There's some things we wish we'd packed and have made notes for next time:
-a flashlight with an on/off button
-a fan (either a mini-battery operated one or a manual one)
-more ziplocks!
-a few plastic grocery bags (to use for when we pack a picnic)
-foldable cooler or insulated lunch box. We actually went on a huge scavenger hunt in Rome to find one (3 euro). This is important if you're packing your own meals and taking them with you to places such as the Vatican or Pompeii where food options are limited and prices are high. Also, it keeps your drinks cool.
-Swiss Army Knife-for the record-Super Nel really wanted to bring one of these. But since we were carrying on our luggage we left it behind. If we were only going to one country we would of brought one and checked a bag.
-Umbrella-not for rain but to block the sun. We actually bought one for 3euro because it became so necessary. It came in very handy while in Rome and we an to use it in Pompeii.
-Crystal Light and other little packets to make lemonade or flavored water.
Things we packed and will always pack again:
-Collapsable H20 (this is especially useful in Rome where they have these exquisite fountains everywhere that give you cold drinking water.
-A wrap or large scarf. Arnel and I each brought one and its served multiple purposes-covers exposed areas when going into churches, look fancy, make a shelter with 2 sticks at the beach, picnic blanket, beach towel, the list goes on.
-adapter and mini power strip-most hostels only have 1 or 2 outlets in the room. The mini power strip allows us to share the outlet and still charge 2 iPhones, iPad/iPod and camera
-Waterproof large document folder-this has all our museum passes, maps, hotel/hostel confirmations, etc. It's come in handy because sometimes our bags get wet from clothes, towel, H20 bottle but at least our documents don't (and always keep your passport in a ziplock)
-Combination lock and little zipper combo locks. We both have a day bag and we're paranoid about anyone unzipping it while on subways or crowded areas. So we use a small luggage combo lock on our bags. Sometimes it's annoying having to open lock to get something out but we both feel a lot safer having them on. We figure even if someone tries to cut the lock off we'll feel it happening and give us the chance to intervene. So far, so good. The combo lock is for lockers at hostels. We also brought a cable lock to secure or bags together on long train rides or when we do luggage drops. I don't recommend locks that require a key. I overheard someone lose their key while at a hostel. Combo locks just require a little memorizing (I recommend emailing the combos to your email just in case)
-small coin purse. My cousin Ricky gave me this idea. He keeps his coin Euros in the bag for easy access. I ended up dumping my jewelry into a ziplock and using that bag as a coin bag.
-Bring a camping spork. We found some at REI. On one side is a spoon, the other end a fork and one of the fork edges is serrated like a knife. This comes in handy for picnics or meals on the train.
-Baby wipes, Kleenex, disinfectant wipes and magic soap. The first two are for the bathrooms. It's not uncommon to find a bathroom without tp or paper towels. The last two are for germaphobe in all of us. I use the wipes to clean surfaces in hostels and hotels. Also I use them to wipe down the machines for audio tours. Magic soap (hand sanitizer) is good because sometimes there isn't anywhere to wash your hands and you're hungry.
-Sleep sack-this is NOT a sleeping bag. Some hostels charge for sheets so this helps save money. It also serves a second purpose. Since I'm a germaphobe I have trouble sleeping in a hostel bed on their (clean) sheets. My sleep sack goes over the bed so I don't have to touch anything. You can buy these online for about $20. Luckily Arnel's mom is a seamstress and made us ours. Their light and cool (which help with the heat if there's no a/c) and easy to pack.
Tip:
This is a HUGE tip. PRE-PURCHASE all your museum/main entrance tickets before you leave home.
This seems like a no brainier to me. Why wouldn't you do this? I actually did it at the last minute before departure because we were so busy before the trip. But I would of been very unhappy if I'd forgotten.
Every museum we've been to has had a line with a minimum wait of 2 hours just to get a ticket. Yesterday at the Vatican the line just to get through security to buy a ticket was almost 4 hours long. Now take that wait time and imagine waiting standing up, surrounded by people and in the HOT sun! There's rarely any shade where the lines are.
Pre booking tickets was the smartest thing we've done. I honestly don't think we would of visited the museums otherwise. I look at all the people in line, miserable, unhappy, hot and sending me dirty looks because we're going to the front of the line and I think to myself "Why didn't you prebook???!" I used the company ticketitaly and I recommend it. They send you a voucher that you print out-it has your museum name, date, time, a map and you take that to the front of the line, get real tickets and walk inside. The only excusable reason for not pre booking is if your trip is completely unplanned and you're not sure how long you'll be in each place. In this case I say but the tickets online the day before you know you'll be going. There's really no excuse for not buying tickets early. Unless you like sweating to death with the person behind you breathing on your neck and standing in the hot sun for hours. If you enjoy doing all that then by all means-don't prebook.
-Almond butter packets, bread, jam and fruit from the Tuscan hotel breakfast and leftovers from dinner the night before.
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