VERY OT International traveling???

It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've never
been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into Mexico.
And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a connecting
flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public transportation. I need to
know what to do??? How do I find a curling iron that will work no matter
where I go? Can I take an aerosol can of hairspray? How do people pack
what they need without going over the weight limits? Is cotton clothing the
best or too wrinkly? How do you pack clothing so it doesn't look like you
slept in it???

Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.

Deep breaths Leslie. You can do it! Can you reveal where you are going?
The easiest thing to do is go to a good hairdresser who can give you a cut
that needs no hairspray or curling iron! There are pump hairsprays, but
don't forget to keep it under 3oz. if you are going to carry it on.
I bet Bronnie can give you the best packing advice! I'll just tell you to
stay calm but enjoy the anticipation. People are really nice and will help
you with transportation.

--
Kathyl (KJ)
remove "nospam" before mchsi
http://community.webshots.com/user/kathylquiltz
"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." wrote in message
...
It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into
Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a
connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public transportation.
I need to know what to do??? How do I find a curling iron that will work
no matter where I go? Can I take an aerosol can of hairspray? How do
people pack what they need without going over the weight limits? Is
cotton clothing the best or too wrinkly? How do you pack clothing so it
doesn't look like you slept in it???

Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.

I don't know yet where we are going. I can choose the destination and we'll
be meeting there, so I will be traveling alone. The first few times it will
be closer to me and English speaking- I *know* that for sure! LOL My
overly bleached long blonde hair absolutely *must* be dried and ironed- no
way around that, I'm afraid. No really good hairdressers that I've found in
my small, small town and I don't want to cut it off any way. Sheesh- I am
going to lose my mind with all the little details- and I have nooooo idea
what most of the little details are! I ordered a 'dummies' book for travel
info. I hope that will help me, but with airline regs changing so often,
who knows how up-to-date the book will be.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

"KJ" wrote in message
news:qJ7bk.182593$TT4.79930@attbi_s22...
Deep breaths Leslie. You can do it! Can you reveal where you are going?
The easiest thing to do is go to a good hairdresser who can give you a cut
that needs no hairspray or curling iron! There are pump hairsprays, but
don't forget to keep it under 3oz. if you are going to carry it on.
I bet Bronnie can give you the best packing advice! I'll just tell you to
stay calm but enjoy the anticipation. People are really nice and will
help you with transportation.

--
Kathyl (KJ)
remove "nospam" before mchsi
http://community.webshots.com/user/kathylquiltz
"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." wrote in message
...
It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into
Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a
connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public transportation.
I need to know what to do??? How do I find a curling iron that will work
no matter where I go? Can I take an aerosol can of hairspray? How do
people pack what they need without going over the weight limits? Is
cotton clothing the best or too wrinkly? How do you pack clothing so it
doesn't look like you slept in it???

Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:

It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into
Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a
connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public
transportation. I need to know what to do??? ...snipped....
Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.

I just got back from Berlin in mid-June so I have current info :-).
First off WHERE will you be going & when? That has a lot to do with the
type of clothing to take. Don't worry about connecting flights. The
airline personnel should be waiting at the arrival door when you deplane
to help you and answer any questions.
When I went to Ireland, I found that I could dress more like I do
here at home (jeans and casual top) and not get looked at as if I was
from Mars -- LOL! When I was in the Czech Republic last year, you
would have thought I was running around naked because I had on dressy
jeans, a nice sweater and my walking sneakers! Older women in Europe do
not dress the way we do this side of the pond and very rarely wear denim
jeans. The young girls do but not us more mature women :-).
Most hotels now have irons & ironing boards available for their
guests. Blow dryers are usually in the bathrooms so you don't need to
worry about that. For other electrical stuff, get an electric plug
converter -- now available in even Target & Walmart at a pretty
reasonable price where the luggage and travel stuff is displayed. WEAR
your most comfy walking shoes on the plane and pack just one pair of
nice shoes. I usually stuff my socks INSIDE my nice shoes to help keep
them from getting squished :-).
Regardless of what you pack in your checked luggage, ALWAYS carry on
a change of undies and basic toiletries like comb, brush, toothpaste,
tooth brush & deodorant. In your checked baggage, you can pack any size
stuff you want but you can only *carry on* small bottles (max 3 or 4 oz)
of liquids, cremes, gels, etc. like toothpaste and shampoo. These small
bottles must all fit in a clear 1 quart zip lock bag and be put through
the security scanner separately, not inside your carry on bag. If you
take hairspray, take a SMALL can and pack it in your checked luggage.
Technically, I'm fairly sure that you are never allowed to carry on ANY
aerosol of ANY kind. Many airports in the States are getting less
restrictive about the zip lock baggie thing but I found that ALL the
European airports I went through in the last few years were VERY strict.
When you go through security, you will need to remove your jacket
(if you are wearing one) and your shoes and walk through in stocking
feet. I even have to put my cane through the scanner so it's a good
thing I can walk through on my own. If you don't think you can manage
this, just ask for a wheelchair when you get to the airport and use that
-- there is a special scanner that they have wheelchairs, etc. go
through and you will likely have to be "wanded" with the hand held device.
DO NOT carry on pointed end scissors of ANY length as they will be
confiscated in other countries. I take my Clover Cutter and have no
problem. Sewing needles and straight pins are OK.
**IF** you have knit tops, not the standard Stateside t-shirts, take
those as opposed to woven fabric tops. The knits pack better and
wrinkles usually come out once they are hung for a bit. This is what I
take along with elastic waist knit slacks unless it's winter or I am
going somewhere that I know is cold. Then I will pack NICE colored
jeans (black, burgundy, beige, dk. blue) which also get "unwrinkled"
quickly once hung for a bit. Fold your clothing a neatly as possible,
getting our all the wrinkles, then roll the folded items up. I fold my
tops like they do in the stores with the sides folded to the back and
then folded in half lengthwise. Then I ROLL the garment up lengthwise.
For some reason, I get fewer wrinkles doing this. I usually wear an
outfit twice when I travel so I NEVER take anything white. I'm not
often out getting all hot and sweaty and dirty like I did when I was
young. When we went to Japan, we planned on wearing outfits three times
if possible (not difficult with pants or shorts but a bit chancy with
tops), if not we did wash in the bathtub!
Purses are a total P.I.T.A. and totally unnecessary when in another
country. All the stuff you carry in your purse isn't as useful while on
holiday. When I was less "fluffy" I would wear a fanny pack instead.
Now that I am more ample, I have a small travel shoulder bag. It has a
long strap that I wear ACROSS my body so it can't be pulled off my
shoulder. I keep coins, bills and a credit card in a small 2
compartment change purse. Speaking of which, the foreign airports take
credit cards but very few of the fun small shops anywhere outside the
States take credit cards. Make sure that the card you take will give
you access to foreign ATMs, there will likely be on in your hotel and
for sure there will be one at just about every bank you should pass. Be
sure to call your credit card company and tell them you are going to be
outside the USA on holiday or they might not honor charges or attempts
to get cash from local ATMs!!
I also carry my passport with me at all times and it fits into a
zippered section of my travel purse. I also take my drivers license
even though I don't plan on driving. It's just handy to have that
second piece of photo ID. Keep a piece of paper with your passport that
has emergency info on it just in case something should happen.
HMMM, what else? OH -- free public rest rooms are almost
nonexistent outside the States. There *might* be pay toilets here and
there so don't drink a lot while you are out and about. If you use a
free public rest room in a shopping area or museum, etc. there will
likely be an attendant on duty. If so, be sure to leave a small "tip" --
watch to see what the local folks do and follow their example.
If you are unsure about tipping in restaurants, etc. be sure to ask
at your hotel front desk. Be honest and simply tell them you aren't
sure what is accepted in that area. In our Berlin hotel, the menu
stated that a 10% tip was automatically included in the cost of the
food. In the Czech Republic, we asked at the front desk and were told
that it was not expected. The young man who was our server in the hotel
restaurant spoke excellent English and really went out of his way so we
left him a nice tip on the last night we were there.
I could go on forever but this has gone on long enough -- LOL! If
you have any specific questions, post them or e-mail me and I will try
to answer. Don't forget to tell us where you are going, etc. OK??
CiaoMeow ^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

I think you should just take Tia Mary along. She sounds like she knows
what she is doing!
Taria

Tia Mary wrote:
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:

It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border
into Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to
catch a connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public
transportation. I need to know what to do??? ...snipped....
Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.


I just got back from Berlin in mid-June so I have current info :-).
First off WHERE will you be going & when? That has a lot to do with the
type of clothing to take. Don't worry about connecting flights. The
airline personnel should be waiting at the arrival door when you deplane
to help you and answer any questions.
When I went to Ireland, I found that I could dress more like I do
here at home (jeans and casual top) and not get looked at as if I was
from Mars -- LOL! When I was in the Czech Republic last year, you
would have thought I was running around naked because I had on dressy
jeans, a nice sweater and my walking sneakers! Older women in Europe do
not dress the way we do this side of the pond and very rarely wear denim
jeans. The young girls do but not us more mature women :-).
Most hotels now have irons & ironing boards available for their
guests. Blow dryers are usually in the bathrooms so you don't need to
worry about that. For other electrical stuff, get an electric plug
converter -- now available in even Target & Walmart at a pretty
reasonable price where the luggage and travel stuff is displayed. WEAR
your most comfy walking shoes on the plane and pack just one pair of
nice shoes. I usually stuff my socks INSIDE my nice shoes to help keep
them from getting squished :-).
Regardless of what you pack in your checked luggage, ALWAYS carry on
a change of undies and basic toiletries like comb, brush, toothpaste,
tooth brush & deodorant. In your checked baggage, you can pack any size
stuff you want but you can only *carry on* small bottles (max 3 or 4 oz)
of liquids, cremes, gels, etc. like toothpaste and shampoo. These small
bottles must all fit in a clear 1 quart zip lock bag and be put through
the security scanner separately, not inside your carry on bag. If you
take hairspray, take a SMALL can and pack it in your checked luggage.
Technically, I'm fairly sure that you are never allowed to carry on ANY
aerosol of ANY kind. Many airports in the States are getting less
restrictive about the zip lock baggie thing but I found that ALL the
European airports I went through in the last few years were VERY strict.
When you go through security, you will need to remove your jacket (if
you are wearing one) and your shoes and walk through in stocking feet.
I even have to put my cane through the scanner so it's a good thing I
can walk through on my own. If you don't think you can manage this,
just ask for a wheelchair when you get to the airport and use that --
there is a special scanner that they have wheelchairs, etc. go through
and you will likely have to be "wanded" with the hand held device.
DO NOT carry on pointed end scissors of ANY length as they will be
confiscated in other countries. I take my Clover Cutter and have no
problem. Sewing needles and straight pins are OK.
**IF** you have knit tops, not the standard Stateside t-shirts, take
those as opposed to woven fabric tops. The knits pack better and
wrinkles usually come out once they are hung for a bit. This is what I
take along with elastic waist knit slacks unless it's winter or I am
going somewhere that I know is cold. Then I will pack NICE colored
jeans (black, burgundy, beige, dk. blue) which also get "unwrinkled"
quickly once hung for a bit. Fold your clothing a neatly as possible,
getting our all the wrinkles, then roll the folded items up. I fold my
tops like they do in the stores with the sides folded to the back and
then folded in half lengthwise. Then I ROLL the garment up lengthwise.
For some reason, I get fewer wrinkles doing this. I usually wear an
outfit twice when I travel so I NEVER take anything white. I'm not
often out getting all hot and sweaty and dirty like I did when I was
young. When we went to Japan, we planned on wearing outfits three times
if possible (not difficult with pants or shorts but a bit chancy with
tops), if not we did wash in the bathtub!
Purses are a total P.I.T.A. and totally unnecessary when in another
country. All the stuff you carry in your purse isn't as useful while on
holiday. When I was less "fluffy" I would wear a fanny pack instead.
Now that I am more ample, I have a small travel shoulder bag. It has a
long strap that I wear ACROSS my body so it can't be pulled off my
shoulder. I keep coins, bills and a credit card in a small 2
compartment change purse. Speaking of which, the foreign airports take
credit cards but very few of the fun small shops anywhere outside the
States take credit cards. Make sure that the card you take will give
you access to foreign ATMs, there will likely be on in your hotel and
for sure there will be one at just about every bank you should pass. Be
sure to call your credit card company and tell them you are going to be
outside the USA on holiday or they might not honor charges or attempts
to get cash from local ATMs!!
I also carry my passport with me at all times and it fits into a
zippered section of my travel purse. I also take my drivers license
even though I don't plan on driving. It's just handy to have that
second piece of photo ID. Keep a piece of paper with your passport that
has emergency info on it just in case something should happen.
HMMM, what else? OH -- free public rest rooms are almost nonexistent
outside the States. There *might* be pay toilets here and there so
don't drink a lot while you are out and about. If you use a free public
rest room in a shopping area or museum, etc. there will likely be an
attendant on duty. If so, be sure to leave a small "tip" -- watch to see
what the local folks do and follow their example.
If you are unsure about tipping in restaurants, etc. be sure to ask
at your hotel front desk. Be honest and simply tell them you aren't
sure what is accepted in that area. In our Berlin hotel, the menu
stated that a 10% tip was automatically included in the cost of the
food. In the Czech Republic, we asked at the front desk and were told
that it was not expected. The young man who was our server in the hotel
restaurant spoke excellent English and really went out of his way so we
left him a nice tip on the last night we were there.
I could go on forever but this has gone on long enough -- LOL! If
you have any specific questions, post them or e-mail me and I will try
to answer. Don't forget to tell us where you are going, etc. OK??
CiaoMeow ^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

How and where do you exchange USA money to get the proper 'local' currency?
How do you know how much local money to get? How do you remember what each
coin or bill represents and then know what the heck 10% or 20% is??? That
is a major worry for me! I don't want to hand out the equivalent of a $50
tip for lunch! And I'll have to ask what coin the restrooms require- I have
that little middle aged female problem.... I guess I'll have to spend my
vacation time dehydrated! What do the locals do when the need arises?????
LOL

I assumed jeans would be too heavy to pack- I had planned on cotton knit
slacks/shorts and tops. But would a blend or synthetic pack better? I
guess I should have one basic simple dress to wear? And my artificial hip
and all the extra metal hardware in there from the second replacement make
the alarms go crazy at airports! Oh my......

Leslie

"Tia Mary" wrote in message
...
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:

It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into
Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a
connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public transportation.
I need to know what to do??? ...snipped....
Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.

I just got back from Berlin in mid-June so I have current info :-).
First off WHERE will you be going & when? That has a lot to do with the
type of clothing to take. Don't worry about connecting flights. The
airline personnel should be waiting at the arrival door when you deplane
to help you and answer any questions.
When I went to Ireland, I found that I could dress more like I do here
at home (jeans and casual top) and not get looked at as if I was from
Mars -- LOL! When I was in the Czech Republic last year, you would have
thought I was running around naked because I had on dressy jeans, a nice
sweater and my walking sneakers! Older women in Europe do not dress the
way we do this side of the pond and very rarely wear denim jeans. The
young girls do but not us more mature women :-).
Most hotels now have irons & ironing boards available for their guests.
Blow dryers are usually in the bathrooms so you don't need to worry about
that. For other electrical stuff, get an electric plug converter -- now
available in even Target & Walmart at a pretty reasonable price where the
luggage and travel stuff is displayed. WEAR your most comfy walking shoes
on the plane and pack just one pair of nice shoes. I usually stuff my
socks INSIDE my nice shoes to help keep them from getting squished :-).
Regardless of what you pack in your checked luggage, ALWAYS carry on a
change of undies and basic toiletries like comb, brush, toothpaste, tooth
brush & deodorant. In your checked baggage, you can pack any size stuff
you want but you can only *carry on* small bottles (max 3 or 4 oz) of
liquids, cremes, gels, etc. like toothpaste and shampoo. These small
bottles must all fit in a clear 1 quart zip lock bag and be put through
the security scanner separately, not inside your carry on bag. If you
take hairspray, take a SMALL can and pack it in your checked luggage.
Technically, I'm fairly sure that you are never allowed to carry on ANY
aerosol of ANY kind. Many airports in the States are getting less
restrictive about the zip lock baggie thing but I found that ALL the
European airports I went through in the last few years were VERY strict.
When you go through security, you will need to remove your jacket (if
you are wearing one) and your shoes and walk through in stocking feet. I
even have to put my cane through the scanner so it's a good thing I can
walk through on my own. If you don't think you can manage this, just ask
for a wheelchair when you get to the airport and use that -- there is a
special scanner that they have wheelchairs, etc. go through and you will
likely have to be "wanded" with the hand held device.
DO NOT carry on pointed end scissors of ANY length as they will be
confiscated in other countries. I take my Clover Cutter and have no
problem. Sewing needles and straight pins are OK.
**IF** you have knit tops, not the standard Stateside t-shirts, take
those as opposed to woven fabric tops. The knits pack better and wrinkles
usually come out once they are hung for a bit. This is what I take along
with elastic waist knit slacks unless it's winter or I am going somewhere
that I know is cold. Then I will pack NICE colored jeans (black,
burgundy, beige, dk. blue) which also get "unwrinkled" quickly once hung
for a bit. Fold your clothing a neatly as possible, getting our all the
wrinkles, then roll the folded items up. I fold my tops like they do in
the stores with the sides folded to the back and then folded in half
lengthwise. Then I ROLL the garment up lengthwise. For some reason, I get
fewer wrinkles doing this. I usually wear an outfit twice when I travel
so I NEVER take anything white. I'm not often out getting all hot and
sweaty and dirty like I did when I was young. When we went to Japan, we
planned on wearing outfits three times if possible (not difficult with
pants or shorts but a bit chancy with tops), if not we did wash in the
bathtub!
Purses are a total P.I.T.A. and totally unnecessary when in another
country. All the stuff you carry in your purse isn't as useful while on
holiday. When I was less "fluffy" I would wear a fanny pack instead. Now
that I am more ample, I have a small travel shoulder bag. It has a long
strap that I wear ACROSS my body so it can't be pulled off my shoulder. I
keep coins, bills and a credit card in a small 2 compartment change purse.
Speaking of which, the foreign airports take credit cards but very few of
the fun small shops anywhere outside the States take credit cards. Make
sure that the card you take will give you access to foreign ATMs, there
will likely be on in your hotel and for sure there will be one at just
about every bank you should pass. Be sure to call your credit card
company and tell them you are going to be outside the USA on holiday or
they might not honor charges or attempts to get cash from local ATMs!!
I also carry my passport with me at all times and it fits into a
zippered section of my travel purse. I also take my drivers license even
though I don't plan on driving. It's just handy to have that second piece
of photo ID. Keep a piece of paper with your passport that has emergency
info on it just in case something should happen.
HMMM, what else? OH -- free public rest rooms are almost nonexistent
outside the States. There *might* be pay toilets here and there so don't
drink a lot while you are out and about. If you use a free public rest
room in a shopping area or museum, etc. there will likely be an attendant
on duty. If so, be sure to leave a small "tip" --
watch to see what the local folks do and follow their example.
If you are unsure about tipping in restaurants, etc. be sure to ask at
your hotel front desk. Be honest and simply tell them you aren't sure
what is accepted in that area. In our Berlin hotel, the menu stated that
a 10% tip was automatically included in the cost of the food. In the
Czech Republic, we asked at the front desk and were told that it was not
expected. The young man who was our server in the hotel restaurant spoke
excellent English and really went out of his way so we left him a nice tip
on the last night we were there.
I could go on forever but this has gone on long enough -- LOL! If you
have any specific questions, post them or e-mail me and I will try to
answer. Don't forget to tell us where you are going, etc. OK?? CiaoMeow
^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

And what about a cell phone that works outside the USA??? Is there such a
thing and how do I get one???

Leslie

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." wrote in message
...
How and where do you exchange USA money to get the proper 'local'
currency? How do you know how much local money to get? How do you
remember what each coin or bill represents and then know what the heck 10%
or 20% is??? That is a major worry for me! I don't want to hand out the
equivalent of a $50 tip for lunch! And I'll have to ask what coin the
restrooms require- I have that little middle aged female problem.... I
guess I'll have to spend my vacation time dehydrated! What do the locals
do when the need arises????? LOL

I assumed jeans would be too heavy to pack- I had planned on cotton knit
slacks/shorts and tops. But would a blend or synthetic pack better? I
guess I should have one basic simple dress to wear? And my artificial hip
and all the extra metal hardware in there from the second replacement make
the alarms go crazy at airports! Oh my......

Leslie

"Tia Mary" wrote in message
...
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:

It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into
Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a
connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public
transportation. I need to know what to do??? ...snipped....
Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.

I just got back from Berlin in mid-June so I have current info :-).
First off WHERE will you be going & when? That has a lot to do with the
type of clothing to take. Don't worry about connecting flights. The
airline personnel should be waiting at the arrival door when you deplane
to help you and answer any questions.
When I went to Ireland, I found that I could dress more like I do here
at home (jeans and casual top) and not get looked at as if I was from
Mars -- LOL! When I was in the Czech Republic last year, you would have
thought I was running around naked because I had on dressy jeans, a nice
sweater and my walking sneakers! Older women in Europe do not dress the
way we do this side of the pond and very rarely wear denim jeans. The
young girls do but not us more mature women :-).
Most hotels now have irons & ironing boards available for their guests.
Blow dryers are usually in the bathrooms so you don't need to worry about
that. For other electrical stuff, get an electric plug converter -- now
available in even Target & Walmart at a pretty reasonable price where the
luggage and travel stuff is displayed. WEAR your most comfy walking
shoes on the plane and pack just one pair of nice shoes. I usually stuff
my socks INSIDE my nice shoes to help keep them from getting squished
:-).
Regardless of what you pack in your checked luggage, ALWAYS carry on a
change of undies and basic toiletries like comb, brush, toothpaste, tooth
brush & deodorant. In your checked baggage, you can pack any size stuff
you want but you can only *carry on* small bottles (max 3 or 4 oz) of
liquids, cremes, gels, etc. like toothpaste and shampoo. These small
bottles must all fit in a clear 1 quart zip lock bag and be put through
the security scanner separately, not inside your carry on bag. If you
take hairspray, take a SMALL can and pack it in your checked luggage.
Technically, I'm fairly sure that you are never allowed to carry on ANY
aerosol of ANY kind. Many airports in the States are getting less
restrictive about the zip lock baggie thing but I found that ALL the
European airports I went through in the last few years were VERY strict.
When you go through security, you will need to remove your jacket (if
you are wearing one) and your shoes and walk through in stocking feet. I
even have to put my cane through the scanner so it's a good thing I can
walk through on my own. If you don't think you can manage this, just ask
for a wheelchair when you get to the airport and use that -- there is a
special scanner that they have wheelchairs, etc. go through and you will
likely have to be "wanded" with the hand held device.
DO NOT carry on pointed end scissors of ANY length as they will be
confiscated in other countries. I take my Clover Cutter and have no
problem. Sewing needles and straight pins are OK.
**IF** you have knit tops, not the standard Stateside t-shirts, take
those as opposed to woven fabric tops. The knits pack better and
wrinkles usually come out once they are hung for a bit. This is what I
take along with elastic waist knit slacks unless it's winter or I am
going somewhere that I know is cold. Then I will pack NICE colored jeans
(black, burgundy, beige, dk. blue) which also get "unwrinkled" quickly
once hung for a bit. Fold your clothing a neatly as possible, getting
our all the wrinkles, then roll the folded items up. I fold my tops like
they do in the stores with the sides folded to the back and then folded
in half lengthwise. Then I ROLL the garment up lengthwise. For some
reason, I get fewer wrinkles doing this. I usually wear an outfit twice
when I travel so I NEVER take anything white. I'm not often out getting
all hot and sweaty and dirty like I did when I was young. When we went
to Japan, we planned on wearing outfits three times if possible (not
difficult with pants or shorts but a bit chancy with tops), if not we did
wash in the bathtub!
Purses are a total P.I.T.A. and totally unnecessary when in another
country. All the stuff you carry in your purse isn't as useful while on
holiday. When I was less "fluffy" I would wear a fanny pack instead. Now
that I am more ample, I have a small travel shoulder bag. It has a long
strap that I wear ACROSS my body so it can't be pulled off my shoulder.
I keep coins, bills and a credit card in a small 2 compartment change
purse. Speaking of which, the foreign airports take credit cards but very
few of the fun small shops anywhere outside the States take credit cards.
Make sure that the card you take will give you access to foreign ATMs,
there will likely be on in your hotel and for sure there will be one at
just about every bank you should pass. Be sure to call your credit card
company and tell them you are going to be outside the USA on holiday or
they might not honor charges or attempts to get cash from local ATMs!!
I also carry my passport with me at all times and it fits into a
zippered section of my travel purse. I also take my drivers license even
though I don't plan on driving. It's just handy to have that second
piece of photo ID. Keep a piece of paper with your passport that has
emergency info on it just in case something should happen.
HMMM, what else? OH -- free public rest rooms are almost nonexistent
outside the States. There *might* be pay toilets here and there so don't
drink a lot while you are out and about. If you use a free public rest
room in a shopping area or museum, etc. there will likely be an attendant
on duty. If so, be sure to leave a small "tip" --
watch to see what the local folks do and follow their example.
If you are unsure about tipping in restaurants, etc. be sure to ask at
your hotel front desk. Be honest and simply tell them you aren't sure
what is accepted in that area. In our Berlin hotel, the menu stated that
a 10% tip was automatically included in the cost of the food. In the
Czech Republic, we asked at the front desk and were told that it was not
expected. The young man who was our server in the hotel restaurant spoke
excellent English and really went out of his way so we left him a nice
tip on the last night we were there.
I could go on forever but this has gone on long enough -- LOL! If you
have any specific questions, post them or e-mail me and I will try to
answer. Don't forget to tell us where you are going, etc. OK?? CiaoMeow
^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

Yogi and I will be arriving shortly (easy to do, we are both short) to
entertain the furbabies while your are gone. We are not cheap and they will
be a little spoiled upon your return. Don't fail to pack Imodium and spare
glasses. If you pack them, you won't need them. Polly


"Taria" wrote in message
news:558bk.409$4a3.318@trnddc04...
I think you should just take Tia Mary along. She sounds like she knows
what she is doing!
Taria

Tia Mary wrote:
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote:

It seems I am going to have the opportunity to do some traveling- I've
never been outside the USA except for a short way across the border into
Mexico. And I've only flown about 5 times and never even had to catch a
connecting flight. I've never ridden in a taxi or public
transportation. I need to know what to do??? ...snipped....
Help!

Leslie- applied for my passport and now I'm lost! & The Furbabies in MO.


I just got back from Berlin in mid-June so I have current info :-).
First off WHERE will you be going & when? That has a lot to do with the
type of clothing to take. Don't worry about connecting flights. The
airline personnel should be waiting at the arrival door when you deplane
to help you and answer any questions.
When I went to Ireland, I found that I could dress more like I do here
at home (jeans and casual top) and not get looked at as if I was from
Mars -- LOL! When I was in the Czech Republic last year, you would have
thought I was running around naked because I had on dressy jeans, a nice
sweater and my walking sneakers! Older women in Europe do not dress the
way we do this side of the pond and very rarely wear denim jeans. The
young girls do but not us more mature women :-).
Most hotels now have irons & ironing boards available for their guests.
Blow dryers are usually in the bathrooms so you don't need to worry about
that. For other electrical stuff, get an electric plug converter -- now
available in even Target & Walmart at a pretty reasonable price where the
luggage and travel stuff is displayed. WEAR your most comfy walking
shoes on the plane and pack just one pair of nice shoes. I usually stuff
my socks INSIDE my nice shoes to help keep them from getting squished
:-).
Regardless of what you pack in your checked luggage, ALWAYS carry on a
change of undies and basic toiletries like comb, brush, toothpaste, tooth
brush & deodorant. In your checked baggage, you can pack any size stuff
you want but you can only *carry on* small bottles (max 3 or 4 oz) of
liquids, cremes, gels, etc. like toothpaste and shampoo. These small
bottles must all fit in a clear 1 quart zip lock bag and be put through
the security scanner separately, not inside your carry on bag. If you
take hairspray, take a SMALL can and pack it in your checked luggage.
Technically, I'm fairly sure that you are never allowed to carry on ANY
aerosol of ANY kind. Many airports in the States are getting less
restrictive about the zip lock baggie thing but I found that ALL the
European airports I went through in the last few years were VERY strict.
When you go through security, you will need to remove your jacket (if
you are wearing one) and your shoes and walk through in stocking feet. I
even have to put my cane through the scanner so it's a good thing I can
walk through on my own. If you don't think you can manage this, just ask
for a wheelchair when you get to the airport and use that --
there is a special scanner that they have wheelchairs, etc. go through
and you will likely have to be "wanded" with the hand held device.
DO NOT carry on pointed end scissors of ANY length as they will be
confiscated in other countries. I take my Clover Cutter and have no
problem. Sewing needles and straight pins are OK.
**IF** you have knit tops, not the standard Stateside t-shirts, take
those as opposed to woven fabric tops. The knits pack better and
wrinkles usually come out once they are hung for a bit. This is what I
take along with elastic waist knit slacks unless it's winter or I am
going somewhere that I know is cold. Then I will pack NICE colored jeans
(black, burgundy, beige, dk. blue) which also get "unwrinkled" quickly
once hung for a bit. Fold your clothing a neatly as possible, getting
our all the wrinkles, then roll the folded items up. I fold my tops like
they do in the stores with the sides folded to the back and then folded
in half lengthwise. Then I ROLL the garment up lengthwise. For some
reason, I get fewer wrinkles doing this. I usually wear an outfit twice
when I travel so I NEVER take anything white. I'm not often out getting
all hot and sweaty and dirty like I did when I was young. When we went
to Japan, we planned on wearing outfits three times if possible (not
difficult with pants or shorts but a bit chancy with tops), if not we did
wash in the bathtub!
Purses are a total P.I.T.A. and totally unnecessary when in another
country. All the stuff you carry in your purse isn't as useful while on
holiday. When I was less "fluffy" I would wear a fanny pack instead. Now
that I am more ample, I have a small travel shoulder bag. It has a long
strap that I wear ACROSS my body so it can't be pulled off my shoulder.
I keep coins, bills and a credit card in a small 2 compartment change
purse. Speaking of which, the foreign airports take credit cards but
very few of the fun small shops anywhere outside the States take credit
cards. Make sure that the card you take will give you access to foreign
ATMs, there will likely be on in your hotel and for sure there will be
one at just about every bank you should pass. Be sure to call your
credit card company and tell them you are going to be outside the USA on
holiday or they might not honor charges or attempts to get cash from
local ATMs!!
I also carry my passport with me at all times and it fits into a
zippered section of my travel purse. I also take my drivers license even
though I don't plan on driving. It's just handy to have that second
piece of photo ID. Keep a piece of paper with your passport that has
emergency info on it just in case something should happen.
HMMM, what else? OH -- free public rest rooms are almost nonexistent
outside the States. There *might* be pay toilets here and there so don't
drink a lot while you are out and about. If you use a free public rest
room in a shopping area or museum, etc. there will likely be an attendant
on duty. If so, be sure to leave a small "tip" -- watch to see what the
local folks do and follow their example.
If you are unsure about tipping in restaurants, etc. be sure to ask at
your hotel front desk. Be honest and simply tell them you aren't sure
what is accepted in that area. In our Berlin hotel, the menu stated that
a 10% tip was automatically included in the cost of the food. In the
Czech Republic, we asked at the front desk and were told that it was not
expected. The young man who was our server in the hotel restaurant spoke
excellent English and really went out of his way so we left him a nice
tip on the last night we were there.
I could go on forever but this has gone on long enough -- LOL! If you
have any specific questions, post them or e-mail me and I will try to
answer. Don't forget to tell us where you are going, etc. OK?? CiaoMeow
^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

Taria wrote:
I think you should just take Tia Mary along. She sounds like she knows
what she is doing!
Taria


HEY -- works for me as I obviously do love to travel -- LOL! Before
we moved to Magnoliaville (AKA Atlanta 8 1/2 yrs ago) DH and I had
traveled to Hawaii 12 times, Japan, Tahiti, Fiji, areas of the Caribbean
and a bit of Mexico and Canada. Since moving here we have been to more
parts of the Caribbean, Hawaii again, Winnipeg, Ireland, Austria, The
Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and twice to Germany! DH has gone to
Germany at least 5 times, 4 times to Japan, Italy once, Sweden 4 or 5
times, Spain once and probably some other places I have forgotten about.
All without me, of course -- LOL!
OH -- wanted to talk a bit about water. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER --
doesn't matter where you go! Even here in the States, I am careful
about drinking too much "public" water in areas I am not used to being
in. The different levels of acceptable minerals, etc. can have an
effect on your lower intestinal tract -- IF you get my drift! You
won't get sick but you also won't want to be too far from the nearest
restroom :-). So -- drink bottled water as often as possible. And
remember, ice is made from water and if the ice in your beferage isn't
almost clear then it's got stuff in it that *might* make you unhappy.
A question for our Canadian mambers. Have you guys gotten fixated
on ice in your drinks yet like we have in the States? I always laugh
when I am in Europe and ask for ice in my drink and get one or maybe two
pieces :-). I LOVE ice and fill my glass with ice and then add my
beverage! I was REALLY happy when we got to the hotel in Berlin and say
that there waz an ice make on our floor and very near our room AND the
ice was lovely, made from very clean, filtered water -- DH and I went
through a bucket or two of it each day! CiaoMeow ^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary

So European ice is safe? I thought you said no ice? I'm confused? And is
*ALL* bottled water safe???

I'm getting a headache...

Leslie

"Tia Mary" wrote in message
...
Taria wrote:
I think you should just take Tia Mary along. She sounds like she knows
what she is doing!
Taria


HEY -- works for me as I obviously do love to travel -- LOL! Before we
moved to Magnoliaville (AKA Atlanta 8 1/2 yrs ago) DH and I had traveled
to Hawaii 12 times, Japan, Tahiti, Fiji, areas of the Caribbean and a bit
of Mexico and Canada. Since moving here we have been to more parts of
the Caribbean, Hawaii again, Winnipeg, Ireland, Austria, The Netherlands,
the Czech Republic, and twice to Germany! DH has gone to Germany at least
5 times, 4 times to Japan, Italy once, Sweden 4 or 5 times, Spain once and
probably some other places I have forgotten about. All without me, of
course -- LOL!
OH -- wanted to talk a bit about water. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER --
doesn't matter where you go! Even here in the States, I am careful about
drinking too much "public" water in areas I am not used to being in. The
different levels of acceptable minerals, etc. can have an effect on your
lower intestinal tract -- IF you get my drift! You won't get sick but you
also won't want to be too far from the nearest restroom :-). So -- drink
bottled water as often as possible. And remember, ice is made from water
and if the ice in your beferage isn't almost clear then it's got stuff in
it that *might* make you unhappy.
A question for our Canadian mambers. Have you guys gotten fixated on
ice in your drinks yet like we have in the States? I always laugh when I
am in Europe and ask for ice in my drink and get one or maybe two pieces
:-). I LOVE ice and fill my glass with ice and then add my beverage! I
was REALLY happy when we got to the hotel in Berlin and say that there waz
an ice make on our floor and very near our room AND the ice was lovely,
made from very clean, filtered water -- DH and I went through a bucket or
two of it each day! CiaoMeow ^;;^

PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary