General Packing Tips, Florence

Luggage and bags: We went on July and it was very hot about 32 degrees, so all on our luggage was summer cloth, confortable shoes because you will walk a lot. If you go on winter well take all jumper, trousers, hats, etc is very very cold.

Viajamos en Julio en pleno verano y hacía mucha calor sobre 32 grados, así ke toda la ropa de verano que echamos a veces no era suficiente. Recomiendo los zapatos mas comodos que tengas porque te pasarás el día andando. Si viajas en invierno preparate a ir forrada de ropa, hace mucho frio.

Photo Equipment: Your digital camera with a good memory stick or normal cameral with lots of films, because you will take a lots of photos believe me. I took more than 200 photos and made 2 videos.

Tu cámara digital con su correspondiente tarjeta o la cámara normal y muchos carretes porque harás mogollón de fotos. Yo hice mas de 200 fotos y un par de videos.

Luggage and bags: Pack as little as possible in a larger bag, so you have less to worry about carrying, but you can carry it up flights of stairs and pack it full of treasures to go home.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: All i needed was more sunscreen. I had a pair of nice sandles, and 2 Macbi skirts and 4 nice sleeveless shirts, and a scarf/wrap to cover up my shoulders in churches. Pack sunglasses and a SUNHAT! *dont forget underware*

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: SUNSCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anti-diaharria meds, allergy meds, pain killers. Dont forget some bandaids for those mostly inevitable blisters. I broke my shoes in and they were very comfortable, but after 2 weeks of continuous wear some areas were a bit raw, the bandaids help keep you going.

Photo Equipment: batteries, and film. or charger and memory cards for those digtial people.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: SUNSCREEN

Miscellaneous: Did I mention sunscreen? Oh yes i did, bring aftersun too.

Luggage and bags: In June, Florence can be quite warm although usually dry so dress lightly although if visiting some churches, shorts, tanks tops and sandals may be prohibited, although not at most tourist destinations. Bring good walking shoes as cobble stoned roads are still used and wearing dress shoes or sandals are not very comfortable for walking on Florence roads. Runners, although comfortable, will make you stand out as a tourist, so best to wear comfortable walking shoes.

Luggage and bags: Backpack or suitcase.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Dress lightly in summer. Bring along a sweater in case of a colder day. Normal temperature in summer 28 till 35 degrees Celcius.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring along some suncream.

Photo Equipment: When you are not using a digital camera: don't buy any film that has been laying in the sun.

Luggage and bags: Good luggage with wheels for the cobblestone. And extra compact bag for bringing home souveniers.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Shoes! Good Shoes. There is lots of cobblestone in in Italy. And Florence has a lot of hill. Fabulous scarf for those chilly nights. Pay attention to how the locals wear them. So chic.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen, Hat, Bug Spray

Photo Equipment: Good camera batteries and film. So much cheaper and easier to find at home.

Miscellaneous: Miscellaneous: Washcloth. The hotels in Italy don't have them. In fact they only have one large bath towel then several hand towels that are made out of the same type of cloth that I would compare to cloth napkins. This was the case for the three hotels where we stayed in Italy. Also, bring a good language guide.

Luggage and bags: If you look in my general tips section a talk more about how to pack in Italy/Europe. Travel light, carry-on luggage only or you will regret it. Or pay the big bucks and let a tour operator do all the work for you!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Travel light and buy supplies once you get there. With the new fly rules this becomes a neccesity at any rate. We left a $14.00 hair blower and other supplies at our last destination.

Photo Equipment: I was very concerned about transferring my photo's from my memory cards to CD/smart drive or another format. Their are Internet locations everywhere in Italy that will do this for you very cheap. I paid 4 euro to burn about 400 files onto a CD. It's about 2 euro to transfer to a smart drive.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Just a note the Florentines are incredibly well dressed. They have an impeccable style for bodily cleanliness and the latest fashion.

This adds to the overall appeal of the city to me - amongst the dirty streets and strange smells.

Nonetheless, think about what you where in Florence, you many pick up with that different accent - if you're lucky!!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: No, don't worry about Hannibal Lechter, but be sure to carry BUG SPRAY!!! I made that mistake and had 72 bug bites on me in the Gardens of Boboli in august (which were mixed in with the sunburn of i got a week before in San Vincenzio)! Trust me, its not pleasant!

Luggage and bags: Bring a bigger bag than you need. So you have enough room for your trip home;}

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Comfortable Shoes-during Summer comfortable walking sandals. In Winter comfy walking tennis shoes

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring your own bathing items they will supply a towel and maybe one days worth of shampoo.

Photo Equipment: Cameras are very Necessary.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Not needed unless you stay in the camping Hostel.

Luggage and bags: While I try to take as little as possible these are some items that I must take along with me on most of my travels. I travel during any season and adjust my packing list according to the weather, type and length of travel. Following is just a sample of the items that I usually take along, remember to adjust your packing to the location and time of year, and just go out there and enjoy your time wherever that may be.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 1 black jacket to dress up the slacks or for casual dinning)
1 black dress (for evening dinning, show, opera, etc, or for a night out at a club)
1 pair of jeans and a pair of khakis or Capri’s (again, depending on the season)
2 skirts or shorts which can be worn either during the day or into the early evening
2 white t-shirts or tank tops
3 casual/dress shirts (sweaters in the winter)
1 pair of walking shoes for daytime touring
1 pair black shoes or sandals
2 bathing suits and 2 cover-ups
one week’s worth of undergarments
2-3 pajamas or oversized t-shirts for sleeping

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: 2 pair of slacks one black, the other any color depending on the season (depending on the season, linen or cotton for the spring/summer, wool/wool blend or polyester blend for fall/winter
4 spare pairs of contact lenses
5-7 pair of trouser socks
contact lens solution
spare glasses
extra pair of sunglasses
blow dryer (never leave home without it)
travel iron
cosmetics in a travel case
my favorite shampoo and conditioner in travel sizes
hand and body lotion travel size
Tylenol, allergy medication and any other medication I am taking at the time
Hair accessories, brush, hats or caps

Photo Equipment: 2 cameras, plenty of film and extra batteries for the camera
Guide books, itineraries, maps, copies of my passport, airline tickets, phone numbers to credit card companies, extra ATM card for withdrawal from savings if my regular card fails, 2 credit cards, $500 in cash for just in case of emergency, $200 traveler’s checks (again, for just in case something happens with my ATM cards)
Extra travel bag to put all my purchases in.

Miscellaneous: What I tend to do if I am traveling during the colder season, I usually wear the jacket, a heavy sweater, wool pants, along with boots (these are items that would take up more space in the luggage). In my carry-on bag I usually have an oversized T-shirt, drawstring cotton pants and a spare pair of socks which I change into about 1 ½ hours into the flight if I am going to Europe. I also carry my tooth brush (no morning breath here), something to read, glasses, contact case and travel solution, Tylenol (I usually get headaches during long flights).