What to do the week before you leave......

I'm probably going to forget something vital, but others will remember, I hope!

You should make photocopies of all your documents and leave them with a trusted friend or relative. Notify the Post Office that you want them to hold all your mail until your return. Good luck getting them to actually DO it; we've had them "forget" twice, so you should find a trusted person who can check your mailbox periodically and remove your mail to a safe place. Line up someone to water your houseplants and/or yard, and to come over and take your perishable food (after your last meal at home). Make sure someone knows how to get in touch with you in case there's an emergency on the home front.

Do a trial-run packing and make sure everything actually fits in your bag. Refine your list so it includes everything you do want to have with you and nothing that you don't want.

Try going to bed and getting up according to European time.

Buy a really fascinating, long, slow paperback book.

Meg's list is good. I will add: buy (if you don't have them) several automatic timers to turn on the lights in your residence to make it look like someone is there.

I never travel abroad with out Travel Insurance...medical and medivac a person back to the states.

http://www.internationalinsurance.com/

http://www.worldnomads.com/insurance.aspx

Copy the front and back of your credit cards and copy of your passport.

I have Kaiser Health insurance and they sent me forms for doctors and hospital for use when traveling.

BTW JB,
kaiser covers you all over the world.No need for extra coverage.

If you are planning to use your debit or credit card you should call the card companies and let them know that you will be using them in another country and the dates. If they see that your cards are being used in places outside the norm they may decline them. There is usually a 1-800 number on the back of the card that you can call.

Check out this website - www.dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com

It has a great checklist of what to do starting with two weeks before your trip up to the night before. You can print off the list and they'll e-mail you reminders in the weeks before your trip. It covers everything from putting a hold on your mail, having neighbors water your plants, calling credit card companies, etc.

consider asking your doctor for sleeping pills (Lunesta, etc). Europe is 9 hours ahead of CA time. My first time to Europe I had trouble for several days after arrival; dead tired during the day, couldn't sleep at nite. This varies a lot person to person, of course. Ever since then I've traveled with sleeping pills and it makes a huge difference for me!

I've had the same experience that Mike reports regarding the increased enjoyment and energy levels in the first few days of a European trip from the temporary use of prescription sleeping medication. Of course, each person will have his/her feelings about whether this is appropriate for them and will need to get medical advice--but for me, especially as I've gotten older, I've found that temporary use of this kind of medication really increases my enjoyment of those first couple of days in Europe.

Did you arrange for someone to take care of your pets. The first time I went to Europe, the UK, I forgot my airline ticket.

1) Make a list of things that you will carry on your person on the day that you leave (e.g watch, money, credit card, atm card, plane ticket, house key, passport, coat, etc). Make sure that you have them all before you leave the house.
2) If you are checking luggage, make sure that your carry-on has a change of clothes so that if your luggage is lost you can get by for a day or two. Make sure that your name and phone number is on both the inside and outside of your bags

3) Charge batteries (e.g. camera, ipod, cellphone, etc.)
4) I usually get some foreign currency at the bank so that I don't have to stop at the ATM in the airport after I arrive, but this is not mandatory
5) Relax. If you forget something (other than your passport and money), you can either live without it or buy it there.
6) Have a WONDERFUL time

Those are great suggestions from everyone. Last year was our first trip, and I would just emphasize the recommendation to do a trial packing about a week before, but then have everything packed to go 2 days ahead. I did have some last minute stress from not having all the packing done far enough ahead. Have a wonderful trip!

We only need to shift six or seven hours. After three weeks prior to move everything up an hour -- two weeks, two hours -- and the last week three hours. We are normally fully packed about 7 to 10 days out. Gives us a week to think about things that we might want to change. The week before we double our exercise routines especially walking. We go to a very light, low fat diet, and lots of liquid. For the most part we relax and try to sleep a lot.

Right before you walk out the door, adjust your thermostat, turn off the water to your washing machine (and any other appliances that use water through a rubber hose), and turn your hot water tank off.

No use in heating/cooling your home to the degree you usually do if no one is home, no use in keeping water hot that no one will use, and you DON'T want to come home in a flood because a washing machine or other hose burst.

Bea, the travel insurance will medivac you back to the US...or send your body home if the worse should happen.

Essentials: passport, money, the clothes on your back and feet, plane ticket. Everything else is optional. If you forget to take something that later turns out to be important, buy it where you are. If you forget something at home, call a friend or neighbor and ask them to take care of it. I leave a house key with a few people. I like to get my bills paid or make sure I can pay them (online) from wherever I am. That's why I have my bank checking account on-line. Take at least one good travel book and have a great time.

I agree....take the essential paperwork and prescriptions. If you forget something, you CAN truly buy it over there. And something no one else mentioned....SLEEEEEEP! Sleep well before you go. The day you land, resist all urges to nap. If need be, when you start feeling sluggish, take a long walk. Go to sleep at your normal bed time. and HAVE FUN!

I like to lay stuff out several days ahead of our trip. On the bed or floor, I lay out clothes, rain coats (hooded windbreaker), shoes, first aid stuff and personal items. On the kitchen table, I lay out the travel books & train schedules, maps, money belts, cameras & their chargers, adapters/convertors, passports, small notebook w/names & e-mail addresses, pen/pencil, hats/sunglasses, ATM/credit cards, gum, etc. When I pass by these areas, I look it over and add/subtract from it. I also take ziploc bags and picnic suppplies (small, foldable soft sided cooler, serrated knife (check-in luggage only), wine opener & freezer pack). A small, collapseable duffle bag comes in handy for souvenirs. To pack, I roll up our clothes instead of folding. This way you can locate your clothes in your backpack easier. I put some clothes into compartment type packs. I put leakable items in ziplocs or cosmetic bags. What's really interesting is when we get home--where are the car keys? Have fun!

Ditto on the roll vs fold. I roll my tshirts and other wrinkle free travel shirts and socks and under etc - and packthem into Packing Cubes. I also try to do it a week or so before (at least lay it all out on the guest bed room). THen last 2 days adjust for weather if needed (add a T or a sweater etc).

Wearing your heavyier shirt/sweater/jacket is good too (if you carry on only). Having copies of your docs all ready on your person is nice too - as one poster stated - money/passport/ticket and clothes om your back are #1 - all else is variably optional. I just got back and realized a couple fewer items would have been fine! takes practice! good luck.

Also, if you use rechargeable batteries, recharge them just before you leave (they lose their charge even when not in use).

Take emergency numbers with you (neighbors, employer, pet/house sitter, credit card contact numbers in case of loss/theft). I even make address labels to send post cards so I don't have to take address book etc.

Rest up for the adventure and enjoy!

If you're like me, I always like to set up my VCR and/or DVR to record my favorite programs while I am gone.

If you have an alarm system that is monitored, be sure to notify the alarm company that you will be out of town and that they know who to contact in case your alarm goes off.

Also, be sure you run the garbage disposal and take out all trash before leaving the house. Otherwise, you'll come back to a very smelley kitchen!

I now have a master Vacation To Do List on my PC that I can modify as needed depending on the type and length of trip we are taking.

Have a great time!

Don't pack too many books!

Our first trip to Europe included every friggin' travel book I ever bought (or was given as a gift) before our trip; they only weighed down our luggage to the point we had to spend extra $$$ to bring them back via Aer Lingus.

I like the idea (and it took a lot for me to do this) to tear out just the articles and info you need. Rick's small books are all you need.

Bottom line: DO NOT OVER PACK !!!

Enjoy your trip!

First, assume that you took care of everything important, then relax.
Second, since you have already packed about a dozen times, pull everything out, carefully lay it out on the floor, then only put half back into your bag.
Third, assure yourself that with your passport, credit, and debit card; a great trip is always possible. Many Europeans live their entire lives without having to pack or assure that they have everything needed upon arrival, they simply buy it there.

Jenny, First of all I want to thank you for this post! I have learned some invaluable pieces of advice. I agree with most of the posts about doing a few trial packings. I'm leaving in three weeks, did a trial pack and found out, with what I thought were the bare minimums, that I was 2.5 pounds over Ryanair's weight limit of 10 kilos (22 pounds). I was so depressed because I really thought I had made good selections. It's now down to 21.5 pounds in my carry-on but I was hoping for some extra room for gifts and what not. But, after reading these posts I really have to get a different mindset. Thank you for the reality of it all. I have become such a creature of comfort. Who actually needs one of those blow-up pillows for the flight? And do I actually have to bring along perfume, with matching bath gel, body creme and powder? I see the ridiculousness of my ways. Thanks again. You've saved me from a sore back and much frustration!

I traveled very light for 2 weeks in Italy this past May. I realized that books took up too much room. I tore out the pages of Rick's Italy that was going to (excluding the hotels, since I had made all my reservations in advance). I also went to the library and found several books on CD, then ripped them to my iPod which saved me a lot of room. I would listen to it in the evenings just before bed, and on the long train rides. It worked perfectly.