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Travel Prep and Pack Lists for Europe
Get it all together with this total punch list.

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HOW TO EUROPE:
The Complete Travelers Handbook by John Bermont

This is the 2016 version of the Mother of All Packing Lists, an appendix to HOW TO EUROPE: The Complete Travelers Handbook, first published in 1982. The entire book is now published free on-line by the DIY traveler, author, photographer, and webmaster —yours truly— with help from my daughter Stephanie and good friend Paula in Haarlem, Netherlands. Questions, comments, complaints, and contributions are welcome. Please click footnote. Patronage at my euro-shoppe™ keeps this site on line. Updated 20 November 2016.

Check now or regret later.

Hey! 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. Suddenly we're going, bouncing down the runway, 100,000 horsepower 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 for a minute and look at what you need to do and pack to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in distant lands.

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.

+ For your records . . . . . . . . .
Keep your logistics info handy.

Trip Dates:
Itinerary:
Flights, times, confirmation number, airline phone numbers:
Hotel reservations, confirmation number, phone and/or fax numbers:
Auto rental or rail pass, contact information:
Emergency contact person:

+ Checklist . . . . . . . . .
If it was not for the last minute a lot of things would not get done. anon.

Your ride to the airport —> did you call the taxi, shuttle, or best friend you are leaving behind?
- Company
- Phone number
- Date/Time
- Pick-up confirmed by
- People forget. Call and verify a few hours before pick-up time.
Is your passport valid for 3 months beyond your intended return date?
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 with a back-up on a flash drive.
Mail. Stop delivery. Give vacation hold or forwarding instructions to the Post Office, or have a friend or neighbor save it for you.
Phone. Change to vacation hold.
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 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 40^oF heat (winter) or 100^oF cool (summer).
Set hot water tank temperature to lowest allowable.
Secure house plants.
Kennel or loan pets.
Arrange for snow shoveling, leaf raking, or lawn mowing, depending on the season.
Do NOT blab on Facebook or anywhere that you will be out of town for weeks or months. Nobody but your momma needs to know where you are. Save your bragging for your return.
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 by unknown "movers" while they were overseas.
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 paper copy of the front and back of your credit cards, ATM cards, insurance cards, drivers license, and airline frequent flyer cards. Also scan these cards and keep the images on a flash drive. 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.
If you are traveling with a friend bring PoP --> Plenty of Patience.
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.
Do not forget to lock the front door on your way out.

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.
Reference: Chapter 2, part 1 and Chapter 2, part 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, theater, jazz clubs
city bus, tram, and metro tickets
taxis
bike rental
telephone calls
internet time
café beverages
smokes
postage
postcards
toothpaste
soap
medicine
taxes
new walking shoes
new travel 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.
Reference: Chapter 7, Chapter 6.1.

soft-side bag, max 22"x14"x9" with wheels and telescoping handle
shoulder tote
two gallon ZipLoc® bags
wire ties
Optional
- packing cubes
- backpack (for burro wannabees)
___________________
___________________

Clothes
Key words —> layers, layers, layers, and scarf.
Season, gender, and locale dependent, including what you are wearing.
References: Chapter 5, Chapter 29, and Weather 5.

umbrella
raincoat/windbreaker/overcoat
jacket or suit
two shirts or blouses
two slacks or skirts
four sets underwear
shoes
extra pair of casual shoes, sandals, or walkers
belt
turtle neck shirt/sweater
scarf
gloves
Optional
- walking shorts, cargo style
- collared t-shirt
- swimsuit
- sun glasses
_______________
_______________

Personal Care Items
Look your best.
Girls, I know you need more. If you are of the female persuasion and would like to contribute a "pack light" list for this web site please send it in with the credit by-line you would like the world to see on line. Please do not copy from someone else.
Reference: Chapter 6.2

safety razor
razor blades
wash cloth
nail clippers
emery boards
toothbrush
toothpaste
comb or brush
soap
toilet paper or pack of tissues
vinegar
vodka
Optional
- dental floss
- shoe horn
- 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
- spare shoe laces
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________

Laundry Supplies
Scrub-a-dub, or stink, or send it out.
Reference: Chapter 6.2

Optional
- Woolite®
- clothes line
- clothes pins
- latex gloves
- shoe polish
- shoe brush
_______________
_______________

Traveler's Supplies
Hardware for the road.
Reference: Chapter 6.3

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, small black
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________

Repair Kit
For when your stuff breaks down.
Reference: Chapter 6.3

glue
needles and threads
safety pins
latex gloves
oil
scissors
string, nylon
strapping tape, NOT duct tape!
tweezers
Optional
- Leatherman tool
- screwdrivers
- pliers
- wrench
_______________
_______________
_______________

Guidebooks, Maps, Dictionaries
Know where you are going. When you get there know how to say:
"Good day"
"Please"
"Thank you"
"See you later."
Practice them constantly.
Reference: Chapter 10

guidebook(s)
maps
pocket dictionaries
Optional
- rail timetable
- pocket phrase books
- GPS device
_______________
_______________

Electrical Hardware
Plugging in is not easy to do. In fact it is a continuing pain in the neck.
Reference: Chapter 11.1.

plug adapter(s)
Optional
- power surge strip, 250 volt
- transformer
- rechargeable batteries
- battery charger
- _______________
- _______________
NEVER use a "converter" for anything — NEVER, EVER, NEVER!!.

Photographic Equipment
Bring back the memories.
Reference: Chapter 12.

point and shoot digital camera
P&S camera pouch
lens cleaning cloth
bean bag
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
- lens cover
- polarizing filter
- remote shutter release
- selfie stick
_______________
_______________

Health and First Aid
Fixing up the body when it is feeling bad.
Reference: Chapter 6.3, Chapter 20.

general pain relief — aspirin, Ibuprofen®, Tylenol®
adhesive bandages — Band-Aid®
antiseptic cream — Neosporin®
lip balm
skin pain relief — vinegar, IPA, Oragel®, Lanacane®
antihistamine — Fexofenadine
stomach pain relief — Lomotil®, Pepto-Bismol®
stress — valerian (NOT Valium!)
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.
Reference: Chapter 3 and Chapter 8.

money belt
RFID blocking wallet

Money
Can't live without it.
Reference: Chapter 8 and Euro and Other Currencies.

cash
credit cards
ATM cards
Optional
- travelers cheques
- personal checks
_______________
_______________

Identification
If you can not prove who you are you are a nobody.
Reference: 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.
Reference: 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 . . . . . . . . .
Write it down for your posterity.
Reference: Chapter 9.

travel record book
receipts envelopes
Optional
- audio tape recorder
- digital video recorder
- blog or FaceBook
- netbook or laptop computer
- LAN cable
- Skype
- flash drive
- tablet
- cell phone
_______________
_______________

Now it's time for High Flight.

Have a good trip!

Travel Prep and Pack Lists for Europe

For all 30 chapters and much more see

HOW TO EUROPE

The Complete Travelers Handbook

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enjoy — europe.com Travel with John Bermont The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe ℠

Last Call

Travel Prep and Pack Lists for Europe Get it all together with this total punch list.

Check now or regret later.

Give my regards to Boulevard Saint Germain! Have a good trip, and a good trip in life!

Now it's time for High Flight.

Have a good trip!

HOW TO EUROPE The Complete Travelers Handbook

What's It All About?

On Budget in Europe

Europe on WHAT! Per Day?

Passport and Visas

Flying to Europe

What to Wear in Europe

Pack Light Field Test

Personal Care Items

Travel Supplies

Bringing Valuables

Luggage for Europe

Pickpockets in Europe

ATMs in Europe

Cash and Credit

Money Potpourri

Your Travel Diary

Europe Guide Books

An Electric Converter in Europe

Plug Adapters for European Outlets

European Voltage Essentials

Photography in Europe

Bring a Smile

Hotels, B&Bs, Hostels, Homes

Eating In Europe

City Transport in Europe

Trains in Europe

European Rail Stations

Night Trains in Europe

Boat and Bus Services

European Auto Rental

Driving in Europe

Driving Habits and Laws

Parking, Gasoline, Safety

Telephoning to, from, and within Europe

Sending Mail

Internet and Email

Telegrams

Health and Safety

Working in Europe

Moving to Europe

Living in Europe

Dave In Ireland

Shopping in Europe

Shipping Your Treasures Home

Passing Customs in Europe

Languages, Numbers, Alphabets

Europe's Metric System

European Dates and Time

Weather in Europe

Melding with Europe

Travel Prep and Pack Lists for Europe

HOW TO EUROPE

To like and like not:

Free to use but not to abuse.

Borders are meant to be crossed. Bon voyage on site, and all over Europe!

enjoy — europe.com
Travel with John Bermont
The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe ℠

Travel Prep and Pack Lists for Europe
Get it all together with this total punch list.

Give my regards to Boulevard Saint Germain!

Have a good trip, and a good trip in life!

HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook

Borders are meant to be crossed.
Bon voyage on site, and all over Europe!