The little extras

I travel very light, but I always take one of these collapsible silicone travel cups for each person for the hotel rooms. I’ve read too many scary reviews about how hotel glasses are cleaned. And, if needed, I can use the hottest tap water and a coffee packet to get some caffeine if jet lagged. (I just leave my toothbrush in my cup after the room is cleaned.). The colors are easy to not leave behind when packing up the toiletry kit.

(Amazon: ME.FAN Silicone Collapsible Travel Cup - Silicone Folding Camping Cup with Lids - Expandable Drinking Cup Set - Portable, Graduated [9.22oz])

I also bring a small pad of Post-its and an assortment of Ziploc bags.

For the bus, I liked to bring extra mints or gum. Otherwise, just the same stuff as what you want handy on a plane.

I pack 2 washcloth as they are rare in Europe. I also bring nail clippers (finger and toe) as well as hand and foot creams—your feet and toes really get a workout. I always have a scarf on the bus in case the air conditioning gets too cool.

I bring a little battery powered votive candle for a night light . When you are moving every few days it helps me orient myself in the hotel room when I wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. I put it on the piece of furniture nearest the bathroom so I know which direction to head.

I also love the Tom Bihn travel tray — every thing from wedding rings to charging phones go in there so it’s not spread across the room

@Gretchen - I think the battery votive light is a great idea! I will be adding one to my packing stash.

a few of each: zip ties, twist ties, rubber bands and large safety pins.

One tour member brought his airplane pillow on the bus to nap during the long rides. I was too busy watching the scenery and was happy to have my journal (and my phone) to jot notes during the long rides and a dollar store glue stick to attach little things.

For that duct tape roll, I suggest a bright color (dollar store again) to mark things to avoid leaving them behind. I have a little microwaveable tray for bedside, striped with red duct tape. My electrical adapters are also brightly striped.

I have pretty awful feet so need to take care of them for long touring days. I bring Melt Method balls to use on my feet after a long day. I just watched a new youtube video the developer did earlier in the month where she suggested the balls first thing in the AM as well as in the PM so I've started doing that too. She presses and rolls in a specific pattern to rehydrate the fascia. I'm not sure I buy that but it makes my feet feel better, lol!

I'm going to pack much lighter than I normally do for my next trip so have cut out most of my extras to save weight as I am going to actually carry on my carry on.

My Maglite Mini flashlight was a lifesaver at our B&B in Calabria. Without it we could not have seen our B&B's door lock since the B&B was located down a narrow dark alley.

I like to bring Compeed blister care bandages as well as normal bandages and antibacterial ointment. Compeed bandages have gel inside, and for me they are better than moleskin when I feel a blister coming on. You definitely need happy feet on a Rick Steves tour.

on a RS tour they will use the radio system where the guide has a transmitter and each person on the tour has a receiver. I find the earplug uncomfortable so I bring the one I use for exercising that clips onto my ear.

I bring a bottle of liquid bandage. I know where my feet are prone to develop blisters so I coat those areas to provide extra protection.

KC and John reminded me that I can’t live without toe protectors. My problem old feet love them. No rubs, no blisters. And Bandaid Blister Bandages for heels.

One of the ladies on our Tour of Sicily had a small package of tissues in her purse, which she generously passed out to several of us after it was discovered that there was no toilet paper in the bathroom. After that, I think we all had emergency tissues on hand.

One of the ladies on our Tour of Sicily had a small package of tissues in her purse

On every RS tour we've taken the guide passed out a package to tissue to every member on the first day with the admonition "you can use these for lots of things"

These are great! Thanks so much. Some of these are new to me - I love the little votive candle idea for the night light! I appreciate you sharing your expertise and experience!

Little portable white noise machine — we hear no noise and sleep like babies.

Horsewoofie, I bring a small flashlight, too, that fits into my raincoat or purse and stays next to the bed in case of an emergency. (I always did this for work trips, too.). Sometimes those auto-lights don’t turn on, or I can’t find the switch for the hallways in the dark. Also, I needed it in Arezzo one year when it was rainy at night and I didn’t want to fall on uneven pavement walking down & back up the steep hill…..to go find some gelato! Priorities! LOL!

my phone is my white noise machine, and it has a built in flashlight, very bright. same with most reasonably recent phones.

Hi Nigel, yes, I know about the phone feature to also be a flashlight. But these old eyes would then also need reading glasses in my pocket at night or fumbling with them in the hotel room - LOL! I make a point to not pull out my phone, especially walking at night, unless I’m taking a photo since photos are my main souvenir. I can drop the flashlight; wouldn’t want to drop the phone.

I bought this bluetooth speaker to use in conjunction with the white noise app of my phone:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0921QS6Z7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's tiny, weighs less than an ounce, but is fairly loud. If the noise is coming from outside, I put it near the window and it works great. The same thing is the noise is coming from the hallway.....near the door.

I also have a keychain flashlight that I picked up at the dollar store. If I needed something more powerful, I'd use the one on my phone. But some hotel lights are bright and I don't want to turn them on in the middle of the night if nature calls. This little flashlight works great. (I don't keep my phone next to the bed.) I put the keychain part on my finger like a ring so I don't have to put it down.

I tried one of the toothbrush holders with a suction cup......I wasn't used to it and left it at a hotel.

Cottonelle wipes that come in a travel pack of 10-14. Much nicer than the tissues from the little pack.

Ear plugs and eye shades. I don't like the foam ones so I recently bought these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09F2NW7KQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Two pair to a box. Very comfortable and keep out a lot of noise. Reusable.

For the bus......headphones, back up battery in case there are no charging ports, charging cable.

I love my eye mask with blue tooth speakers at the ears. Drowns out all extraneous noise and I am entertained until I fall asleep. No one else can hear what I am listening to. I use them every night and wouldn’t leave home without them.

We like to stay in the center of things, so we always bring some large binder clips (Staples, etc.) to keep hotel drapes closed. I always bring those small, super-thin, cheap washcloths, figuring how many stops and leaving them behind (I know, I know…but hoping they can be used…we stay in tiny hotels). I love your idea about the collapsible cup, Jean!

Moleskin and blister packs - you never know when even your most comfortable, well-worn shoes will rub you raw. Pain killers - what you are used will have a different name in Europe, if it is available at all. Chapstick. Multiport USB adapter (for European 2-prong outlet) for charging all my gizmos at the same time.

John you commented:
"on a RS tour they will use the radio system where the guide has a transmitter and each person on the tour has a receiver. I find the earplug uncomfortable so I bring the one I use for exercising that clips onto my ear."

Are these Plug-in or Bluetooth earplugs that were provided by RS on the bus? If Bluetooth, I guess you were able to connect yours pretty easily?

My iPhone battery case…

https://www.amazon.com/GIN-FOXI-Ultra-Slim-Rechargeable-Protection/dp/B08SC4ZZXM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=9H7RHVO0I3TA&keywords=iphone+battery+case&qid=1659205768&sprefix=iPhone+battery+case%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSVFWUllFU0ZYT0hXJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTEzNTEzMTJCQjdQUzcyMEFOSCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDA5MDcxMTRVOUUxT1o3NFFPSSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Are these Plug-in or Bluetooth earplugs that were provided by RS on the bus? If Bluetooth, I guess you were able to connect yours pretty easily?

The receivers use a wired earpiece.

I make sure I have a bandanna handy by tying it on a purse or backpack strap. I hate air dryers in restrooms and it’s nice to have to dampen with some cool water and tie around your neck on really hot days. I also have a little ‘foot bag’ with items others have mentioned. If the hotels don’t seem to be offering hot pots in rooms, I pack an immersion heater, some favorite herbal teas and thermal mug. It gave me a lot of comfort when I (along with about 10 others) caught a Norovirus on the Netherlands tour.

Just yesterday I re-packed my travel accessory bag with my little extras in them:
binder clips, for drapes as someone mentioned, and also for things like bags of nuts or other snacks.
A small USB powered fan.
Small laundry clips - a spring clip with a hook - that are good for hanging things like handwashed shirts and underwear.
A microfiber towel - if there aren't enough towels, or if I hand wash something - I can wrap it in the towel to get a lot of water out, then hang to dry. It's about twice the size of a regular hand towel and rolls up very small.
A travel power strip that has both plugs and USB ports
an Anker battery pack that's about the size of a sunscreen stick - it gives me another four hours on my phone if I've been out all day and unable to charge.
Another item I take if I have room - a rechargeable folding light. Air BnBs in particular can be lacking in reading or task lights. This can be charged and used cordless, or plugged in. It folds slim, so it's fairly easy to pack. And I love having it when there's nothing but overhead light. https://smile.amazon.com/Powered%EF%BC%8CROZKY-Cordless-Foldable-%EF%BC%8CPortable-Rechargeable/dp/B07F9MWJ86?ref_=ast_sto_dp
A reusable shopping bag that I bought at a Rewe in Frankfurt - for laundry, dirty shoes, groceries, whatever - it folds up tiny.
All this stuff except for the light fits in a zipper pouch a little smaller than a gallon ziplock bag. I take stuff out according to what my destination and plans are.
If it's noisy, I play a Spotify podcast called "Relaxing White Noise" on my phone.

I bring a mini first aid kit with a small supply of antibiotic ointment and bandages, etc., over the counter meds, a very tiny sewing kit, a small eyeglass repair kit and some dental supplies. It all goes in a zip up pouch that would be used as a cosmetic bag. I make a large bag of trial mix for my husband. I also bring a clothes pin to keep hotel curtains closed.

If you are looking for travel sized items, check out Minimus.biz

I have purchased quite a bit from them over the years.

i find it hard to go without my spa headband that I use to hold my hair back when washing my face. I also take old threadbare washcloths. I think next trip I might cut them in half. Both DH and I really like the Yves Rocher concentrated shower gel (handy 100ml size). He brings a shower puff in a ziplock.

To solve the facecloth issue; I take a couple of ‘baby’ washcloths found in baby section of Target or CVS, etc. They are small and lightweight and dry quickly ;)

Often, places like Walmart have "a dozen washcloths for $5" type items. They're small (which I like anyway) and so cheap that I throw one away when leaving each lodging so I don't have to carry a wet one.

@Wray - The speaker eyemask sounds like something I need, lol! Do you have a brand to recommend? I assume the higher the price the better the speaker? Not that my ears are that discerning....

The toe protectors mentioned above are fantastic. We always take a yellow highlighter, a few binder clips, paper clips, pens and sticky notes and bookmarks. Moleskin and a small tube of antibiotic ointment help too (forgot the antibiotic last year it was 10 euro in Sicily). I carry glucose tablets for diabetics (for my husband, but also for me if my blood sugar drops precipitously because of delayed meals). My favorite items are microfiber washcloths, a Phillips Sonicare travel toothbrush, which weighs a fraction of the regular one, and my trusty Flight 001 Seat Pak for holding everything you need from your carry on for the plane/bus neatly and in one place. It's a bright color, meaning you are less likely to forget it in the seat-back pocket. I got mine from Amazon, but they are out of stock.

Flight 001 went bankrupt a few years ago and now only trades in Asia.

The Container Store has an item similar to the Flight 001 Seat Pak:

https://www.containerstore.com/s/seat-pack-organizer/d?q=seat%20pak&p=0&ps=56&productId=11013275

I take zip loc bags in various sizes for snacks etc. The most important one is a very large, heavy duty zip loc from the dollar store for my dirty clothes. (Easy to sit or kneel on, to remove all of the air) and then fill with water and a “paper strip” style laundry detergent. Agitate in the sink, rinse the clothes and then turn the bag inside out to dry. Repeat!

Thanks travel buddies – just spent more money on Amazon because of your good ideas: the battery powered tea lights for finding the bathroom in the dark rooms that change regularly, are a great idea & I may be using them instead of candles for the holidays as they seem much easier to use than candles.

While I have a micro towel for my long hair I never thought of getting micro / fast drying wash clothes – especially great for travel!

I had gotten packets of antibacterial wipes at Wal Mart for travel & small packages of tissues but am giving the Cottonelle wipes a try (NEVER have we been given a package of tissues by our RS guides BUT we have gotten other BETTER goodies from our RS guides!) ***YES – the 1 thing for sure America does better than Europe are the restrooms!

Though we have always brought a water bottle & I plan on bringing my amazing YETI cup (keeping coffee hot or wine coolers chilled on the plane, etc) I am ordering the silicone collapsible travel cups – they will be especially great on our walking tours – SO much easier to carry than a water bottle or YETI cup.

I can share my quick drying underwear is great – have had it for many years off a travel site & while I have NOT tried any others – here’s an Amazon link to quick dry ladies underwear – this way only 2 pair are needed – 1 to hand wash & 1 to wear: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=quick+drying+ladies+underwear&crid=1H2JGWJNFWEL9&sprefix=quick+drying+ladies%2Caps%2C302&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_19

Thanks for sharing these wonderful ideas! What a great topic line! Happy travels everyone! We are leaving for our 3rd RS tour in October – Germany & Austria & have a deposit on a 2023 RS trip to Greece!

I’ve packed and repacked my carryon about twenty times over the Covid Madness. The only extras I have are a tiny super bright LED torch and a silk skin layer that works as pajamas or an extra insulating layer in extreme cold. Everything else, literally everything, is AE=GRADE, absolutely essential, multi-functional, lightweight, and easy care.

Bubble wrap sheets in the event you buy something fragile. Swiss Army knife if you are checking bags. I use my Swiss army knife everyday for something.

I did Munich to Vienna in December knowing I would buy stuff at the Advent Markets. I felt very smart bringing bubble wrap, tape and a swiss army knife to cut stuff and also has a great corkscrew. I didn't worry about breakage. It was great.

Upcoming trip is carryon. No Swiss army knife. How I will function is unknown. This trip I'm using DHL to ship Christmas gifts I'm buying. But I'll still bring a few sheets of bubble wrap just in case.

I bring two loofah's. One that I keep in my pocket for the airports / bus & train stations, and one body size for the hotel. I like Almooni (easy to find on Amazon) as they are of good quality and come in many sizes. They are super light and easy to pack (un-hydrated)

We bring one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Hsxfl-Underwear-Lingerie-Stainless-Rotatable/dp/B09PDVKKWS/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=round+drying+rack&qid=1664725591&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjMwIiwicXNhIjoiMy44OSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNjcifQ%3D%3D&sr=8-3

Goes flat in it's own section of the suitcase. Very handy in the laundry at home - use it year round. Since we hand wash clothes frequently, its SO useful. Also, I bring snack bags and maybe 4 clothes pins.

I always pack one or two of these reading lights for the plane and dimly lit rooms in hotels and rental apartments: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BF8MBJP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I always bring a flat rubber sink stopper. When you sink wash your clothes, sometimes the stopper is missing or doesn’t work. I purchased mine at a hardware store and it takes up no room at all.