What would you take???

[Amy_jellybean]

Thanks heaps Taurean!!!

A sarong was something I def had on my list (with a month in Greece it was a must!) and they dont take up much room yay Kathmandu is my favourite place, we have spent about $4000 there so far...oops!!!! I bought DH a really awesome Jacket/wind breaker for xmas, it was $450 marked down to $200. Its water resistant and really warm inside. I bought myself the same jacket last year but mine isnt waterproof. We were thinking of just buying a cheap plastic poncho in London before we go to Anzac Cove.

I was in 2 minds about the lonely planets, I def thought about photocopies of certain pages but wasnt sure on taking the whole thing. I might just take my big Europe one rather than the seperate country ones that I have.

I like your thinking on the shower thongs, I think ill just stick with one pair. For shoes im thinking of: a pair of rubber thongs for beach/showers, a pair of black flats for work (we will be working in a pub), a pair of runners and a pair of black strappy sandles to wear out. I figured I can always buy a pair of cheap boots from Primark or similar.

Tweezers are in the toilet bag ready to go...Im a strict waxing girl and was whinging to DH the other night about how there is no way in hell I am going back to shaving!!!

Ekkkk I cant believe its only 53 days until we leave!!!

[Taurean]

I just thought of some more stuff! DH is helping now too

- I left my hair straighteners in Aus but I did take a tiny travel hair dryer. Besides a few hotels we stayed in (mainly throughout Asia) there were no hair dryers on offer! My hair can frizz so I also took a really good tiny bottle of straightening serum - that replaced the GHDs
- I also left my normal hairbrush at home and took a flip out travel one (with the mirror) instead. Tiny and light weight
- a small face washer. Most places give you / hire out towels but not washes. I'm a girl that loves to clean her face at the end of the day.
- travel washing line and a laundry bar/powder. We used our line a lot. We usually washed at laundromats (or hostels if they had facilities) but dried in our room. We often did some hand washing in the shower (or basin of we had one in our room) like jocks, singlet tops, etc.

I'd highly recommend emailing scanned copies of all your travel and legal docs to yourself in case you run into trouble.

Will let you know if I remember anything else! Our packs were 15kg each so we did well. We did fill up our day packs a bit though for flights - toiletries and always a change of clothes each.

Your shoes sound good! As do the wind fleeces. Nice work!

Is your LP Europe on a Shoestring? If so, I'd be inclined to leave it at home. It doesn't have anywhere enough detail and it's big. Western Europe is awesome though and the individual guides even better. We actually bought some while traveling and sent homes the ones we'd finished with.

[Amy_jellybean]

Haha awww thanks Taurean and DH!!!

Ive been looking for a travel washing line that has the hooks at the end instead of the suction caps, ill be sure to get one before we go. I got some liquid washing soap (powder didnt sounds right considering its liquid!) from Kathmandu, its in a really small bottle and there is enough for 100 washes or something.

I like the idea about the flip out brush. My dad is a platinum Frequesnt flyer with Emirates and he is always giving them to from the business class toilet bags, ill finally put one to use hahaha.

Ive got a few lonely planets but I agree the Europe on a shoestring doesnt have much in it!!!

We are flying with Emirates so we get 30kgs in economy going over and back but on the internals we only get 20kgs. Im just over 5 foot so I think anything over 20kgs would break me in half anyway. DH keeps asking which camel is going to carry it all, I just look at him and he says I dont have a hump, I just laughed and said trust me after you carry my bag you;ll have a hump on your back for sure!!!

[Taurean]

You're welcome hon! I love travelling (ex travel agent also) - its like an obsession for me

We loved our trip, I'm sure you'll love yours too. Yours sound pretty organised. We flew One World (and had Qantas Club membership) so we weren't restricted with luggage either but anything more than 15kg on a small frame would have been hell! I'm a shorty too so that was plenty. The weight was good though but definitely no more. It's amazing how much walking you end up doing with them on. We were so fit when we returned.....ah, to be that fit and tiny again

Tell your DH the donkeys will carry your pack around the Greek Isles but yeah, there is a shortage of camels in Europe

[nickle730]

I'd recommend replacing the runners with a really good pair of hiking shoes - y'know, the ones that sorta look like a cross between runners/shoes? Much more comfortable and better for your feet, plus you can wear them with jeans and they look a (little bit!) more dressed up. Buy them now and wear them in before you go. I bought mine about 5 years ago and I wear them every time we travel.

GL, you are gonna have the time of your life!

[Nai]

I can highly recommend the packing cells from Kathmandu - they are zippered with mesh tops and are amazing for being able to pack and sort your clothes and keep your backpack in order. We use ours all the time and they come in different sizes so you can have a small one for your underwear etc, then a medium one for all tops. I never travel without them.

Take contact details for all your banking intitutions etc in case you lose your cards or have anything stolen. Have copies of all your credit card details somewhere seperate to report if this happens.

[Little Chicken]

I can highly recommend the packing cells from Kathmandu - they are zippered with mesh tops and are amazing for being able to pack and sort your clothes and keep your backpack in order. We use ours all the time and they come in different sizes so you can have a small one for your underwear etc, then a medium one for all tops. I never travel without them.

Take contact details for all your banking intitutions etc in case you lose your cards or have anything stolen. Have copies of all your credit card details somewhere seperate to report if this happens.

Also photocopy the front ID part of your passport, was watching border security once and a guy lost his passport but had that and it made it so much easier for customs to verify his ID cause it had the passport number, photo and name.

[Winter]

I'd highly recommend emailing scanned copies of all your travel and legal docs to yourself in case you run into trouble.

This saved our bacon at least once when DH lost his passport in Slovenia.

We travelled around Europe & South America for a year in 2007 but we were camping along the way so we had lots of gear in our backpacks. I was lugging 20kg plus and I tell you, when crossing weather zones, the local post office becomes your new best friend when you send your bulky cold weather gear home!

Also, don't pack your kitchen sink, seriously, travel as light as you can, because if you pack it, you have to carry it. And don't forget, if there is something that you really need, there are shops where you are going and you can pick up seasonal clothes as you go along too.

I also don't leave home without a LP for the country that I am visiting. It has saved our arses on more than one occasion especially having the embassy info in it and important numbers for you like police etc.

HAve a great trip, can't wait for the photos!!

[UsPlus2]

I'm another that had my bacon saved by having a scan copy of my passport on my email. Also a good idea to scan a copy of all your travel docs in one email and send it to family, that way they have all the information as well and in case you cant get to a computer they can help out. Also send them contact numbers for everything like consultes, your bank, your airlines, your travel insurer etc.

I was also going to suggest space bags, the ones that you can roll the air out of it. When I went through Vietnam we had boily hot days down south and freezing weather up north, so was great to be able to roll up the big winter stuff and not have them take up so much room when we didnt need them.

Dont forget about the stuff at home either, like mail holds (or redirections since you are going for so long - they can take a while to kick in so have them ready to go about a month before you leave), energy company etc

I also didnt take any more than the small bottles of bathroom stuff, just brought replacements when I ran out, saves carrying to much. Oh and spray on bandaid! BEST PRODUCT EVER for hiking.

GL - sounds like you are going to have a fantastic time.

[Amy_jellybean]

Thanks lovely ladies, Im not sure what happened but I seem to have 2 of these threads running?????

Hahaha im a Kathmandu freak so I already have the packing cells ready to go!!!

Im only takin very small bottles of conditioner etc as our first 3 months will be spent working in a pub so we will be able to access it all easily.

Work have all my scanned copies of passport visa's etc but I will also be leaving a copy with mum and dad. We have already organised mail redirection and my mum will have power of attorney for my husband and I so she can do our tax etc while we are away .

Yay its really happening!!!