Packing list
In response to Nan’s “Rick Steves” comments, I am publishing my packing list. First, Rick’s packing advice. He says one bag, but he says light, and he says mobile. I think my two messenger bags, as long as I can get on the plane with them, do the job better in spirit than one large backpack. Also, Rick warns about not marking yourself as a tourist. I think my bags were far less conspicuous than a monster pack would be, even if I have 2, not 1, bags.
Anyway, you can click Rick’s packing list, (that’s Rick, left, with breakfast and a guide book) or read mine:
Big Trip – 2 bags (on same sheet as my small list for DC. That was 1 bag)
- hat
- 6 socks
- 6 underwear
- 4 shirts: t, polo, button
1 pants- 2 shorts
sandals- swimsuit
(more below the fold –>)
- address list (for postcards home)
- phone numbers (for Europe)
- passport
- tickets? (just receipts)
creditcardcashcard- cash (took $300)
- GSM phone / SIM
- camera (HP SD450, w/1 meg card)
- battery (camera, w/charger)
- converter (220 adapter)
- extra (fully charged) phone battery
- cell (regular one, for return, and as phone book)
- pens/pencils
- playing cards
- paper/notebook
- peanut butter (made three sandwiches for the trip)
salami- benadryl (when I get insect bites, I take it just before bed to cut the itch and make me drowsy)
aspirin- sunscreen (confiscated before I left Queens)
soap? conditioner? shampoo- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- dental floss
- hairbrush
- scrungies
- glasses
- sunglasses
- razor
- watch
- wash cloth ? (left blank, didn’t bother)
towel?- books: pleasure, guide, phrase (I took 9 or 10)
- programming (I did some work, just touch up)
gifts ?- playing cards (must like them, double listed. Never played)
The next page has a list of things I needed to do to clean and close my apartment, or to pick up or put together before I left. In addition to what’s listed, I wore jeans and a polo shirt. And that’s it. I think Rick Steves would not disapprove. I could have used his clothesline, and will buy one before next summer.
JD2718 
A clothesline is very handy! I have one…an elastic deal with two suction cups on the end and the pins attached.
For soap, conditioner, etc I recommend Dr. Bronner’s. It’s an all-in-one deal and it comes in a container small enough that it won’t be tossed at security check.
I’m glad you took salami off the list! Your fellow passengers thank you.
They confiscated your sunscreen, really? Because it was too big?
Scrungies?
We used Rick’s clothesline on our last trip, and found it useful not to have to worry about clothespins. Sometimes it was hard to find places to hang it though, but it usually worked out well. Since we were traveling with 3 kids and for 3 weeks, and since my DH is big into photography and needed to have all his stuff, we didn’t manage to travel quite so light (we did check luggage) but it was better than usual for us. When we travel by car within the US, we bring *everything* ;-)