For the ladies--Grocery Story Items (wink)

Trigger warning for guys. Seventeen years ago I bought pads and tampons at a Rome grocery store. I think the tampons were plastic. It’s possible they only use cardboard now.

1. You’ll find these products in grocery stores and drug stores. Pads and liners are most common. For tampons, it is common that there are no applicators. Finding those with applicators (plastic or cardboard) is less common.

2. I have never looked for these specifically, but I recall people asking about these and them not being readily available. Europe is much more strict about dyes & artificial sweeteners. For example, they have banned Gatorade because of the dyes. You may be able to find Crystal Light in a large supermarket in the American aisle, along with a variety of junk food & candy that is common here, but not in Europe. But I wouldn’t count on it. If you bring your own, put it in your checked bag. It will certainly be cause for inspection, as it will look like explosives.

You can get most of the same brands here for feminine products as the US- e.g. Tampax and Always. I've never had a problem finding plastic applicators (in major cities) in western Europe. The best place to source these would be the chain supermarkets (e.g. Carrefour, Sainsbury's). No need to bring many with you if you are concerned about luggage space as you can very easily get them here.

I'm not sure about water flavouring packets as I've never looked- I would bring those with you. And I'd be a bit surprised if they got flagged as explosives (!) in an airport scanner. Good luck and safe travels!

In UK supermarkets you will find a product called Twinings Cold Infuse, and there are little individual squeezy packs of Robinson’s squash (fruit flavoured drink that you add to water.)

I’m ten years out of date with feminine hygiene products but even then most of the applicator tampons I used were cardboard.

Most things, including your items of concern, are easily identifiable in grocery stores and pharmacies. By “easily identifiable” I mean the packaging looks like what we have here. The name may be different, but the color of the package and design will look the same as the package here in the States.

1. I have had no problem finding Tampax brand in pharmacies in various major cities in Italy and also in London during the last two years. All have come in cardboard applicator. And much, much cheaper than in the US.

In the past, being a good husband, I have been sent out for such things. But even if i had not, I've been in enough Hungarian pharmacies to say they will not be found in Hungarian pharmacies. Sometimes in grocery stores, but not always. DM and Rossmann are two stores that sell all the non pharmacy things that US drug stores sell. And they sell all the non-food stuff that US grocery stores sell.

DM and Rossmann

and in Germany, too. In any decent sized town.

That's two competing chains, not a strung together name of one company.

Re: feminine products - at least in the German-speaking countries, I”ve found that tampons are the more popular option (very often non applicator a la OB) and stores don’t carry as extensive a selection in sizes and styles of product as in the US. For basic needs, you’ll find brands/products you are used to or equivalent in any supermarket, but there may not be exact matches for particular items. I’ve noticed, for example, that some of the extra-long Always overnight pads in Europe are not as “full coverage” as in the US, even if they are similarly labeled. May or may not be relevant for you, but just a heads up!

Water flavor packets are available but not really a big thing, so I wouldn’t count on them being in every grocery store. You may also find packets for electrolyte solutions etc but there are not many Crystal Light-style options.

I popped into a pharmacy in Portugal to buy some and was surprised to find they only stocked a very expensive organic non-bleached brand. Supermarkets and convenience stores had all the usual products.

If you are picky on your tampons, just bring some. If you are comfortable with potentially running into a lack of applicator, then you can easily find what you need--liners, pads, tampons. Women here do have the same issues, so products exist. ;) It's just a question of whether or not you can live with potentially different ones.

I don't like plain still water much, either (unless I'm exercising, it's hot outside and the water is ice cold). But I love sparkling water, and it's both readily available and cheap pretty much everywhere in Europe. But I haven't seen anything like Crystal Light or similar products.

Thank you for your responses! I think I've decided to take what I need for the trip. As for water flavoring, I'll take as much as I can and will make do as I need to. I appreciate all the responses!

Crystal