Leaving in 5 Days... What am I missing?!

Make sure you have your money belts. Also I highly recommend that you and your husband don't carry the same credit cards or debit cards. If one of you were to lose your credit cards, the other would have cards that were still valid.

Ah yes, got it! Thank you. My husband will be wearing the money belt and we'll each have a debit card linked to different accounts, plus our individual credit cards.

Verify travel arrangements, especially flights, are still what you originally reserved. It is not uncommon for airlines to change reservations and forget to let you know. Do this online, no need to call them.

Pay all bills in advance for the period you will be gone (if possible).

Newspapers suspended during your absence. If you are still one of the few people left who subscribe to newspapers.

Can't think of anything else I would do. Have a great trip!

Thank you, Mark--great advice on checking the flights, I hadn't thought of that. Just did it. :)

Great job, Rachael!
The only thing I can think of is to eat or dispose of anything in the fridge that might go yucky in 3 weeks, and take the garbage out before you leave for the airport. We forgot that once and, pee-ew, never will again!

If you haven't already, I'd buy a "tide to go" stick and pack it in your 3-1-1 bag for the TSA check and then in a purse or day bag for the flight and rest of the trip.
This stuff instantly removes almost any stain.
I never leave home without it!
And have a wonderful trip!

You missed a few things on my list --
A small flashlight
Cork screw and folding wine glasses,
A folding cutting board. Actually about a foot sq, light weight plastic and can be rolled into tube. Need a cutting surface for the cheese, fruits, if you decided to have a little picket.
A half a dozen zip lock bags - gals.
Back up batteries and extra CD cards for camera.
Earplugs just in case you get a noisy hotel room.
Compass - nice to know the direction you are headed when you walk out of the subway
Extra shoe strings - or replace all shoe strings prior to leaving. Finding shoe strings when one breaks is a super pain.
Handiwipes/Shout wipes for that accidental spot.
Address labels/return address labels for yourself
A packing list of everything that you packed.

Plants? Someone to check on your house or apartment in case of water leaks (they happen - we had a friend whose washing machine hose burst while they were out of town. Upstairs. Many $1000s to repair floor, ceiling, etc.)

Hotel info to friends and family?

Any items you might need on the plane for the longer trip? Book, reading glasses, a few snacks. I like to buy a bottle of water at the airport to remind myself to stay hydrated on the plane.

Pack a couple of pens, too, and I like to have a small pack of Post-its.

Arrive at SeaTac early! And, enjoy your honeymoon!

Turn off your water at the cutoff point.
Empty fridge and freezer.
Invest in some inexpensive timers for lamps, radio, spotlights, etc. Set them for unpredictable times.
Keep blinds and drapes closed.
Make sure to insure your phone's.
Back up photos with a zip file on a daily basis.
Make other copies of front and back of credit cards, passport copies and keep them safely at home.
Keep passports, tickets and extra cash and cards in hotel safe.
Carry the passport copies - it's legal ID.
Buy neck pouches or moneybelts and use them.
Lock the doors and go!

Thank you all! I've got the Tide to go sticks already in my kit. Currently have foldable wine glasses, a TSA approved corkscrew and a foldable cutting board in my Amazon cart. :)

If you think you will be taking taxis from an airport or train station to a hotel, type the hotel name and full address and tape it to an index card so you can just hand that to the driver.

You are young so your brain is probably more agile than mine, but I wound up typing out a cheat sheet for passwords for various accounts/websites like bank, credit cards, etc. I also have those taped to a 3x5 index card and carry that in my money belt.

Have a wonderful time!

Please consider the stuff people recommend here that you really don't need.

I noted you have contacted banks but have you also contacted credit card company to alert them of your international travels? Some of my credit cards are not tied to a bank. Also, have you entered BB and or hotel phone numbers into your phone contact list? I add the number to my phone contact list along with address which includes postal code and other data such as proprietor name, rate and dates of reservation. When I add to list I name them for city where I am staying such as Amsterdam BB; then it is easy to locate should I need to contact them prior or during trip.

Pam, we also carried a password cheat sheet with us. And when we got home, DH couldn't get into his laptop (we didn't take it with us) because in 3 weeks he had forgotten the password! It happens!

....Please consider the stuff people recommend here that you really don't need.......

Such as ?????????

PS -- On an ipad we have all of the log in names and passwords. All of the passwords are encoded so even if the ipad was compromised, the passwords would be difficult to determine.

If you don't already have a PIN for your credit cards, call your credit card company and have them issue PINS - you'll need them at the train station for the machines, unless you plan to use cash. See if any of your B&Bs or hotels only accept cash so you'll be prepared in case any of them don't take credit.

I didn't think that I'd need them, but my husband insisted that I take noise-cancelling headphones and they were wonderful on the plane.

There is a great app call Lastpass - it stores all your password data.

Don't forget to be flexible and if you miss something - it's just a reason to return!

Thank you, everyone! I'm only bringing one credit card which is tied to a bank, so they've already been notified. My husband will have 2 or 3 of his and I'll make sure he notifies them. Great tip about putting the numbers for accommodations into our phones! Also I am not changing my name so no need to worry about the passport/flight ticket being different. :)

"Pam, we also carried a password cheat sheet with us. And when we got home, DH couldn't get into his laptop (we didn't take it with us) because in 3 weeks he had forgotten the password! It happens!"

Jane...I just burst out laughing! Oh yes...

Congratulations on your new marriage!
Do you have some Euros for when you first arrive, so you are not trying to use a foreign ATM while jet lagged?
I take a couple of hundred, in low denominations like 10's and 20's.
(Also: only use ATM's that are inside an open bank. Never use one out on the street, it's too easy for people to try and "help" you, then you get bamboozled and robbed. Happened to me, and I am a seasoned traveler. I'm still embarrassed that they "got" me.)
It's going to be hot in Europe.
Take a small travel size pump hairspray bottle, empty it and wash it, and fill it with fresh water to spray on yourself while out in the heat. It's a godsend!
Have a wonderful trip, and don't forget to report back when you get back home!

Be careful where you picnic, Lots of places no longer permit it near monuments.

Congratulations!

If you decide to take a taxi to your hotel, ask first if they take credit cards. Sometimes the machine "isn't working".
If you have time, go to your bank and get 200 EU, so you won't have to bother with trying to get something to eat or drink if you want to.

If it has not been mentioned above: make copies of your passports, drivers licences, credit cards, etc, scan the copies and send them to your own mail account, possibly also to Whatsapp.
In the worst case, which hopefully will never happen, you can at least get access to those copies.

As long as you have a credit card and your passport, you're good. Anything else can be resolved.

You are taking debit cards from different accounts, good, even better if you can transfer from one account to the other when needed. I travel alone but take two debit cards from two checking accounts. If there is any fraud or lost/stolen card associated with one, the bank typically wants to close it or at least cancel and reissue cards - so a second card for the same account is worthless. Same for credit cards, bring a back up that is a different account than the first.

Notifying your banks is a big deal. Last trip, in May, many of my banks told me they no longer require notification - but I'll still call.

Along with electronic copies of your passports copy, and keep handy, a list of phone numbers to call your banks, airlines, hotels where you have reservations, etc. if you need to. If something comes up, it's good to know right where to find the number(s) you need to call.

Careful about all the suggested items for packing, it's more important to meet the size and weight limit than to add "just a couple more things". The only must have I've seen are some extra ziplock bags, they take up almost no weight and come in handy in multiple ways. The lighter you pack the happier you will be. Forgetting that one item that might have come in handy somewhere along your trip won't put as much of a dent in your plans as lugging extra weight or being forced to gate check.

Have a great trip.

S Jackson, thank you! Yes, we have 200 euros in cash to at least get us from the airport to our accommodation without having to mess with the ATM. :)

Zoe, thank you! Good to know.

chexbres, thanks! We have 200 euro already taken out, glad to know we were on the right track with that.

Klaus, I'm putting that on my to-do list today, thanks!

Brad, thanks! I'm lucky in that my bank allows you to set travel notices online, so I don't even have to be bothered with calling. :) And, thanks for the packing advice--I think I'm packing pretty light but I know I could be even more diligent about that; it's a challenge for me but I'm trying!

Check with your bank regarding cash limit for withdrawal from ATM. You may want to request temporary increase to your daily withdrawal amount which eliminates using ATM as often.

I never take a corkscrew. I've never been any place where I couldn't easily find someone with a corkscrew to open my wine bottle. I do take a wine-saver cork (not the pump), easier to use that trying to put the original cork back in the bottleneck. On the other hand, I never leave my room without some moleskin. Happy feet = happy touring. Even your favorite comfy footwear can rub you the wrong way - especially in summer heat.

Thanks, all--we have increased our ATM withdrawal limit to $1000/day each.
My bag is hovering around 18 lbs (including the bag itself), but I'll be trying to pare it down a bit over the next few days!

My favorite, very small but useful tip: Take a washcloth/face cloth. Many European hotels supply towels but not something to wash with. Put it in a Ziplock-style bag so you can pack it damp.

Yes to the washcloth! I forgot and had to buy one in Berlin. Also: in Europe they generally don't make the bed with sheets and blankets. You get a duvet. In all weather. Apparently I am a smoldering log at night, because whenever I try to sleep under a duvet I wake up drenched in sweat. And I can't sleep without a cover pulled up to my chin (because monsters, of course.) I bought a travel blanket but it's synthetic and did not help. This time, I'm bringing an extra twin-size cotton sheet so I can sleep in comfort.

I bet if you ask your hotel, they'll give you a second sheet. Just like they'll give you an extra towel.

Astorienne, we see the same problem with sheets in the U.S. I don't understand why everyone thinks you only need the duvet- I guess they think everyone sets the AC on polar. The best way to be sure the hotel will have a top sheet on the bed is to bring one with you! I took a sheet on a trip the beach this month-the first time I've taken a sheet on a trip-and lo and behold, there was already one on the bed! I read a good idea-take photos of stuff you will wonder if you turned off-stove, AC, etc-so you won't wonder while on your trip!

I tend to stay in AirBnBs or two-star hotels. They're not exactly full-service. I don't think there has been air conditioning anywhere I've stayed, and I can't sleep under a thick duvet even in cold weather (I use a couple of layers of thinner blankets). I also always have to have the window open at least a little, even in cold weather. It's not entirely logical and I don't understand why my thermostat works this way. But this time I thought ahead and should be okay!

I also remove the duvet inner portion from the outer duvet cover as ronfer46 mentioned - both on trips to Europe and on work trips in the US. In the US, I fold it neatly and place on a piece of furniture for the week. In Europe, I just place it back into the duvet cover in the morning since I like to sit on the bed when we take a short break during the day.

Cala!! "* I read a good idea-take photos of stuff you will wonder if you turned off-stove, AC, etc-so you won't wonder while on your trip!*"

What a terrific idea. Just the act of taking the picture makes you remember.

Don't take a washcloth, as if you are not doing laundry, it will be a bit rank by the end of your trip.
I take a package of baby washcloths so I have a clean one every few days. They are quite small.
I also lay out all the stuff I am taking on my bed before the final pack, photograph it, and then I know what I've lost if my bag is lost in space.
Know what kind of suitcase and bag you are taking too, as that will help if you need to file for a lost bag.

I always use a corner of the smallest or lightest towel the hotel provides, instead of carrying a washcloth. The little bidet towels that are sometimes provided work well.

Some comments above suggest that using an ATM on the street is risky.

We were in GB, France, Germany, and Croatia in May and June. We used ATMs probably 20 different times. We always used them on the street. We never had a problem of any sort. While problems can occur with such ATMs, I think they are quite uncommon.

Use an ATM. BUT VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure that you have notified your card holder of your travels.

The reason I don't use ATMs on the street is because I often travel alone, and prefer to be enclosed inside when I'm getting my money out.
Less chance of "helpers" that way; as happened to me at an outdoor ATM in Florence.
Plus , you can see the screen better without the sun glaring onto it.

As much as we've traveled, I picked up some nice tips off this thread. Thank you for the suggestion to photo the contents of the suitcase (major items). My brain can't remember that many things. And, odd as it seems, the reminder that I can ask the hotel staff for extra towels, etc.. seems like a no-brainer, but hadn't really thought about it. Guess I can leave the iron behind.

I do turn off hoses to washing machine before we go. And, we have a yellow tag that goes on the luggage handle that has a list of hotels and dates in case our luggage gets away from us. We plan to carry-on, but you never know.

I think I know what Frank means with the "cutting board" - I'm assuming you're taking those things that are stiff plastic? I hadn't thought of doing that before; there's no weight and they wouldn't take up any space.

This is a great thread, I'd bookmark it if I knew how...guess I'll just post instead!

Congrats Rachaeljdunn! Hope your trip is going amazingly!

Thanks very much, mtc! It is going amazing so far :) and, I wish I had taken the advice on a washcloth actually! We're staying in bed & breakfasts the whole way and the majority of them haven't had them available.

Rachael! We've been wondering how you've been doing. We sure hope you'll post a trip report.

Definitely will do that! I've been journaling and keeping notes for just that reason :)