Comments | qatar: Valderi, valdera, my knapsack on my back...

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Valderi, valdera, my knapsack on my back...

Jun 07, 2009 13:28

The friend with whom I'm traveling to Spain asked my advice on what to pack, so as a follow-up to my travel planning tips, I am now sharing my default packing list when going to a new country for 7-10 days. I like to think I travel pretty light, but I know some of you are way more hard-core than me -- your feedback is welcome. :-)

( Marjorie's Default Pack List )

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Comments 12

materjibrail June 8 2009, 07:26:57 UTC

It always surprises me how little the list changes from a one week trip to a several month trip. My main differences- more socks, old fashioned cotton hankies, only one pair glasses (worn) plus prescription, a travel alarm clock, a book of Sudoku,tea bags if not in U K ,and it all goes in a wheelie suitcase on account of my advanced age and decrepit skeleton. I used to carry gifts but limit that severely these days. But doesn't the electronic stuff increase! And our iPod is older and bigger. Enjoy Spain.

roseandsigil June 8 2009, 08:34:22 UTC

Hey, Marjorie. Are you going anywhere this summer? Tom Cauchois, his girlfriend and I are going to be in (mostly as yet indeterminate) parts of Europe for large parts of the summer.

qatar June 8 2009, 09:49:10 UTC

Oooh. Yep, I'll be in Spain June 14-24 with my friend Ryan: two days each Seville, Granada, Montserrat, Barcelona and Madrid, in that order.

I'll also be in Pittsburgh June 28-July 5, not that you live there anymore. :-)

y_pestis June 8 2009, 20:57:00 UTC

Aww, so you won't be coming to England for your nephew's first birthday? And to think, you so enjoyed the day last year. :-)

roseandsigil June 8 2009, 22:31:01 UTC

Ah, we won't be over there until a month or so later, and will probably further north and east. Tragic!

mdrnprometheus June 8 2009, 13:36:31 UTC

I find that even though you're right about ATMs working OK, I still like to have a little bit of local currency on hand at landing time when traveling outside US/Europe. Have occasionally found that there's not liable to be an ATM around in India when you need one, and when I get off flights I'm cranky and don't want to deal with more logistics than necessary.

qatar June 8 2009, 13:49:47 UTC

That's true, we had some problems in Delhi with this strategy. If I have like $50 or €50 in cash sometimes I bring it along to have a hard currency just in case.

In India my main problem was always having small enough bills, since ATMs give you bills that are unspendable. I'm not sure what the best strategy for that is. In Sri Lanka I found that hotels were happy to break large bills for me, presumably since I'd be spending some of it tipping their employees, but in India I stayed in guesthouses and that didn't work.

mdrnprometheus June 8 2009, 14:05:10 UTC

True, US currency definitely works in a pinch. Never had to use it, but carried about $10 for just that reason.

As far as breaking big bills, I find that biscuits and similar are my friend. Shopkeepers HATE getting the Rs 1000 or Rs 500 notes, but the MRP is on the packet, so they have to find the change.

anonymous June 9 2009, 07:16:23 UTC

You're going to Spain????? How exciting! I look forward to reading about your adventures :-) Ruth

touch me! anonymous June 11 2009, 13:32:41 UTC

I love me some touch, too. Do you have the first or second generation iPod touch? (the 2nd gens have the volume buttons on the side.)

If it's second, you can install Skype for free and turn it into a Skype phone! International calls for pennies (or free)! If you've got Wi-Fi, you've got iPhone.

You just need a headset with a microphone, because the new touch can accept audio but doesn't have a built-in mic.

T.