I think I am ready to go

Hooray! We're all excited for you. Don't worry about what you might have forgotten; as long as you have your passports, a credit card (for hotels), a debit card for ATMs, and your itinerary, you're good. Anything else you may need you can get there.

Have a wonderful trip, and don't forget to post a report after you return. Buon viaggio!

Hi Gallos, here's a helpful thread that was posted a few months ago. Hope you have a great trip!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/2-weeks-left-what-should-i-be-doing

Let's think...

hmmm

oh yes,

A big camera case full of rolls of 36 exposure 35mm film, add a few extra very high speed and a couple of rolls of black and white, camera batteries, extra camera batteries, camera back, a couple of lenses, lead lined bag for the film, a notebook for the shots and a sharpie for all the rolls, a light meter, a box of filters and lens cloths.

oh wait. sorry . move up 20 years.

just bring an iPhone.

Fun!! You look like you are good to go!

I do suggest you print out the name of the hotels you might want to taxi to on a 3X5 index card so you can hand it to the driver. I've had them hold the address until I get to the hotel. I print it in a biggish font and put no more than 1 or 2 on each side of the card.

It is going to be so exciting to see where your family came from. I hope you will come back and let us know how it goes with the private tour company for that segment....thinking of doing that at some point myself.

Did you notify your bank(s) of your plans. I do this on the Internet. If you call I think it's the fraud department. Vitamins, prescription meds, sunglasses or extra glasses, scarf, tiny first aid kit with needle and sewing thread, small scissors (I always use my scissors for something). Plastic knives and spoons for impromptu picnicking, a corkscrew if you check baggage. I make sure I have a copy of my important logon and pin words for Internet use. Chargers for phone/iPads, etc. Country specific adapters for devices. A large sealable plastic bag for hand washing (a drop or two of shampoo, add soiled clothing and water, shake well, rinse, roll out in a towel and dry).

Notifying the bank that has your ATM card and your credit card company is essential. Just call the number on the back of the card. They will have an option to notify them of upcoming travel. Many have automated this so have your dates and countries when you call. Raise your ATM limit so you can take fewer and larger withdrawals. I would absolutely not carry a written list of log on and passwords. You are taking a risk of that falling into the wrong hands. And, even with a log on the wifi at hotels is not secure. I never access any site that requires me to log on while traveling. I did once log onto Yahoo when carrying a laptop in Croatia. Account hacked within an hour. Plastic utensils? Why bother? If you buy picnic stuff most places that sell that give you plastic utensils. If not buy them there. Doing laundry in the sink requires a flat sink stopper. If you use the plastic. bag that is one more wet thing to pack- you don't need it. As for personal items- I take a small tube of toothpaste, buy everything else in Europe. The only trouble has been deodorant as I tend to get rashes. So, I pack enough of the stuff I use for the trip. Having said that, I blew it in Spain and had to hunt for a substitute. Found one for sensitive skin. Worked, no rash. Bottom line- carry only what you need not "if we do this I'll need that" things. You can buy almost everything you'll need (and it's actually fun!)

I second the idea of scissors. I always use them and once had to remove stitches!! The other thing I would do is download offline maps to your phone. You won't need data to use them and they were used a lot. Have a wonderful trip.

Thank you everyone...

Nigel....iPhone for sure. I am a camera bug and cannot imagine taking my heavy lenses and camera on a adventure anymore. Too hot and too much weight.

Banks all called!

Ziplock packed for sweaty dirty stuff etc. garbage bag for dirty clothes.

No need to do laundry it's a week trip and I am sure I have too much packed anyway. But I love the washing in the ziploc idea! Going to rethink clothes again today...prob remove an outfit or two.

I will definitely be back to share how it went, you have all be so amazingly helpful.

Love the idea about the hotel addresses. I have them printed and in my phone, may do the cards too...just in case the phone is dead from taking too many pics.

Adapters packed...bought a few in case we lose one or two. Batteries for the tiny handheld fan for Dad...and a cool towel we can wet for our necks if it's too hot.

Books....crackers...Meds....sunscreen...bugspray....and since I use packing cubes I still have space in my suitcase. Thinking of downsizing the suitcase to carry on size but still checking it.

Googles maps on phone and I opted for the new travel pass with Verizon, it's pricey but I can use my phone just like home, no additional charges for texts, data or calls...if if if we can connect 😀

Sigh...that's a lot of thinking lol

I would second the idea of downsizing to carry on size. Then carry it on. Why risk a lost bag? Pack less and wash some things out at night. If you have the right material stuff will be dry in the AM. Have fun!

Have a fabulous time! And don't fret about any drugstore items you didn't pack (with the exception of prescription meds, of course). Visiting an Italian Farmacia is a fine experience in itself. I bought a knee brace in one, the same kind I could have gotten at a Rite-Aid, only this time the pharmacist came around the counter with a measuring tape and measured my knee (!)

And keep an eye on Dad. As a fellow man of a certain age, we all think we are 30. But, it will be hot, lots of time on your feet. Keep him hydrated and take advantage of very long breaks at sidewalk cafe's watching the world go by. Remember, that table is yours as long as you want it. So, sometimes a two hour cup of coffee or chilled drink is in order.

Alan...he is my main concern, and it will be great heaving my brother a long to help with keeping an eye. He keeps telling me he will be fine...but I am gonna be watching. I think that is the only part of the touring with a group that was concerning to me. I have talked to the tour company and they check into the hotels in each city prior to setting out on walking tours or bus tours. This was great news as it means if we are done with the heat or walking we will pay for a taxi back to the room to rest for a few hours. And since our tours are in the cities we are in, that although pricey, is a great option. And we can do what we like when he is rested, or us for that matter. We have planned first day off, then two days with tour company, a full day off, then one day with tour company, then two days off....one of those is a trip to Riccia in an a/c car so he can nap all the way there and back. I think we have enough down time but the heat will play a big part.

Anyway sorry for rambling.....

No "outfits"!! If you are thinking of packing things that only go with one other item in your suitcase, leave it at home. For a week you can probably go with 2 capris, 1 long pants (plane) and 4 shirts.

The 3x5 index cards will go in your money belts too so it's easy to remember where they are!

Pam is right - no outfits! Two pairs of capris, one pair of long pants and four shirts is about what I take for four-five week trips. It's totally liberating not to have to deal with a suitcase full of clothes.

Seriously girls how do you do that in the heat? I have all black legging capris, a long skirt, a short skirt, two dresses, and black shorts. Everything is black and white except the dress. I am assigning we should dress for dinner, am I wrong? Sigh....

Gallos, even if you do want to dress up a bit for dinner, you don't need 2 skirts and 2 dresses. I take one long skirt in case of a dress up emergency, but seldom wear it. (It's some amazing unknown-to-nature fabric that compresses to the size of a handkerchief in my bag, and the wrinkles fall out with a good shake.)

A scarf or pretty light jacket or sweater can dress up those black pants. You still have a little time; try for carry-on. You can still check it if you want to, but oh, the sweet freedom of traveling light!

Hmmm, I am not a dress or skirt person but I would probably not take the dresses and do as Jane does, wear the skirt for dinner if you want to dress. The great thing is that with your black and white capsule you will see TONS of scarves you MUST have, lol. Plus you can get a big scarf to use as a pareo to cover your shorts if you go in to a church.

That's why you need to pack light...to bring back scarves! (Yes, I bought 8 scarves on one trip with 3 weeks in Italy...so perhaps I am not a good person to be giving advice, lol!!)

2.5 gallon ziplock Baggie for sink washing, no stopper needed. Turn the Baggie inside out and it will dry overnight - you don't need to pack it wet. Take 2 baggies, just in case.

Plastic forks and knives: if you grocery shop for picnics, buy a small packet of plastic ware at the paper goods aisle.

Ladies....wow I am impressed. I will try to pare it down a bit more, you are amazing. I know it can be done since my sis in laws luggage was lost for her cruise in Europe last year and she literally had her travel outfit...and she survived. I promise to try hard to reduce the pile.

Only pare down if you want to! I sometimes forget not everyone's goal is the same as mine which is to pack as light as possible.

I use Zoe's 2 gal bag method for washing clothes as well. I reinforce the sides and bottom with mailing tape.

My daughter's luggage just got soaked in transit, which ruined some of the contents, along with the inconvenience of arriving with a suitcase of wet clothes. If you're not carrying on you might consider packing the contents of your checked luggage in plastic so water isn't an issue. We usually don't do this but her experience makes me think again.

Have a great trip!!!

Oh my gosh that happened to my husbands luggage on a trip we made to Texas last year. Everything was soaked. No idea what they did to it. I thought they were searching it and dropped it in something. He had to wear his flying clothes to a business meeting. What a mess! I hope she is able to make due and get things cleaned up for her trip.

gallos5oh, you are going to have a FABULOUS time, heat or not! Do try to pare down those dresses/skirts as you don't need so many. No one is ever going to know but you if you wear the same skirt to dinner 3 nights in a row! I'm not a dress/skirt girl but the same goes for pants/tights. Besides, you need some room to bring a few things home?

As we usually walk to our hotels, we each have a garbage bag that slips over our suitcases with a small slit at the end for the handle to poke through (yes, we check rolling luggage.) They don't take up any room/weight, double as laundry bags, and keep the contents dry on wet days. You could also use them to wrap the contents for the flight to avoid a soaking by careless tarmac crews; have had that happen!

Taxis: don't write off public transit? Depending on where you are when you want to save steps back to the hotel, a metro (Rome) or bus may be closer than a cab. And a leisurely sidewalk-side sit-down to rest the dogs and watch the world go by? NEVER a waste of time in Italy so indulge with abandon (a good time to use the facilities, too!)

Thanks!!! I love to people watch! And I will have my pop and bro to visit with! I will be back to share all our wonderful stories.