First time travelers to Italy....

Backpack vs rolling is a personal choice. Lots of support for both. We go with backpack style in Europe because the streets can be very rough and makes pulling a bag difficult. In the US we always using rolling. Again, money belts, neck pouches are personal choices. All work very well provided that they are PROPERLY WORN and USED. We take 3 credit cards and 2 debit cards tied to two different accounts. Not sure what you mean by copied documents. I buried in my suitcase a copy of the passport and list of cc/dc numbers and phone numbers. The numbers are coded so that they would be worthless if found. Always lock the suitcase. Hotel rooms are generally pretty safe. Never have lost or had anything stolen. There is always of lot of discussion of pickpocketing and petty theft which makes you think it is rampant but a few simple precautions will prevent most problems.

Hi Laura,

When you sign up for the tour, the RS company will send you both a money belt. I found this sufficient, either for a man or woman.

In terms of copies, I buried mine in a black insider pocket at the bottom of my luggage (a thief would have to empty the whole Convertible Bag to see that it existed. But, if it makes you nervous, I know some people just take the info. that's on their cards/passport, etc. and type it onto a word document and then email it to themselves. That way you can access the information from anywhere.

Hope this helps!

:)

Since air fare is so expensive, if you want to spend more time in Italy or countries near by, I would suggest you research and see what else you would like to visit.

My daughter and I each use a Rick Steves' 21" Roll Aboard. We each use a day back pack and also use the neck pouch and a passport wallet around our necks. The passport wallet is only use when checking into our flights and on our travel days when using a Rail Pass.

In addition, we each carry a copies of each other's passport, ATM and credit cards. That way if for some reason ours is lost or stolen we each have copies.

I leave nothing in the hotel that I cannot live without. In fact, my passport, ATM & credit cards never leave my body except to shower.

Suppose it is because I have seen a couple of documentries showing what goes on in hotel rooms when the guest is not present.

We usually take only 1 credit card each for emergencies but have not had to use them.

Don't for Travel Insurance when you sign up for a tour.

Oops. Don't forget to buy Travel Insurance.

Hi Laura, My husband likes Rick's new "hidden pocket", I like the regular money belt; our copies of 2 different credit cards, atm card, health insurance and medjet insurance all go our money belts. Once we're in Europe the copies of the passports go at the bottom of our day packs but the copies of everything else stay in the money belts. We always save 200 Euro or so for our next trip to make it easier when we first arrive--not that it's difficult to find an atm in the airports, it just saves us having to take care of it when we first arrive. If the hotel we're staying has a room safe, I use it and take just what I might need for the day although I always keep a copy of my passport handy.

Hi Laura,

A few thoughts:

1) Roll-abord vs backpack: On my RS tour, I used a combo rolling backpack. I liked the bag, but honestly, I only used the backpack feature once or twice, going up many stairs to a hotel - and I could've just used the handle on my bag for that. The wheels on the bag stood up just fine to the cobblestone streets. (Though I never had to walk longer than 3 blocks with them) And I was very glad to have the wheels during those loooooong walks down airport corridors.

2) Adding additional nights: Of course, if you can swing the money and the time. You're already paying $$ to fly over there.

3) Money pocket: I wear a regular waist-style money belt from Eagle Creek. I don't really notice it, but then I never tuck shirts into my pants anyway. You can also turn it around so the pocket is at the small of your back. I don't like the neck pouch since I wear a lot of V-necks and the string - and pouch outline - always shows. I would recommend putting your valuables into a sandwich/Ziploc bag before putting it in the pouches, so they don't get soggy from sweat. I also take a thin wallet along, which I put in my day bag, keeping enough cash in it for the day, so I'm never having to dig under my clothes to my moneybelt to buy stuff during the day.

Laura,

Regarding which type of luggage to use, my first question would be what type have you been using so far and are you comfortable with that? Are you planning to go with carry-on luggage only, or check larger items?

My travel method has consisted of a Backpack and companion Daypack (which I use for carry-on) along with a Camera Bag. I'm considering trying the "carry-on only" method on the next trip, using an Air Boss shoulder bag. I'm still not sure I can manage with that, but will probably give it a try.

There are lots here that use the RS Convertible Bag and seemingly very pleased with it. However, whether it's allowed for carry-on will depend on how full it's packed, whether it's "expanded" and of course the weight.

"Adding any additional nights to a escourted tour?"

YES, absolutely! I always add some time either before or after a tour to visit other locations. I'd suggest arriving for the tour a few days early, so thay you have a chance to get over jet lag.

As someone else mentioned, you'll be provided with RS Money Belts. If you feel you wouldn't be comfortable with a "waist style" Belt, have a look at Magellans for neck, belt loop or leg Money Belts.

Regarding credit / ATM cards, I always take at least one credit card and two ATM cards on different accounts. Note that credit cards may not work in automated ticket machines in Europe unless they're the newer "chip & PIN" type. Your travel funds must be in a chequing account with four-digit PIN.

I always take €50-100 cash for expenses during the trip, until I get settled at my first location.

What sort of documents are you planning to copy?

If this is your first trip, you might find it worthwhile to read Europe Through The Back Door, as it will provide you with lots of good information. You'll be provided with the Italy guidebook with your tour package.

Happy travels!

Let me repeat what Ken wrote...get yourself a copy of "Europe Through the Back Door." Just about everyone of your questions, and more, will be answered in that book.
If anything, it will also boost your confidence/lessen your stress regarding traveling in Europe.

Gretchen suggestion of emailing yourself copies of critical documents is only workable if you code the information in the documents. When using any public computer (internet cafe, hotel, wireless network, etc.) you have no assurance of any security.

Frank just said what I was thinking. I plan to put my Passport/Credit Card info in my GMail account using google docs but please make sure you use a decode scheme for the CC numbers, that way no one can really know what it is. Hopefully I'll never lose everything but it's peace of mind to know its there.

Never had a problem with copied documents being stolen from luggage, but if you're concerned my suggestion would be to leave the copies with a trusted friend back home, a person who's number you have memorized. If you need to replace a passport, the few hours waiting for them to wake up if its the middle of the nite in the US isn't going to make that much of a difference. And as a previous poster said, buy travel insurance. They'll have a number to call in case of trouble and will help you with replacing credit cards. Not a bad idea to carry the collect number of your credit card issuers with you in your money belt on a slip of paper listing emergency contacts, etc; call them and even if you don't have your credit card number they'll figure it out and handle the account properly; they have a big incentive to do so since its their money at risk.