Got back from 8 days in Rome & Venice!! Thanks for all your help!!!

Moleskin is made for this purpose. Buy a pack before you leave and take a little folding scissors to cut to size you need. If you get a blister, moleskin will protect you and allow you to go on.

I find I often have to tape around the moleskin especially if it is in a spot where the shoe does some big time rubbing. The motion of the shoe will often loosen the moleskin and then it is stuck to the shoe and not my foot. Just my experience!

Amy, Right at the back of my heels where I always get the blistors and then made sure the duct tape wrapped from side to side...Michael got a kick out of it, I would have duct tape strips hanging off the bureau for the morning...lol!! YES we are alot alike! ;) Laurel, I have tried to use moleskin, it NEVER sticks for me! It does exactly what BJ mentioned!! Lol!! The duct tape worked miracles!! :)

Are you the same Bethanne that posted the "Did we forget anything message?" a couple of weeks ago. Our whole family read it and we were screaming hysterically. Our 1st reaction was that this was a little overboard. Then we started packing yesterday and my sister said - quick, go to the website and look at Bethanne's list again! So, kudos to you! We're pretty anal ourselves, but we get that from all the boyscouts in our family - the being prepared thing. Hope you had a great trip - we leave on Sunday. Thanks much!

All those tips were extremely helpful! You definitely need the tissues b/c the bathrooms are usually nasty! You definitely need the additional memory cards b/c mine ran out after one day! You definitely need the printed out copies of your documents plus your confirmations b/c it's becomes so much easier to access then only having them on your computer or in your email account, sometimes there's no WIFI!! You definitely should bring that water bottle to refill water for free b/c we did it everywhere! You should definitely bring those Ziploc bags, they were great to keep everything together and no leakage and worked great for my stubs!! I also did a tip I read on another post, I am very prone to blisters, so EVERYDAY, I put two Band-Aids and a piece of duct tape, yes, duct tape over them and not once, did I get a blister!! So, again, thanks everyone and you really should be as anal as myself!! Lol!!! Have a GREAT trip!!!!

So glad you had such an amazing time! I'm prone to blisters too (we have SOOO much in common ;) Where did you put the duct tape exactly? Around your heels?

lol, my dad used duct tape to fix EVERYTHING. I actually have a slight aversion to it because he used it so much. Guess his fix has to work once in a while :) My husband (Martin) will undoubtable make fun of me, but I've had the same experience with moleskin sticking to my shoes better than to my skin. I will definitely try the duct tape option in less than 42 days! I think its better that he laughs at the duct tape around my heels then hear me whine about blisters anyway :)

@Amy, Your Dad would probably enjoy watching The Red Green Show (if you can get it there). Have a look at www.redgreen.com for a look at the main character. He believes most of life's problems can be fixed with Duct Tape. Cheers!

Bethanne, Glad to hear that you had a wonderful trip! It's interesting that you've adopted the same philosophy as many of us here, and are already planning the next trip. I always look forward to my yearly trip to Europe. Cheers!

Hi Bethanne, So nice to hear that you loved Rome - when so many posters in recent months have had negative comments about the city. I'm going to both Rome and Venice in July with my husband and kids. We can't wait. We'll have 5 nights in Rome and a full week in Venice. I know I'd love to hear about some highlights of your trip, if you'd like to share!

Just read all the posts re: blisters. Just another thought for the future. My mother always had Lambs Wool around. Whenever anyone complained about a blister, she gave them some Lambs Wool to put on the spot. I sill have some of the Lambs Wool she gave me and I tear some off when I need it. It looks like a brown cotton ball. My Mom has been gone over 20 years, but that Lambs Wool still works. Nancy

Bethanne,
You have been more than helpful! We are spending 6 days in Florence and we hope to make some day trips while there to Siena, Lucca, Cinque Terra and maybe even Venice. We are then going to Rome for 6 days. I also am a type-A planner type so I have already purchased many of our museum tickets etc. Since you have already been so helpful if you have any other tips it would be much appreciated. I already have my tickets for the Vatican museum, Scavi Tour, and underground Colosseum tour. We will also be purchasing the Roma pass. We are staying in an apartment near the Colosseum so we are a little more out of the way. Any specific restaurant names etc. would be much appreciated. Thanks so much for your help and congrats on the upcoming wedding!

Amy, your right! Michael dealt with my blistors in Baltimore one week and it was hell for him!! lol! ;) Ken, Yes, I can't wait! I have already signed up for Italian Language class in June this year at a place here in Philly! I'm hoping praying and pushing for a trip for to happen for Spring 2012!! Kerry,
I loved Rome! I missed Rome while we were in Venice! I couldn't get enough of Rome, but I am a city girl and love cities over the country...it was amazing! So much to do, see, take in! I'm planning another trip for Rome alone for around 10-12 days already! I stayed near the Vatican in a residential area and it was great!! Venice I liked but I wouldn't go back, unless I was living in Italy for more than a month. I can't see how anyone could not like Rome it's unfathomable to me! Wow there's so much to say about it but what I loved the most was just living like a Roman, we went to the supermarket across the street everyday for food, we ate at local resturants where we were the only americans and walked all over the neighborhood besides all the sightseeing. I also loved the fact that when I wasn't with Michael during his 1hour naps in the afternoon, lol, I was mistaken for italian a couple times...that was a highlight to me!! lol!! I know this, the place we stayed @ Le Finestre sul Vaticano B&B was amazing, the woman who helps you out there, Lourdes was great and that really made our stay as well!! I'm sure I'll be back to this post every couple of days with more memories!! :)

Sounds great Bethanne! I can't wait to get there!

Doreen, I loved this resturant in the travestere area called: L'isola Della Pizza I can't remember the address right now but I'll look through my papers tonight... It was great food, all locals, prices were moderate and we sat outside at their great sidewalk cafe seats both times, I have some great pics, too bad you can't post on here!! Anyways, let me think things over tonight, get back to you!!!