I will be staying at an AIrBnB in Monti in June, shortly after a small surgical procedure. I will need to ice my knee in the evenings and again in the mornings. I have never been to Rome before, and I am reading that ice is not common. Where can I purchase small bags of ice for this purpose? The place I am staying has a small freezer compartment as part of an undercabinet refrigerator, so I won't be able to make the quantities I'll need with an ice cube tray.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
2024 posts
I have seen bags of ice cubes in supermarkets, usually in the same fridges with frozen food. But as Italians rarely use ice, in spite of going to supermarkets weekly I can't really remember how common are those bags of ice cubes.
If you cannot find ice, you could buy those refrigerating bricks that you put in your freezer - they get even colder than ice so you better apply them to skin through a napkin. They can be found also in flexible form, as sealed plastic bags with refrigerating fluid inside. When I was in need I used one of those bags; as they do not melt as ice and are reusable, they are even more practical.
Posted by
OP
California
2 posts
Thank you, Lachera. I need the cold to mold over my knee cap, so the hard plastic gel filled frozen bricks are not of much help. My backup plan is to bring ziploc plastic bags that I can fill with water and freeze over a small bowl so that it forms to my knee cap.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
13112 posts
lachera, do the stores sell this kind of gel pack there?
As they are not solid when frozen they cannot go in carry on bags.
If OP has checked bags that should work. Or if not available in Italy, order and have them shipped to the BnB
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8527 posts
I’m in Italy right now with a small flexible ice pack to keep my medication cool. i regularly travel to the UK/EU with this pack. I freeze it at home & use it in my carry on to keep both my food for the plane cool & my medication. i use only carry on luggage; typically i fly British Airways coach class. My ice pack was NOT frozen in my bag on a BA flight from Heathrow to Naples because we were in a B&B in London before flying to Naples. I’d make sure it was frozen before leaving home& if questioned, explain the medical reason. I’d also message your host in Rome& ask them where to get an inexpensive ice pack.
Posted by
San Francisco, California, USA
204 posts
In a pinch. would frozen vegetables work? I used frozen peas after shoulder surgery.
Good luck! Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by
Surrey, UK
689 posts
We use frozen peas or sweetcorn rather than ice - easier to mould round the shape of the knee.