| Tips on what to pack for a trip to Rome, posted by real travelers and Rome locals. Rome Map |
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 This is why you want
comfortable shoes! by horsinround2
Bring VERY comfortable shoes. Walking on cobblestones (and that's pretty much all you'll be walking on) is incredibly rough on your feet, so put them in the most comfortable walking shoes you have. Sunscreen was also invaluable.
A friend who spends a lot of time here said to bring mosquito repellant, so we did. And it sat unopened in the hotel room the whole time. Guess it just wasn't that time of year.
Put small tissue packs or napkins along with individually wrapped wet wipes in your purse. You will be very happy you have them when you manage to find a bathroom - most bathrooms don't haveTP or soap. Also pack a few band-aids & neosporin for any blisters you get from that marathon day spent walking half the city.
If you get even slightly seasick: pack Dramamine. This city moves. My sister & I both suffered from motion sickness due to the ground refusing to hold still (nope - no alcohol involved). With everything being built on top of something else & the metro running underground it all, it's like standing on a ship at sea.
If you have allergies: we found it helpful to write (in Italian) on a 3x5 card my mom's food allergies and on the other side her medical allergies. This made it much easier when ordering food and if there had been an emergency would have been a huge help in communicating with Dr's. Pack that epi-pen if you're allergic to bees. Lots of beautiful flowers here = a whole bunch of bees.
We packed a ton of film, so didn't need any. But, we saw several one-hour film shops with plenty of Kodak film.
Sunglasses, washcloth (the hotels don't have any), a small container of liquid laundry degergent for washing out clothes in the bathroom sink (means you won't have to pack as much), clothes that mix & match, a good guide book or three, and a pocket language dictionary. Churches have strict dress codes, so it's easiest to sightsee in pants, capri's, or long skirts and a shirt that has sleeves that at least cover your shoulders. Leave a Comment
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Neck pillows, Tylenol PM and eye masks for the plane trip. Northwest Airlines as many airlines has TV screens on the back of the seats which, even off, glare blue.
Umbrella and rain cape. It was beautiful when arrived and then it poured within a couple of hours. We did bring - just didn't put in the backback.
Take travel kleenex and travel packs of baby wipes or Wet Ones and toilet seat covers. Most toilets were well maintained but we were glad we had them all day. We took travel toilet paper roll but did not use.
Don't use the money changers in the airport in the baggage claim area. Very high exchange rate/surcharge. Wait for an ATM. You can purchase your Termini traing tickets at the tabachhi shops with a credit card or wait to exchange outside the baggage claim area. Leave a Comment
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 bring good shoes (hah sis and
I had same shoes) by cotinara
My oh my! I decided to bring one pair of shoes, but these shoes are the ones I wear on a daily basis here, are broken in, and look good with everything. So I was in for a big and painful surprise when they didn't stand up to the uneven cobblestone roads and the vast amount of walking we did. Ended up with blisters so bad, that my ankle and leg were hurting and was limping the rest of the trip. BRING 2 PAIR OF SHOES WITH YOU TO INTERCHANGE, AND MAKE SURE ONE IS A FASHIONABLE PAIR OF SNEAKERS.
Bring the bare essentials. Because of the new travel guidelines you want to get the mini travel sizes. Some stuff you can definitely buy abroad other things are better if you just bring them with you, namely deodarant and eye solution for contacts. Get tiny toothpaste, a perfums, and then buy shampoo while there.
Oh ya, because i was in so much pain I had to stop at a pharmacy and stock up on bandages, blisters doughnuts, and Dr. Scholl's products or 24 Euro worth of foot aid. Not cool.
I just brought a USB cable that I loaded with my days worth of photos and deleted them off my digital camera. You can do this at any internet cafe (which there are aplenty) or in my case my friends laptop.
We didn't bother with bringing umbrellas and needed them, unfortunately, while we were there. We got them for 5 E and they were really good ones.
Bring the bare essentials, because it really is a drag bringing more than you need. Also worse case scenario you need to go shopping....wait, that can't be that bad;)
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Bring two pairs of walking shoes -- you'll do more walking in Rome than almost any other city you'll ever visit. Shoes that are comfy when visiting the mall may start causing problems after a day on Rome's streets. Switching between pairs can help.
Bring your own washcloth (facecloth) - even the best Italian hotels don't carry them. The Hilton at the airport has them, and other American chain hotels may have them, too. Pack a plastic bag to carry it back. I take one that I found at a Bed and Bath store. It is synthetic, so dries faster. Also, makeup rinses right off it! Amazing!
Bring a role of white athletic tape. It comes in handy, from sealing the mailing tube you buy to protect your antique print, to an emergency hem repair, to securing a bandaid that won't stay put. I've used it to hold down the "on" button on those annoying hair dryers some hotels have - you have to continually press down on the on button, or it turns off. I understand wanting to save on electricity, but geez, this is annoying!
Oh yes, and earplugs, especially if you've never stayed at your hotel before. There could be street noise - even with double-glazed windows. There could be noise from the hallway, the room next to you, etc. Leave a Comment
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Romans dress up for everything. Italians don't wear shorts or flipflops. Most women wear dresses all the time and the men always wear slacks, never shorts. Seeing how nicely they dress can make you a little self concious. Don't worry. Just pack some of your nicer, comfortable clothes and you will be fine. In the evening a nice dress will blend in and for men a nice pair of pants with a button shirt will always work.. As far as shoes go, bring something that is already "broken in". White tennis shoes are not very popular in Rome. I bought a tan pair that were very cool looking and did fine. You can get great walking shoes at any mall, and believe me, you will need them. Dont wear heels while exploring Rome or you will pay the price. All the cobbles make it a really bad choice not matter how nice they look. A hat in the summer is a good idea also, and not just for men.
Clothing that can be layered is the way to go in Rome. For women, in the summer, sleeveless tops for outside with a large scarf or a lightweight shirt ( with sleeves) for churches will do fine. Capri pants or a skirt is also a good choice, as you are not allowed to show your knees inside church out of respect. For men, those pants that have the zip off leg is a great way to go. Just put the legs on for any church and you're set. In the winter, layering is a must. The mornings and evenings can be quite cold, yet the afternoons can warm up quite a bit. I have found that long-sleeved t's, cardigan sweaters and a mid weight jacket work well.
As far as toiletries, I first check with the hotel to find out what they supply, and I bring everything else. Heres the list: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, deodorant, spare contact lenses, lense case, solution, spare glasses, brush, hairspray, moisturizer, make-up, razors(in checked luggage only!!) tylenol, immodium (just in case),and pepto (again, just in case), mole skin (for blisters-haven't had to use it yet!), band-aides, sound machine, current converter and dramamine (for plane and train trips). If your hotel doesn't supply theses you will need, hair dryer, wash cloth, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and flip-flops.
For photo equitpment I take a good camera bag with a large strap that can go across my body not just over my shoulder, my camera, different lenses (if you have an slr or dslr), memory cards or film, storage device for photos with card reader and battery charger. PLEASE!!!!DO NOT check your photo equiptment with your checked luggage, carry it on with you.
Here's what goes in my suitcase: Name and phone number of hotel where I am staying (in case luggage is lost), 4 pairs kahkis, 2 pair jeans, (pants in winter and capris in summer for all), 6-7 shortsleeve tops (summer), 6-7 longsleeve T's with 6-7 button up or pullover tops (winter- for layering), 1 bathing suit, 6 sets of undies, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 pair of flip-flops(for going to and from the pool), 6 pair of socks, 1 midweight jacket (winter), canvas shoulder bag and umbrella. In my carry-on: 1 book, 1 puzzle book with pencil, ipod, headphones, laptop, make-ep, contact stuff, toothbrush and paste, brush, dramamine and a change of clothes. I usually change into something more comfortable after the flight has taken off and change back just before landing. On overnight flights, this helps me sleep better. Leave a Comment
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pack an extra duffle/gym/tote bag for trinkets and souvenirs.
A shoulder type bag to carry your camera, books, maps, a smaller purse.
Vatican dress code requires all those entering St. Peter's to be modestly dressed. Shoulders must be covered. No shorts are allowed for men or women. Men must wear long pants and women choosing to wear skirts must have the length to the knee at minimum.
Bring a light jacket/umbrella in case of rain, but temperatures do reach into the 80s in late May.
When touring around the rest of Rome. dress comfortably....spring dresses, shorts, capri pants, skirts, linen pants, t-shirts are all good recommendations for tours in Rome. The Romans are quite fashionable, you will stick out less as a tourist if you dress well and sensibly.
Bring something nice for a evening out. Comfortable shoes for walking. I did manage to walk around Rome in heels for a few hours but be careful around cobblestones as they the heel sometimes will get stuck.
Band-aids, prescription medication and prescription if in need of refills, contact lens cleaners/solutions, extra contact lens case, pain medication (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc....you will be paying a lot more for them in the pharmacies in Rome).
Antibacterial hand wipes/gels for those moments when you just can't get to wash your hands.
Have a big enough card if you have a digital camera and extra batteries (you might have to pay more in Rome if it is a specialty battery)
Extra film for 35 mm point and shoot/SLR cameras.
SUNGLASSES!!!! Your eyes will thank you. (If you forget them, treat yourself to a nice Italian pair, just not those fake ones they sell on the street).
Money belt or money pocket when in more sketchy areas of Rome (Termini Station)
Journal to write down all the great places you visited throughout your trip.
Chewing gum/breath mints to neutralize all that garlic ;-) Leave a Comment
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When I pack I usually leave some empty space in my suitcase for souvies. Now we are not the "statue, ashtray, tacky souvenier" type. We usually buy clothing, jewelry or other small, easily packable items. Because of this, I don't need an extra bag in order to get my new things home. However, if you do like to buy big things, or a lot of things, then consider putting a colapsable bag inside your suitcase for the trip home. This way you wont have to send anything or worry about how large your carryone will be. Just check it with your normal suitcase. I always bring a change of clothes in my carry-on(usually just a fresh blouse). This way I can change before the plane lands and feel a little fresher than I would after sleeping in the same clothes all night.
I usually travel in the off season. This means cooler weather. I always check the weather the week before I leave. I check it every day to see what the weather trend is, this way I know how heavy a coat I will need. I always pack in layers. I bring 4 or 5 t-shirts, 2 or 3 long sleeve button up shirts, 3 or 4 sweaters (lighter weight ones will be fine), 2 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of khakis, and a mid weight jacket. It doesnt get very cold in rome, so just layer your clothing. It is easier to adjust what you're wearing if you dress in layers. Now for the shoes: don't wear new shoes to Rome!!!!! Invest in some GOOD walking shoes. I cant stress this enough. Rome will tear up your feet. It is a city to walk in, and you do walk a lot. Do not wear heals as you can twist your ankle on the cobblestones and ruin your whole vacation.
As far as toiletries, the usual will do. Bring a bar of soap just in case. You should email your hotel and ask if they offer items such as shampoo, hair dryers, wash clothes, alarm clocks, tissue.... Whatever they dont supply, you will need to bring with you or buy when you arrive. Also, bring some travel packs of kleenex. I carry these with me all day because most of the public restrooms in rome are disgusting. Some don't even have toilet paper. I also bring 5 extra pair of contacts, just in case. As far as medical supplies, some athletic tape, some tylenol, some immodium, and some dramamine (I get air sick).
This is most of the stuff that I bring when I travel. I do tend to travel with a lot of electronics, but that is another subject and post.
Everyone has their own personal preferences when it comes to cameras. I now use my digital almost exclusively. It's the one I take when I travel. I have two 512 memory cards and a 2 gig card. If I am going on a day trip (Pompeii, Florence, Naples...) I take the 2 gig with me. For out and about in the city, the 512's will do. I also take an extra battery with me just in case. If you have a digital slr, invest in a circular polarizer filter. These are usually around 30 dollars and will make a big difference in your pictures. They reduce the reflexions that you see when looking in windows or in water. They also make the sky more vivid.
Take some kind of storage divice to download your pictures to. We take our laptop and download all our pictures every night. This also lets you review your pics to see how they came out. It's better to find out while you're still there and can retake the pics, then to find out when you get home. Leave a Comment Other Contact: monorail@zbzoom.net
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 My friends and I at the
Termini Station by whimsyraj
Backpack type bags (with wheels...and added bonus) - heavy cumbersome luggage adds stress (which you don't need if you're on vacation; especially on narrow, cobbled streets)
Money belt (the ones you can wear underneath your clothes) - you can put your passport, credit cards, extra money, and anything you want to keep close to you (literally) --> great for your peace of mind.
I got some of the above items I needed at the ebags site: www.ebags.com
You can also try: www.ebay.com
Bring versatile clothing (e.g. black skirt/pants - they can go with ANYTHING, a few bottoms and lots of tops - mix and match)
You don't want to bring too much because you don't want to have to worry about lugging things around...if you are really adventurous and don't mind roughing it a bit, you can always wash and dry your clothes once they get dirty!
Comfortable walking shoes - Rome is too beautiful to see through a taxi.
Rick Steve's Packing Lists & Useful Tips:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/home.htm (Look under the "Packing Tips" Column)
You can always get what you need in Rome..."when in Rome, do as the Romans do" - I loved trying out their toothpaste (even though it was probably the same type as back home, it was great because I got it from Rome). :-)
Make sure to have basics form emergencies (e.g. small towel, hand wipes ~ can be used as body wipes if necessary)
There are hospitals here but bring a basic first aid kit & make sure to bring your medications with extra refills (depending on your stay).
Rick Steves: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/home.htm (Look under the "Health" column)
Lots of film...if you have a digital camera (bring a memory card with LOTS of memory or a storage device to transfer your pictures to)
Converters are a great asset.
An ATM card (confirm with your home bank that you can use it overseas & find out the charge for using it overseas)
A credit card - mostly everyone takes credit card ( I found VISA and Mastercard to be accepted wherever I went).
Spare Cash (for emergencies & so you won't have to keep using the ATM)
Willingness to mingle, even if you don't speak Italian - Italians are wonderful, friendly people who are willing to help; if all else fails, use hand signals
Guidebooks - Rick Steves is one of the ebst (the best in my opinion). I've used his books, videos, stayed at places that he recommended. Also his travel specialist can help you build an itinerary for free; just e-mail them at: rick@ricksteves.com
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door
130 4th Ave N
POB 2009
Edmonds, Wa 98020
Tel: 425/771-8303
Fax: 425/771-0833
E-mail: rick@ricksteves.com
Travel Tips:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/home.htm Leave a Comment
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 too cute! by sue_stone
Also, cobble stones don't make it easy to drag luggage from the train station to your hotel....
Make sure you bring comfortable shoes - you will walk and walk and walk in Rome.
I never bother with heels when travelling in Italy - too many cobble stones to contend with.
Never leave home without your camera, and plenty of spare batteries, cf cards/films etc.
There are so many great photo opportunities in Rome.
Another good reason to pack light - imagine if you ended up with a hire car like this one!!! Leave a Comment
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My husband and I purposely brought a suitcase that was twice the size of what we needed for our clothes, so that we had plenty of room to pack all our little souvenirs. This worked well because then, heading home, we still only had one piece of luggage to manage.
Sure you might feel silly wearing sneakers in fashionable Rome, but your feet will thank you. I brought flip-flops that I am very comfortable in at home, but they were impossible to wear in Rome because of the cobblestone streets - you really need shoes with good support. Bring some cute shoes (or buy some there!) but save them for going out at night when you know you will not be walking very far.
Our hotel did not provide washcloths or tissue (Kleenex). Also, the soaps were miniscule, so you might want to bring a bar. There was no alarm clock in the room either, and I found it disconcerting to wake up and have no idea what time it was. Oh and bring some Bandaids for your inevitable foot blisters!
There was a camera shop (don't recall the name, sorry) at the bottom of the Campidoglio steps where I bought a memory card for my digital camera, for about what it would cost in the US. Leave a Comment
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