stuff breaks down.
Chapter 6
[ ] glue
[ ] needles and threads
[ ] safety pins
[ ] latex gloves
[ ] oil
[ ] scissors
[ ] string, nylon
[ ] strapping tape
[ ] tweezers
Optional
[ ] Leatherman tool
[ ] screwdrivers
[ ] pliers
[ ] wrench
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Guidebooks, Maps, Dictionaries
Know where you are going, and how to say "Good Day" and
"Thank you."
Chapter 10
[ ] guidebook(s)
[ ] pocket dictionaries
[ ] maps
Optional
[ ] rail timetable
[ ] pocket phrase books
[ ] GPS device
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Electrical Hardware
Plugging in is not easy to do. In fact it is a pain in the neck.
Chapter 11
[ ] plug adapter(s)
[ ] power surge strip
Optional
[ ] transformer
[ ] rechargeable batteries
[ ] battery charger
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
NEVER use a "converter"
Photographic Equipment
Bring back the memories.
Chapter 12
[ ] point and shoot digital camera
[ ] P&S camera pouch
[ ] lens cleaning cloth
[ ] bean bag
[ ] lens cover
[ ] batteries a/o battery charger
[ ] plug adapter
[ ] extra memory chips
[ ] mini tripod and/or C-clamp
[ ] camera instruction manual
Optional
[ ] digital SLR camera
[ ] ~20 to ~200 mm zoom lens
[ ] polarizing filter
[ ] remote shutter release
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Health and First Aid
Fixing up the body when it is feeling bad.
Chapter 6 and
Chapter 20
[ ] general pain relief — aspirin, Ibuprofen®, Tylenol®
[ ] adhesive bandages — Band-Aid®
[ ] antiseptic cream — Neosporin®
[ ] lip balm
[ ] skin pain relief — vinegar, IPA, Oragel®, Lanacane®
[ ] stomach pain relief — Lomotil®, Pepto-Bismol®
[ ] stress — valerian
[ ] vitamins and supplements
[ ] vodka
[ ] Dr. Hennessy
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
IN YOUR POCKETS
NEVER put these items in your luggage, tote, or purse.
Wallet
Stash your cash and passport.
Chapter 3 and
Chapter 8.
[ ] money belt
[ ] RFID blocking wallet
Money
Can't live without it.
Chapter 8 and
Euro and Other Currencies.
[ ] cash
[ ] credit cards
[ ] ATM cards
Optional
[ ] travelers cheques
[ ] personal checks
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Identification
Being able to prove who you are is essential.
Chapter 3,
Chapter 18, and
Chapter 20.
[ ] passport and three copies
[ ] driver's license
[ ] school I.D. card
[ ] AYH card (for HI hostels)
[ ] insurance card(s)
[ ] business cards
[ ] frequent flyer cards
Optional
[ ] international driving permit (IDP)
[ ] international certificates of vaccination
[ ] visas
[ ] corporate or institutional I.D. badge
[ ] AAA Card
[ ] family photos
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Tickets
No ticket = no ride.
Chapter 4,
Chapter 14,
Chapter 17, and
Chapter 18.
[ ] boarding pass or confirmation number
[ ] hotel confirmation fax or email
[ ] rail pass
[ ] car rental reservation confirmation
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Travel Records and Communications
Write it down for your posterity.
Chapter 9
[ ] travel record book
Optional
[ ] audio tape recorder
[ ] digital video recorder
[ ] blog
[ ] netbook or laptop computer
[ ] Skype
[ ] flash drive
[ ] tablet
[ ] cell phone
[ ] _______________
[ ] _______________
Now it's time for High Flight. Get going!
Stephanie is packed and kicking off at mid-Michigan's MBS Airport. [StephanieAtAirport.jpg]
NOTE TO READERS
I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to
Europe that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask.
My email address is
johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.
When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe.
It will help me answer if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit.
I will reply in a day or two.
Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. The 30 chapters of
HOW TO EUROPE
are available, free to read on line.
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Have a good trip in life,
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