WHAT TO PACK; WHAT TO BRING 

Always check the weather forecasts so you can pack your wardrobe accordingly.  Also, pay attention to when the sun rises and sets (especially sets!).  If there's a lot of daylight with a late sunset, you may need to pay attention to mealtimes and not go by where the sun is in the sky -- or else you may go to bed hungry without meaning to.

If you're heading for Europe, the weather is unpredictable, so bring an umbrella (preferably a lightweight, folding one that you can take everywhere you go).  Light raingear wouldn't hurt either.  If it's summer, bring sunblock and a hat too.  Speaking of hats, we like these new, lightweight sunblock fabric hats that collapse and easily fit in your luggage.  They're for men too -- Robin got his hat in Australia, where you can get a bad sunburn in less than 20 minutes.

Any liquid that you pack in your baggage is bound to leak!  (Vicky Jo's makeup oozes more with every flight.)  Whenever you pack shampoo, conditioner, cologne, perfume, etc., first squeeze the container to remove excess air, then tighten the lid.  Next, wrap it in a few layers of paper towel or Kleenex tissue, then store it in a plastic (or ziploc) bag.

Bring along your own shampoo, conditioner, and hand cream -- although some hotels supply these items, it's better to be sure!  VJ also brings along baking soda to soak in the tub with.  It soothes skin dried out from flying.

Since you are likely to buy souvenirs while traveling, allow room in your baggage for extra items.  It's a good idea to fill the extra space with bubble wrap or crumpled paper that you can discard as the space is filled.  Better still, get yourself some compressor bags.  As you accumulate dirty laundry, keep it in the compressor bags and use the extra space for souvenirs!

I always carry a small collapsible umbrella wherever I go, along with ear pops and a battery-operated personal fan.

Rick Steves (more about him lower) usually recommends withdrawing money from ATMs to fund your trip, but the August 2002 issue of "The Bottom Line" states that overseas ATMs are no longer bargains.  

"For years, ATMs offered cash at excellent exchange rates without fees.  But banks are now extending currency-exchange and usage fees to foreign transactions.  Result: You may be charged an ATM fee of about $2 and a transaction fee of 2% of the amount withdrawn, depending on the bank.  Better for getting cash:  Credit cards.  Many charge fees of 1% to 2% for foreign currency exchanges.  But some major issuers -- Capital One, FleetBoston, MBNA America and Wachovia -- and most community banks and cooperatives do not impose fees.  Check your credit card's travel perks before leaving the country.  Also:  Use credit cards for major purchases.  If something goes wrong, the card issues may help resolve the problem."

There will no doubt be a lot of walking, so pack comfortable walking shoes and thick woolen socks. I heard that spraying one's feet with underarm anti-perspirant before a long day of walking can help prevent blisters.  I haven't tried this myself yet, but I intend to.  We have recently invested in the new technology of "Blister-Guard" socks, which contain Teflon, because we heard they are good for preventing blisters.  It wouldn't hurt to take along some "moleskin" while you're at it, just in case a blister starts to develop anyway.

Pack so you can layer your clothing.  It's good to be able to slip a sweatshirt on and off instead of going "home" to change.

Chances are good that you'll spend the entire trip wearing your coat.  I bring lots of scarves along so I don't look the same in every photo taken of me on the trip.

Some kind of provision for carrying bottled water is useful, whether a bottle carrier or a backpack.  I've read that some people recommend bringing an emergency plastic jar of peanut butter along.

Buy insurance for your digital camera.  (It's unbelievably cheap, and worth every penny!)  Leave expensive jewelry at home if it won't fit in your money belt.

Most cell phones won't work in foreign countries, but some do (check with your cell phone company).  Don't bring walkie-talkies -- it's illegal to use U.S. walkie-talkie frequencies in other countries.

You will need power adapters to be able to connect U.S. appliances to foreign power outlets.  Most electronics stores, like Radio Shack, sell them.  Also check the voltage requirements of any appliances you intend to bring.  These days many are "auto-switching" and will work on 115 or 240 volts.  (Read more about different country voltages here.)  If your U.S. appliances do not "auto-switch," you will need a transformer, which can also be bought at electronics stores.

You may wish to bring business cards or calling cards of some sort to hand out to new friends, and bring address stickers to stick on any mailing lists you may like to be on so you don't waste time handwriting.

Buy a Rick Steves guide.  Rick Steves is host of a popular public television program named "Rick Steves' Europe," and author of 22 European travel books.  As Rick says, "Guidebooks are $15 tools for $3,000 experiences. Many otherwise smart people base the trip of a lifetime on a borrowed copy of a three-year-old guidebook."  Sometimes AAA sells them to members at a discount.  Make sure you purchase the latest version -- check Amazon.com to see whether an update is scheduled for that particular country soon.  Be sure to READ it before you arrive, and take particular care to absorb the general tips at the front of the book -- it will surprise you how often you'll be glad you did.

The first thing we like to do whenever we go someplace new is take a tour.  We love the "hop-on/hop-off" bus tours or trolley/tram tours.  They allow us to get a "big picture" sense of the place before diving into particular sites, and it's also a good way to acclimate while we're still recovering from jetlag.  It's also a good time to pick the brains of tour guides and bus drivers for local tips and restaurant recommendations.  Whenever a guide rubs us the wrong way for some reason, we get off and wait for the next one!

Make a "hit list" of everything you hope to see on your trip and then prioritize it in order of importance.  That way you're less likely to overlook something important that you will regret missing once you return home.  And don't be afraid to make a pilgrimage alone to see something special if you can't convince your travel partners to accompany you.  Don't adopt the mentality that you have to stick together everywhere you go.  Besides, it will be worth it, and you'll regret it more if you don't, saying later to yourself, "if only."

Last but hardly least -- have a great trip!